Thrive Hot Yoga Success Story: A. Danielle Adams (Part 2)
“The yoga taught me to accept my body how it is.”
Last week in Part 1 we introduced you to A. Danielle Adams. A strong presence in the classes she attends, Danielle positions herself at the front of the room and serves as a guide for newbies and veterans alike.
It all started 14 years ago when she received a 30-Day Trial Pass as a Mother’s Day gift—she’s been practicing regularly ever since.
This week we explore the physical, mental, and emotional changes and challenges that have motivated her to keep coming back to the mat.
Keep reading to learn more about the fantastic and unexpected benefits Danielle has discovered through her physical practice, then sign up to join her in the studio!
A. DANIELLE ADAMS STUDENT PROFILE: PART 2
Danielle: … Like I said, I'm not into the gym. I will go running in the summer, just to get outside and get some fresh air. I like to work out alone but with others. Yoga is that. I can work out alone, and it's like, no, we're not talking, but we're all here together on one accord. So I really love that.
Ian: Yes, a group energy takes over when everybody moves together. There’s a rhythm to it all and a group consciousness that develops. So you mentioned the mental benefits were primary for you, and the physical was a bonus?
Danielle: The physical benefits are something I knew would happen. The mental benefit was the more unexpected piece of it. I knew if I stayed with yoga, I would see results physically eventually. But I had no idea that I would benefit so well mentally, being in tune with my body and, you know, my body, mind, and soul. I know it sounds cliche, but it's true for me.
Ian: What you're describing is how everything is connected, even the seemingly separate parts of body, mind, and spirit. When there is stress in the body, we feel it in the mind. When there is mental stress, it can show up in the body. We can feel disconnected inside. When we do yoga, it’s like a pressure release valve, we start to feel physically and mentally balanced, and more connected to our Self.
Danielle: Yes, and if I'm frustrated or having a bad week, it's like, ‘Okay, I need to go to yoga. I need to just go and focus on me.’ It’s probably the only place where I can just focus on myself. There are no kids. There's no house. I come to the yoga studio, and all I have to worry about is myself. That's a good thing for 60 to 90 minutes. And I love the energy Jenny brings on Tuesday. She's so calm, and I look forward to her class.
I love the other teachers too. I love Michelle. Her music playlist is always awesome. Yes, and Frances’ 75-minute class is on Fridays. Thank you for bringing in the 75-minute class. The 75-minute classes are awesome for me. I love them.
Also, I love Deepa on Sunday evenings with Yin Yoga. Yin just kind of brings it all together. I get more into relaxing myself. We're focused on steadying our minds and bodies and just holding it.
“The physical benefits are something I knew would happen. The mental benefit was the more unexpected piece of it.”
Ian: What parts of your hot yoga practice do you love, and what parts are you challenged by?
Danielle: I think the hot yoga class itself is challenging no matter how often you do it. It's day by day. It depends on how your week was or the night before. So the yoga practice is always challenging. When the room is hotter, it's even more challenging for me.
And there are still a few poses that I still struggle with. I do feel like there are some that I'm pretty good at, but I have at least five or six poses where I feel I’m probably never going to get this, but I'm going to try every time I come to class and just do my best.
Sometimes I feel like I’ll never get the Standing Head to Knee Pose. But I'm gonna keep trying until one day it happens. I've gotten close, and then I fall out. Jenny has given me some tips about not bending forward so much, which makes my leg feel heavier, now I’m standing up straighter in the posture, and it’s better.
I can say that Standing Bow Pose is my favorite because I feel like I have it and can hold it. I'm confident in this pose when I do it, and Jenny, she always lets me know with ‘Great job!.’ My goal is now to get my legs straighter.
Each instructor gives you a little bit of insight on how to hold the pose a little better, that helps me to get better into the positions. With each instructor, I listen to every word. I focus on their words and my view in the mirror.
Ian: In the first part of our interview, you mentioned how as a brand new beginner, you were inspired by the many women you saw in the yoga room—their calm, steady presence. You had the thought, “I want that too. I want to be that.” And now you are that example for others. How interesting!
Danielle: I used to go in the back, the far right back of the room. That was my spot. And then I think it was Jenny’s class. I went to the front, I stayed in the front, and I wanted to be next to her in class because it’s the energy from the instructor that I like. So from that point, that was my spot in the front of the class. Somewhere in that row near the mirror and the instructor.
When the instructor states that they have new students in the class, and when the new students are around me, I do feel it's my duty to be an example for them, especially if they can't see the teacher. Because I know when I was a beginner, I was always looking at the other students if I couldn't see the teacher to make sure I was doing the poses correctly. I would always put my focus on the student who I thought had it.
So subconsciously, I try to be that student when we have beginners in the room. I know I have to be on point for practice today just in case I can help someone else. So that motivates me and pushes me through.
I forgot to mention, I also love Sundays, the Inferno Hot Pilates with Krysia.
Ian: What do you love about Inferno Hot Pilates?
Danielle: That's my ‘going to the gym.’’ That’s where I can work my core, my arms, and my abs. That class helps strengthen my body as if I was going to the gym. I'm lifting my own weight. Hot Pilates, for me, is more strengthening and definition for my body. That's how I look at it.
Ian: Love it. So how often are you doing classes these days?
Danielle: Three to four times a week. If I can get four classes in, it’s a great week. My dream four classes are two Hot 60 classes, one Hot 75, and one Hot Pilates. Oh, and a Yin Yoga. If I can do a fifth class, that would be great!
Ian: Do you have any words of wisdom for beginners?
Danielle: I think we are afraid of what we don't know and afraid of doing the hard work and enduring what comes with that. Yes, in the beginning, you're going to be hot. You're gonna sweat.
I know a few people who have said, ‘Oh no, my skin breaks out.’ But you know, that's the bad things coming out of your body, so why would you give up? Others say, ‘It's just not for me. I felt lightheaded.’ And I find that it's just so many excuses, and that’s weird to me. When are you going to stop making excuses and follow through?
I tell people, “Give it 30 days, two to three days a week for 30 days, and if it's not for you, and it doesn't fit in your life, then so be it, find another means of exercising, or another form of yoga.”
“I think we are afraid of what we don’t know and afraid of doing the hard work and enduring what comes with that. Yes, in the beginning, you’re going to be hot. You’re gonna sweat.”
I would say just continue. When things are tough for me and hard and challenging, then that's when I want to pursue and see, ‘Why is this challenging for me? Why is this so hard for me?.’ Because if they can do it, then what makes me so different? So it's a mental push for me.
I feel like a lot of people who don't come back, it's just an excuse. I feel like most of them will make that same excuse at the gym.
And I understand not everyone wants to be hot. Yes, it's hot, it's sweaty, it's funky, yes. But you can take a shower, you know, you know what I mean?
So it's like, just get over that point, and the benefits are so much more, and so well worth it, that it's worth the funky sweaty mess! It's all worth it. It’s worth it.
Ian: Do you have any final thoughts about yoga, the studio, or the community, anything that comes to mind?
Danielle: I'm a very quiet person, but I feel a part of the community, the yoga community, I feel a part of the family. And although I don't talk to everyone in the class, I feel like we're still connected and friends because I see them at the bank, I see them at the grocery store, and it's like, ‘Hi, you're from yoga, how you doing?.’ And when they don't come to class, it's like, ‘Where have you been, are you okay?.’ We check on one another.
I can say it's definitely a community, and the people are awesome and friendly. I see all ages from 21 to 81. I've seen older people, probably my mom's age, and she's 83, and I’m like, ‘Wow, if he can do this and come every day, then I'm sure that I can find somewhere in my mind and my body to do this as well.’
“I would encourage everyone to just throw away the excuses, get out of their heads, and just become a part of the yoga family. We’re awesome! We feel good. We look good. It’s great. We’re at peace most of the time.”
To beginners, I would say just get out of your head and get over yourselves. And if you really want to reap the benefits of yoga, in my opinion, Thrive Hot Yoga is the best because I think that heat is the added element that just makes it even better for you and for your overall well-being.
I would encourage everyone to just throw away the excuses, get out of their heads, and just become a part of the yoga family. We're awesome! We feel good. We look good. It's great. We're at peace most of the time.
From this yoga, you know your body. You know when you're stressed. Yoga has helped me tune into that, I know when it's too much and I need to step away. I know how to calm myself in situations when I'm frustrated. And it's like, okay, just breathe, breathe, and just take in the moment without a reaction, if that makes sense. I do that a lot for myself, and I can say that yoga is what did that for me.
Ian: Amazing. Thank you, Danielle. We appreciate you!
Missed Part 1 of our interview with Danielle? Read it here and find out which classes are her favorite to take at Thrive.
PRACTICE LIKE DANIELLE
On average, Danielle practices 3 - 4 times per week, doing a variety of classes. Whether she’s enjoying Jenny’s Tuesday 10am class, Michelle’s playlists, her favorite 75-minute class with Frances, Krysia’s Inferno Hot Pilates, or Deepa’s Yin Yoga—she likes being able to mix it up. You can, too, by checking out our class schedule.
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