Nominees share their stories (in their own words) and their photographs to inspire others to break old, destructive habits and to rise higher than ever before.
This month we are proud to share Karen's story. What did Karen do to get rid of her chronic neck and shoulder pain? What made such an impactful impression on Karen's chiropractor?
These answers and much, much more will be revealed in Karen's amazing and inspirational story.
Read on...
My story~ by Karen Hughes
"I could barely turn my head; the slightest movement resulted in a sharp pain. My shoulders felt like they were pinned to my neck, and slumped forward. My entire body felt stiff and unresponsive. Basically, I felt like I was turning to stone! I was depressed and worried about what my quality of life would be like in the future.
"I have been an amputee since age 13, when I lost my leg above the knee to bone cancer. For years I never skipped a beat; I led a very active life and felt strong and healthy. Even after two c-section pregnancies I felt I was in pretty good physical shape, but after I turned 50 everything started to change. ”Is it all downhill from here?,” I feared. I had never felt disabled before, but was beginning to see myself that way. My sister urged me to try yoga, and suggested that I seek out an experienced instructor who would be willing to help me adapt the poses to my needs. I was apprehensive since I had absolutely no experience with yoga and was far from flexible, but desperate for help, decided to give it a try. A Google search led me to Brian and [Winter Garden Yoga]. On January 11, 2012, I sent an email inquiry and later that day received a response from Brian which began, 'Hi Karen. You came to the right place!' Boy, did I ever!
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| Karen's commitment to her health and wellness has helped her achieve many personal breakthroughs. |
"In the 2+ years since I slowly climbed the stairs to WGY’s original studio wondering, “am I going to be able to do this?,” I have experienced a tremendous growth in my physical and spiritual well-being. Once unable to turn my head or sit up straight on the floor without a wedge under my bottom, my neck and shoulders are now flexible and pain-free! The pain and tightness in my hips has also vanished. My chiropractor recently remarked, “whatever you’re doing at WGY, keep on doing it! You are holding your corrections much longer and your posture is great!” Even my boss, who is also my prosthetist, has noticed my improved balance and new “guns!” I can now lift a full 24-pack of water out of my car and into the top shelf of my refrigerator without hurting myself-something I was not able to do before. I realize that might seem like a small thing to most people, but for me it was very empowering, and inspired me to set higher goals.
"The personal training sessions with Brian began with functional movement instruction, plus a few yoga poses and stretches adapted for my needs. He patiently helped me chip away the “stone” that had taken over my body, and soon it responded by straightening up and moving much more freely. With my body in better alignment, even my head felt lighter! Since then they we have added kettle bells and other exercises which continue to increase my strength, flexibility and endurance. I began attending Karen’s Yin class about a year ago and have found it to be the most relaxing experience of my life! Every week I look forward to “Monday’s with Brian” and “Tuesday’s with Karen!” I feel strong and handle stress better than I have in years. My journey has taken many turns and I've hit a few bumps along the way, but I continue to move forward, achieving goals and setting new ones. I’m now working with Brian on improving my diet by eliminating processed foods and learning how to change not only what I eat, but combining the proper proportions of foods to obtain optimal health benefits. It’s been a bit of a struggle for me, but I’m eating better than I ever have, and doing my best not to focus on the number on my bathroom scale. I've also purchased a package of Loaded Yoga classes that I’m looking forward to taking this summer!
"The biggest difference between my experience at WGY and other fitness facilities is the emphasis on doing the exercises correctly; as Brian says, “quality is more important than quantity.” Although I feel challenged, I never leave the studio feeling overworked or tired. In fact, just the opposite is true - my energy level skyrockets, and my mood is uplifted. My kids love the mommy who comes home after yoga! :-)
"The WGY staff’s expertise and commitment to the needs of their clients-providing yoga and wellness instruction for “every body”- is incredible. I have come to know, love and trust them like family and can’t imagine my life without WGY! My advice to people on the fence about joining WGY? If I can do it, you can! Choose to thrive! The only sure way to fail is to not try." #liveinspired
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.
