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| Student Testimonials |
"I could write pages and pages on the many ways yoga has improved my physical and mental well-being. But after thinking about it, I decided that there is one totally unique aspect of bikram yoga at the base of all positive outcomes. It is a process that goes on forever.
I spend every day of my life fixing, conquering, and overcoming things as quickly and efficiently as possible. In contrast, I literally spent months and months working to wrap my foot around my calf in eagle pose. It took years of practice to be able to stay in standing bow for an entire minute.
I can't think of anything so humbling and yet rewarding as spending months and months to be able to gain mere millimeters of flexibility. This amazing series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises has slowed me down and taught me to enjoy individual seconds and minutes of my life instead of just months and years. I look forward to spending the next 5 years continuing my efforts to lock out my knees to perfection!"
Regards,
Angie Gallagher |
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“I am a former college athlete and was completely bored with working out until I came to Yoga Groove. Bikram yoga is the most challenging workout I have ever done. It has changed my attitude on life and my well being in such a positive way that I recommend it to anyone that will listen.”
Thanks,
Nancy |
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"I started doing Bikram yoga at Yogagroove in the summer of 2008 to get in shape before my wedding. I was never a great athlete and despised working out. The first day I attended was shortly after a full blown panic attack that I ended up missing work for. Three months after starting my practice I quit smoking. After the wedding I started a 60 day challenge on January 1st and have ended up working out more in this last year then I have ever worked out in my entire life. I’ve wasted my money on gym memberships that I never used, or never saw any true results from. A year and a half later I have been free of panic attacks (despite turning 30 ) and am still smoke free!
Practicing Bikram has helped me learn how to breathe and control my emotions, which has helped me in my career as an ICU nurse. It has helped me get in shape and feel more confident about my athletic abilities and ironically getting in shape in turn reduces the stress of trying on jeans and bathing suits! The thing I like best about Yoga Groove is that there are people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. How well you do in class is based on your own personal goals and not set to the pace of the best student. I’ve seen “muscle men” that can’t touch their toes, and little grandma’s that can do the splits. Class for me is always different, entertaining, and rewarding. It turns my bad days into good ones. Thanks Yogagroove!"
-Jessie Hazelwood
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"Hey ya'll! Happy Holidays,
Want to let you know that I've been traveling the country all of 2009 and discovered Bikram Yoga in July. I've wandered into a dozen plus Bikram studio's and your place is most definitely my favorite, truly an amazing space to practice in. You've done a great job in all aspects, hope my home studio in Salt Lake City can dial things in a bit like you."
Be excellent,
Beau Moody
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"I came to my first Bikram Yoga class in June of 2008 after a friend told me about this crazy yoga done in a hot room. Always up for trying new things, it sounded fun and like something I might enjoy....little did I know! Though my first class was rough (I could barely manage balancing on one leg, and lets not even mention the heat!), I loved it! I did my intro month, but as life would have it, I didn't come back until January.
I started the New Year like most - determined to lose weight, be healthy, etc.. I had a whole plan worked out in my head - yoga, swimming, weights, diet. I took class on January 2nd, and we were challenged to sign-up for the 60 day challenge. My former plan went out the window! I walked right out of the room at the end of class and signed-up for the challenge.
The first month was rough, and some days it took everything in me to make myself come to class. I went from being overweight and exercising maybe once a week, to being in a hot room everyday for 90 minutes. I can't say it got easier, but it became more routine, and it was slowly became more than just exercise.
At the encouragement of a teacher, I took my challenge from 60 days to 100 days, and it was absolutey worth it! Since January, I have dropped 3 pant sizes, lost over 30 pounds, and I am still dropping. But those numbers can't even begin to speak for what the yoga has come to mean to me. It is a daily challenge, a daily reminder to let go and just be, a reminder that there are things out of my control (no matter how much I mentally will the door open it's not going to open) and there are just as many that I do have control over (Breathe!), a chance to connect with myself both mentally and physically, and it is now something I look forward to everyday.
As I am nearing the end of my second 60 day challenge, I could not imagine my life without Bikram Yoga and Yogagroove. I feel happier, more confident, and more intune with myself than I have ever felt. I owe many thanks to the wonderful teachers at Yogagroove! Their support and encouragement have kept me going and made me challenge myself in new ways. Thank you, thank you! I have fallen in love with my practice and cannot wait to see where it will take me!!" -Ashleigh |
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"I started practicing Bikram Yoga in January after a New Years resolution to try something new. Since then I have become a more relaxed and well-balanced person. I had heard Bikram Yoga can help with confidence, determination and faith and it certainly lived up to its reputation.
In August, I moved across the country from Connecticut where I grew up, here to Austin, Texas to begin a six year long PhD program in government at UT-Austin. Without a doubt, I have Bikram to thank for giving me the courage to move to a new town and start my life over on my own.
Since starting my practice at Yogagroove, I no longer go to the gym, I'm a 100% yogi! The teacher's here are amazing; they are demanding yet encouraging and passionate about yoga. I love that all my teachers make an effort to know my name and give me personal corrections in class. My practice has become so much stronger in the last few months thanks to them. This past week, I completed my first double class, and my first advanced class....the first of many to come! After the holidays I intend to start and complete the Bikram 60 Day Challenge and in the next few years I hope to attend Bikram's Teacher Training so I can share this gift with others!"Thank you!
Connie Clark
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"All journeys do indeed start with the first step. How lucky I am to have taken that first step with Bikram. I was a bit hesitant when I first learned of this practice from my neighbor, but something nudged at me to at least try it. The first two classes I did left me amazed in how, even though I felt “off kilter”, I still loved it. This is an unexplainable mixture of emotions. It took only a couple of classes to overcome the “off kilter” part and was able to focus on the intensity of the poses. The changes I see developing within myself are perseverance, as I am determined to better myself physically while continuously attempting each pose and stamina in gradually developing and strengthening my core. While the physical aspects can give the sense of accomplishment, not to mention fitting into all my clothes so much better; I strive to also develop my sense of tolerance. This is one that will take a little more time for me.
I want to get to the point of truly feeling like “so what if that other person just plopped themselves right down in front of me with no sense of consideration that they are now blocking my view in the mirror”. How dare they, I was here first. She/he could at least ask. See what I mean? I honestly am working on this. Instead I now think to myself that moving over just a little is no big deal. By the end of the class all are worn but happy in that no ones missed out on the practice and your body and mind have thoroughly enjoyed the full 90 minutes. I can even forgive myself for not being able to correctly do each pose. This is all spilling over into my daily interactions outside of class. Although I am taking baby steps they are ones taking me forward and for helping me realize this; I thank you Bikram."
Namaste
Jo Cranshaw
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Hey Cosmo,
I just wanted you to know that i enjoyed both of my classes at Yogagroove. The instructors were spot-on and your facility is among the best that I've seen. I especially appreciate the well maintained heat/humidity in the classes. and, I don't know how many people use it, but the laundry service would change my life!
I live and practice in the Houston area. but whenever I visit austin, I'll be visiting your place.
Thank you for offering such a great studio!
Bobby |
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Hi there!
I have attended only two Bikram classes with you thus far, but have been quite impressed with the sincere welcome and relaxing environment even in such a short time. I practiced Bikram with devotion in Dallas for almost a year, but this was more than 4 years ago. The techniques and postures are coming back quickly with the reinforcement of the instructors detailed verbalization and encouragement.
I am very much looking forward to continuing Bikram with Yogagroove! Thanks so much for the extremely warm welcome (terrible pun...sorry!).
See you again soon...
~Kaylani |
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All at Yogagroove,
Just felt like sharing my testimonial.
In college I was a heafty 275 lbs. I tried to exercise, mainly bicycling, but I never ate well enough to keep from gaining weight. I lost weight and then put it back on. I got down to 220 but then over the course of the next year put on 25lbs. This continued to happen. After college I made the decision to drop the weight. I moved to DC, walked everywhere, began biking and eating veggies for lunch. Every day, it was veggies for lunch. This worked well until I moved to Austin. A combination of not having to walk everywhere and less than steallar bike paths led me to putting on a few pounds. I came to Austin at 220 but by the end of last year I was at 235lbs again. The time had come to add something to my routine. I was eating well, biking but I needed something that was going to make a lasting difference. My roommate decided to go to yoga on the advice of a friend. At first, I was EXTREMELY skeptical. How is sitting quitely in a room, stretching going to do anything for me. I like sport, impact, action, a challenge. Then she explained it was 105 degrees, high humidity, and very challenging poses. FINE, I'll go. That was January 1st 2008. Since then I have been a regaular yogagroover. In the first 2 months I lost 25 lbs. In the first 6 months I lost 50lbs. I have stayed at 185 but I have lost body fat % and gained muscle mass. I have not put on additional weight since I started going to yogagroove. Because of the challenge that Bikram Yoga presents, I still eat very healthy and make sure I hydrate well everyday.
I cannot imagine my lift without this fantastic practice and I am so glad I went to my first class. It is a challenge but the rewards are so much greater than any challenge I have taken on before.
THANK YOU YOGAGROOVE. - Justin |
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I started Bikram yoga about two or three years ago, coming once or twice a week with a friend. Then my friend dropped out, but I kept coming to class because it was the first form of exercise that I had enjoyed in a long time. I was a competitive swimmer for about ten years when I was much younger, but the minute I went to college I stopped exercising completely. After college I tried different things like kickboxing and pilates but nothing ever lasted for very long.
In January of 2009 I did my first 60 day challenge and although I did not complete it all, I lost 10 pounds in the process. I also won free unlimited yoga for a whole year! It felt to me like it was meant to be so I have continued my practice and I am now doing my second 60 day challenge which I will definitely finish. I am currently on day 50.
I think for me it is more about just proving to myself that I can do it, and that I can be in shape again. It has given me more energy as a teacher and my friends at school have definitely noticed the weight I have lost. I really appreciate all of the words of encouragement that I receive from the instructors on a daily basis. I am so happy that I have finally found something I can stick with.
Thanks,
Lindsay Breland
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My journey into Yogagroove...
I had come from another studio called "Innerfire" in Madison, Wi that offered Bikram, but they had many other classes (powerflow, zen.. etc) that I thought were less intense and did those regularly after testing out Bikram. I was able to lose 30lbs in this process.
I moved to Austin, TX in September 2008 (1 year ago!)
And when I started exploring different studios here, my first was "Yoga Yoga", I felt the cold rooms to be unwelcoming to my body, and the other styles such as Hatha or Hatha flow 'too easy', and when I tried the more challenging Ashtanga - the students facing each other in the room, was unappealing,
At the second, "Sunstone yoga", I found the hot practice to be moderately challenging, however the instructors never encouraged me to push myself, suggesting I take shorter 30 minute classes. And many of the teachers, while all different in style, uneducated in many foundational & traditional things about yoga .Many also used a speaker headset to instruct that was always cutting out, squealing, too loud, and barely tolerable, which often left me feeling more unnerved than when I arrived.
I then took 5-6 months off, and gained quite a bit of weight, and was ready to go out and try again. I had done much research on Yelp.com and came to the Yogagroove website after pursing the reviews there. And after reading the Yogagroove website in its entirety (especially the New Students & FAQS sections), I decided to take a class with a couple of friends, (who vowed that they would never come back due to the heat, and over all lack of determination). But myself personally - I had never felt so great! A month later when I got my car out of the shop, I decided to sign up for the 60 day challenge.
I have over 70lbs to lose, and with a past military history I knew I could find the will to drive on.
I find that each day is unique and different, however, I love that you know what to expect from your practice, and you have a variety of teachers whom all have shown that they are very knowledgeable in not only the postures, but their origination, and modifications.
Today will be my 15th consecutive day in the challenge, and already it has become my daily routine. I am already discovering improvement in my postures, more flexibility, and my body is starting to reshape itself. I won't say that I don't have pain as work through all my bodies changes, or sometimes I feel like I'm going to melt in the heat, but it becomes discipline & routine that I feel not only myself, but many other people crave.
The staff is very friendly, and highly educated, and I love how encouraging they are. I plan to make a home for myself at Yogagroove as my primary yoga studio.
Thank you,
Jenny Shea |
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I have been to Bikram yoga studios in four U.S. cities and in two different countries. Yogagroove is by far the best studio hands down. The environment is relaxed and accepting--the teachers and students foster a wonderful sense of community that enhances the rigor and holistic value quintessential to Bikram yoga.
Mia Pixley |
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