This is not your grandma's yoga—or is it?
Concerned about aging gracefully?
Take a look around the Thrive studios—and find out why age is just a number.
In a recent blog, we pondered the question if it was possible to get in your best shape in mid-life. This month, we’ll go one further and say it’s not only possible, but as some of our in-house instructors have shown, yoga can actually help you turn back the hands of time—or at least significantly slow them down.
Today I have the honor of introducing you to five incredible women in the Thrive family.
If you’ve practiced with us with some regularity, these names and faces should be familiar. They’re easy to recognize because they all have a glow, vibrancy and contagious energy about them—and it may surprise you to know that they also all have grandchildren!
“It is not lost on me that whenever someone first begins their practice at Thrive, they never seem to age or look a day older than when they started.”
These five instructors all have one thing in common: They have embedded the Original 26+2 hot yoga practice into their weekly routine for many years—and each credit this regular rhythm as their “secret weapon” to staying young at heart.
SIDE NOTE: *Thrive’s Original Hot Yoga (formerly known as Bikram), is the classic 26 posture and 2 breathing exercise series that has inspired and transformed the health of millions of practitioners around the world over the last 30 years. Original Hot Yoga is also known as 26+2 Hot Yoga.
I recently sat down with this “Fabulous Five” to learn more about how yoga has impacted and influenced their health and happiness through the years. Keep reading to learn how each instructor unlocked the fountain of youth—by sweating in the studio!
MEET THE GRANDMAS:
Meet the Grandmas
From left to right:
Victoria Costantini
Catherine Boussie
Frances O’Laughlin
Linda Kay
Yvonne Duban
Victoria
Victoria is our youngest grandma. She is a dynamic and passionate teacher. When she isn’t at the yoga studio, she can be found performing community theater or spending time with her family. Victoria has a history of arthritis from practicing dance, but that hasn’t slowed her down.
What she loves about yoga: Victoria uses her hot yoga practice as a therapy to manage her arthritis and calls it her “medication.” Yoga gives her relief in every aspect of her body, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.
Differences she’s noticed: Victoria appreciates the beautifying effects of yoga. She’s noticed that her skin, nails, and hair all look and feel stronger and more vibrant from regular practice in a hot room.
Meet her in class Tuesday afternoons in Troy (Original Hot 90)
Catherine
A newer instructor, Catherine has a genetic condition that causes severe regurgitation in her heart. At a recent fitness check-up, her doctor exclaimed, “I don’t understand how you can be so fit!” And her response was, ”It’s my yoga!”
What she loves about yoga: She loves to teach and practice because it makes her feel great. She also loves the community and connecting with her fellow yogis. She gets a rush from seeing the toning and calming transformation in her students.
“Can hot yoga also help slow down the aging process? Perhaps. But one thing I know for certain is that these ladies are living proof that it’s never too late to find out.”
Differences she’s noticed: Catherine feels like getting younger because she’s getting her body in balance. She feels more centered, stronger, and overall healthier.
Meet her in class Thursday nights in Troy and Wednesday mornings in Farmington Hills
Frances
Frances is Thrive’s most seasoned yogi with 73 years of life experience. She has 10 grandchildren and boundless energy.
What she loves about yoga: Frances started practicing hot yoga when she was 52. She is a shining example to let everyone know that it's never too late to start a yoga practice.
Differences she’s noticed: She is also starting to recognize some of the long-term benefits of a regular yoga practice. While good genes certainly play a role in her good health, Frances believes that her yoga also plays a significant part. She takes no medication and has had no serious health issues. She looks and feels great. She sometimes has a hard time relating to friends her own age who all like to talk about what medicines they are taking, and what procedures they are having.
Meet her in class Friday mornings and Monday afternoons in Farmington hills (Hot 75)
Linda
Linda is a yoga legend in metro Detroit. She has been practicing 26+2 hot yoga for 40 years! She loves to teach different styles of yoga as well as hot pilates. Linda is an inspiration to us all. She has the spirit of a 21-year-old.
What she loves about yoga: Linda is fit and vibrant and loves hanging around young and interesting people.
Differences she’s noticed: Yoga keeps Linda looking and feeling decades younger than her age. She is a super dynamic person, even at an age when most are slowing down. She is fully embracing her single status and her ranking as the hottest catch on her dating app!
Meet her in class Thursday nights in Farmington Hills (Inferno Hot Pilates)
Yvonne
Yvonne is one of our seasoned yoga teachers. She was one of the original practitioners of the “26+2” hot yoga practice in Metro Detroit and loves helping others discover the joy of hot yoga.
What she loves about yoga: Yvonne cherishes yoga because it gives her peace and eases her mind. When she teaches, she feels like she is making a difference in this world. It gives her purpose and loving energy, which you have surely experienced if you have ever taken a class with Yvonne!
Differences she’s noticed: Yvonne has suffered from lifelong digestive issues—when she practices or teaches yoga, her system relaxes and works properly. And as a bonus, any stress that she’s had during the day just melts away.
Meet her in class Sunday mornings in Farmington hills (Original Hot 90)
Now that you’ve met our resident Grandmas, I want you to start noticing something else.
It is not lost on me that whenever someone first begins their practice at Thrive, they never seem to age or look a day older than when they started. Original Hot Yoga makes you feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally—and when you feel good, you look good. Can hot yoga also help slow down the aging process? Perhaps. But one thing I know for certain is that these ladies are living proof that it’s never too late to find out.
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