Thrive Hot Yoga Success Story: Sarah Lum
“I’ve learned to love my body and accept myself for where I’m at in that moment.”
Sarah Lum was in a rut before she started at Thrive. She felt physically unhealthy, she was at a low point mentally, and she was tempted to resign herself to the fact that this was her new normal. It’s hard to get over the hump of stagnation. Hard to admit it. It's hard to find the motivation to overcome it and figure out where to start!
Sarah had seen multiple posts on social media about the benefits of Pilates. Still, the reformer was intimidating, so she looked into mat Pilates as an entryway to becoming active again. Luckily for her, she drove by our Farmington Hills location every day on her way to work, so she eventually decided to stop in.
“Inferno Hot Pilates has taught me more than just exercise; it’s become a form of therapy. I’ve learned to give myself grace with my mind and body while improving my self-image.”
After losing 28 pounds from lifestyle changes and Inferno Hot Pilates as her primary workout, Sarah says she’s learned to have pride in herself and be capable of change. “I feel physically strong and mentally resilient after implementing Hot Pilates into my weekly routine.” Sarah firmly believes that if she can do it, so can you.
Meet Sarah Lum.
Ian: What first led you to Inferno Hot Pilates at Thrive Hot Yoga?
Sarah: A year ago, I was the most unhealthy I'd been physically. And I had gained a lot of weight gradually, and I wasn't used to that. I also wasn't regularly working out. And one day, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, I don't like how I look, but most importantly, I didn't like how I felt. I was uncomfortable in my own body. I realized I couldn't do a single push-up. I felt like I was winded pretty easily. And I just knew I needed to make a change. My athletic history is not very lengthy. I did yoga on and off since high school. I've also seen all these TikToks and things on Instagram about Pilates. I thought reformer Pilates looked pretty intense. I thought finding another studio would be a good way to start getting active again—working out. And trying to lose weight will come after.
I remembered that the Thrive studio in Farmington Hills is a mile from my house. I drive by it regularly. I checked it out and saw the new student special. I thought it was a great way to start. I signed up one day. I was open to it, thinking let’s see what happens. I went by myself. My first impression was it's really hot. It felt like standing in a dryer. But because you're moving around so much, you can't even focus on that.
“Hot Pilates has taught me more than just exercise; it’s become a form of therapy. I’ve learned to give myself grace with my mind and body while improving my self-image.”
I instantly liked it because it reminded me of strength and conditioning in gymnastics. It was the only sport I did, and I stopped doing it when I was 16 or 17. The stuff we would do in gymnastics practice was almost identical to a lot of the exercises you do in Hot Pilates. Hot Pilates wasn't what I thought it would be. I had a made-up conception in my mind that it was going to be too intense and too difficult for somebody who hasn't worked out in years. It's definitely challenging, but it's explained well, and it's demonstrated for you. I like the challenge. That's what made me want to come back. It’s fast. I couldn’t do everything for the full 20 or 30 seconds, I couldn't do a full push-up, and I struggled with a lot of it, but that's the challenge of it, and wanting to be better at it is what made me come back.
Ian: Do you remember when your first class was?
Sarah: It was in July 2023 when I started with the trial pass. I think it's a great deal, and I like that there was a 30-day limit on it, so you have to be consistent. I've gone consistently ever since then and am now on the 8 classes per month membership. It definitely took a couple of months before I genuinely loved it. I hear people all the time say, oh, I love working out. I love going to the gym. I love getting up at five a.m. Or whatever it is. I used to think these people are lying to you—I don't know who they think they are—but now I know what they mean. And maybe this is really corny, but it's true after a while, and after being consistent, I learned to love it.
Ian: That's great! So you are a year into this Inferno Hot Pilates practice, going to classes consistently twice a week, and have learned to love it. What are the main health benefits you experience over this least year?
Sarah: Yeah, Hot Pilates is not only good for my body, my strength and flexibility, but also my mind.
It has helped me lose weight and build muscle and tone. I’m getting stronger in the classes, the things that were once so hard for me or couldn't finish—I'm not going to say they're easy, but they're definitely easier. I’m getting more flexible too. Having time to stretch before and after class in the heat has improved my flexibility and inspired me to work on getting my splits back. The teachers are encouraging about stretching and around to help if there’s a specific area or muscle that’s bothering you. I always laugh when Linda ends the class by saying ‘take this time to do whatever stretch your body needs. But staring at the ceiling doesn’t count as stretching!’.
It's good for my brain. Mentally, when I came into this, I just felt terrible about myself. I had no self-esteem. So it's good for your mental health. I love it. One of the teachers said ‘it's just one hour a day for yourself; getting here is the hardest part’. And it's true. It's literally for you. It may feel like it's a chore sometimes, and it's hard sometimes to take time out of your schedule. After you work a long day, is that really what you want to do, or first thing in the morning when you have a full day of work ahead of you? But once I'm there, I'm like, no, I need this. When I really don't want to go is when I know I should.
A year ago I thought I was incapable of working out. I also thought, I'm 27. I'm getting to that age where I was asking myself am I stuck at the weight forever? Is this just my body and I can’t change it? I was convincing myself that this is it, and I’m incapable of doing anything differently. Now I’ve proved to myself that I can change. Hot Pilates has given me a lot of confidence and self-esteem. I'm strong. I always say I'm a strong girl, that's my little motto, and that I am capable. I enjoy the challenge of it physically, not that that's the most important thing. I think the most important part is that you are healthy and that you feel better, but as an added bonus, I've actually lost almost 30 pounds since November. I was around 160 when I stopped weighing myself, and this week I'm 132. And obviously, there were a lot of diet changes that came with that, but, you know, you can't just work out and not eat right, and you can't just eat right and not work out. It's a combination of both.
“I say [to my friends] what I’ve heard a teacher say in the class: this is just an hour a day just for you, nobody else; it’s for your mind and body, and it’s just an hour.”
And for me, the Pilates class has been the constant. I've done hot yoga classes as well. I don't mind them, but I prefer Pilates because you're constantly moving.
Ian: We’ve seen over the years with many students, those who lose weight successfully are doing hot yoga or hot pilates regularly, plus they make new choices in daily life which lead to new healthy habits and new results over time. It’s an ongoing process for most people over time in different stages of life. Having an open mind, being able to adapt, shift gears, try a new approach, or make new choices we haven’t previously considered for our health and fitness is really important too.
Sarah: I agree. In my adult life, I have not gained many hobbies, so the only one is literally working out. It's just something that I like doing, but it's also something that I have to do, like brushing your teeth in the morning. I feel like it's just part of the routine now.
Ian: So how do you schedule your classes at Thrive, based on your work, or based on the teachers?
Sarah: I think I've had all the teachers now. I've only had Krysia maybe once or twice, because she only does the Sunday at 10, and it's my one day to sleep in. Mainly, I go around my work schedule—that's why I appreciate that there are evening classes and have a second to go home, change, get ready, and make it there. I love the challenge of Sheila’s classes, so I often drive to Troy on Sundays at 3pm. Linda amazes me. Absolutely amazes me. I'm like, I want to be like you when I'm older.
I see Thrive teachers come to the classes that they're not teaching. And I think that says a lot about the studio and the classes themselves because they're not just there for the money. They're not just there teaching; they're there participating because they're getting something out of it, too. And Linda gives a lot, I've noticed, in a good way because a lot of times when you're brand new, you don't know what you're doing, you don't know why your back hurts the next day because your form was terrible and I appreciate that she’ll come up and give corrections. And then I would say Kim is the one I see most frequently because the Tuesday and Thursday classes are at 7 p.m. and that time is good for my work schedule.
The other thing I wanted to touch on, and I think it's noteworthy for the studio as a whole, is that you have a hands-off policy with students. I really appreciate that here.
Ian: I appreciate how you enjoy the variety of teachers. Jenny and I are really proud of this Thrive team!. Each teacher gives something unique that relates to their passion and experience. And yes, it’s an important policy that Thrive teachers don’t touch students in our classes.
So my last question, if a family member or friend was coming to their first class at Thrive Hot Yoga, how would you encourage them? What words of wisdom would you share, because you have quite a bit of wisdom from your experience!
Sarah: Thank you. I'm smiling because this is an easy answer for me. I say this because I have referred my sister and several other friends, and my sister has referred a friend, sometimes we do class together now.
Ian: That's great.
Sarah: I'm a walking advertisement, essentially.
Ian: We’ve got to get you a Thrive T-shirt!
Sarah: I should have referral cards!
Ian: Noted, we may start a program later this year.
Sarah: Since there’s no referral program, I’m not gaining anything from raving about it to my friends or doing this testimonial; I’m doing it because I genuinely love the class and what it’s done for me, and I know that other people will feel the same if they give it a chance. I hear people being stuck in a rut, just like I felt a year ago. Or if you don't work out regularly, you don't know where to start. Getting a gym membership is pretty easy, but what do you do when you're in the gym?
So classes aren't for everybody, but for some of us that are rusty or haven't worked out on their own, that's what the class is good for. You have demonstrations, you have exactly the amount of time and the amount of sets you're supposed to do. I explain it as a great way to get back into being active. And the heat, they always say, well, how hot is it? I say it's only 95 degrees. You don't even notice it. I tell them that the heat is great for your muscles and that you are not nearly as tense. You're not as likely to pull a muscle. and your range of motion is better because of the heat, and you may be a little bit miserable in the beginning, but then after a while, you're so used to it, and you're so focused on the workout that you don't even notice it. I tell them you're gonna feel great about yourself afterward, you're gonna feel so proud. I also say what I've heard a teacher say in the class: this is just an hour a day just for you, nobody else; it's for your mind and body, and it's just an hour.
“I think the most important part is that you are healthy and that you feel better, but as an added bonus, I’ve actually lost almost 30 pounds since November.”
PRACTICE LIKE Sarah
On average, Sarah practices two times a week. Her favorite class is Inferno Hot Pilates because it is beginner-friendly for someone looking to get active again after years without regular exercise. Offered at both of our locations, check out our class schedule to book your first IHP class. Haven't been to Thrive in 12 months? Click here to learn more about our new student special.
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