Student Stories Archives - Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse. Funk Yeah

Dec 01

Journey to Super Yogi

By Brittany Student Stories, Uncategorized, Yoga

Journey to Super Yogi

Growth through practice takes all forms and the journey is different for everyone. This month we feature a beloved member of our Funky Buddha Team as she shares her personal Super Yogi Journey. We are so proud of you Mads!

Funky Buddha entered my life in March of 2014. I was in my senior year at Hope College (Go Dutch), uncertain of what came next, and my dear friend Steph invited me to come to yoga with her. We went to a Buddha Basics Flow taught by Larissa, and after that, I tried my hardest to fit in every class I could that fit in my schedule. I accepted a position at the front desk of Holland about a year after my first class at the Buddha. That was way back when a 9 am yoga class was too early for me, which is laughable now considering I’m at the desk in Eastown for most of the 6 am classes. Back when skipping was easier than showing up and just doing the thing. Four years and eight months after my first class, I live in East Hills, work at the Eastown studio, and at the beginning of November, I became a Super Yogi.

For those who aren’t familiar with Funky Buddha language, that means you’ve taken 250 classes and get a shirt reminiscent of the Superman logo (which I wore for easily four days straight after I received it). I told one of our teachers that I was going to be writing a post for the monthly newsletter, she asked about the content, and I told her it was about my journey to becoming a Super Yogi. She was taken aback: “But haven’t you been here forever?!” And I said that that’s exactly why I’m writing this. A friend of mine reached Super Yogi status after like, ten months. So yeah, while I’ve been coming here for a while, it did indeed take me a hefty chunk of time to reach this milestone in my practice.

Throughout all of this, I’ve struggled with honoring my journey as my own and not letting myself compare my journey to someone else’s. There are still times where I feel embarrassed that it’s taken me many years to even reach 250 classes, because it shows that I lacked commitment to the practice for so long. Committing to something is not easy work, especially when it causes me to get up and do something rather than do nothing. I struggle to get to class most days, to leave my home and my pets and my Netflix. Yet through all of that, I have almost never thought, “I should have stayed home and not gone to yoga.” When I show up to practice, I show up for myself. I prove to myself that I can do something rather than nothing, that I can move forward.

The practice of yoga has evolved into a living, breathing thing for me. It has become a part of me. It is not just a way I move my body and stretch and sweat. It causes me to look inward, to reflect on my actions, movements, thoughts, interactions. To be aware. I see this everywhere, from how I move on my mat to how I speak with people at the coffee shop. Yoga is there to ask me the harder questions and to help me work through some of the clutter that I have in my life. Sometimes, it offers just enough space to help me prioritize my to do list for work or for my personal life, and other times it gives me just enough peace to focus on myself in practice. And maybe get in a little snooze during savasana. Yoga helps me find enough of whatever it is I need to be able to move through my day with ease, and to face the stressors of life changes with determination.

The beautiful joy of establishing a yoga practice is that it is always evolving. My body is more capable of moving than it was when I started yoga ten years ago. I have more awareness and intelligence about myself and what I can do, and what I am not yet able to do. I know that if I want to advance my practice, become stronger, get into and hold the more difficult poses, all I need to do is move past the walls and barriers I built, and commit. Commit to myself, the practice, the challenge of putting caring for myself at the top of my list. Super Yogi status is a big deal to me for many reasons. Mainly, it shows that there is something I have been able to commit to for nearly five years. The commitment may have faltered at times, but Funky Buddha was always there to greet me when I was ready to come back, and ready to prove that yes, I can show up for myself and do the thing. That is my joy in finding a yoga practice. That is my joy in being able to work in the space where I do yoga every day I can. That is my joy in becoming a Super Yogi.

—Madeleine

Check out this year’s Super Yogis!

Aug 01

4 Ways Yoga Teacher Training Changed My Life

By Brittany Student Stories, Teacher Training

Meet Chelsea, she’s our smiley Studio Operations Coordinator who recently graduated from our 200 hour yoga teacher training program. Read all about her life-changing experience!

Let’s get vulnerable!

So, it’s a scary thing finally committing to something you’ve been wanting to do for years, and for me, I kept coming up with reasons I shouldn’t commit to teacher training. Yet again.

What if I want to have a long weekend off?

What if I’m not as good as the other trainees?

My back is hurt, maybe I should wait until I’m fully healthy?

What if I end up hating it?

The list went on and on but thank God for a good support system of friends and family telling me to listen to my gut and take the leap. I can confidently say that my life will never be the same, in all the best ways.

Here are four ways yoga teacher training changed my life (and my yoga practice):

1. I’m best friends with my body now

Let me explain; we, meaning me and my Body, still have the occasional fight, but I listen now, I care, and I want my body to be happy. After a long day I check in with her, see how she’s feeling, and give her a pat on the back for getting through a hard day. I’ve always appreciated what my body and mind can do, but teacher training allowed me to check in with myself regularly, and to create a habit of understanding that in every moment I have the power to create changes to help me feel better and move better. I’m not saying I don’t still have insecurities, but now I have the tools to adjust my mindset toward appreciation and curiosity. We all have good days and bad days, motivated moments and sluggish efforts. and Putting in the work to change our mindset can be hard, but when we are honest about that process, it leaves room for us to connect with others. So, give yourself a high five, get on that mat, and put in the work!

2. My personal practice has never been more fun

I cannot even begin to explain how much I learned in Teacher Training, about poses, anatomy, and functional movement. Almost every single session I left with pages full of notes, and tired muscles from trying new things and feeling how certain poses felt in my body. Throughout the week I would practice and play with what I had learned (shout out to anyone who actually heard me say “Wow! You really can feel it differently this way” during a class), and then come back to training ready for more. My personal practice now has more intention and is just plain fun. I listen to my body. I work extra hard on some days, give myself grace to take it easy on other days, and I use studio props in all kinds of unique ways now. It’s funny how you can do something for so long, and never realize there’s a different way to try it. And it doesn’t have to be making a pose harder, sometimes making the pose simpler is what we need most.

3. I meditate now, regularly.

You read that right, I am now a daily meditator. Now don’t get ahead of yourself and assume I have a cute corner of my house all setup with incense, bright green succulents and a comfy cushion (I’m working on it), but I take moments throughout my day to stop, breath, and listen. I had some major misconceptions about meditation, it always felt like it was such a big thing to tackle, and it didn’t feel accessible to me. Teacher training laid out before me the fact that there are options too numerous to go over in this short post, but it can be as simple as meditating while you use the toilet (maybe use Insight timer instead of checking your Instagram). One of my favorite forms of meditation we talked through was called Loving-Kindess meditation, and if you’ve never heard of it, teacher training is worth it just for this piece!

4. I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned

Even writing this blog post made me excited! Since taking teacher training, I am thrilled with any opportunity I get to share what I learned. I took teacher training with the goal to eventually teach, but even if you take it to simply deepen your own practice, it’s impossible not to impact at least 1 person with your change in mindset or reinvigorated practice. And in the end, that’s what it’s all about, practice, practice, practice. That’s how we experience growth.

Thank you to my fellow teacher trainees for being open and honest, to Larissa Link for putting in so much time and sharing her passion, to The Funky Buddha for offering such a wonderful environment to grow, and to me for showing up and putting in the work.

—Chelsea

Feeling inspired? Check out our Teacher Training Info Page

Nov 02

November Student of the Month: Abby G.

By Court Borgman Student of the Month, Student Stories, Yoga

Holland yogi, ABBY G found Funky Buddha when she needed it most. Read on to see how she completed her first 30-Day Dare (while being a full-time college student) and found community, healing, and happiness along the way.

(Pictures from left to right) Meg, Abby, Annie

Pictured here with our lovely Holland Front Deskers, MEG and ANNIE is the November Student of the month, ABBY!

FB: Why yoga? Why Funky Buddha?
AG: I started practicing at Funky Buddha this summer and it was my first time doing hot yoga! My mentor and fellow FB yogi, Shanna took me when I was trying to navigate new waters after a friend passed away and this was the first thing I found that helped me let go of some emotions and just be. I had tried yoga before, but Funky Buddha was something entirely different in the best way. I have been astounded by the staff at FB and the ways they care about you and welcome you in so willingly and well. I keep coming back because of exactly that: the community!

FB: What keeps you motivated? (i.e. regularly committing to 6AM classes.)
AG: What keeps me coming, especially to 6 am, is that feeling right after I finish class when I get done with a hard flow and a really good sweat. I have never known anything that gets me more ready to start my day, it’s the perfect energizer and I feel so much better throughout the day. And Jen S. she has been my most constant motivator and seriously brightens my day more than most anyone I know.

FB: On that topic, how do you convince or coax your friends into trying hot yoga with you at 6AM?! #seriouslyamazing
AG: Well truthfully, as a senior (in college) I have been the worst at working out since being at school and my friends have noticed such a difference since I started yoga. They have seen how happy I am with this commitment and each have wanted to try it out (I usually make them try the 6 am.) And the reason they keep coming back has nothing to do with me! It’s all about FB!

FB: How do you feel after completing the 30-Day Dare? Any deep thoughts after consistently practicing? Final takeaways? Ah-ha moments? Feeling stronger?
AG: My most significant takeaway came from a class I took with Laurie, right in the middle of the Dare. She talked about how we wear these masks always throughout our days, but when we’re in the studio, we get to be our most real, vulnerable selves. This was something that really stuck with me and kept me motivated throughout Dare month. I knew when I came to my mat that I could simply ‘just be’ in the space and be whatever I needed with no expectations or the need to be anything I was not. I also feel SO much stronger and just generally healthier after this month and I feel it throughout my days.

FB: Any advice to fellow yogis, young and old?
AG: I think my best advice, something I have told my friends since they have started, is (like I said before): There are no expectations. You do not NEED to do every pose. It is about what is best for you always and I have been so reminded of that throughout these last couple months. FB is such a great community, while also being one that values you as an individual and I respect that a lot. However, at the same time, you are so much more capable than what you tell yourself and a good push (aka a Katie class) is something you CAN do. “You can do hard things” echoes in my head every class.

Did you know members can bring a friend to their first Funky Buddha Yoga class FO’ FREE?!?! #4real What are you waiting for?!?

Apr 28

May Students of the Month: Liz + Suzi

By Court Borgman community partners, Core Value Kudos, Student of the Month, Student Stories

One peep, two peep, pink peep, blue peep! Meet the dynamic duo behind the amazing Funky Buddha Easter Peep diorama. Colleagues, friends, Funky Buddhas, these ladies bring the FUN to Funky.

Find out why our very own Jen McDaniel nominated the duo as this month’s Student(s) of the Month!

Liz and Suzi show up with energy and excitement, and better yet, on the days they don’t, one of them will say something real like, “I just really need this today” or “it feels good to be here right now.”

Liz and Suzi had Funky Buddha on their minds this month when they built a tiny, precious Peeps diorama of our studio, including fruit roll-up yoga mats and a chalkboard wall! A+ for their attention to detail—right down to the Starburst yoga blocks. 😉

Liz and Suzi are my latest she-ros, working their tails off as community leaders, mentoring and modeling positivity for children and teachers, AND giggling their butts off in hot pink yoga pants when the day is done.

Three cheers for Liz, Suzi and all the great yoga Peeps! —Jen

Suzi, Liz and Jen!

A little Q & A with Liz + Suzi:

Why yoga?

Yoga is fun and is helping us stay fit! Liz was introduced to the Funky Buddha by a friend in Holland and she convinced Suzi to join this past fall. After a long day as administrators in a school, sweating bullets is invigorating!

How did the two of you meet?

We work together at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic School, just down the street from the Eastown location. Suzi is the Principal and Liz is the Assistant Principal.

It’s pretty cool that the two of you are able to practice together. How did this start? How often?

We are able to practice together because we work together, right up the street! Since we are so close to Funky Buddha and work together we motivate each other to get to class…even when we would rather go shopping!

How have you impacted or influenced each other’s lives?

(Liz) Suzi has impacted my life because I get to watch her and learn from her as the leader of our school. She is an amazing person and she is also hilarious! We laugh together all of the time. That is another reason why coming to yoga together is so much fun!
(Suzi) Actually, Liz is the hilarious one! Both of us are very driven and motivated to stay healthy, so when one of us decides to workout the other wants to join! We keep each other accountable to our practice!

Are either of you planning to do the 30-Day Dare or have you in the past?

We have talked about doing the 30-Day Dare, as neither of us has done it before, but our work schedules keep us at meetings at least once or twice a week so at this time we are not doing the May challenge. However, we have talked about doing our own challenge in June or July once school is out! Suzi has been trying to get me to do her 30 -day wine dare…I might be more successful at that! A 30-Day Dare is a goal for us in the future.

Advice to fellow yogis, young and old?

Have fun at yoga and if you can go with a friend, it makes your practice so much more fun!

Mar 27

April Student of the Month: Leah S.

By Court Borgman Student of the Month, Student Stories, Yoga

April’s Student of the Month was nominated by Funky Buddha Staff Instructor (and local bad ass), Amanda. We’ve enjoyed watching Leah’s practice evolve and revolve while recovering from her injury. She went from taking no Chaturangas, to knee-down Chaturangas, to full-blown Chaturanga (and now she’s even hand-standing!!) Leah’s patience, dedication and commitment to her practice is truly recognizable!

Leah’s Story

“I will be the first to say that yoga is not something I had anticipated for my life. To be honest, until a few years ago, my knowledge of the practice was limited, but I will be the first to say that it has been one of the most enriching journeys I have been a part of.

I think the very makeup of a person comes from the people and places that they invest in – the very part that makes one feel home.

For so much of my life, sports were my home. I grew up playing soccer, ran cross-country, and even tried my hand at volleyball and basketball back in the “glory days.” Sport was something I invested in, and I truly grew from the team aspect and togetherness.

But as the years went on, a herniated disk that started in the 8th grade began to worsen. At first, the pain came in moments and was problematic for short periods of time, but after college soccer ended, I began to decline in health and even the basic activities of daily living became more and more difficult. Things like sitting for any extended period, car rides, sleeping, getting out of bed, moving, and even walking became almost unbearable. The identity I had as an athlete slowly faded.

I had given hot yoga a shot prior to surgery to see if the warm temps, stretching, and strengthening would aid in my back pain, but surgery was inevitable. I had surgery on October 10, 2014, and after it came and went, and through PT, walking and stretching my mobility slowly began to return, but my ability to actualize my physicality in the way I once had was no longer my reality.

However, I was determined to not let my injury hold me back. I wanted to push forward and get back into a physical activity that would be positive and challenging for me, despite my limitations. I decided when I was healed and mobile enough, I was going to give yoga another try. Yoga has been changing my life (and my back) ever since. My injury took many things from me but it brought me to yoga and the Funky Buddha! I am so thankful for the instructors, staff and fellow yogis who unknowingly pushed me through a very rough and painful season. I am a better person because of this practice. Thank you deeply!”

Oct 19

Funky Buddha Wall of Fame: Bryan S.

By Court Borgman Student Stories, Wall of Fame

1,168.75 hours on a Funky Buddha Yoga mat in 4.5 years?!?! That’s 1,000 classes, folks! Welcome to the Wall of Fame, Bryan!

When and why did you start coming to Funky Buddha Yoga?

I’ve been coming to Funky Buddha for 4 1/2 years. Lower back issues is what got me into yoga.

What’s it feel like to hit 1,000 classes?

It feels AWESOME.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to newbie Funky Buddha’s?

My piece of advice for newbies is to just keep on going, and remember, it’s just yoga. I’ve done the 30-Day Dare twice. Crashed and burned on the first try, and kicked it’s ass on the second.

Any deep yoga thoughts you’d like to share?

Here’s what I’ve learned over 1,000 classes. No matter what you tell yourself, or others, the mat doesn’t lie; and it’s always worth the time spent to throw down your mat. The days you don’t want to practice are the days you need to practice most. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, you have to work that shit out. The only way out is through, and for me, through means running double downs or hitting the triple play button in a day.

May 27

Funky Buddha Wall of Fame: Kelly H

By Court Borgman Student Stories, Wall of Fame

Another lovely name to add to the ever-growing Funky Buddha Wall of Fame – Kelly H.!

Described by staff as bubbly, friendly, and always excited about yoga, you’ve probably seen her around Forest Hills at all times a day. Many congrats on the 1,000 classes, Kelly!

Funky Buddha Wall of Fame Kelly

We asked Kelly to share about her practice and tips for newbies:

When and why did you start coming to Funky Buddha Yoga?
I was nursing a running injury the summer of 2012 and was looking for an alternative to the high-impact movement. I tried Bikram while in Miami for business and fell in love with the heat, but did not care for the rigidity of the practice. When I got home, I looked up hot yoga studios in the area and the universe brought me to the Funky Buddha. My first class was with Lindsay [insert heart emoji here].

What’s it feel like to hit 1,000 classes?!
To me, it is not about what 1,000 classes feels like, it is about what happened on my mat 1,000 times. Some days I listened to my body – I felt strong so I went for it or I felt tired so my flow was gentler; and some days I didn’t listen – I felt tired but went for it anyway. Some days I showed up BIG TIME – grounded and present; and some days I showed up and fought every pose like I was being forced to be on my mat. 1,000 classes later, I am grateful for the opportunity to listen and show up, both on and off my mat.

What’s your favorite yoga pose?
My favorite pose is dancer. The pose is an awesome shoulder stretch and I love practicing balance and taking my dancer down to bound half-moon and back up again.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to newbie Funky Buddhas?
I have always been a competitive person which is a perfect mindset for most sports, not necessarily yoga. My practice truly started to evolve when I stopped trying so hard to have the ‘perfect pose’ and instead focused on being completely present on my mat. My one piece of advice is not worry what the person next to you is doing, listen to your body and show up!

Apr 29

Wall of Fame: Sally C.

By Court Borgman Student Stories

Sally’s smile and energy is about as contagious as it gets! You’ve seen her between Forest Hills and Eastown studios each week, getting in her 1,000 classes! Welcome to the Wall of Fame, Sally!

Here’s more words of wisdom from our newest Wall of Famer:

When and why did you start coming to Funky Buddha Yoga?

Waaaaay back in 2012! I was doing yoga prior, bouncing around to places and sessions, and experimenting with styles. In April, I did two back to back community classes, which offered donations to the Girls on the Run program for which I was a coach. It wasn’t until the following August though that I actually came back for a legit beginners class and dove in – the instructors and assistants truly set Funky Buddha apart!

What’s it feel like to hit 1,000 classes and join the Wall of Fame?!
Sensational! It’s gone fast and I wasn’t counting! Then again, that’s yoga, right? It’s when we stop, be in the moment, that the magic happens. It is so POWERFUL!

What’s your favorite yoga pose?
Oh, my favorite pose other than savasana – smile – are the ones which I am still learning (which is all of them!) I like the balancing ones because of the stillness, and the strength ones because they make me shake, and the twists are really incredible for weight loss, and the inversions tickle my neurons and make me feel young. The one pose that set Funky Buddha aside, and hooked me, was Flip Dog. It was so scary to me and then it was so AWESOME! I will never, ever forget that moment!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to newbie Funky Buddhas?
Ha, oh there is a lot I could share! If you are sore, keep coming back, and if you are not sore, keep coming back. Drink water, lots. Basic hygiene matters, invest in a good yoga mat, and change up your class schedule. Exhale longer than you inhale, set an intention before your practice, and most importantly, have fun with it! Practice with love rather than harm.

Give her a a huge smile back next time you see her.

Apr 29

May Super Yogis & Fear Nots

By Court Borgman Student Stories, Super Yogis, Yoga

Amped for these yogis who took over 250 classes (Super Yogis) or 500 classes (Fear Nots).

may super yogis

Super Yogis

Mary B.
Lindsey M.
Tricia M.
Colleen N.
Aura NC.
Francesca O.
Liz C.
Erin F.
Allyson F.
Kelli G.
Deborah G.
Keri J.
Andrea M.
Taryn W.

Fear Nots

Barbara HJ.
Teresa L.
Laura M.
Kassie R.
Jo V.
Sally Z.

may super yogis

Feb 25

Wall of Fame: Kathy D.

By Court Borgman Hot Yoga, Student Stories, Yoga

1,000 classes and counting…

No doubt you’ve seen Kathy D. around the studio – she is a regular after all. Kathy started as a student in Eastown and now calls the Holland studio home!

Kathy, thank you for your years of dedication to yourself and the studio. And welcome to the WALL OF FAME!

When and why did you start coming to Funky Buddha Yoga?
I started coming to Funky Buddha at the end of January 2010 because I just knew that I needed yoga in my life.

What’s it feel like to hit 1,000 classes?!
It feels like standing on top of a mountain, way above the tree line.

What’s your favorite yoga pose?
My favorite yoga pose is Fish because it reminds me to keep our hearts open to receive.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to newbie Funky Buddhas?
One piece of advice (there is never just one…) is to take it one day at a time, don’t overthink anything, and remember to breathe. Yoga has taught me so many life lessons and I have made very close friends in the studio – it’s like a family by choice, the best kind.

Student Stories