Why Did She Wait So Long To Lose 20 Pounds?, Weight Loss

Each month Winter Garden Yoga features an amazing client who has achieved incredible results with our guaranteed methods. We call this feature: Winter Garden Yoga's Client of the Month.

Nominees share their inspirational stories (in their own words) and their photographs to motivate others to break old, destructive habits and to rise higher than they ever thought before.

This month we are proud to share Brenda's marvelous story. What did Brenda do to lose 20 pounds? What did Brenda do to lose 4 inches? What did Brenda do to get more energy?

These answers and much, much more will be revealed in Brenda's amazing and inspirational story.

Read on...

I decided to come to Winter Garden Yoga in February of this year because I had been feeling terrible and dealing with many difficult and terrible symptoms that were affecting my quality of life. For 18 months I was dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, mild brain fog, night sweats, fatigue, an auto-immune reaction causing severe hair loss and overall negative health. I had seen every doctor that I thought might help, had many blood tests, even a colonoscopy with no helpful diagnosis. I felt defeated and hopeless and wanted my life and my health back more than anything. I knew the best way was to reduce stress, implement physical exercise and improve my diet. So that is what I did, all at the same time.

Before                       After
Brenda lost 20 pounds, 4 inches, and has more energy!

Since [becoming a Winter Garden Yoga VIP], I have slowly seen improvement starting from the first class. After a few short weeks, my energy increased and I was already getting stronger. I was also walking on off yoga days and doing 3-4 mile walks with Kathy and class mates on Sundays.

At 3 months, I had lost 7 pounds and the hair loss had started to subside. I had pain in my left upper thigh when sitting cross-legged that I noticed was gone during my classes.

I am now six months in and all my symptoms are gone, I have lost 20 pounds and 4 inches, my hair has stopped falling out and is growing back. I have more energy and confidence than I have had in several years and am so looking forward to continuing to get to the best physical and mental shape of my life, with my WGY family by my side. Being part of this group has been my favorite part of joining WGY. I feel lucky to have access to what I feel is the best studio around. I never felt ashamed, or inadequate even though I had no yoga experience at all.

I waited too long to take my health into my own hands, and what I would say to anyone "on the fence" is "DO IT" ! There is no time like the present to be the best "You", for "you".... :)

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of functional yoga instruction (TM) that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with packed classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

Secrets Revealed: Fat Loss, Part 2

Congratulations!

I know you've been keeping your food journal because you've told me about it. You are amazed at the things you eat and now you see the significance and the power of a food journal. You are off to a great start.

That was part one of the fat burning equation. Let's move to the second part: exercise...

...inefficient exercise to be exact.

Choose Wisely

An efficient exercise can be described as something that you get good at. Think about walking. Maybe the first time you walked a mile it was very difficult to breathe, you may have had to stop for breaks, and it basically kicked your butt. Now fast forward to when walking a mile became easy. Super easy. That means you became efficient at walking.

When this happens, fat burning stops.

An inefficient exercise can be described as something that will always be a challenge. Think about Functional Yoga Instruction TM. There are folks (including me) who have been practicing this method for years and are still challenged by it. That means it will always be a fat burner. Always.

Functional Yoga Instruction TM is Revolutionary

It's no secret, I'm a fan of FYI. No other yoga program comes close to what FYI gives you.

• Fat burning
• Mobility
• Lean mass
• Strength
• Mind-Body connection

And all of this great stuff comes from a your own body weight, some gravity, and a yoga mat. No equipment is required.

Simplify

90% of my personal yoga practice revolves around 16 moves: The most essential moves (asana) that you'll find in any system of yoga. The same can be said for all of our classes at Winter Garden Yoga.

Simple and brutally effective. Warrior 2 is fantastic for strengthening and toning the legs, abs, and arms.

Need more?

Unlikely. It's a hard pill to swallow, but you don't need a ton of stuff to get into shape and stay there. You see, sometimes more is just more. I've written about the diminishing returns on exercise, so I won't beat the proverbial dead horse here. Instead, I want to encourage you...

1. To get started
2. To keep it simple
3. To stay on track

Simple enough?

We'll see... Don't miss the dramatic conclusion when we put all of the pieces together.

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of functional yoga instruction (TM) that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with packed classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

Sage Advice from Mr. Las Vegas, Yoga

You can ask my friends, I'm the worst story teller. Here's an example of what I mean...

Believe it or not, I crossed paths with Wayne Newton a few years ago during a visit at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. It took me by surprise because.. honestly, I wasn't expecting to see a living legend right in front of my face. That's pretty much the end of my Wayne Newton story. No autograph. No photograph. Short and sweet.

So what's this got to do with you?

Great question.

You see, Wayne Newton's personal story is a success story. He overcame a lot of obstacles and beat the odds to eventually become known as Mr. Las Vegas and of course to have his hit single featured as Ferris Bueller's theme song. Pretty cool, right?

Yeah, but what's this go to do with you?

Hang in there with me.

When Mr. Newton got news of TV star and child actress, Dana Plato, hitting hard times, he dispensed this valuable advice to her:

“Falling down is not a crime. Not getting up is the crime” ~ Wayne Newton [yes… Wayne Newton]

And now I'd like to dispense this valuable advice to you.

Imagine this common synopsis: it’s a Monday at the end of summer. You've fallen off the wagon. When was the last time you went to yoga? A week? A month? A year?

If you answered honestly and you can relate, your ability to bounce back is essential to your health and wellness success. It is inevitable, you are going to have a bad eating day, week or even a month. Everyone does. Even me.

There’s a 100% chance you’re going to miss yoga and there’s a 100% chance you are going to be surrounded by people who are not supporting your decision to have a healthy lifestyle.

You will fall down.

And just like Wayne says, it’s not okay to stay down.

You've got to practice bouncing back… and the faster the better!

Don’t let a breakfast of donuts throw you off of your entire eating strategy for that day. Get back on track by lunch time, you’re following your plan, you’re hitting your marks.

Don’t let falling off the yoga wagon for a week or two during vacation turn into a month or two and then a year of missed yoga classes.

It’s the classic story of “I missed a week and never went back” and this story will guarantee the exciting, dramatic, sequel… “Then I gained 30 pounds”.

Let today be your day to take on every speed bump, pot hole, detour, and missed exit on your path to wellness. It’s your mind that lets your body down. Not the other way around.

If you’re off track today, start to get back on track RIGHT NOW by:

• Finding time for some yoga. Fitting in some yoga, even as little as 10 minutes, will help you feel energized, get you motivated, help you get back in the habit.
• Drink your water. A common recommendation is 1 liter of water a day. Start right now. It will keep you hydrated, energized, and your entire system will feel cleansed.
• Track your food for the day. It will clue you in to how you've been eating up until now and give you an extra kick in the pants to make healthy decisions the rest of the day… and your life!
• Go shopping. Go to the store and stock your kitchen with tons of nutrient dense foods. Having healthy foods at your fingertips will increase your likelihood of success exponentially.
• Throw away the junk food. Get the junk food out of your house. Now. Enough said.

Remember: Resiliency is a habit that can be learned when you practice it over time. Give it time. A quick recovery from the inevitable missteps, setbacks, and outright failures is essential when it comes to achieving your goals.

Get back on track.

Today is your day.

Let nothing stop you.

Make Mr. Las Vegas proud!

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of functional yoga instruction (TM) that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with packed classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

How She Turned Her Life Around In 6 Months [And You Can, Too], Weight Loss

Each month Winter Garden Yoga features an amazing client who has achieved incredible results with our guaranteed methods. We call this feature: Winter Garden Yoga's Client of the Month.

Nominees share their inspirational stories (in their own words) and their photographs to motivate others to break old, destructive habits and to rise higher than they ever thought before.

This month we are proud to share Roxanna's marvelous story. What did Roxanna do to wear smaller sized clothes? What did Roxanna do to get better posture? What did Roxaana do to get rid of head trash that was holding her back?

These answers and much, much more will be revealed in Roxannas' amazing and inspirational story.

Read on...

What made you decide to join our studio?

In the past 5 years I have had some health issues and have gone through some very difficult/challenging and life changing events in, my personal and professional life. I was feeling tired, depressed, lost, and [lacked confidence], in summary, I was totally out of balance. I knew I needed to do something, but nothing I tried seemed to help. I kept searching for that one thing that would help me get my life back on track. One day in January 2013, I saw an online offer for 10 YOGA classes. It was an offer I could not refuse, affordable, and an opportunity to try something new. I thought to myself, it can’t hurt, it’s only 10 classes. That is how I discovered Winter Garden Yoga. I loved [functional yoga instruction (tm)] from the first class. I started with Power Yoga, and I felt energized from the first class. I continued to go a couple of times a week and soon realized that my 10 class pack was almost all used and I was not ready to walk away. I signed up for one of the VIP packages and before I knew it, a year had gone by. I just signed up for my second year as a VIP and for small group Kettlebell training.

Before                                    After
Roxanna is feeling more confident, is wearing smaller clothes, and looking better than ever!

                              

What results have you received since joining our studio?

As I learned more about how to better take care of myself, from the inside out, I also learned that this is a journey. At one point I got a bit frustrated by what I perceived to be little or no progress, even though there was progress. I was acting on an old mental model of quick results. I was used to the quick results that at the end never lasted. I used to binge diet or even binge exercise to get quick results. At WGY I was learning that the results may not appear as obvious at first but they were certainly there and they would become lasting results if I decided to follow “the instructions”. About 6 months into this journey I knew I had made progress, but I was not totally convinced that I was on the right path. I needed to really focus and own my destiny; own my health and happiness. I began to be more intentional about it and began to notice more positive changes. The changes I was making resulted in me being able to eliminate two of my medications (working on eliminating others). Now I am wearing a smaller size, all of my clothes fit better, I have better posture, and sleep better.

None of this happened over night, and there certainly was a turning point. I think that sometimes in life you need an event to propel you to that next level. About 1 year into this journey, I was finally on the right track but there was something that was not totally clicking and I could not figure it out. I decided to be more intentional and pay lot more attention to the cues. Apparently I needed more time for “me” and making that time for me has always been a challenge. I needed time to reflect on my life, my future, the changes I was making and the ones I still needed to make in order to live my best life. I decided to be very intentional about exploring my feelings, and evaluating my progress. It was obvious I needed to make a plan. In May I planned a wonderful long vacation. This is the vacation I've been dreaming of for a very long time. I took a three week European cruise vacation. This vacation while packed with a lot of tours, allowed me the time I needed to recharge my batteries. I took this time to focus on “me”, reflecting on my life while planning for the future. I acknowledge my opportunities and celebrated my successes. I let go of negativity and reminded myself how beautiful life is. I decided that I would use the tools, resources and learnings from my time at Winter Garden Yoga to finally turn things around. It was intentional and I needed that. Upon my return, people began to notice a change. I began to hear comments like: you look healthier, your body is changing, you look different, something has changed, you seem happier and more at ease. The changes were now obvious, they are physical and emotional. There is no turning back now…. The journey continues.

How do you feel now compared to how you felt before joining our studio?

I feel confident and at ease. I am physically and emotionally strong. Today, I have more energy, my eating habits are healthier. I feel healthier and balanced! Thank you Brian, for your guidance and support with my diet choices. Keeping a food journal really works and following the instructions really works!

What do you like best about our studio?

I like the support I get from all of my Winter Garden Yoga family. I learn from all of the instructors and my fellow students. Thank you, Brian, Kathy, Janis and Karen; you are the best support team anyone could ever ask for. To my fellow yoga students, you inspire me every day and fill me with joy and energy.

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our studio?

Don’t wait; start now to change your life for the better. You will not regret! There is no better time than right now.

What do you do outside of the studio (work, etc)?

I am a mother of 2 amazing young men (25 and 19) and wife to my husband of 30 years. I enjoy vacationing with my family and with my husband, especially cruising or fishing vacations in Sanibel Island. I run/walk in [5K events] every chance I get. I balance my time so I have time for all of the important people in my life inclusive of family and friends near and far. Every chance I get, I meet a friend in person to catch up. I believe in building and nurturing relationships and have started to build new friendships with some of amazing individuals I met at Winter Garden Yoga. I also take “me” time. I go for walks, spa treatments, read and meditate (still working on the last one). I work in Human Resources as Manager leading projects and organizational initiatives.

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of functional yoga instruction (TM) that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with packed classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

The One Single Simple Solution, Fat Loss

It's hard to believe that Winter Garden Yoga will be open four years come October 9, 2014. During that amazing course of time, I've had the honor of working with a very diversified group of people. My long list of clients includes: doctors, business managers, stay at home parents, athletes, non-athletes, you name it.

The incredible thing that all of these folks have in common is a simple question: "What does it take?"

What does it take to make serious, permanent, and positive changes? I addressed this in a previous blog post. But I'd like to share with you another simple and powerful way to make things happen. The good news is... it is easier than you think.

A common conversation I have with folks goes along these lines...

"I'm trying to get out of my 'funk' and get fit again. I’m trying to tone up and prepare for my wedding (or my class reunion or pretty much fill in the blank)."

These are all valid goals. And the good news for goals like these (and pretty much any other goal), there’s a 100% success rate.

You read that correctly, 100%. There's just a tiny little caveat...

You must show up!

Take this familiar scenario for example:

8:30am and Saturday morning's Power Yoga class has come and gone.

This person just couldn't get themselves out of bed and over the hurdle of showing up on a Saturday morning to take the first step to becoming the best version of themselves... it’s interesting, instructive, and we can learn from their failure.

You must show up!

Your power is in showing up.Every decision you make is either moving you in the direction of your goals or away from your goals. There’s no neutral.

By allowing your internal resistance (your reasons, your excuses, your stories) to hold you back, you simply don’t show up. And not only are you farther from you goal, you will actually move away from the very thing you are trying to achieve.

To sum it up, this person is not exactly where they were on Saturday. In fact, they're further behind and it's because they didn't show up. Their rationale to not show up is stronger than ever now. Their goals are much further away than they were previously.

“The failure to act is much more often the product of inner, emotional resistance than external resistance. To move forward you must give up your story, whether it is excuses about your childhood, lack of education, your 'bad luck', your un-supportive family, your low metabolism, where you live, etc". ~Dan Kennedy

Compare that to the successful story of someone who did show up...

She wants to lose 15 pounds, while toning and strengthening her entire body. She wants to be confident, energized, and feel good about herself again.

During our consultation, we discussed where she is now, where she wants to be, came up with an action plan, and got her up and running. Her first yoga class is scheduled for Saturday morning at 8:30am.

She showed up!

Look at the astonishing difference showing up made for her. She’s been eating better for 2 days and she’s been to yoga twice. She's already feeling fantastic and looking forward to next week.. and all of this because she showed up.

There’s power here!

These VIPs showed up! ...and continue to do so...

Marita lost 26 pounds just by showing up!

Bridget lost 25 pounds and has kept it off for 2 years because she shows up!

Lisa is more toned and stronger just by showing up!

I want to encourage you to condition yourself to do what you say you do, to be where you’ll say you’ll be, to think the thoughts that will move you forward and not backward.

Remember:

• There is no neutral decision
• Show up
• Be positive
• Move forward

Let today be the day you let go of your history, your story, and the negative circumstances that hold you in place.

The magic is in that single powerful action... showing up... and showing up again... and again... and again... and again...

Let this be your day.

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of functional yoga instruction (TM) that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with packed classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you. Just be sure to show up ;)

I also want to give special thanks to my friend and fitness expert, Dave Fannin for the idea of this blog post.