Student of the Month 2008
Our students are wonderful! Their discovery and love of yoga speaks volumes to the transformation and benefits they have received by studying with the talented teachers at Lighten Up.
Read what they have to say . . .
January
Congratulations to Candace Dickinson!
I have taken classes at Lighten Up since July 2007. No matter how tired, depressed, stressed or blah I happen to feel going into class, I come out feeling wonderfully uplifted and relaxed, sensing that I have put my body back in balance physically as well as mentally for that day.
A friend and I were first introduced to the studio at the beginning of summer when a free class day was offered. We both were impressed with the knowledge and experience of the teachers as well as the immediate results we experienced. Attending classes at Lighten Up Yoga could only be a good addition to our lives!
My favorite asana are the standing poses such as the Warrior poses or the Gate pose because I love the feeling of strength and lengthening that I experience when doing them.
Outside of yoga class, I enjoy rollerblading, biking, hiking, working in the yard and playing bridge. Also quilting class is teaching me patience and persistence! I was a full-time English as a Second Language Instructor until this past December. Now I do that part-time as well as pet-sitting and volunteering at the Asheville Animal Shelter. |
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February
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Congratulations to Sandy Anderson!
I have been taking class at Lighten Up since January 1977. Free Yoga Day and some friends got me started.
Self Awareness, mental acuity, physical strength & inner peace are the benefits I receive from my yoga practice. I've been dealing with MS for 25 years so these have been great blessings.
By that nature of what Yoga is - the students, teachers & environment are peaceful and encouraging. This great combination is found at Lighten Up Yoga. My favourite asana is the triangle pose because the entire body is involved in this pose.
My other interests include reading, motorcycle riding, small hikes and harrasing Lillah. In that order. Presently, I am working as a bookkeeper, which means the chair is my enemy at work but a great friend when doing yoga.
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March
I have been taking classes at Lighten Up Yoga for about two years.
Benefits abound from my yoga practice. I don't recall ever making the decision to go to my weekly class with Adam Laufer and then regretting my decision. I always feel great after class. Physically, I find that my muscles loosen up and I gain strength. I notice improvement in my balance, a challenging area for me. Psychologically, I see the benefits of yoga breathing in relieving stress and helping me get to calm in day-to-day situations.
I choose to practice at Lighten Up because I enjoy Adam's approach. He laughs and jokes with students. He sets a tone of acceptance, kindness, and patience in his classes. It is clear that Adam has a high level of knowledge and skills and he loves to have fun.
I have two favorites. The first one that comes to mind is child's pose. When I curl myself into a ball for the pose, I feel just like a kid, strong but also vulnerable. My other favorite is downward facing dog on the wall. The wall fascinates me as it shows how the same or similar goals can be met in such a variety of ways. When I do down dog on the wall my arms say, "Thank you for this nice break."
I enjoy hiking. I love vegetable gardening and the peaceful way I feel when my fingers are in the dirt. I love cooking, especially veggies from the garden.
I took early retirement from my job as a college professor and am pursuing writing, a long term goal and wish for me. I'm currently working on a novel and enjoying it most days.
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April
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I‘ve been taking classes at LUY since 1996, after I was diagnosed with MS.
The first thing that helped me the most was learning how to breathe properly.
I have chosen to take classes at LUY because Lillah has trained with Eric Small and she knows how to help people with MS.
My favourite asana is Supta padangusthasana because because it keeps me moving. It’s a form of exercise that I can do and I do believe it has kept me walking.
My other interests include hiking and working in the garden; anything that takes me outside.
I used to be a wholesale beauty supply sales representative but now I volunteer with the National MS Society and chair a support group. Though I don’t really feel like this is work because it’s something I feel so drawn to do because I know how important it is to have support when you are first diagnosed (and after) with MS.
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May
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June
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Bob Heckman
I met Lillah and started at Lighten Up in June 1998. Once I learned that the mind and body (and everything else) are interconnected, yoga became all things to me: exercise, spiritual discipline, knowledge of a new culture, gateway to religion.
I found that Lillah and her students are great learners, which makes them great teachers. If only doctors could expand their knowledge and adapt their practices as quickly! As a veteran student, I find something new in every weekly class.
My favorite asana is Warrior II because of the great pairs of opposites: down and up, lower and upper body, feet and shoulders, intensity and calm, power and flexibility. This asana allows me to practice one of the greatest things that I learned from Gea, "dominion over the feet."
Yoga seems to apply to everything: Contra dancing, windsurfing, hiking, fly fishing, cycling and kayaking are all better through the practice of yoga. I have fewer and less severe injuries, but mostly I have new ways of using the breath and the mind to make everything more fun.
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July
SUMMER VACATION
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August
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September
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October
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November
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December
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