I LOVED MY FIRST CLASS. I'M HOOKED!!

Jenny C.

3/16/08 - Today I went to your studio to surprise my cute friend, Portia, b/c she said she was going to the 10:00 class. Your studio has really changed in the past year, Wayne! Kudos to you!!! It is consistently hot and humid, and ALL of the teachers are SO sweet, helpful, sincere and warm. I really wish you were closer to my home. However, when I do make it over there, I always have a good class. Congrats on your expanding studio, your new heating system (obviously works well!!!) and your continued growth. I always send people your way and I will continue to do so. I’m sure I will see you soon.

Thanks again!
Laura Pastor

Thank you all of your for your guidance over the past six months. Bikram Yoga has really changed my life! Until last September I had never found a form of exercise that I enjoyed as much as I enjoy this Yoga. I always look forward to coming to class and know that I will leave feeling exhilarated. When I miss more than a day or two, I feel less balance in my day to day life. Moreover, I have lost 45 pounds since I started coming to Yogagroove and am finally getting some tone in my body!!! Overall, I'm getting to a place of being healthy again. So, thank you so much for all of your support and guidance -- and a push to continue to strive for my best. As instructors, each of you have imparted your own wisdom or knowledge upon me and I thank you for that.

Thanks so much!
Eileen Schrandt

hi wayne and the all the teachers at yogagroove,

congratulations on your rapid growth and success in the recent months. it has been a joy to watch yogagroove evolve since i joined "the family". i just celebrated my one year yoga anniversary on february 22, YIPPY!!! thanks to each one of you for your unique perspective in the classroom. when i come to your studio i feel like i am home. my life is forever changed because of yogagroove and for that i offer my deepest appreciation and thanks.

see you in class,
jaime jo

This challenge has been transformative for me: I lost ten pounds, felt stronger, more flexible, and happier. I know you all recognize the benefits of this yoga, and you have shared them with me in such a great way. I felt invited to join the studio community, and that is because of you.

The way you work to know our names and help us with our postures is wonderful. I've never received that at another yoga studio, and it makes such a huge difference.

Thanks for your support, and I'll see you soon!
Katie Lincoln-Goldfinch (on the left)

Dear Wayne,
I made it and now two hours later I m still breathing! It did not kill me after all and I am definitely coming back. When I came late this morning (not having a clue what to expect) and realized how late I was -- I felt a little embarrassed -- however you and your instructor made me feel so very welcome. I also wanted you to know how much I appreciated your instructors. Yes I was new --- Yes I did not have a clue what I was doing --- but without bringing those issues to the attention of anyone else in the class, she was able to guide me almost one on one and still teach to the rest of the class. Now that's a real professional! Also, after class I met Molly who was also so very encouraging and kind. Then I found out that she is also a teacher --- so my point is --- you have certainly found the best --- not only in their teaching abilities but just as important --- their kindness.

Thanks,
Elaine Enriquez

I absolutely love Bikram Yoga! Wayne, you and the other instructors are awesome! Everyone has been welcoming and professional. Your studio is great. I have already noticed a difference that the practice has made in my life.

Thank you!
Jenine Delaney

Yogagroove is such an inviting, wonderful Bikram Yoga Studio. The instructors know your name and the classes are always challenging as well as rewarding.  I would encourage anyone who has not tried a Bikram class to come to Yogagroove. You won’t regret it.

I’m addicted!
Tiffany Deighton, REALTOR®, http://www.tiffanydeighton.com

Having practiced Bikram Yoga in Chicago, Miami and various studios around Texas, I am so pleased to have found Yogagroove in Austin. It is the first studio I have been to where I always feel welcome and at ease. The atmosphere is vibrant, and the instructors are inspiring. Whenever people ask me about doing "hot" yoga, I direct them to Yogagroove, telling them that it is the best place to learn About Bikram and expand their yoga practice.

Anne Dadura

I found Yogagroove while training for my first marathon. I didn't think that yoga would count as a real workout, but I was willing to use it on my 'off' days. Not only was I totally wrong about that, but it really helped me keep my body in shape and heal injuries during and after my race. If you want a hard workout that's truly good for all aspects of your being, you should definitely try it out.

Ali

I live in North Dallas. Grapevine Bikram is our home base. My wife is a dedicated yogi there and I go whenever the schedule allows me.  I really had two very good classes at your studio. I was especially impressed by your instructors. They were very good to me. The instructors were very informative and totally in the game. I learned a lot in my two sessions and I am very thankful for that. Thank you. I, as we all are, am on the path to better my health, spirit, and mind. I visit Austin once to twice a month. I will definitely be taking a class on my next visit. Have a great day and thank you for giving me Yoga on my visits. I am grateful...

Steven Jesse Leon,
Area Kitchen Operations Manager, The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc.

When I first attended Yogagroove, my body fat went from 14% to 9% in less than 4 weeks. I eventually had to quit because I had a goal of gaining as much weight as possible in a year, and I was stuck at the same weight no matter how hard I tried.

After a rock climbing accident several months later, I started taking classes at Yogagroove as part of my physical therapy. I lost 10lbs in the first 3 weeks. I had increased my diet by the amount I estimated I would need to maintain the same weight.

Overall, I notice increased energy levels, higher libido and am able to stay more focused during the day. After a few days of practicing, I don't notice any body odor at all, even if I don't shower. No one believes that one!

It has been a long time since I have taken classes, the beer belly keeps on growing, for the first time in my life I would like to loose a little.

Jeff

I have to admit that I wasn't keen on the idea of doing the same 26 poses every class, since the past 13 years I have been practicing Hatha Yoga with an emphasis on Sun Salutations. However, I started to really get into Bikram when I began practicing these postures. I felt by focusing on these very important poses that I could actually deepen my practice, and I gained a lot of balance and strength.

Renee

Wayne , just want you to know that I'm so pleased with the results I'm getting that I signed up for a slug of 50 more classes.  My hip is virtually pain free these days.  I can tie my left shoe again, and I can see the left side of my left leg again! My wife is pleased with the results too, she'd rather pay bills for yoga than pain killers and didn't bat an eye at the $450 credit card charge.  (Wish I could I could slide some more big ticket items by that easily.) 

I've noticed that your attendance numbers are picking up.  That's good to see!

Also wanted to remind you that if and when you decide to look for a second location, I would be glad to talk with you about how I could help.  Our firm specializes in exclusive tenant representation for commercial property. See you soon….

Mark Ferguson,
Commercial Real Estate Solutions,
1717 West Sixth Street, Suite 340,
Austin , Texas 78703
(512) 542-4000 x103,
(512) 542-4001 (fax)
http://www.cresolutions.com

Hey Wayne-o, I am writing to tell you about my experiment this week.  I had so many injuries (neck, back, knee, glute, hamstring, elbow) when I came in Monday (after 3 weeks of my kids being gone I think my body was rebelling against the tennis, volleyball, long workouts, no sleep, etc.), that I thought I would just push trough 3 days straight of yoga and see how I felt.  Well, Bikram worked (as usual).  I am off to So Cal this evening on vacation feeling much better.  Thanks and have a great rest of your week.  See you Monday or Tuesday.

Take Care of you,
Kim A. Marks-Moore

On Labor Day, Yoga studios around Austin sponsored 'A Free Day of Yoga.' I used that opportunity to try Bikram Yoga . Many people that I had talked to About Bikram loved it, for various reasons, but mainly because it was a really good workout for a yoga class. Bikram yoga is held in a room at 105 degrees & 40% humidity, and consists of the same 26 postures performed 2 times, in the same order, for the same duration each class.

I was expecting it to be hot. I was expecting it to be difficult. I was expecting not to like it. I was not expecting to leave class. I was not expecting to be the best one in the class. I was expecting to be able to hold my own - and I think I did hold my own.

My initial thoughts were 'I don't think that my body is designed to do that' (and, oddly enough, 'I could go for a burger' !?!?). There were just some flexibility poses that were extremely difficult to do.

I do believe that everyone's body is different from each others bodies - the way we process food, the way we move, how we process information... and much of that is genetic. Some people are just naturally more flexible than others - it's  the way we are built. I remembered a news story a few years ago that stated that orthopedic surgeons were seeing an increase in business due to hot yoga. Because the room is hot, students are able to move their joints beyond their normal range of motion, causing undue stress on their tendons & joints.

Although I am not a hyper-flexible person, I do recognize that I could get better & I didn't think that I could make a sound judgment after just one class. So, I joined a local Bikram studio and am committed to doing it for a month. I saw definite improvement after my second class. I was able to get into the most of the positions better - even those positions that I thought that I wasn't supposed to be able to get into. By the third class, it didn't seem like the class lasted forever & in fact, it sped by pretty quickly. It really is a good workout too. I wore my heart-rate monitor, and with each class I burned at least 450 Calories.

One disadvantage to Bikram Yoga is that it is a time commitment. Class lasts for 90 minutes. Add in commuting time & we're up to 2 hours. Then, remember that the class is held in a 105 degree room & there's no way you're going anywhere without a shower and some food. So we're up to 2.5 - 3 hours just for yoga. But, I do have to say that I feel really good afterwards; completely decompressed & stretched out. It feels pretty fantastic.

So, I'm in. 3-4 days a week. Let's see if I re-join after the month is up.

oh, and I never had that burger (in case you were wondering...) 

Footnote : As with any class that you take, the teacher/instructor/facilitator makes the world of difference in your experience. I tried two different yoga studios, and even though the class is the same 26 postures, done in the same order, the two experiences were very different. The first studio I went to just had a completely different vibe than the second; most folks seemed to be very "into" their bodies. I'm pretty sure that each of the teenage boy looking women in the class were on a restrictive calorie diet - They seemed to be there more for the prestige of Bikram rather than the experience. Whereas the vibe that I received with the studio that I joined was so much more relaxed - the class seemed more like yoga than a workout. Kudos to Rebecca.

new 01/28/2008 >>> http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.aspx

Elizabeth Sherman,
Wellness Coach

I just want to let you know that the studio looks fabulous! I also wanted to mention that I am very happy that I found Yogagroove! I love the teachers and the class. It has given my life a new meaning. I am new to Austin, but this just reiterates what a wonderful place it is.

Thank you! -
Lydia