Testimonials

My name is Marie Hrabe. I have lived in Wellsville for 48 years and plan on being here for many more years to come. The only way I can help make that happen is to stay healthy. I'm 66 years old but feel much younger and a BIG part of that is our local instructors at HourGlass Fitness and Wellness combined with my daily Juice Plus capsules. About 3 years ago, I decided to add some exercise to my life. I joined the morning Hatha Yoga class. I totally enjoyed it so much that I added another class called Restorative Yoga the next year. These classes give me so much joy. Not only are they making me healthy, but the time spent with the other ladies has been a blessing. We laugh at ourselves and each other every Monday and Wednesday. I love that the age range is from the 30's to those in their 80's. That's right, I said 80's! These ladies are amazing and teach us younger ones (lol) that anything is possible if you work at it.

In November of last year when I had reached my heaviest weight I was about to give up. I didn't believe I could ever change but gave it one more shot. I started watching what I was eating and with the motivation and support from my PIWL (partner in weight loss) Karen we started going on walks and attending Body Sculpting and Yoga classes! I've come a long way and could not have done it alone and thank you Mark for your daily support and encouragement! I'm not done yet...still have a ways to go actually...but I'm feeling better than I have in years and ready for continued improvement!"

"I started practicing yoga in January 2010 - this was the year of my BIG 50th birthday.  I was feeling sluggish and stuck at a weight that was probably about 10 pounds more than I wanted to carry.  Although I had exercised all my life (at least since I was 18), I could tell that what I was doing was no longer working as it had in the past.

 While I knew very little about yoga, the first time I went to class, I was very sore the next day! I continued to attend yoga classes twice a week throughout the year.  Now, 1 and 1/2 years later, I cannot believe how yoga has transformed my body and my attitude!  I have lost the 10 stubborn pounds (and a little more); my knees and left shoulder no longer hurt; I can sit "criss-cross applesauce", which I had not been able to do for many years; and the arthritis in my hands has gone away!  In addition, I have toned up my abs  - Yes!  I NOW have "abs," and my arms/shoulders are more defined. I can hold a side blank for several minutes without tiring.  My balance has been restored (or is getting there, anyway), and I am doing yoga moves that I NEVER thought I would be able to do.  My "stress" headaches have decreased considerably, and my attitude has changed to one of being more positive.

Now, can I say yoga has done all this....truthfully, I don't know.  But what I DO know is that I will not stop practicing yoga now.  I believe it has been the "transformer" that I needed in the year that I hit 50 years of age.  By the way, I don't feel 50, and would like to think I don't LOOK 50, either."

Denise O'Dea, Yoga Student

"I had been doing home yoga practice with DVD's and books for a few years when I decided to try a yoga class at HourGlass Fitness and Wellness.  I couldn't believe how much a class made a difference in just a few weeks.  The instructors at HGF&W have hands on teachers who makes yoga approachable so that anyone can follow along, yet she also challenges those who have experience in yoga.  Yoga has increased my flexibility, improved my posture and made me more aware of my body in general.  I get so much more out of the class physically and mentally than I ever got out of my home practice on my own.  Any person of any age can benefit from yoga.  Thanks for bringing yoga to Wellsville!"

Gina Dearing, Yoga Student

The experiences I have had in yoga classes are wonderful!  I have taken yoga classes in Kansas City, and the teachers at HGF&W are, by far, much better.  They make it fun; we still work hard and each of us are treated as individuals - our bodies are all different and don't let us do everything that others can do.  The classes are well rounded - warm up, work hard, and of course, the relaxation at the end of class is the best part.  The instructors give foot massages or shoulder massages.  They are the best in my book!!!

Dolores Larsen, Yoga Student

I'm pushing 60, with some fibromyalgia-like issues. The HGF&W yoga classes are a huge benefit to me by keeping me supple and stretched. This reduces my needs to see my chiropractor when muscles would otherwise spasm.

Diane Spisak, Yoga Student

I have struggled with chronic pain for several years. Over the years, I have seen several doctors who ran many tests and prescribed different medications to help with muscle spasms/cramps. None of the medications or procedures I tried helped me with my pain. I felt I was going to have to live with the inconvenience of this pain and its side effects for the rest of my life. I hadn't been able to sleep through the night for years. That was until I started doing yoga!

I found myself in a yoga class at HourGlass Fitness and Wellness in Wellsville, KS. The discomfort of so many years of this affliction was completely gone after ONE yoga class! After all those years of searching for relief, I found it down the street from my house in a pleasant, loving, fun and inviting space! Now, as long as I am consistent with my yoga practice, I am pain-free.

Recently, I had been sick with the flu for a couple weeks and hadn't made it to my yoga class. Again, I was having lots of pain. In fact, the night before I came to a yoga class, I was up several times (at least 6 times) during the night with muscle spasms/cramps. That is why I knew that I had to go to class the next day. And that night after yoga class, I slept completely through the night.

It is unbelievable to me how yoga works! I don't know exactly which pose helps me the most, or if it's a combination of the breath and movements or just the fact that I came to stretch my muslces. It does not matter. What matters is that it works, and it works EVERY time! Yoga has truly changed my life!

Sue Wright, Yoga Student and Wellness 101 Graduate

I saw the Chiropractor this morning, and he told me this is the best shape my body has been in since he started treating me. My legs are getting loose, and he said my back is getting stronger. Told me to keep doing what I was doing. Thanks for all the help!! I gripe a lot, but it is working!

Ronda Huffman, Yoga Student

Wellness 101 provided all the tools I needed to dramatically change the course of my life. In less than eleven months, I have lost 99 pounds, brought my blood pressure back within acceptable levels allowing me to stop my medication, and dropped my triglycerides over 150 points to a desirable level. At my last check up, my doctor was amazed at my progress and told me there was no reason to run my blood work for at least another year as my numbers are so good. It is such a great feeling to be able to take control of my life and see such immediate results all by changing my diet (and adding a bit of exercise). Thank you for offering this class and giving me the tools to discover a whole new life.

KC Sitz, Wellness 101 Graduate

“Hi, I am a fast food addict.  The Complete Transformation has helped me with overcoming my addiction by making better choices in the foods I eat, and by making better choices I feel better and have more energy.  I just feel better all over.  I still have a long ways to go but I feel like I am on the right track.  I was provided great ideas on how to easily add heathier foods every day and exercise.  I have a desk job, and I don’t get enough exercise in my day.  I now wear a pedometer so I can make sure I get up and walk enough during the day while I am at work.  This also helps with my productivity at work since I have more energy. I found the hardest thing in this was getting out of the rut I was in and forming new habits.  I am still a work in process but I hope to keep adding more as I go and stay on the right track, the healthy track.” 

Cindi from Wellsville

 "I lost a total of 5 pounds (although that was NOT her focus for her Jump Start because she didn't have much to lose) and the biggest transformation would my energy level. My energy when from just enough to make it through the day to being able to add exercise to my day. Although, I also have to add in the improvement for my gums, the fact that my dentist noticed a difference was huge for me since I have always struggled with my teeth, even with extra visits, extra flouride and even prescription toothpaste!" 

Rhonda from Baldwin

 The Complete Transformation has been a great experience for her, and she has learned a lot that will aid her on her Health Journey going forward forever! She says, "I love that I eat healthier and when I do eat bad food, I realize I don’t like how I feel after eating the junk. I also enjoy the time I make for myself to exercise."  She lost 2 pounds per week EVERY week, right in line with the maximum a person can lose "fat" (you can lose muscle or water, too, but you don't want to do that).

Denise from Wellsvile