Park Cities Yoga

Beth M. shares her story . . .

I am a 34-year-old mother of two who spends most of her time with her feet planted firmly on the ground. I've taken a couple of yoga classes in the past at local dime-a-dozen studios, and have been thoroughly unimpressed. The instructors of these studios just generically put the class through a series of poses. It was not life-changing, nor was I seeing a physical benefit. I stayed away from yoga for several years because of this apathy my experience gave me.

I became friends with the Farrell family a few years ago. My first experience with the teachings of Jeff Farrell was through my husband. His back was in a considerable amount of pain and he didn't know what to do. I casually mentioned it to Jeff's wife, Donna, who immediately told Jeff about it. Next thing I knew, Jeff and my husband were talking on the phone. Jeff instructed my husband on some movements he could use in our home to relieve his pain. The pain was alleviated through these movements very quickly. It takes a special kind of instructor to accurately describe movements over the telephone, and I recognized that about Jeff that day. I soon learned for myself this was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Jeff's teaching capabilities.

I was under a great deal of stress from an onslaught of day-to-day inconveniences. It was suggested to me that I take a yoga class. Yoga for stress??? That's what pharmaceuticals and wine are for. No? My previous recollection of yoga class at other establishments put me in a skeptical mindset, but I was ready for a little me time. I knew Jeff had really helped my husband, so I hoped he could help me in some capacity.

I entered the class, which was small. I was nervous, because I didn't know the names of all of the yoga poses. Nor did I don proper yoga fashion. I hoped I wouldn't get lost during the class or make a fool of myself for not knowing what I was doing. Jeff invited me in and immediately showed me how to position myself against the nearest wall. For the next hour, I felt as if I were in a private yoga session. Although, everyone received the same amount of attention, every bit of it was personalized. He challenged us. He didn't let us take the easy way. He explained every detail of every single thing he asked us to do, from the history to the purpose.

His calming voice was so soothing and it was clear he was in tune with every one of us in the room. I wept. The release was so overwhelming. I had not expected to have that kind of reaction to this practice. I am not one to worry about getting my chakras aligned, or what have you. For me to literally cry, was rather out of character. For once in a very long time, I was able to completely put aside my worries and just focus on what I was there to do. Although the environment was very calm and relaxing, my mind was not left to wander and dwell on hard times. The bonus was that I walked away physically feeling like I had done something positive for my body.

I returned, with my husband, to a larger group class. I was concerned that I would not have the same personal experience as I did with the smaller class. My husband had never taken a yoga class in his life, so he didn't know what to expect. This time was a little more physically intensive, but nothing I could not handle. Jeff seemed to have eyes on all sides of his head, because he knew what was going on with each person in the room. He tweaked our poses and challenged us, all while encouraging us to do our best and educating us on the practice.

My husband lifts weights several times per week. He is very muscular. His comment immediately following the class was something about it not being as physically challenging as he had expected. I snickered to myself, "Oh you just wait, buddy." He was singing a different tune the next day. He spends about 10 hours per week at the gym lifting weights. He said the soreness he was experiencing was on par with a heavy lifting day. I could concur. I felt that class for about 4 days!

I do not know if I would be a "yoga" person, in general. However, my experience with Jeff as a teacher, has certainly opened my eyes to how much he stands out in his field. It is simply not a yoga class when you practice with Jeff; it is a whole body tune-up, from mind to toe. I recommend PCY, without hesitation, to anyone who is skeptical, cynical, or overwhelmed with yoga.
 

How has yoga practice at Park Cities Yoga made an impact on your life?  Did you know that your story can have a positive impact on someone else?  Help inspire others who are looking for a path to wellness in their life.  Share your story with us. We'll post it, in whole or in part, on our website.  Consider submitting a photo with your testimonial.  E-mail us here.

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Need help getting started?  Consider answering the following questions:

When did you first come to Park Cities Yoga, and why?

What did you expect when you started?

Did you experience what you expected?  Something other than what you expected?  Something beyond what you expected?

What physical differences did you begin to notice in yourself, either in the practice itself or in your daily life?

What mental/emotional differences did you notice?

Did others around you notice physical/mental/emotional changes in you?

Do you practice yoga outside of sessions at Park Cities Yoga?

Has your understanding of yoga changed over time?  If so, how?

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