I've been considering yoga for years at the strong suggestion of my sister. But something always seemed to get in the way.
The studio she formerly used in Virginia Beach had changed their schedule. So the last few times she's been in town, she hasn't gotten to go to a yoga class. This time I set out to find an alternate choice for her.
My research turned up the Yelp Top Five Yoga Studios in VB. Or was it CoVA? Her old studio was the first listed. But the second, with a rating of almost five, was on Virginia Beach Boulevard just beyond Town Center.
A close look at the map on the studio Yelp page showed them to be in a small shopping center just east of Loehmann's Plaza & the new CHKD Urgent Care Center.
My sister liked their class schedule and planned to attend a class the next day.
We made a trial run to find the studio that afternoon. It turned out to be in the back corner of a shopping center I had frequented many times throughout the years. A class had started, so the door was locked. We couldn't see the studio or ask questions that day.
When my sister returned from her first class, she was very enthusiastic, She loved it!! The class was good as was the instructor and the studio.
She had also told Catherine, the instructor, about me. Catherine was expecting me at Chair Yoga the next day. And she knew I was an absolute beginner, which eased my apprehension.
The studio turned out to be fabulous. Catherine was waiting for me at the desk. We talked about my physical limitations before going into the room to meet the other participants. Everyone was friendly. It appeared to be a community.
Catherine was an excellent instructor for this first timer with physical limitations. She had me do some things in a different pose than the others. That really worked at putting me at ease. She also had me do the floor exercises, as best possible, in the chair.
After class Catherine marked on the schedule the classes she thought I could do. One was her Gentle class the next day.
Both my sister and I attended that Gentle class. I was able to get on the floor and on my knees with blankets underneath. She placed a chair close for me to use getting up. And she suggested I stand next to the wall for balance poses. Catherine calmed all my fears. I cannot imagine a better instructor for a first timer with physical limitations.
The studio is very well done with nice interior design. It is clean, modern and new. Parking is plentiful.
We met Stephanie the studio owner, who was friendly and welcoming.
There are class packages, including some excellently priced packages for new students. I purchased the unlimited new student month for $49. My sister purchased the unlimited new student week. I don't remember the price. She also bought one of the cute Collective Yoga tops.
Classes can be scheduled on their Web Site with reminders sent via text or email. The class descriptions are excellent.
Even though yoga mats were available for use at the studio, I asked my sister if one could be purchased that was more padded, in order to put less pressure on my titanium knees. That has now been accomplished. So I'm ready for Chair Yoga on Wednesday and Gentle on Thursday. Next week I may even try a new class.
Thank you Collective Yoga for making it possible for me to do what I thought I might never be able to do read more