"You guys always say that "the way we do our yoga is the way we do our lives." Because of the world we live in, where people tend to do so much for others, or worry so much about what others think, they spend very little time on themselves. Some people view my commitment to my yoga as selfish, like "It must be nice to have so much time to do that." My response is "Everyone should do it. It should be required." I explain that I make time for my yoga because it feels like I need to do it not only for me, but for the world. The sooner we all get to know ourselves more and open up and learn to be more compassionate with ourselves, the sooner we can really bring that into our relationship with everyone and everything around us.

You guys always say that "the way we do our yoga is the way we do our lives." Because of the world we live in, where people tend to do so much for others, or worry so much about what others think, they spend very little time on themselves. Some people view my commitment to my yoga as selfish, like "It must be nice to have so much time to do that." My response is "Everyone should do it. It should be required." I explain that I make time for my yoga because it feels like I need to do it not only for me, but for the world. The sooner we all get to know ourselves more and open up and learn to be more compassionate with ourselves, the sooner we can really bring that into our relationship with everyone and everything around us.

The blend of physical challenge with lots of spirituality and meditations has had a huge impact on me. I am a small business owner and most days I wake up feeling tired and achy, even if I got a good night's sleep. The rushing, the long hours on the computer, not to mention the mental stress and anxiety that come with my work, take their toll. But if I can fit my yoga classes in, it makes a huge difference. I can maintain my crazy schedule and not feel like I got hit by a bus. Not only that, but days when I talk myself out of yoga, convincing myself that I don't have the time, I wind up spending the afternoon exhausted and unproductive. Whereas if I do go to yoga, I walk out feeling amazing and so grateful I went.

It doesn't matter what I bring to my yoga, I always feel better afterwards. I may walk into class feeling rushed or anxious, thinking "let's just get this over with so I can get home and make dinner." But that shifts. Through the poses and the guided meditations, which have been amazing, I begin to loosen up. I allow myself to open to what I'm feeling - even if it's opening to feeling shitty, or opening to hating something, or not wanting to do something. The more I open the better I feel. My perspective shifts and I don't feel overwhelmed by my life and my "to do" list anymore. By the end of class, I feel like a million bucks. I feel like I can conquer anything I set my mind to. That confidence then ripples throughout my entire life.

Instead of barreling through work situations, I've learned through my yoga, to slow down and nurture relationships. It's really helped my flow. We all get into a much better, more collaborative place (as opposed to pointing fingers), and as a result we are more productive. My confidence has allowed me to bridge gaps as opposed to the fighting or fleeing I used to do.

Because I've learned to be more compassionate with myself, I have been able to bring that compassion to my relationships. It's helping me understand people more which helps me get along with them better. I'm no longer being super critical and judgmental in my head.

Turbodog is truly amazing. I feel so loved and cared for that sometimes I want to cry in savasana because I'm so touched. I found some really great people and such a great community. I feel so lucky to have this!" – Maria Farhatt, July 2013

"Turbodog is the only place I've ever been to that has given me so much personal attention.  I don't just mean superficial pose details, like "Use the other foot."  Every teacher at Turbodog knows each student, and even when a class is really full, I feel like any given teacher will look around and pick the student who needs the most attention at that moment -- maybe because that person is struggling or because the teacher perceives that with some personal attention that student could really advance.  This happens more at Turbodog than at any other place I've ever been, including personal trainers.  It's a depth and quality of personal attention that allows the students to really advance.

I keep coming back because I keep progressing.  When I would just go to the gym, I never got past a certain plateau.  I feel like at Turbodog I constantly grow to higher levels.  We spent about a month focusing on the serratus anterior muscle, and after that month I immediately noticed how my arms were feeling stronger in places that had never felt strong before.  All of a sudden one day I felt like I jumped to the next level and those new muscles were able to do things like Handstand.  It wasn't like we spent the entire month working towards Handstand; we were simply strengthening core parts of the body that are helpful in the long run for lots of different things.

I think a lot of times in life we do things that we're naturally good at because it's easier.  And we advance in those things, but only to a point.  We advance faster when we start doing things that we are not naturally good at.  You guys do a lot of things that I'm not naturally good at.   I had never experienced the kind of ab work that you teach.  During all my football years, I did sit-ups forever.  I can do a million sit-ups, but it was only 1 set of muscles that got really strong.  I think in life we learn to use, as crutches, the things that are strong to support the things that aren't so strong, and so some of those weak places never develop.  In most of life I feel that we are a lot better off getting a more well-rounded self.  If you have a bunch of muscles working together it's easier and more efficient than just having 2 strong muscles trying to do it alone.

So now when I try to do things, whether in yoga or in everyday life, it's easier. When I'm at work and have to reach for some heavy case, it feels like everything is working in conjunction with everything else and I can lift the case without strain.  Even my reflexes are better.  In yoga, getting into Handstand for the first time several weeks ago was easy too.  It was inspiring and made me want to come to class more.   I had been working Down Dog on the Wall for a long time, using this "downlevel" to build the necessary strength toward Handstand.  I wasn't interested in struggling just to be in the pose -- I waited until I actually felt strong enough to do the pose with integrity.  I really appreciate that I wasn't asked to go from 0 to 10, but was given these intermediary steps.  I was then shown a way to uplevel Down Dog on the Wall and use it to strengthen serratus in a big way.  I did this for several classes and felt like there was a real advancement in strength as a result.  Then I felt like I was ready for Handstand. There was no fear because I knew I was physically ready.

I've been to other yoga classes where all the communication is one-way, i.e. only the teacher speaks.  It's not that there is chit-chatting at Turbodog, but there are little bits of talking to the teacher that make the experience more collaborative.  For example, the teacher will ask for feedback about what a particular student is feeling or whether an assist is helpful, and that communication helps me progress much faster.

At Turbodog you can get about as strong of a workout as possible.  I really like that.  It's a place where I can get spiritual growth and a lot of strength training too.  I feel like I'm advancing myself physically in ways that are going to last a long time. When my life gets really busy and I have to miss yoga for a couple of weeks, I don't lose all the progress I've made.  That speaks volumes about how we work.  It's lasting change.

At the end of each class  when my muscles finally get to relax I really welcome Savasana which was never the case in other yoga practice.  Often there is a place of bliss I find that I've rarely found anywhere else.  I guess a place "that I've rarely found anywhere else" is how I would describe my overall experience at Turbodog. " – Frost, October 2012

"I'm very type A and I have great expectations. I must excel at everything I try. My habit was to beat myself up and push myself. I used to believe that unless I did an hour of cardio each day, I was not a full and complete person. Now I understand that that wasn't a smart way of working with my body. I'm in better shape today, because of my yoga, than I was back then. And as a bonus, when I walk out of yoga I feel calmer, and I also feel like I've got more reserve, more energy.

One day in class you saw me indulging my old struggle behavior, and you said to me "You know, you'll still be loved even if you can't do this pose." And that just really got to the core of what I needed to address in order to move forward. I'm now kinder with myself, and I no longer define myself by whether I do a certain pose. Who was I impressing by cramming my leg behind my head when it wasn't ready? Who was I trying to please? I've learned that I'm an ok person and I kinda like myself a little bit more because I'm not beating myself up, not judging myself anymore. I used to be a huge judge. I feel like my judge has quieted and it's a wonderful place to be. Your guidance and your willingness to work with me to help me figure out what is happening on an emotional level is something I would not have gotten practicing either on my own or somewhere else where the practice wasn't geared so much toward that healing component.

Additionally, one of the things I love about practicing at Turbodog is that even though I may have done a particular pose a million times before, you will share something new that you discovered about that pose, and that helps me rediscover it or go deeper. You offer your insights without dogma, like "Hey this might work for you, try it. If it works for you, that's great. If it doesn't, it doesn't. No problem." And that is a great attitude because if it doesn't work, I don't feel like there is anything wrong with me.

I've been practicing with Steve and Talya for about 5 years nearly every day because I would go crazy otherwise! I find that if I don't practice, I feel like a piece of me hasn't come alive. And I only practice at Turbodog because Turbodog is a welcoming place that feels like my family. I know and love the people there. And there are no better teachers -- which isn't to say that there aren't great teachers out there. Turbodog lets me embrace my type-A personality in a safe way. The practice can be as intense as I want it to be physically, or I can pull it back as I need to. It has helped me stay healthy and strong as I get older. You guys are very good at observing and knowing how to use the poses to help what ails me, and that's the beauty of it. It's not like I'm just going to a random class. You know where I am physically, and you can tell where I am mentally. To me that's a great gift, and I don't know a lot of people who have that. Sometimes I hate it too because I can't hide. I can tell "Oh damn, they figured it out." I've never been in a practice that's touched on so many points - the emotional, physical, the challenge, the kindness, the food for thought, and the encouragement to just feel. As a result, one of the greatest gifts I've gotten is that the stuff I used to use as ammunition against myself has shifted into being simply "good information" (as you call it) that helps me make better decisions for myself both on and off the mat. " – Andrea Brands, July 2012

"The biggest gift I've received from practicing at Turbodog is learning how to make things easy. I'm a master at forcing, always have been -- whether it's relationships, my body or my career -- I've tried really hard to fit myself into a mold. And it never worked. I wound up unfulfilled in my relationships, working my poses ineffectively and going from job to job. That's all been changing thanks to my time at Turbodog Yoga.

I practice at the studio approximately 3 times a week. All the personal attention I receive during class has helped me learn how to change the poses to make them fit my body, rather than attempting to fit my body to the pose. Oftentimes this means "downleveling" the pose, i.e. making it easier. The result has been that I get much more out of it than before. Two simple, but profound, examples are: both Steve & Talya have suggested that I work Dolphin with my knees down since my shoulders are so tight. They saw that I would struggle with the pose and not be able to shift my weight into my legs. Keeping the weight forward meant that I was never able to engage my shoulder muscles very well and could never stretch and open them. Since working Dolphin with the knees down, everything around my shoulder joints is turning on and my shoulders are changing. And let me tell you, I'm not sure why it's called a "downleveling", because it is just as hard, if not harder, than working Dolphin with the knees up. Similarly with Abdominals. Anne has been helping me figure out how to do the abs in a way that works for my body. We've been trying endless variations and have finally found what works. Now I actually feel my abdominals. I am strengthening them and am going much deeper into them, even though I'm doing an "easier" version of the pose.

This new way of working has helped me connect to myself in a deeper way too. For the first time in my life it feels like I'm truly connected to and can feel my body. And I'm using that connection to help me make choices. Decisions have always been challenging for me because of my tendency to try to figure it out with my brain, which leads to over-analyzing. Recently I have been able to feel my "gut-feeling" about things, and use that feeling to make a choice. Making good choices is much easier now. My body offers a clarity that my brain never has. I know what the right choice is and I can make it confidently. Recently, I've used this newfound connection to help me choose to leave a long-standing relationship I had been agonizing over, for what felt like forever, and to begin a new relationship which is much more in alignment with what I really want. And because I listened to my body, it was easy!

Turbodog is so special! In addition to the amazing teachings and growth I have experienced, it is also a place that feels like family. Many yoga studios say that they are about community, but at Turbodog you actually feel that it's true. I have met and connected with more people at Turbodog than at any other studio I've ever practiced in, and I've been practicing yoga for years. Thank you Turbodog! " – Stacy Armistead, April 2012

"A little over a year ago I started attending yoga classes at my gym to break up the monotony. I'd tried it before but had been too restless or impatient. This time it was different. But I didn't just like any class, I was drawn to one particular class. I thought it was the teacher, and it was, but it was also the style of yoga; something about it spoke to me.

Prior to taking that class at the gym, I had a rough few years. I had moved around a lot and worked jobs where the atmosphere was loaded with disrespect and toxicity. I felt that my job was a reflection of who I was. If I wasn't respected there, then maybe I wasn't worthy of respect at all, from others or myself. In March of last year, the migraines that had been occurring since I was eleven increased in intensity and frequency so that they can only be described as epic. On top of that, my shoulders began to ache, whine, crunch and pinch. They were numb and stiff at first and then sore all day.

I found Turbodog Yoga, a studio devoted to the yoga style I resonated with, and told my boyfriend that I was going to check it out. To my surprise, he wanted to go with me! Going to yoga together has deepened our relationship immensely because it has opened up an ongoing conversation about how our body reacts to events in our lives. I feel that because of sharing our practice, I know him better and appreciate him more.

Since June, I attempt to go three to four times a week. There have been a few weeks that I haven't gone at all and my body begs me to get back to it. When I return, my shoulder pain decreases because I now know that I don't need to argue with my pain. I can activate my serratus and make a safe place for my neck and shoulders to relax. I can breathe into areas of my body whereas before, my breath was quite shallow. On top of that, I began to have greater confidence in myself and felt more grounded. This new sense of self helped me to transition to a healthier workplace.

My headaches continue, but the last time I had one, I turned on my ujjayi breath. After about ten minutes, a miracle occurred and my pain decreased enough that I could peel myself off the floor. My stomach wasn't nauseous, the panic caused by the pain subsided. In twenty four years, I have never once been able to do anything to make my headache go away. Although the headache and it's after effects continued for close to a week, my relationship to the pain changed. I returned to yoga class and connected with breath more than ever before. Although I would be so excited to finally get into handstand or some other challenging pose, it feels great just to be involved in a community created by people who care deeply about what they do. " – Alix Burns, February 2012

"In my life I am often in the position of caring for others. I give to my husband, my sweet rambunctious kids, my friends, my clients, and my students on a daily basis. As a caregiver, I know that in order to be any good at any of these roles that I have to take care of myself first. As you can imagine, my life is fast paced and when I gave myself the time my workouts tended to be fast paced as well. I found that my spirit, mind and body were constantly racing. In the past year I have been listening to the voice that has been telling me to slow down and actually feel, sit with, listen to and savor myself, my life. I explored several types of yoga and Turbodog Yoga resonated for me immediately. I appreciate the ability to focus on my breath, to hold poses and sit with and breathe through the sometimes difficult or exhilarating feelings that come with them and the delicious heat.

Since I started at Turbodog in September, I come to yoga 3-4 times a week. Several years ago, I tried yoga with a friend. Even with blocks, I could not hold downward facing dog. My belief was that I was not strong enough for yoga. I held that belief for years. With a consistent practice, I have been amazed to see how strong I really am. Now, I am not only doing downward facing dog, but downward facing dog on the wall. I am consistently more aware of my breath and find myself taking moments out of my day to relish the ability to breathe deeply and fully. I realize more now how I tend to hold tension in my jaw, neck and shoulders and so I remind myself to relax several times a day. My mind tends to race and wander less and when it does, I am less judgmental with myself in guiding myself back to the present moment. In setting an intention for each practice, I give myself the time and space to focus on my own needs, wishes and desires. It is my time to give myself the care and attention that I offer to others.

Two years ago I lost one of my best friends to breast cancer. It was a devastating time in my life and a wakeup call. For years I had been on the go and had not paid attention to the physical self with which I have been blessed. I went through a period of time where I could not take a deep breath. I had learned the healing power of breathing during both of my natural pregnancies, but I did not truly tap into it past the births. One of my essential learnings at Turbodog Yoga has been the therapeutic wonder that is breathing. It is simple, yet profound. I get to breathe." – Cynthia Langtiw, December 2011

"My gym was really competitive and I used to get blisters from working out. I was ready for a change. My girlfriend Alix suggested I check out Turbodog Yoga. I started with the 10-day new student offer and liked it so much that I became a member. I've been coming to Turbodog 3-5 times a week since June and aside from it being really fun it has made a big difference on my body as well as on my life. First off, I've noticed that my posture has gotten much better -- my shoulders, a place I carry a lot of tension, are more open and my hips are slowly opening too, even though I realize that I still have a ways to go. Also, all the hand opening poses we've been doing recently have made a big difference on my creative flow. I'm a musician and I've noticed that yoga has helped me get in touch with my creativity in a new way -- I experiment more in my music, trying out new things, and it's all coming with much greater ease. I've learned that the harder I force, the less I can do. I have to try not to try :)

I am much more connected to my body now and to its signals. When I feel that my body is tense or anxious, I pause and explore what might be going on emotionally to explain the physical reaction. Uncovering the emotional issue then allows me to do something to address the situation. Or if I'm feeling emotionally upset, I check out how my body is responding to that, which allows me to stay present with what's going on and to keep my body from going into further pain.

One of the things I learned in Anne Paulson's Friday night class -- I love that class! -- which really resonated with me was that we carry things in our body, especially when we feel responsible for other people, but that we can only be responsible for ourselves. That was really groundbreaking for me, the notion that I only need to be responsible for myself. So now I take care of myself more and don't take on other people's stuff as much.

One of the ways that I take care of myself is by taking 2 hours a day that are just for me, the 2 hours that I come to yoga. It feels really healthy to me to take that time for myself, to take care of myself." – Andre Foisy, October 2011

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago and started coming to Turbodog 1 year later, just after a series of reconstructive surgeries. I'd been doing yoga for over 15 years but came to Turbodog because I wanted to develop and deepen my practice around healing and repairing myself. Coming out of a double mastectomy and then a hysterectomy, my body felt foreign to me -- I had lost parts of my body, gained new parts and nothing seemed to move or function as it used to. My chest and armpits were very constricted due to the scar tissue and it was painful as it began to stretch and open up. Rather than sitting at home and feeling sorry for myself, something I had learned long ago doesn't work, I made a commitment to come to yoga at Turbodog at least 3 times a week.

I remember when I first began coming, right after the surgery, I couldn't lift my arms nearly as much as I can today, and now there is no pain or pulling. Today, my elbows are behind my head and I can stretch my arms up towards the ceiling and towards the back of the room. On my last visit to my surgeon he was very impressed with the extent of the mobility I have acquired since my post-operative period. I have even surpassed the mobility I had prior to the surgery. What I have accomplished is beyond what I ever thought I would be able to do!

Steve and Talya were amazing at learning about what was going on with my body and then coaching me on how to use my breath to open the areas that were constricted. Talya would put her hands on my chest or press against my ribs to help me relearn how to breathe up into my chest. My breath seemed to be blocked and no energy was being allowed to circulate through the areas that needed it most. Now I feel the movement and strength of my breath enabling the energy to circulate freely in those areas that had been traumatized. This is very healing and has given me a sense of normalcy, which is what every cancer patient strives for.

Turbodog has become a safe haven for me. I can be driving towards the studio on a Wed. night after work and my head will be telling me all the reasons why I should go right by the Damen exit and head home -- "I'm so tired, so stressed etc etc", but the minute I walk into the peacefulness of the studio, my body relaxes. By the time I leave, I could care less if an atomic bomb went off. Without fail, I always feel that good! The space is bright and welcoming. I wouldn't change a thing about it. On those days when the sun streams in through the windows and caresses my face, it feeds my soul. I have scheduled my classes in my calendar so no matter what is going on, I make sure I come to class at least 3 times a week. At Turbodog, I feel cared for and truly held. I am not treated like a cancer person, which is so common in so many other situations. Rather, I am a courageous warrior and I get the space to practice fully embodying that spirit.

There have been so many breakthroughs for me. Steve and Talya are very skillful at teaching the physical elements of the poses -- but they take it further, they also teach life skills that support me on a daily basis. I am constantly applying things I learn in their classes.

For example, one of the greatest lessons I have learned and continue to develop through my practice at Turbodog is the art of waiting. When I get into a posture I can't do or struggle with, I've learned that rather than freaking out or just reacting out of fear, I wait and just focus on my breath, knowing and trusting that something will eventually open up. This has been invaluable in my journey in life -- especially with my healing process. There were so many opportunities along the way where I got close to letting it all go or reacting from fear -- hearing the diagnosis, the invasive surgeries, etc -- but instead I chose to wait -- breathe and wait, breathe and wait - and always, information would come to me that would allow me to make good decisions. This ability to hold steady has permeated my daily life and my job as a nurse. At one nursing job, giving medications was always a hectic and stressful time- exactly the time you don't want to be stressed. I developed a technique: when I had to give medications to my patients, I would always stop and take at least 3 very deep breaths in front of the medication cart, to get centered and focused. Only then would I pick out the medications I needed. This breath ritual of mine brought me into the moment with clarity in order to avoid making an error which could harm someone if I accidently grabbed the wrong medication. Being able to steady myself and breathe in various situations in my life has served me well and I am sure will continue to do so!" – Carol Griffith, August 2011

"I used to have a vintage Mercedes convertible and spent a lot of time on ebay, shopping for shirts. I was part of a masters swim team. We pushed each other, but not nearly as hard as I pushed myself. One part of my mind was a riding crop; another part was a jockey; and when I swam, (or did anything, really) I flogged myself relentlessly. The nights I didn't swim, I ran on the lake, no matter how cold it was. The nights I didn't swim or run, I felt guilty. I never stretched. The Mercedes often broke. The shirts I bought rarely fit.
 
It took a few years, but this way of living ceased to be viable. The hot start-up I worked for went out of business. I was in a lot of pain. I rarely slept well. How could I sleep when I'd worked so hard and none of my hard work had paid off?
 
I first started going to yoga because I felt like I'd tried everything else. My girlfriend (now wife) Michelle often went, and she always came home feeling better. She'd just moved to Chicago and was trying out studios, trying to find her yoga home. I went with her a few times. It was okay.
 
Michelle finally found one of Steve's classes. I was in London on a freelance job and she was so excited she emailed me. She used a lot of exclamation marks, as is her custom. She'd found an amazing class. It kicked my ass, but I loved it! she wrote.
 
And Steve had a wife who also taught yoga! And they were opening a new studio!!!
 
When I got home I went to one of Talya's classes. It kicked my ass, but I'm not sure I loved it. People were jumping into the air and doing splits. I was sweating profusely and struggling to touch the ground with straight legs. And I couldn't flog myself forward, because the class just went on and on. There's something about holding positions that makes it clear flogging doesn't work.
 
I liked it enough to keep coming back, and when Turbodog opened I signed up for a membership. I used to have wars with myself. Go. Don't go. Go. Don't go. Why am I going? I don't fight those wars so much anymore. I do yoga three or four times a week now. When I'm on the road, I take a mat. I've been doing yoga for almost two years.
 
Why have I kept it up? I stand taller. I have less pain in my neck and shoulders. My core is stronger. I find it easier to keep weight off--even easier than when I was swimming and running every day.
 
I've had a lot of breakthroughs in yoga classes and on retreats. It's hard to pick one. They share certain commonalities: waves of breath rolling through the length of my body, a sense of expansiveness, an openness to possibility, the ability to hold things a little lighter. I don't know. When it's there, it's there. I know it sounds abstract. I feel like I should tell a specific story.   
 
I guess the story I'll share is that not too long ago, I had a job interview for a full-time position. It was a great opportunity, and I'd worked my ass off to make it happen. For my final interview, I'd have to stand up in front of twenty people, describe myself, tell my story, and explain why I should get the job. It was for a creative position, so I'd have to be creative. As a writer, I'd have to tell great stories. And be funny. And not ramble on. And breathe! I'd done enough yoga by that point to know I'd have to breathe or everything would go to hell.
 
I'd put a lot of time into the presentation. I'd rehearsed in front of Michelle. Still, the stakes were so high: I'd put my work up in front of everyone and they'd decide whether or not I'd get the job. I could feel the jockey and the riding crop perking up. What if I wasn't good enough? What if I didn't deserve it? What if... 
 
An hour before the presentation, I went for a walk around the block. It was the middle of winter and everyone was out for lunch in the loop, wearing their hats and their scarves and their puffy jackets. It was all dramatic, cold, severe. No doubt, I'd been doing a lot to make it feel that way. For some reason, I started thinking about my yoga retreats, about singing "The River Song." You know, the wishi-ta-do-ya one. 
 
I sang the song in my head. I sang it out loud, right there in the loop, surrounded by business people. There was something in the song itself: its exuberance, its fierceness, its build. It got all the fears and doubt to move. Singing the song reminded me I'm not afraid of taking risks, of trying things, of putting myself out there. Suddenly, I could breathe. 
 
Going back in and doing the presentation in that spirit was a huge victory for me. I got the job too." – David B., June 2011

"Not long ago, I was having a difficult time dealing with stress and change.  I had recently started a new job and was fearful that I would not succeed. My mind was chaotic and I found myself questioning my role in the world. My self confidence was low and I was ready to try something different. I thought yoga might help and I began looking for a studio that felt right.

After my first class at Turbodog I felt great!  I thought, "this will work... I will quiet my mind for a bit and get a good work-out (for a Type-A woman who was at the gym 5 times a week at 6:00 am I was initially most concerned with the quality of the work-out)."

However, after a few more classes, I quickly learned that Turbodog offers so much more than just exercise for my body... more importantly, it provides exercise for my soul!  I've been moved to tears on many occasions because of simple guidance delivered during practice that helped me execute a pose for the first time... which makes me feel both completely empowered and totally blissed out!

Prior to yoga, I worked out with a personal trainer for many, many years (2x per week).  Of course, I thought I was strong then. But Now I feel "strong" from the inside out. I am so much more flexible.  It's been amazing watching my body move into poses.  I find myself sitting straighter...standing taller... moving effortlessly through life.

Another amazing benefit is that as my body has slowly opened and strengthened, my mind has also opened and begun to remove the layers of doubt and fear. One thing that has changed dramatically is my "I can't" attitude.  Prior to yoga I would dismiss a situation or challenging task by saying "I can't do that."  Through yoga, by working through the challenging poses, I learned what I can do!  My approach to these situations has completely changed on and off the mat.  Yoga frees me from my limiting thoughts and helps me detach fromthings that really aren't important in my life!

With this yoga, I feel better than ever. I can be completely exhausted or stressed when I walk into class... but when I leave, I feel like myself, connected to myself. And to be surrounded by the other students in the wonderful Turbodog community who are feeling the same thing, I know I've found my home away from home. What a gift that is for me. Thank you Steve and Talya for doing what you do... I'm so very grateful to have found you."

– Marissa Nunez, April 2011