Low Impact Fitness for Whole Body Health

Strength of Mind & Body offers yoga and pilates classes for gentle, effective workouts.

Sharon Haddaway, certified yoga instructor.

The word “fitness” usually construes images of pushing, pulling, pumping and sweating. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

At Strength of Mind & Body, fitness is achieved through yoga and pilates. Calm background music helps clients clear their minds of daily stress and focus on strengthening their bodies in a gentle, low impact manner.

Sharon Haddaway, certified yoga instructor, works on focusing inward – not outward. Sharon teaches four yoga classes a week, where controlled breathing and distinct stances lead to greater flexibility, higher energy levels and deeper blood oxygenation.

Sharon says clients have rediscovered levels of strength, energy and flexibility that they haven’t felt in years. “People who have said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’ have found they can turn their necks while driving. They have an increased range of motion. They can do yard work. They can get a good night’s rest and wake up feeling refreshed.”

Anybody can do yoga at nearly any age. There is nothing strenuous or competitive. Individuals come to class, limited to 10, and work at their own level. All class sizes at Strength of Mind & Body are limited so that each person can get individual attention to their posture, alignment and breathing.

“It’s never too late to start moving,” says Sharon, as she recalls her own introduction to fitness at the age of 40. An injury left her stiff and in pain. She started walking to relieve stress. The more she moved, the better she felt. When she discovered yoga, she knew this was a lifestyle for her that she wanted to share with others. Now she says her personal philosophy is, “The best is yet to come.”

Much like Sharon, certified yoga and pilates instructor Cindy Hoffman also began her quest for health and fitness after suffering a lumbar injury that left her in pain and unable to move freely. Exercises in traditional gyms only made the pain worse. But pilates was different. “Pilates strengthens all the muscles that support the spine,” she explains.

That was 20 years ago. Now Cindy works with people who have had injuries. And she works with those who have poor posture and compressed spines from sitting in front of computers
all day.  

With very low impact, pilates exercises stretch and strengthen muscles while keeping the body in correct alignment. “Overly strenuous exercises actually do the body a disservice,” she says, explaining that putting stress on muscles and increasing stress hormones do not produce lasting results. “You can get genuine, lasting fitness in a professional manner at Strength of Mind & Body.” They are the only facility in the area to offer the latest model of pilates reformer equipment.

Cindy will soon combine Yoga and Pilates techniques in a new PiYo class. Other classes include pilates mat, three levels of pilates reformer and yoga mat. Personal training, partner appointments, as well as wellness coaching and nutrition coaching are available at the studio.
Owner Teresa McIlroy, a licensed physical therapist, and her assistant, Beth Cassody, a licensed physical therapy assistant, meet with each client and go over their needs and goals. They can gear exercises for specific sports or work with sports injuries.

For more information, contact

Strength of Mind & Body

www.strengthofmindandbody.com
 

About Author Deanna Rebro

Deanna Rebro has worked in the publishing industry 30+ years, including eight years writing for Value News. She has also worked in real estate for the past six years. Deanna graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a B.A. in Journalism. Outside of work, she serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Pet Adoption League. “Every story I write is a learning experience,” she said.