My yoga journey began in 2019 at boundlessyoga in Stroudsburgh, PA. Going in with an open mind, I wasnt too sure what it was all about but I wanted to give it a shot. The owner Chris, she was very welcoming as well as everyone else at the studio. Eventually it grew on me and I found myself going in weekly. Then covid hit, the studio got shut down and my practice kind of ended until they opened back up. I eventually moved to Missouri at the beginning of 2021 and didnt pick yoga back up until the start of 2024.

At the time life had a bunch of obstacles that I was trying to work through. I also started taking on alot of physical exercise and needed something to counter act all the soreness and muscle aches that I was having. When an acquaintance had mentioned Sumits, I knew I had to give it a shot. I had been wanting to try hot yoga for a while but never got around to it and this was my chance.

My first class got me hooked, the heat and stretching were exactly what I was looking for. The more I went the more I found that it wasn’t just about the postures. It was about being present in the moment, moving with your breath, and clearing your mind. Using what hot yoga has taught me in all aspects of my life, was not only bettering me, but also my practice.

I am grateful for the experiences Sumits has opened up for me, and also grateful that I can see the progress in my everyday practice as well as my mental health. "Everything you need, is straight ahead."

My Sumits yoga journey stated in late April 2015 when a friend invited me to go to a Sumits 80-

minute class. I had practiced yoga for a few years and had taken a few heated classes but had

not been practicing for 6 months --- the heat, the postures and flows were just what I needed. At

the time I was grieving losses of various sorts. After my first class, I signed up for the two-week

unlimited pass --- when that was up, I signed up for the unlimited monthly --- I was and continue

to be hooked.

Sumits has helped me through hills, valleys, twists, turns and evenness in my life journey ---

loss of loved ones, toxic work environment (not current position), career changes,

estrangements from one that I love deeply, self-doubt, dealing with past trauma, and many

happy happenings. I feel safe to let my emotions to be there with me on the mat ---I have cried,

laughed and all the emotions in-between. The best part is that I know that it is okay to feel what

I am feeling.

It seems that no matter who is guiding my yoga practice at Sumits --- the practice, the music,

the words, affirmations, quotes, words of encouragement --- is exactly what I need even if I did

not know what I needed when I arrive for my practice. I continue to learn that I must be patient

and wait in my yoga practice and in life.

There are no words that describe what Sumits--- teachers, front desk assistants and fellow

yogis mean to me. Thank you for being warm, kind, caring, loving on my best and worst days,

and accepting me as I am. I look forward to continuing my life and yoga journey with each of

you.

About 2 years ago, after an unforeseen turn of events, I found myself in a position where I was starting on a new life path.   I had practiced hot yoga some before, but really needed a studio to call home.  I started coming to Sumits initially as a way of self care, to re center, and find balance during a time of change and uncertainty.  The sweat that poured out of me that first year was filled with so much stress and anxiety,  but I felt better, so that kept me coming back.  In general, my body is inflexible and lacks any shred of grace or poise from many prior injuries.  Executing poses correctly is difficult. This was discouraging at first, but with continued practice I got out of my own way and gratitude began to develop for just being alive on my mat and having the opportunity to move.  The practices are sometimes hard, and they kick my ass often, but I’m learning to appreciate that being humbled by your practice is a gift.  Every day is different, but gratitude for where you are on that day and your ability to show up can be a constant. No matter how hard it is, after every practice I feel a little more cleansed, centered, and balanced.  I feel happier.  I am more present at home for my kids.  

Over these last 2 years the staff & instructors here have made me feel like family.   They’ll probably never know how much I needed that.   I am incredibly grateful for Sumits, and all of the lessons yoga is teaching me.  I’m grateful for the people it has brought into my life, for every suggestion to say something kind to myself, & for every reminder to just breathe. 

Namaste.

“2020 was a hard year for everyone. In 2020 I lost 3 grandparents, I was doing medical school online, and I felt like I was giving so much of myself that I’d end my day weary. There was nothing left in my energy store for just me…”

“On Saturday January 9th 2021, I woke up feeling different. It’s difficult to put into words what that difference was exactly, but I was different, ready. I went to Sumits Hot Yoga Class Schedule & Sign Up page; that I’d visited several times over the past month; and I signed up for the 9am class. I’d been to a yoga class before, even still I was nervous, “am I going to put my mat in the right place?” “will I be able to follow along or keep up?” As we were finishing the warm up, I noticed a feeling I had been missing…peace…”

“When my sister told me I should come with her to Sumits for a hot yoga class, I was reluctant to say the least. I had been to a few non-heated yoga classes in the past and didn't really care for them. And honestly, the "hot" part didn't sound very appealing to me either. But I thought, the first class is free so I won't really be losing anything by going to one class. That was almost 4 years ago…”

“I took my first class at Sumits in 2014 and was immediately hooked. I had never done yoga before - I had the idea that it wasn't a 'real' workout and it just required you to contort your body into different shapes. The combination of the Sumits series and the heat/humidity quickly changed my mind. Although I fell out of practice for a few years, I am beyond grateful Sumits is a consistent part of my life again..“

“I think you would really enjoy Yoga, Kory.” After finally having a measurable amount of sobriety, completely changing my lifestyle, with a clear mind, I decided to “try Yoga”. It was a Sunday and Molly was the instructor for the hour and twenty minute class. It was one of the greatest things (I now know) I have ever suffered through. I remember my eyes darting around, trying to, at all costs hide that I was gasping for air, even talking to the person I was there with, of course, without any response. Everyone in the room was moving with such poise, intention and patience.”

It is difficult to put into words how Sumits Hot Yoga has impacted my life. I started practicing yoga at the beginning of this year because of my friend Aline. She invited me to go to a hot yoga class with her. First, I said that I had already tried a yoga class once and could not concentrate or relax and that this was not for me, much less practice in a heated room. As I am a very anxious person, she told me that yoga could help me feel better. And she was right…

My yoga journey began on May 14, 2019. This date is forever engraved in my mind because it was the day, I took a chance to improve myself both mentally and physically. My now friend and previous Sumits Yoga Teacher, Christa Holley, had shown me through her teaching how important it was to join an environment at Sumits where everyone can feel powerful in their own skin. I was in desperate need of a life change, including a way to restart, reboot and redirect my current life path. The hardest part was admitting that I needed it…

I joined the Sumit’s family on August 5, 2017.  I have always tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly and generally trying to eat a healthy diet.  I enjoyed running, cycling and snowboarding, but didn’t really feel that I had the ‘yoga mentality’ since I typically enjoyed more active sports.  On February 23, 2002, late on a Saturday night while working as a Postdoc at the Gencenter at the University of Munich, I was found unconscious in the men’s restroom. I was rushed across the parking lot to the Klinikum Grosshadern, one of the top hospitals in Munich, Germany.  The ER doctors recognized that there was a lot of pressure on my brain and suspected an aneurysm.  On the following day, an angiogram confirmed that I had suffered a massive subarachnoid aneurysm of the Anterior Communicating Artery aneurysm which was repaired via a coiling procedure.  While my aneurysm was repaired, I was far from out of the woods. 

When my daughter, Beeler, said, “Mom, let’s go to a hot yoga class”, two thoughts came to my mind when I answered “Sure.” First, I thought this will NEVER last for ME; and second, I will NEVER fit in. I only agreed to try out a class because I knew Beeler wanted to try hot yoga. Beeler had been practicing yoga at home from YouTube videos and seemed to enjoy herself. I had even joined her ONCE and really struggled. I knew I would not be able to accomplish the “moves” in a hot studio. Boy, was I wrong! After our first class, we both became hooked and decided to come back for more! 

My interest in yoga is based, in large part, in my search for a way to keep doing the things I enjoy doing and to repair some of the long-term wear and tear that I’ve caused my body over the years...The heat was challenging, my balance and flexibility was horrible and I was totally and absolutely hooked! In the month and a half since my flexibility has dramatically improved, my balance is much better and, most of all, those aches and pains are essentially history! Yoga is part of my daily routine now and my only regret is not having started sooner!

My yoga journey began about a year and ago when a good friend of mine decided to drag me along for a class here at Sumits. At the time I didn’t have a yoga mat, towel, or any idea as to what I was getting myself into. I remember sweating an ungodly amount, struggling to learn the names of poses and positions, yet I fell completely in love. I was totally hooked on the yoga practice here at Sumits...

It’s hard to put into words how Sumits Hot Yoga has impacted me. It’s more of a warm feeling that I get whenever I think about yoga. I think Sumits has everything to do with the reason why I fell in love with yoga and became eager to learn about all that yoga has to offer.

I’ve practiced yoga off and on since moving to Columbia in 1998.  Getting bored easily, I would switch between yoga, strength training and multiple other classes and activities.  I initially tried Sumits because Hot Yoga was new to me.  It was amazing although I still kept going back and forth between there and the heated classes offered at my regular gym. Eventually I realized that there was a significant difference between the way I felt following each of those classes. 

Health and fitness have always been an important focus for me with strength training/weight lifting being my preferred work out.  Over the years I have incorporated various physical activities to my regimen; however, cardio has never been something I like to do. 

My yoga journey began a couple months ago as I neared the end of another year of graduate school. Being present in the thick of a doctoral program is tough. You hold so many roles that can leave you feeling drained. I was craving some balance and wellness in my life…

My yoga life started 20 years ago when I moved to Columbia for graduate school. I learned very quickly that there is much more to yoga than the seemingly ‘easy’ stretches. It has always been a physical challenge for me. Sumits yoga has created a healthy way for me to detox. I feel so great afterwards. I also feel it has made me a better mom and wife. When attitudes flare and something new is destroyed (boys), I simply take a giant breath.