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Challenging Yoga

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By PAUL CATALA pcatala@mediageneral.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2008

For some people, the thought of yoga brings up visions of sitting in a lotus position and eating bean sprouts, while listening to a meditational CD of waves crashing on the shoreline.

But a local yoga center and its owner-instructor want to help change those stereotypes and show students the long-term benefits of the practice, in a more challenging way.

Traditionally, yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India; to the goal achieved by those disciplines; and to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy.

Over generations, it still incorporates those principals, but some of its forms have changed to impact modern, daily lives.

To help to make lasting lifestyle changes, Sherry Smith, owner of Serenity Stream Yoga & Wellness Spa, Riverview, has developed a special fitness program - "The Extreme Get Fit, Stay Fit Challenge," a $400, eight-week program which begins Jan. 19.

Besides getting the benefits of traditional yoga and wellness classes, Smith said her goal is to get the community to "take control of their health and change their lifestyle."

During a recent yoga session at her studio, Smith prepared for her first evening class. Since opening last June in Boyette Executive Park, 11954 Boyette Road, she has held classes there seven days a week, for about 400 yoga devotees from FishHawk Ranch, Riverview and Apollo Beach.

Smith, who got into yoga about 10 years ago while working as a corporate travel manager in Rhode Island, said the Stay Fit Challenge is designed to teach and maintain healthy eating habits, cooking techniques, weight training, yoga postures and cardiovascular exercise techniques. She said what makes the program unique is that it's programmed to help students carry what they learn into their daily lives, rather than just attending classes and leaving what they gained at the studio door.

"My mission is not only to be just a place that offers yoga classes. It's to build community and educate about making healthy lifestyle changes," she said.

To do that, Smith is offering the Stay Fit Challenge, which includes weekly classes on healthy living (nutrition, cardiovascular, weight training, stress management, cooking, and self-acceptance); a two-month, private gym membership; private yoga, Pilates and personal training sessions, mentoring throughout the program and unlimited classes at Serenity Stream.

Smith also said it includes Zumba, a Latin dance-based fitness program, and will be run by Serenity Stream instructor and certified personal trainer Abby Eastman, who twice led a similar program in Virginia.

Eastman, who holds masters degree in exercise physiology, said the Stay Fit Challenge program is a "makeover" for a healthy life.

"It is for people who are ready to get real and stop making excuses and start working and seeing the results," she said. "The program is a lifestyle makeover, teaching you the tools to be healthy for life."

Smith participants in last year's program are still seeing results. She said the 125 Stay Fit Challenge participants last year lost almost 900 pounds - over 3 million calories.

It's those results that Smith hopes will draw at least 40 people to the Challenge, like yoga devotee Tracey McPherson of Brandon. A yoga student for two years, the sales marketing manager for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center said she may enroll in the Challenge.

"I found this place and it's great for stress relief at the end of my day; I've enjoyed all the classes and the instruction has been great," she said.

For information, call (813) 368-6546 or see www.serenitystream.com.

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