Jason and his wife, Mandy, consider Monday night yoga their date night.
Jason is co-owner of Old City Millwork and Mandy works as a project manager for a local cancer research firm.
Jason and Mandy Johns were among the first students to sign up for yoga classes when Evergreen first opened – and are among the most dedicated to their weekly classes. “We live around the corner in the Evergreen neighborhood and walk to the studio. It’s a good way to for us to spend some quality time together doing something we both like,” Jason says.
Jason thinks more guys should try Iyengar yoga. “It’s been great for me. It’s definitely a workout…but more than that. By the end of the class, I’ve let go of stress and my mind is more clear.”
Diane has been practicing yoga at Evergreen since 2006. Here's what she says about her experience with practicing yoga:
"Not only has yoga connected me to the nuances of my body, I have connected with the nuances of yoga. I am discovering how space is created in the poses and the effect that space has on my well being. It is enlightening to study the kosas (layers of existence) and to convince my ego to 'scoot over' and share space with wisdom. Throughout my journey with breast cancer, my yoga practice strengthened me physically and mentally. My favorite pose...tree pose! Yoga requires intense concentration at being totally present. It has been a delight to have a neighborhood studio within walking distance of my home and business."
As proprietor-artist of diane's art gift & home, Diane has created a beautiful venue for local artists to showcase their work alongside eclectic objects of art from around the region.
In 2002, Diane and her husband Gene renovated the Stonewall Lodge -- home to diane's art gift home, and the upstairs Overton Park Gallery. Their restoration of the 82-year-old building was a labor of love that infused new life into the Evergreen neighborhood business district.
Teresa Delfin has been one of the most active clients we’ve ever had.
She does it all – rock climbing, kayaking, yoga, you-name-it. She stayed so active during her pregnancy that she found it a challenge to find activewear for pregnant moms’ changing bodies.
This inspired her to start Mountain Mama – the world’s first outdoor wear for maternity.
Here’s what Teresa has to say about her experience at Evergreen: “I moved from Northern California to midtown, and after checking out Evergreen Yoga I ultimately decided to buy a house around the corner from the studio. Good call! I arrived in Memphis a few weeks pregnant and EYC became my home away from home throughout my pregnancy. I took every single prenatal yoga class that was offered, as well as weekly prenatal massage.
My wonderful pregnancy, healthy baby, 2 wonderful years in Memphis, and the inspiration to begin designing prenatal fitness apparel owe everything to Evergreen Yoga. Thank you!”
We are so happy to give a shout-out for all that Teresa is doing with Mountain Mama. Check out Mountain Mama online. Their comfy clothes look great and you can even wear them post-preggers!
Wayne M. Smith is an Independent Professional Dance Artist who works with Memphis' Project:Motion Dance Collective. He teaches dance (and choreographs) at The University of Memphis.
"What I get from yoga: a good sense of balance, intense stretch, torso lengthening and proactive use of breath. These things really help me to teach, dance and be better & more connected in my body. Yoga at Evergreen serves as my weekly movement meditation.
"What I get from yoga: a good sense of balance, intense stretch, torso lengthening and proactive use of breath. These things really help me to teach, dance and be better & more connected in my body. Sunday yoga at Evergreen serves as my weekly movement meditation."
Judy Wimmer has been practicing yoga at Evergreen since 2007. Here's
what she has to say about her experience of starting yoga in her 60's:
"I've taken my body for granted for most of my life until I had a
couple of falls. So I started taking Iyengar Yoga to build more stability for my impending old age. I quickly began to see results. My legs are stronger, I'm building strength in my arms and I've even lost weight.
When Leah started talking about us standing on our heads I thought, 'Well I won't be able to do that.' Before the first year was over I was standing on my head and loving it. Yoga has given me confidence that I can stay strong even as I'm growing older. I was happily surprised yoga has such a meditative nature that incorporates mind, body and soul. Now each time I stand on my head I am very grateful and looking forward to the future.
Yoga is the best gift I've ever given myself."
Raka Nandi is a yoga enthusiast who began practicing yoga in college. She’s practiced many styles of yoga, but finds that Evergreen’s method is a good fit for her. A busy mom, Raka uses yoga to help her connect with her body.
Raka explains that she really enjoys the emphasis on the alignment of your body. She says she has to work at building flexibility, and that the yoga helps her do this.
Damian works from home and says he finds yoga classes at Evergreen provides an opportunity to get out of the house and spend time in a non-stressful place.
“The focus on ‘creating space in the body’ is an accurate description of how yoga has been helpful to me,” he says.
“After I moved from Germany to the U.S. I was dealing with depression. My therapist knew of Evergreen and suggested I try yoga,” he says. “I remembered an article in a popular German magazine about how yoga can help with depression.”
“Yoga has made me more aware of my body and the tensions I hold. I carry this awareness with me in my work as an actor. It’s helped me improve my performance.”
“Standrew” is a company member at Playhouse on the Square and works as a singer, dancer and actor. He gives yoga credit for improving his stage presence and bringing peace to his life.
“I feel like I am doing something good for myself when I come to yoga,” he says. “Yoga has been both liberating and eye-opening for me. It gives me a sense of peace and relaxation.”
“The more I practice yoga and deeper I go into my practice, the more I discover about myself. I am constantly amazed by what can be accomplished physically when the mind becomes engaged. "
"My yoga journey began many years ago when I was looking for something more than the typical exercise class. Yoga filled the void and has far exceeded what I imagined or expected. This practice is not only necessary for my physical well being, but for my mental peace as well. Yoga is such a wonderful gift.”
Outside of yoga I'm just an aging baby-boomer corporate guy who sits behind a desk all day or travels the globe for lots of meetings. When you think 'yoga,' you likely envision lithe individuals twisting themselves into pretzels. That's not me. My first yoga class was shortly before my 48th birthday – so I guess you can say it was at least part of a mid-life crisis.
I've always been stiff – had never in my life come close to touching my toes – and a friend mentioned her yoga class to me. 'Hmmm, yoga...' I thought. Good for flexibility – maybe I'll give it a try.
When I called the yoga teacher, I could already tell that I had little to fear. She suffered all of my stupid questions with...I don't know...empathy and compassion? That was my first inkling that somehow yoga was different. I'll spare the gory details of 'Mr Stiffness Goes To His First Yoga Class' except to say that by the end of class (although my performance wasn't pretty), I felt really, really good – and it was not at all what I had expected.
What could have been an unmitigated disaster turned out to be a very profound experience in several ways.
1. I learned that isn't about my poses looking like the other students in class – because we all
have different bodies (some very different!). It is about doing the poses with the body you brought with you.
2. The class environment felt unexpectedly accepting. I wasn't self-conscience about my limitations, even being in
the front of the room (turns out what I thought was the back of the room was the front...). The teacher gave me her full attention -- and helped me modify the poses to suit my body.
But the most profound experience for me was what yoga did for my mental state – I felt this amazing peace and mental clarity afterward. I signed up for one and then two classes a week – and did my best to never miss a one. I've been blessed with the most wonderful yoga teachers to guide me on my journey. When my first yoga teacher moved out of town, she suggested that I try classes with Leah. It was a perfect match.
Leah and Evergreen Yoga foster the wonderful, accepting environment that draw me to practice yoga. I still do my best never to miss a class. On the days when I'm feeling a bit off, I still go to yoga class. I know I will always feel better – mentally and physically – after the class.
If you need to be able to say, 'Well if HE can do yoga, then so can I,' then go ahead and point at me. I embrace my challenges – and I still welcome the extra attention it brings me in class!
Sheana was introduced to yoga by her friend, Courtney, who also happens to teach and Introductory class at Evergreen.
“At first I was nervous,” she says. “But Courtney’s introductory class is not intimidating at all. You learn at a steady pace; she breaks everything down so you never feel rushed when you are learning new things.”
A fitness enthusiast, Sheana works out several days a week. She says that yoga helps her relax and to be more aware of what she is accomplishing.