Diane Gilman "If you had told anyone close to me about a year ago that I would be the featured student at my local yoga studio, they would have laughed in your face." I have an infamous reputation for hating yoga with a passion, ever since I took it as an elective in high school. I was sweaty and awkward, and didn't like the idea of looking at my own backside (let alone sticking it in someone else's face repeatedly). I tried yoga a few more times across the years with friends who swore by it, but always would up feeling awful about myself and inadequate. I vowed I wouldn't try it again and moved onto running and lifting at the gym.
My attitude changed when I moved to Fresno from the east coast for a year-long predoctoral internship in psychology. I suddenly found myself 3,000 miles away from anyone I knew, in a culture completely different than the one I had known and loved my whole life. After about two weeks of boredom/loneliness, I decided to join something to become more social. I first came across Sisters Yoga while searching the internet for female groups in Fresno, and although it was a yoga studio, something about the acceptance and female empowerment of the website drew me in. After talking with Chaz, a fellow east coaster, on the phone for a while, I decided I might try out a class. I have been hooked on yoga ever since, and attend several classes a week.
Yoga has taught me to love and accept my body, and myself, in more ways than one. The practice has helped me with body issues that have been plaguing me since I was a child, because I have to rely upon my body to get through my workout and am constantly amazed at what I can achieve by doing so. It has taught me not to take my body- no matter what size- for granted, and to listen to my body and respect what it is telling me to learn and accept my limitations. As I watch my outer strength grow in each class, it somehow translates to inner strength for me in life. I remember once hearing Chaz talk about how the Yogi's truth is inside him or herself, and have really taken this message to heart. My mat is a place where I can come to learn more about myself and my truth, and I have been able to combine my education on mental health and mindfulness meditation with the lessons I learn during class. More than this, my greatest gift in learning yoga is that I have been able to pass these lessons on to my own clients in therapy, and have been able to watch them grow and heal as well.
I don't think that I would have grown from or even loved yoga as much as I do had I not met Chaz, Kandis, and my 'yoga family' at Sisters. My appreciation for their friendship, support, smiles, and much needed hugs while being so far away from my loved ones this year is immense and difficult to put into words. Being able to walk into a familiar place with familiar people at the end of a stressful day is priceless. I have joked that I cry most when I think about leaving Sisters Yoga over my job, apartment, or friends, but there is a definite truth to this statement. Simply put, my membership at Sisters Yoga helped to define my year in Fresno, and I really do not know what I would have done without knowing each and every one of these fantastic women. Thank you!!! :)"
Camille DeSantis
"Let me begin begin by saying how HAPPY I am that Camille is a student at Sisters Yoga. When Camille first came into the studio and asked me about information regarding our classes and prices, I recognized her accent immediately. 'You're not from Fresno, are you?,' I asked. ' No, I'm from N.J.!,' she responded. Alas! A real take-no-prisoners, passionate, 'you gotta problem with that?' Jersey girl in Fresno! You can imagine my glee." Chaz writes.
Camille was born in Bari, Italy and came to the United States in 1961. She has lived in California for 35 years. "This only proves that you can take the kid out of Jersey but not the Jersey out of the kid!" Chaz jokes.
Camille writes, " I run a Real Estate business with my husband Pat, and my children. I also enjoy spending time with my beautiful grandchildren. My hobbies are traveling, cooking and YOGA!!!!"
"Students and our instructors get such a kick out of Camille. Kandis recently said that Camille is hilarious and provides such awesome comic relief, especially when we are entrenched in a real sweaty, hard yoga class." Chaz continues.
"I just want to say, I love Sisters Yoga. All of the instructors are fantastic. The classes are making me feel better about myself and are benefiting my health. I recommend the classes to everyone... TRY SISTERS YOGA - YOU WILL LOVE IT!" Camille exclaims.
Thank you Camille! :)
Stacey Evans
"My first visit to Sisters Yoga was for business. I'm a sales representative for many different types of manufacturers and I had a line that sold yoga mats; I approached Chaz to see if she was interested. While at the studio, I picked up a class schedule and was pleased to see that they offered Pilates classes. I had been doing Pilates for about a year at home with DVDs and was eager to finally take a class with a live instructor! I really enjoyed the classes but wanted more Pilates options on the schedule. She told me that I should try her Happy Hour Yoga class. I told her that I had taken some yoga classes years ago and they weren't quite the workout that I felt I needed," Stacey says.
Chaz responds, " when I first met Stacey I knew she would enjoy yoga but she didn't know it yet. I have met many students who come from a Pilates background and think yoga is either boring or not enough of a challenge. These particular students have never experienced a hard-core vinyasa class!"
Stacey continues, "Chaz continued to encourage me to try her class and when I finally did I was very surprised. It was an unbelievable workout! I was so sore the next day I couldn't believe it. Well, after a few classes I was hooked. I now attend Yoga and Pilates classes as often as I can and I'm a little sad if I can't squeeze at least 4 classes in per week. Yoga has challenged me in so many ways and I love the strength it has given me. Sometimes yoga calms me and sometimes it invigorates me, but it always makes me feel better. I always leave the studio with a feeling of accomplishment and peace and I am so thankful for that."
Chaz finishes, "I am thrilled that Stacey took the leap of faith and tried our Happy Hour classes. This way she can enjoy the many emotional benefits associated with yoga while she gets her butt kicked! She is such a courageous student--always eager to try hard poses, even if they seem impossible. It has been a joy watching her body become stronger and more flexible. She also seems way more centered and for that I am grateful."
Alex Arnette
"I remember a day last winter riding in the car with my mother when I said out of the blue “I want to do yoga”. This may sound like the simplest of things, but considering where I was emotionally, being able to state so clearly something that I wanted or needed for myself was actually quite significant, and that was the moment that eventually led to me coming to Sisters Yoga
Several months before that, I had spent two months of my summer in Arizona at an inpatient eating disorder recovery center. My family had convinced me to allow them to send me there after I had been brought home midway through my second semester at college in San Diego. Being away from my home at school for the first time had been extremely hard on me and by the time I was brought back I was literally wasting away, inside and out. Going into that intensive therapy program was probably one of the best things I have ever done for myself, even though I hardly had a choice. Being in that secure, controlled environment I was really able to discover a lot about myself, grow closer to God, make new friends, and regain some of my will to go on ,but of course, rehab is never a miracle cure. Coming home meant coming back to the real world, and a whole lot of struggles, anxieties, and depression, " Alex writes.
Chaz responds, "after meeting Alex, I knew immediately that yoga was a necessity for her. I saw a lot of myself in her, as I too was the victim of an eating disorder throughout high school and college. It's something that I kept secret and eventually healed myself through the guidance I received on my yoga mat. I was able to face down my demons, the very demons that prevented me from realizing true love for myself. It was the best and one of the most difficult things I have ever done. It's a joy to watch Alex progress, slowly creeping out of her shell and blossoming into the beautiful yogini that she is."
Alex continues, "coming to Sisters yoga has been such a blessing for me. I am so grateful to have such a low-key, safe, and encouraging environment to come to. Although my depression and anxiety still keep me from doing a lot of the things I know that deep down I want and need to be doing, there has only been maybe one or two times that they have kept me from coming to a yoga class. I come in to the studio in pretty much the same way I enter every other situation: avoiding eye contact, keeping to myself, and often fearful of doing anything to draw attention to myself. The difference is, though, that yoga class has been the only place I can consistently relax and even accept some joy into my life. Not only do I begin to feel strong as we go through the poses, but I sometimes will catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror (which I usually avoid) and am amazed to catch myself thinking “wow, I look strong”. This kind of positivity and the beginnings of feeling comfortable in my own skin, along with the happiness and peace that I seem to be experiencing more and more on the mat is what makes me so sure that yoga will always have a part in my life and my heart. The hope it brings me is not something I will ever let go."
Chaz writes, "Alex is an incredible student and is an example that through yoga, reflection and patience, we can achieve peace and joy both on and off our yoga mats."
Mary Dement "I came to Sisters Yoga with hope in my heart that I would be able to get into a yoga pose without crying in pain. Before arriving at Sisters Yoga, I had sustained a severe back injury at another yoga studio where the yoga practice was very physically challenging and where I listened to my ego instead of my body. I underwent surgery for that injury, but could do nothing for a month. I was eager to return to yoga practice, but fear held me back. I remember writing an e-mail to Chaz about my situation—about the fear and hesitation I felt. She quickly responded with reassurances and encouragement. I took a deep breath, drove to Sisters Yoga, met Chaz personally and loved my first yoga class."
I was so thankful that a gentle, restorative class was offered. This, I knew, was the yoga studio for me and I have been attending classes on almost a daily basis since that very first class. I now listen to my body instead of my ego. I had not considered this until Chaz spoke of it in our savasana. Every day I look forward to my yoga class and celebrate all that I have accomplished since my first.
Chaz states, "it was incredible to watch an injured yogini transform herself into this beautiful, confident yogini on her mat. The yoga props we used that night helped her bend and stretch. Inch by inch, she relied on the wisdom of her body rather than her ego to take it deeper into poses. This is true yoga; I am not a believer in a yoga practice that is competitive in nature and does not utilize yoga props like blocks and straps." Chaz continues. "Props help students go deeper into asanas in a natural manner. Mary has been able to build back her strength in our Chill Out classes and can now enjoy a killer (but safe) yoga workout in Happy Hour without the threat of injuring herself, as props are used in those classes as well."
Mary continues, "my husband and I have lived in Fresno since 1978, when we moved here from Missouri. We have raised, I must say, a wonderful daughter who now lives on the east coast. I have been a RN since 1975 and have always invested in a healthy, active lifestyle. I make an effort to keep my life simple and as stress-free as possible because my career involves constant stress. Yoga plays a paramount role in this effort. I use all of the strategies and techniques I learn in my yoga practice when I am at work, especially the breathing techniques. Every day I look forward to coming home, changing my clothes and driving to class. What a God send. Thanks for responding to my e-mail, Chaz."
Chaz replies, "No, thank you for writing in the first place. You are a North star for the studio, shining the light that can be found when one begins to truly listen to her bodily wisdom."
Mirna Espudo
Over a year ago, Mirna's husband spotted a Sisters Yoga ad in the paper. "Maybe that's [yoga] something you would like to do," said Mirna's husband. Mirna states, "I didn't know what I was getting myself in to, but I'm the kind of person that likes to be challenged and so I signed up for the 'whole enchilada,' meaning the year membership."
"I discover strength in me that I never knew I had. It's amazing how my two arms can hold my whole body in crow pose. That's something that you would see in a circus! And what about my handstand? Ha! Never in my life did I think I would be able to do something like that and I love it!"
"My yoga class is part of my daily routine. I also do cardio and weights daily." Mirna continues.
"I can always gauge how class is going," says Chaz. "If Mirna is sweating, I know I am working the class pretty hard because she is one tough cookie. In fact, you know you are doing a good job when you hear Mirna's infamous, "eeeeeeeerrr" after a particular move." Chaz continues, "She loves it to be warm in class. Don't even THINK of putting on the fan near her."
Born and raised in Mexico, Mirna is very proud of her Mexican heritage. She lived in L.A. for many years until she met her husband. Mirna states, "Life was very busy and stressful in LA. Traveling two hours before and after work in heavy traffic was a pain, especially since I squeezed in college and my workouts in the evening. I love the change of pace that I find in Fresno. I keep busy with my husband and two kids. It is a full time job no matter what anyone says. And of course, they turn to me for a yoga pose remedy each time they have a back or neck pain!"
Mirna has noticed that Yoga can be a different experience for each person. "My brother finds yoga to be a spiritual experience and he thinks of yoga as a soul cleanser. As for me, not so much." She told her brother, "I don't know what kind of yoga you're into, but I like to have fun with mine."
"At the end of the day, the critical questions are, 'does this class relax me? Yes. Does it make me laugh? Yes. And it always makes me feel good."
Charyce Haynes
To say Charyce is 'tough' is an understatement. As a juvenile correctional officer, Charyce knows the meaning of being tough. "I have always been impressed with Charyce's determination both on and off the yoga mat," Chaz asserts. However, her strength has recently been tested.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, Charyce knew she had to fight the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy such as nauesa, vomitting, dizziness, tingling of the hands and feet, body aches and pains, just to name a few. "I told myself I am not going to let that happen," says Charyce.
Chaz informed Charyce of the healing and therapeutic benefits of maintaining a yoga practice. She has worked with many survivors and knew Charyce would accept nothing short of a fight.
"I have been a yoga student at Sisters Yoga for a year now. I attended Chill Out yoga 1-2 times a week," continues Charyce, and, as a result, "my symptoms were very minimal or none at all."
"The support of my friends, family and my Sisters Yoga family helped me keep a positive mental attitude," Charyce states.
"I remember Charyce coming into the studio after her first treatment. Her hair was gone but there was this glow about Charyce I hadn't seen before. I knew then that she was going to be just fine. I encouraged her to keep her bandana off because she looked more beautiful than ever!" Chaz states.
Charyce says, "I have three songs that I listen to all the time to help me: 'I am not my hair' by india.arie, 'Just Fine' by Mary J. Blige and 'It's Alright' by Ledisi; these songs help me focus on what is most important and that is life itself. I still have more steps to go through but I will continue to attend Chill Out yoga because I know it works. Thank you Chaz, Chaz' Grandma and Sisters Yoga for all the support that you have given me. I know that I could not make this journey without you!"
Charyce's mantra could be "it's alright." She certainly knows the power of positive thinking and is an inspiration to us all.
Kristin Heimerdinger " 'This must be the yoga that Hollywood does to look the way they do.'Those were my thoughts after my very first happy hour class with Chaz a little over a year ago, "Kristin says.
"I have always exercised in one form or another.Through high school (right here in Clovis) it was aerobics in all of its 80’s glory (I was minus the legwarmers).At UCLA, my roommate and I headed to the Santa Monica YMCA five days a week where we embraced the 90’s via step aerobics classes.Once I was re-settled back in Clovis, I hit the local gym (Family Fitness Center anyone?) where I sometimes took classes and sometimes ran and lifted.I have always enjoyed the adrenaline rush that exercise provides.
After the birth of my first son, I waited for the baby weight to come off.Despite all assurances that nursing would take care of it, eight months later I found myself feeling terrible about the way I looked and felt.In January of 1999, I started getting up at 4:40am so that I could work out and be home by 6am ready to start the rest of my day.I continued this absolute insanity until March of 2007, mostly because it was the only time of the day that I could guarantee my workout.I teach at Buchanan and have two boys now (ages 10 and 8) and my husband is terrifically helpful, but life is busy.Between the hours of 4:40am and 6:00am there could be no other demands on my time.And I could never justify going to the gym after work while I left my children in daycare…that just seemed so wrong to me.
In March of 2007, I was told by a medical professional that I was suffering from long-term effects of sleep deprivation (duh).I have struggled periodically with depression and have some compulsive tendencies.I realized that my getting up at 4:40am to go to the gym was less about the enjoyment of exercise and more about a compulsive drive that was unhealthy and contributing to my somewhat questionable mental health.So I decided that I was going to switch it up entirely."
Chaz says, "Krisin is a pleasure to teach. She completely embodies what Sisters Yoga is all about--not taking yourself seriously and laughing at yourself when a pose is just not happening that day. More often than not, Kristin will put other people at ease with her free-spirits comments."
Kristin continues, "And that’s where Sister’s Yoga comes in.Different form of exercise, different gym, different time and totally different setting.When I walked in the door for the first time, I couldn’t even touch my toes.For me, yoga has been about stretching not just my body but also my mind.No longer do I exercise because I feel obligated.I come to see what my body can (or can’t!) do that day.I come to relax my brain.While yoga has not yet solved all my problems, it has made many of my problems seem less like problems.
Chaz writes, "I have seen Kristin make great progress, both in a physical and emotional way. A huge part of our yoga practice is accepting your body for what it is at the moment, love it, and strive for improvement but not get discouraged. She seems healthier and happier!"
Kristin reiterates," The only kind of failure is not trying.I will never look like I belong in Hollywood and I’d still like to lose a boatload of weight.Until I can make that happen, my yoga practice allows me to appreciate more my strength and health."
(April, 2008) Rachelle Clevenger Simply put, Rachelle hated yoga before coming to Sisters Yoga. A natural athlete, yoga seemed too easy, slow and strict for Rachelle. " To me, yoga was sitting in a quiet room to mediate while doing some weird stretches. Boring! I hate having to be quiet. I'm not a quiet person!" "No she isn't," says Chaz, "and that's what I love about her. Her laugh is as loud as mine. I love it that she feels encouraged to vocalize what she feels during her yoga practice."
Rachelle was born in Michigan and relocated to Phoenix due to her father's job. At a young age, Rachelle grew a love and passion for volleyball and played for Phoenix College, graduating with her AA degree in three semesters. She then was recruited to play for a small school called Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. Rachelle met her husband J.D. there (she didn't know it at the time) and continued her volleyball career while studying Physical Education.
After graduating Rachelle moved back to Phoenix where she received her teaching credentials.She continued dating J.D. out of state for three years until she decided to move to Fresno, CA. to be closer to him.They married, got a dog, a condo, and just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy Connor Jay, (7 lbs, 11 oz).
As a Physical Educator, Rachelle worked for Tranquillity High School and recently for Woodrow Wilson in Hanford, CA.Looking for a new avenue to teach her students, she stumbled upon Sisters Yoga's website. "I was only interested in the studio for its Pilates classes and Hot Yoga classes...and then I tried Chaz's class. Something inside of me was renewed.My drive, dedication, and purpose I felt as an athlete was transformed into my yoga practice.I felt calm but challenged.My husband also saw a difference in my demeanor and said I was never allowed to quit (at the start of my practice I was getting my Masters in Kinesiology)."
Amazingly, Rachelle has kept up an intense yoga practice throughout her pregnancy. "You'll see her in a headstand before everyone else or doing the extra chaturanga pushups while everyone is huffing and puffing," says Chaz.
And most recently, Rachelle will be sharing all she has learned as a yoga instructor! A future RYT 200 hour Sisters Yoga school graduate, Rachelle will bring that same laughter to her yoga students. "Rachelle is going to make an excellent yoga instructor. She has this uncanny ability to laugh at herself and put everyone at ease," Chaz says. "It's a gift."
Sisters Yoga 2940 E. Nees Ave Ste 103 Fresno, CA 93720 (559) 298-1444 Located on the North West corner of Willow and Nees
