Meet Jamie!
Jamie has been coming to Bluestem regularly since February 2022. She was drawn to yoga because she wanted to stretch, maintain a little balance, and take time out for gentle movement; she recognized the psychological and emotional benefits of yoga and self-care. What drew her to Bluestem in particular? The Facebook post below. :-) Jamie wrote: I saw a post where the pic was "how to have a yoga body" and the answer was "have a body, do yoga" and that really resonated with me. Bluestem is so welcoming, and there is a friendly vibe of acceptance and inclusion for all body types and fitness levels. It's a REAL place with actual real bodies.
Here are some excerpts from Jamie’s story. You can read all of Jamie’s responses below.
“My mental health is improved with regular attendance. It's a mandatory pause in my week and a "grounding" activity that allows me to move forward in my week with a little more grace and gratitude.”
“There are older folks, younger, middle agers. Lots of variety in ages and in bodies.”
“ I really love Molly's Tuesday class - she has the best, most welcoming prompts and guidance.”
“Laura's Sunday class is the BEST way to start a week - she is gentle and so kind.”
“Walking in the door, I'm excited and anticipating a nice and relaxing time. One of the best feelings of doing yoga at Bluestem is the inward focus. I am 100% focused on me, my body and my movement. I honestly do not even look around at others and what they are doing and how I may or may not compare to them. It's refreshing that there are no mirrors, I think this promotes the INWARD focus of the yoga at Bluestem. After class, I'm grateful, and centered and generally relaxed and calm.”
Does any of this speak to you? Come to a Bluestem class, workshop, or sound bath! This webpage is a great starting point.
Bluesketeers, want to share your story? We’d love that! You can answer as few or as many questions as you’d like. There’s an easy-peasy form here.
Jamie’s Story
What was your yoga experience, if any, before you came to Bluestem? Limited. I took occasional "body flow" classes at Body Boutique 2011-2018.
What drew you to yoga, and what brought you to Bluestem in particular? As I age, I want to stretch, maintain a little balance and take time out for gentle movement. I'm a therapist, so I'm quite aware of the psychological and emotional benefits of yoga and self-care. What drew me to Bluestem: I saw a post somewhere (facebook?) where the pic was "how to have a yoga body" and the answer was "have a body, do yoga" and that really resonated with me. Bluestem is so welcoming, and there is a friendly vibe of acceptance and inclusion for all body types and fitness levels. It's a REAL place with actual real bodies.
What changes have you experienced from practicing yoga? And/or, what keeps you coming to Bluestem? I never regret attending a class. All the teachers I've experienced are competent and give great prompts. My mental health is improved with regular attendance. It's a mandatory pause in my week and a "grounding" activity that allows me to move forward in my week with a little more grace and gratitude.
How would you describe your positive Bluestem experiences? Do you feel a certain way when you walk in the door? How do you feel during class? After class? Walking in the door, I'm excited and anticipating a nice and relaxing time. One of the best feelings of doing yoga at Bluestem is the inward focus. I am 100% focused on me, my body and my movement. I honestly do not even look around at others and what they are doing and how i may or may not compare to them. It's refreshing that there are no mirrors, I think this promotes the INWARD focus of the yoga at Bluestem. After class, I'm grateful, and centered and generally relaxed and calm.
How would you describe the Bluestem community? The community overall is lovely. There are older folks, younger, middle agers. Lots of variety in ages and in bodies. I love all the teachers. I really love Molly's Tuesday class - she has the best, most welcoming prompts and guidance - her voice stating "if it's available, (next move)" is so freeing and allows me to really tailor what I'm doing if it's too challenging. Laura's Sunday class is the BEST way to start a week - she is gentle and so kind. And of course, I miss Hattie - she was one of my first teachers at Bluestem and just so great! But the other teachers will pick right up and keep things going.
What five words would you use to describe Bluestem classes, the Bluestem community, or your experiences at Bluestem? Serene, Welcoming, Variety, Genuine, Caring
Do you have any advice for people who are on the fence about trying yoga or coming to Bluestem? Try a free class and see what you think! The vibe at Bluestem is it's own lovely thing.
Is there anything else you'd like to share? I was hesitant to start, but you (Sandy) said you'd even meet me at the studio for a tour before I came to a class - I was like - "this lady is SO KIND" and that was a great feeling, like you wanted me to come to Bluestem. I'm not sure many studios act like they are wanting/eager for new students.