Testimonials

“Glad I Took the Chance:

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. It was devastating on so many levels. It was recommended and I opted for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Eight hours of surgery and several chemotherapy sessions later - all taken care of by miracle workers and true and talented angels - the gradual healing began. Over time, I experienced a great deal of stiffness and soreness in my chest, upper arms, and abdomen – all related to the extensive surgery. Due to the medication I was placed on, I also experienced joint pain and stiffness. Physical therapy was helpful but for me it wasn’t entirely the answer. I had always thought about taking up yoga; I was a pretty active person, working out 4 times a week for a good hour and a half, but never found the time to include yoga in my life. This time, I decided to give yoga a try. I felt pretty self-conscious and reached out to Northern Life Yoga regarding my story and my vulnerabilities. Morgan VanWinkle got back to me in a timely way and offered every empathic assurance. I opted for private sessions (I have had 10 so far!) that were offered at a pace that was doable for me. I could not believe how much they helped even at the outset. Every stretch, every gentle move, was like a massage from the inside. I experienced less stiffness and less pain. I even had moments of feeling uplifted during poses – a “yogi’s high” of sorts. I’m now looking forward to participating in the classes. The atmosphere is both peaceful and enlivening. l highly recommend Northern Life Yoga to anyone that has been hesitant to embark on this journey. It is well worth it physically and spiritually and needs to be a threshold that you cross over. I am so much more aware of my body as my psychological healing continues. I’m grateful to Morgan for her guidance during this journey!”

“Targeting my yoga practice.

I had a private session ( x3 actually!) with Morgan VanWinkle. I was experiencing some back pain and sciatica and did not feel my fellow yogi’s would appreciate the groaning in a studio class if I did not get some relief. Am I ever glad I did! Morgan did a lot of research on my health history and focused on stretches that work within my work and home life! Thanks Morgan!”

““If you think you’re too busy to practice yoga, that’s when you need to be doing it.”

Lee Carlson, a former instructor at NLY, used to say something to the effect of, “If you think you’re too busy to practice yoga, that’s when you need to be doing it.”

I find those words to be true; in fact, I tell people that if you are busy and can’t fit in a lot of time to exercise, yoga is all you need. It builds strength, helps with flexibility, and does wonders for mental health. Depending on the class, it can be very physically demanding. I like how it complements other workouts, such as weight-lifting and stand-up paddleboarding.

I took my first yoga class about 30 years ago and I instantly liked it for all of the reasons above, but especially for the sense of well-being and calm that I felt afterward.

Classes I’ve taken at NLY with Allie, Morgan and others have introduced me to new aspects of yoga that are challenging and satisfying. My favorites are flow classes, but I haven’t taken a yoga class that I didn’t like.”

“Rekindling My Love for Yoga:

I started at NLY in November and it helped me rekindle my love for yoga, and it’s become a part of my mental health care. I’ve been able to dedicate time out for myself for healing and strengthening of my mind and body. Yoga has helped me become more flexible, mindful and in the moment. Being a part of the studio has also given me something to look forward to each week, and the instructors are very encouraging and help me feel good about each practice. NLY is such a wonderful studio and a great place to come practice yoga with a welcoming community.”

“Making it a Routine:

Yoga has been a very important part of my life, for many years, as I typically attend four times a week. However, a year ago, I had major surgery for a total hip replacement, which kept me out of yoga for 12 long weeks. Upon returning to classes, the only way I could do yoga was sitting in a chair, next to everyone else on their mats, for several months. As I became stronger, my physical therapists taught me how to safely get down and up from the mat, holding onto a chair, which I then did for a few more months. Throughout my entire healing journey, all of the instructors at Northern Life Yoga Studio were consistently very supportive and understanding, always making me feel extremely comfortable with whatever accommodations were necessary. I highly recommend Northern Life Yoga Studio as a very special inclusive community!”

“Yoga Benefits all Aspects of our Lives:

I have been practicing yoga at Northern Life since I discovered the studio about eight months ago. I love this studio. I appreciate the dedication of each instructor, the thought and effort put into every class, and the welcoming environment that permeates the entire community of yogis. I practice yoga for a long list of reasons, but three of these reasons stand out above the rest.

Yoga benefits my body. My passion, as far as exercise goes, is strength training and metabolic conditioning. The deep stretching and flexibility practiced in yoga combats the tension and tightness created by my training. There is nothing like the relief gained by holding a deep lizard pose when you’ve spent the week doing quad heavy workouts. Yoga keeps me moving, stretching and strengthening my body in ways I wouldn’t otherwise practice. Every class challenges me in some way. Sometimes it’s simply my (lack of) balance, sometimes it’s showing me what poses I need to continue to work on, sometimes the challenge is allowing my body to actually relax for the first time all week.

As many people can attest, yoga is good for the mind. Life is full of endless tension and conflict. While those stresses take different shapes for each person, we all have them. I’m no different. But yoga is a powerful tool I use to combat my stress. When my feet hit the mat, the stress begins to ebb away. Maybe it’s the meditative nature of yoga, maybe it’s the excellent instruction from my instructor, maybe it’s because I’ve trained my brain that when I’m on my mat this is where I let go. My focus is redirected to the moment I’m in, I stop the worry and doubt and fatigue. I allow myself to let go and think on my personal intention. Of course my mind wanders, of course I know when I leave my mat the stress will still be there. It’s not that the stress is suddenly gone, it’s that after I practice I now approach that stress from a more balanced and centered place.

Yoga keeps me learning new things. This is important to me. I began practicing yoga in my mid-twenties. I was terrified to try it. I thought I’d be expected to do a handstand the moment I entered the studio. That was obviously not the case, but I did learn that my body could do absolutely amazing things that I never imagined it’d be able to do. As I get older, I have realized more and more the value in trying new things. Yoga offers me a chance to try new things every class I take. The instructors at Northern Life Yoga keep classes interesting and challenging. It can be the same pose I’ve done a hundred times before, but Allie encourages that we try it with our arms in a different position. That small change alone makes the entire pose new again.

For me, yoga is essential in keeping me balanced, physically and mentally. I have found this balance at Northern Life Yoga. I would be remiss if I didn’t include a note on the incredible community that is built around this studio. Because I like to try new things, I’ve seen more than a few yoga studios. NLY has found the secret recipe for an amazing yoga studio. Excellent instruction, heartfelt teachings, genuine warmth and welcome, and a community of people who value those things. I am grateful to be a part of that. ”