First I would like to say how honored and grateful I am to be the July student of the Month!!
I am from Boise Idaho and have always been interested in being active and staying in shape. When I was younger I played volleyball, basketball and finally fell in love with cheerleading. I cheered all through high school as well as in college at Boise State University. I had an ongoing list of "goals" one of which was to run a marathon before I turned 25. I trained and completed my first marathon in November 2006 when I was 23!! It was a huge accomplishment for myself and I was so proud to cross that finish line (crying the whole way!!) During my marathon training I had swollen fingers and really sore feet, but I didn't worry too much because I thought it was just the running. But about a month after competing the marathon my body was still sore. I went to my doctor and had some tests run and was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Dec 2006.
After the diagnosis, I was advised not to run any longer, and to try to do something that had less impact on my joints. I was super bummed and was constantly fighting the medication that made me sick weekly. I was down and out of my normal routine and bummed to have to stop running. For about a year I was doing miscellaneous workouts, a little here, a little there - but no good routine. I made some huge decisions in Jan of 2008 and finally started living MY LIFE! I figured I needed to do stuff for me and try new things one of which was Bikram Yoga. I drove by the Bikram Studio in Boise and thought, "that looks interesting." So that night I showed up to my first Bikram Class. The man at the front desk was really nice but scary as well! He told me to try and stay in the room and if I get dizzy or lightheaded to just have a seat on my mat. Now I thought, "what am I getting myself into?" After that night – I was hooked! Hot Yoga – Awesome!
After taking 10 classes at the Boise studio. I moved down to Texas for work. I started here at Grapevine on April 3rd for my 11th class, which was taught by Jay! I fell in love with the studio and the people! I started my first 60-day challenge that day! I am currently in the middle of my second 60-day challenge. I will continue to a 180-day challenge following in the footsteps of my "yoga sisters" Sarah Peck and Leah Hartwell! These girls have not only been wonderful friends to me here in Texas but also continue to amaze me with their strength, encouragement and daily support! I couldn't have done this without you ladies!
I am so grateful as well to all of the wonderful teachers here at Grapevine. I love the daily motivation you bring to me with your different personalities and styles of teaching. You each want the best for your students and it shows with the way you encourage and praise every student. I am so blessed to be learning from amazing teachers and I hope someday to change lives like you all have changed mine! Thank you Stacey, Jay, Suzann, Sherri, Jorina, Katie, Sami, Ladonna, and Carrie for all you do!
P.S I am glad to share with you all that I have not had a "flare up" with my arthritis since I started Bikram and we are also lowering the dose of medication I have to take and my labs look AWESOME! . – This practice had definitely changed my life!
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