A string of events changed Ruth Christy’s whole outlook in life. It wasn’t long ago when Ruth, 82, was on medication for high cholesterol. The medication made her legs become weak, causing her to fall. One time she chipped her vertebrae and had spasms in her back and the other time she hit her head. Her medication was changed and then she took matters into her own hands. Ruth started an exercise routine months ago that included daily walks and stretches. After awhile, she got strong enough to join the beginner class of Power Alignment Yoga in Mount Dora. It is taught by its creator MyLinda Ann Morales Hutchings. “I was a little bored with what I was doing,” she says of walking and stretching. “My legs and arms were strong. I needed something in the core. I didn’t know exactly what it [Power Alignment Yoga] would entail.” This isn’t her first go-around with yoga. Ruth tried yoga 30 or 40 years ago, but didn’t care for it because “it seemed that the teacher was more into the spiritual end of it. I wholly accept that part now. I think it’s great.” The class, which runs just over an hour, has made her become more “aware of my posture and makes me constantly try to stay vigil about keeping myself inline.” Ruth’s favorite part of the practice is Savasana, the resting pose at the end of class. She likes to learn new things as well, but sometimes finds it to be a challenge. In a recent class, Ruth and others were instructed to move to wall to practice the movement from dolphin to down dog. “Each time we try something new it’s very, very difficult for me,” she says. “It’s something I can work toward.” Since adding Power Alignment Yoga to her exercise schedule, Ruth has discovered that she has more energy when it comes to daily chores such as carrying groceries into the house and has more strength in her back across the shoulders, which helps when it comes to ironing. And those once daily naps are a thing of the past. “I can do a lot more things,” she says. I don’ t tire out as much.” At times, MyLinda encourages Ruth to use a chair to assist in certain positions. “I really do like her,” she says of MyLinda. “She’s such a sweet, gentle person. She never pushes – you do what you can do.” Ruth says she wouldn’t give up yoga for anything. In fact, she says it won’t long and she will add more days of practicing yoga at home. “I’m getting stronger,” she says. “It certainly has challenged me. It’s working me all over. It’s worthwhile.” It wasn’t too long ago that Ruth was just working on getting around. Now, she can’t wait for class on Mondays. She continues to take a low dose of medication for the cholesterol. But she feels that the exercise helps to keep it under control. “When I look back, it was all a good thing,” she says. “I feel so good and eager. That’s why I got into yoga.”
By Lori Carter, freelance writer LoriCarter@aol.com
MyLinda's commentary:
Ruth came to my first donation community class and has come to almost every class since. It took us a couple of sessions working together to see how we could modify the postures for her but after that Ruth has been unstoppable!! Ruth does all the poses and I'm amazed how strong and determined she is. I have noticed Ruth standing upright more and more each session!! Thanks Ruth for encouraging all the students as well as the teacher to apply ourselves to our yoga practice!!
Jessica and Joan are living proof that yoga is accessible to humans as well as animals!
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Jessica Stam, 28, and Joan, 5, carefully walk down the stairs. Once on the ground floor, Jessica spreads her yoga mat out while Joan watches intently. When Jessica sits, Joan stretches across her lap for a scratch behind the ears. Obviously, this is not the usual mother-daughter relationship. Joan is a yellow Labrador retriever and Jessica’s guide dog. Jessica was born with the hereditary eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, which includes loss of peripheral vision and night blindness. She was diagnosed at 18. “They just thought I was clumsy,” she says of her younger years. “It was just one of those things. It’s slow progression.” For the past three years, Jessica and Joan have been inseparable. So, when Jessica began the beginners class of Power Alignment Yoga on Mondays at the Community Building in Mount Dora, she knew Joan would be there for support. “I thought, ‘why not,’” she says. “She’s so good and quite. I’m so used to having her with me. I’m kind of empty without her. I don’t relax unless she is there.” When Jessica is working out, Joan sits or lays by her side. “She doesn’t really assist me [during class],” she says. “She helps me get to class without falling down the stairs.” Jessica started the practice of yoga about five years ago. She would workout at home with tapes. Before that, she had joined an area gym, but found that exercising in that type of environment wasn’t getting it. Although she had never heard of Power Alignment Yoga, Jessica decided to give it a try. She convinced her mother to go and now her younger sister participates. Jessica is impressed with MyLinda’s teachings. “There’s more instruction than what I’m used to,” she says. “I’ve never had an instructor come by me to take such care of what I’m doing.” Many times MyLinda will instruct her students to go to the wall to make sure the alignment is done correctly. On one occasion, Jessica says students went to the wall and worked on their triangle pose. Jessica says she realized that she was “leaning forward instead of my shoulders straightening against the wall. I have never had such descriptive language. She really describes things well.” At times, students will also move toward the front of the class, where MyLinda is demonstrating a particular movement. When Jessica goes, Joan doesn’t particularly like it, but must realize on some level that she’ll be back momentarily. Jessica says she won’t be stopping Power Alignment Yoga any time soon. “I’m hooked,” she says. “It’s the best class that I have ever taken in yoga.”
By Lori Carter, freelance writer LoriCarter@aol.com
MyLinda's commentary:
I'm honored and grateful Jessica, Joan and Jessica's mom come to class;
I feel they were spiritually directed to my class to help me become a better yoga teacher. I have been working on cueing and description in my yoga teaching and Jessica (without knowing it) let's me know how I'm doing on my cueing and description. I'll describe a pose - how to come into it and the actions involved and how to come out of it and I'll watch Jessica to see if I'm describing it properly - sometimes I do well and other times I know I need more practice. You can tell this is a blessed group (of humans and animals) because everyone they bring to class with them is just as sweet and loving and caring as they are. Joan is an incredible spirit!! I have struggled with allergies and I was concerned when Joan came into class with Jessica but I didn't have an allergic reaction - which again I feel was a divine blessing that Joan brought to me.
Henry Morrell's Discovery of Yoga
Yogi Henry Morrell
Henry Morrell works out just about every day at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland. He practices yoga six to seven times a week. He heard about yoga nearly three years ago through a friend who gave him a book on the art. When Henry got around to looking at the book, he discovered that he had already been doing some types of yoga in his stretching class. Eventually, he signed up for a yoga class. “Now, I’m a junkie,” he says of yoga. Henry, 71, started practicing power alignment yoga with its creator MyLinda Ann Morales Hutchings in May of 2007. “This power alignment yoga – it’s mean,” he says and then chuckles. At times, during warrior positions, Henry says his legs will start to hurt. But then he begins to breath deeper and puts more attention on the position. He says some people have told him that, that is a form of meditation. He’s not sure of that fact, though. “If you do things properly and think about things properly, it is calming,” he admits. Henry says he can’t get enough of MyLinda’s classes. She teaches at RDV SportsPlex on Wednesdays, and he says her classes are always packed – usually with at least 35 students. “It’s a little different than the other [yoga] classes,” he says. “She’s very innovative. Her routines are never the same. They’re always different. The main thing is they have a very good flow.” In each of MyLinda’s classes, Henry says she relates a “homily,” also known in the yoga world as bringing a theme to class. At one of her recent classes, she talked about holding grudges and how they take up energy and make people feel bad. The lesson got Henry thinking about a recent rift that came between he and his wife, Terri, and another couple. The couples had known each other for 50 years. They met on Henry and Terri’s honeymoon and kept in touch through the years. So, when their 50th anniversary party was being planned, Henry told his wife that he was going to invite the couple. She couldn’t believe it, but went along because Henry shared what he had learned about grudges at power alignment yoga. The couple came to the anniversary party and all has been mended between the couples. “When she talks, I listen to it,” Henry says. “I don’t think it’s one of these mystic things.” Henry has exercised heavily for 40 years – playing golf and tennis, running and participating in high-impact aerobics. In the aerobics class, at times he would have trouble breathing. When he decided to try yoga, he had no idea there would be cardiovascular benefits. About one month ago he went back to the aerobics class and used weights. “I had absolutely no problem,” he says. “I loved it. Yoga is really, really good for cardio. I didn’t realize it. Now, I do.” Henry says he enjoys MyLinda’s classes. “I really look forward to the classes,” he says. “MyLinda is just a wonderful person. She’s got a great outlook on life. Of course she hasn’t been around as long as I have, yet.”
By Lori Carter, freelance writer LoriCarter@aol.com
MyLinda's commentary:
Henry is a strong yoga student period - end of statement!! He's stronger and more flexible than many 20, 30 and 40 year olds I have seen in class but the fact that he's 71 only makes him more inspiring and amazing. Henry takes my most challenging class at RDV and he not only keeps up with the youngsters but he learns the flows quickly and masters them in a short time. He tries new or difficult postures but he also knows his limits. He reads up on the postures and asks questions for clarification and he is open minded. Most of all, Henry realizes the importance of proper alignment vs. pushing to get to the advanced posture; he has figured out that proper alignment gets you to the advanced posture without injury. Henry listens to the spiritual lectures and considers the information. What more could a yoga instructor ask for? I once told the class about Fred Brown, a wonderful, older yoga instructor who can do a beautiful full split and I think Henry was inspired to do the same. I wouldn't be surprised if Henry has a beautiful full split soon - I'll keep you posted.
Tracy Mead's Story of healing and Yoga
Mead Family of Mount Dora
Tracy Mead Gold's Gym Mount Dora Yoga Student
It was do or die.
For many years, Tracy Mead, 38, was burning the candle at both ends.
One end represented her family and career. The middle was how she made
it all work – sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, excess consumption
of caffeine and lack of exercise and at the other end was the result
muscle pain and fatigue. “I was in poor health,” she says. “My mom was convinced that I was going to die.”
Tracy, a Mount Dora resident, says her mother told her that she had
Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition causing pain, stiffness and
tenderness of the muscles, tendons and joints. Characteristics include
fatigue. “I’m a firm believer in the power of our own
intentions and our beliefs,” she says. “I thought I could get that
diagnosis if I wanted to. I decided that wasn’t going to be my life. No
way.” Instead of keeping herself down, Tracy decided to take
action. One day, she was shopping at a health food store and she saw
the flier for a Power Alignment Yoga class, which was being taught by
its creator MyLinda Ann Morales Hutchings. Tracy says she was
skeptical at first because in the past, she had tried aerobics,
running, swimming, tennis, bike riding and weight lifting. She also
dabbled with a few yoga classes. “The idea of exercising was
scary,” she says. “My muscles don’t rebound. After every workout, I
would get muscle pain. It hurt so bad that I didn’t want to exercise.”
Tracy, who is 5 foot 4 inches and weighed 104 pounds at the time, says
her only option was to give Power Alignment Yoga a try. “I
could either do this and die or not do this and die,” she says. “No lie
– I could not even carry my groceries from the car into the house.” When she went to her first class eight months ago, her husband, Russ, joined her to show support.
“The first class that I came to I thought I was going to break into a
bunch of pieces,” she says. “I took it minute by minute. I could feel
her [MyLinda] feel my struggle from across the room. “After class, she gave me encouraging words,” Tracy says. “I felt that this would be an opportunity to become stronger.”
Since that first day, Tracy, who has put on seven pounds and hopes to
reach at least 120 pounds, has progressed for the first time in
building muscle and she no longer has pain. “My first reward in yoga was the disappearance of my hip pain,” she says.
Tracy says she practices yoga three times a week at the gym and her
husband joins her as much as possible. When they aren’t able to get to
the gym, they workout at home with their children, Logan, 9, Madison,
7, and Abigail, 4. They all have their own mats. Tracy says she will never stop practicing yoga. “I can do normal daily activities. I can do anything,” she says. “I hope I can inspire other people.”
By Lori Carter, freelance writer LoriCarter@aol.com
MyLinda's commentary:
I remember the first time Tracy came to yoga class at Gold's. Having been gravely ill myself, I knew the look. When Tracy went into her first down dog her arms were shaking and I thought her arm bones would break. She took child's pose quite a few times that first day but she made it through class. I didn't hover over her or try to adjust her alignment because I sensed she was doing the best she could. I was thrilled when Tracy came back the next week; she even brought her husband!! Every week since then she has become stronger and stronger. The shaky arms that could barely hold Tracy up in down dog now hold her up in handstands, her eyes have life back in them, and her hips seem to be opening more and more but most of all she seems happy and so does her family - again what more could a yoga instructor want for a yoga student?
Power Alignment Yoga® with MyLinda Ann Morales Hutchings E-RYT 500®, CYT 2000 Exclusively at Altamonte Springs Yoga 249 West State Road 436 #1085 Altamonte Springs, Fl 32714 (407) 494-5758 Offering Yoga Classes, Workshops & Teacher Trainings in Power Alignment®, Hot AlignmentTM and Hatha AlignmentTM Yoga
Altamonte
Springs, Apopka, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Maitland, Orlando,
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