Sunstone 2½

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Thursday, September 02, 2010

Maximum fitness for a busy world.

Keeping fitness levels high and stress levels low is vital in today's world, but most of us are having trouble finding the time to get the exercise we need. And yet, according to recent physical activity guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, just 2.5 hours a week of moderate activity provide adults with substantial health benefits. That's why we've created Sunstone 2½ - a program that provides you with four major health benefits in just 2.5 hours a week:

At Sunstone Yoga, our classes, teachers, and schedules are dedicated to delivering the most efficient fitness program in 2.5 hours per week.

When you arrive at one of our 60- or 90- minute classes, you enter an environment of uninterrupted benefits. Our dedicated teachers give you the space to develop at your own pace, with a balance of personal attention you need to maintain progress and motivation. Our studio schedules are designed for your convenience, offering over 35 classes per week, depending on location.

We also reward our students in a variety of ways. Our Get Paid to Do Yoga™, Focus Wristbands™, and 60-Day Yoga Challenge programs all contribute to your long-term success, keeping you motivated on your journey to maximum fitness.

I first came to Sunstone in January 2004. I had already been doing power and Iyengar yoga classes at another fitness center. I also was running and doing spin class. I used to be one of the top runners in Dallas, and was sponsored by the Texas Rangers (back in the day). I thought the concept of doing yoga in such heat was insane and I never imagined I would walk through the door! But I was looking for something to challenge my enthusiasm, so I let a friend talk me into the 10-day introductory offer. The first class was VERY hard. The heat bothered me, but I loved the challenge. Even though I wasn't sure I could drive home from that first class, I was hooked. I came 4 or 5 times a week for those first few months, and immediately felt more physically and mentally balanced. I am fairly strong, but my balance has never been great and I have very tight hips and hamstrings. The physical benefits are immense. When I control my eating, there is a definite weight loss benefit from fitness yoga. I feel toned and balanced when I am standing and sitting. It has helped me with the stress in my life. I have learned to rely on breathing to calm myself instead of reacting hastily to outside annoyances. My running form improved and I felt stronger in spin class and when lifting weights. When I’m having a hard time in the outside world, the 90 minutes in class is a welcome respite. Sometimes I take the water class, because it allows me to challenge myself from within. As a businessperson, I immediately recognized the excellence of the Sunstone operation. The instructors were great, the business side worked well, and everyone was welcoming and encouraging. I think that is a key thing, since it is a little frightening to challenge yourself in a 99 degree room. When I walk through the front door of the studio I begin to calm down. That depressurization continues as I walk down the hall to the locker room. By the time I enter the hot room, I am ready to take deep breaths and hit the floor. I have learned special things to do for my hips and hamstrings, which I try to fit in before class starts so that I can really make the most of the opening sequences. No matter who is in the room, it feels like a community. The different teaching styles are welcomed and I never feel embarrassed if I fall out of a balancing pose or can't even reach my toes! When class is over, I feel ready to face the world.

Improve your strength and flexibility with minimal risk of injury.

Yoga provides a unique combination of resistance training and stretching, improving your overall strength and range of motion at the same time. As your flexibility increases, you’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself with advanced positions that include increased muscle resistance.

Yoga’s progressive, proportional approach to fitness also minimizes your injury risk.

Increase your metabolic rate while you learn to eat smarter.

Yoga is a natural weight management discipline, providing a calorie-burning workout that increases your body awareness. After your first classes, you’ll realize that a lighter diet increases your comfort level both during and after yoga. This naturally leads to better food decisions every day.

Expand your heart into better cardiovascular health.

While you get the strength and flexibility training yoga provides, you'll also undergo a serious, 60- to 90-minute cardio workout. This is because each pose incorporates almost all your muscles to their full range of motion, which will require increasing amounts of oxygen as your fitness level improves. The result? A real, sweat-drenched workout complete with lasting cardio high that leaves you energized, with minimal risk of injury.

I came to Sunstone as a former competitive dancer, an aggressive long distance runner and with a small background in gym yoga. I came to learn and expand my practice and I was really looking for a new physical challenge. I discovered this and so much more. I am so pleased and grateful for what yoga, Sunstone, and your instructors have done for me this year. Before April 2005, I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to change everything about my body, when I couldn’t accept it for what it was- I wanted to be skinnier, smaller, lighter, have more muscle in one place, less in another - a consistent fight I thought I would battle for the rest of my life. And then came the yoga. What my friends and family want to know is: has yoga made you lose weight? Yes! But more importantly I have a connection that has taught me not to hate my body anymore; I have awareness and a deeper understanding of why it is so important to take care of myself, both mentally and physically. I finally have acceptance, appreciation and a lot less judgment - all true blessings I never expected. The teachers have taught me to let go in my practice; that the heart and mind open up with the body, that I can challenge myself through the postures and push to be better, yet not be my own constant critic, and to accept each day as its own. I have learned life parallels your practice in so many ways. Dealing with everyday stress is completely different. I have lost the need to panic (your first 10 days will teach this quick!) and have learned to breathe my way through it and not to hang on to negative feelings and emotions. My body physically craves yoga: the sweat, the release and the wonderful feeling of accomplishment at the end of class. I have come to a place now where my mind and spirit crave it as well; to bring in and share positive energy with my classmates, to be calm, focused, and to give to others what I learn in class. I know I will be a yogi for the rest of my life and I look forward to what it will bring and where it will take me. I could not have gotten to where I am today without your support and guidance!!

Your mind needs time off, too.

Yoga offers several ways to balance the demands of a busy lifestyle – both physically and mentally. Weekly yoga classes will improve your body’s capacity to deal with stress while your emotional and body awareness improves. In addition, the concentration required to learn and perform yoga takes your mind off whatever (or whoever!) is stressing you.

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