Welcome to a power-packed episode where you'll get a chance to listen to an amazing guest, Sam Jackson, who has brilliantly transformed her passion for fitness into a flourishing virtual platform. An accomplished fitness instructor, yoga teacher, and an avid runner, Sam blends her knowledge of exercise physiology and nutrition into her teachings, creating an inspiring fitness journey marked by mental and physical well-being.
Our conversation takes an enlightening turn as we explore the world of yoga. Sam, with her experience as a yoga instructor, throws light on the significance of breath work, the benefits of meditation, and how even a 10-minute stretching class could make a world of difference. Afraid to try yoga? She's got some invaluable advice for you! Listen in to understand how yoga can help manage stress and usher mindfulness into your life.
We conclude with a powerful discussion on inclusivity in fitness. Hear about Sam's experiences teaching Special Olympics classes, and how to find the right class that aligns with your fitness goals. She emphasizes on the importance of perseverance and the need for patience to see visible results. An episode filled with motivation and inspiration awaits you, as we take a deep dive into the world of fitness with Sam Jackson. Get ready to be inspired, and remember, every fitness journey counts, no matter how small!
IG: @samjackson12
Note: Nikita, Ryn, and Jaime are instructors with Echelon
Mobility and Yoga classes can be found on most platforms including Echelon, Asana Rebel, and Youtube
Welcome to a power-packed episode where you'll get a chance to listen to an amazing guest, Sam Jackson, who has brilliantly transformed her passion for fitness into a flourishing virtual platform. An accomplished fitness instructor, yoga teacher, and an avid runner, Sam blends her knowledge of exercise physiology and nutrition into her teachings, creating an inspiring fitness journey marked by mental and physical well-being.
Our conversation takes an enlightening turn as we explore the world of yoga. Sam, with her experience as a yoga instructor, throws light on the significance of breath work, the benefits of meditation, and how even a 10-minute stretching class could make a world of difference. Afraid to try yoga? She's got some invaluable advice for you! Listen in to understand how yoga can help manage stress and usher mindfulness into your life.
We conclude with a powerful discussion on inclusivity in fitness. Hear about Sam's experiences teaching Special Olympics classes, and how to find the right class that aligns with your fitness goals. She emphasizes on the importance of perseverance and the need for patience to see visible results. An episode filled with motivation and inspiration awaits you, as we take a deep dive into the world of fitness with Sam Jackson. Get ready to be inspired, and remember, every fitness journey counts, no matter how small!
IG: @samjackson12
Note: Nikita, Ryn, and Jaime are instructors with Echelon
Mobility and Yoga classes can be found on most platforms including Echelon, Asana Rebel, and Youtube
Welcome to the Mentally Strong Podcast. I'm Colum Sutherland. Join me on my journey as I explore and discover all there is to know about living well with multiple sclerosis. I'm a normal guy who has recently diagnosed and started treatment. I will share with you my conversations with others who are living with this chronic condition and with professionals who provide resources and advice. My hope is that you gain inspiration and ideas to improve your life. Welcome to the Mentally Strong Podcast. For returning listeners. Welcome back. I appreciate your support. I appreciate the subscribers and I always appreciate those that leave us feedback and rate the podcast. Today, after the interview, please stick around and I'm going to talk about an event that's happening August 17th, specific to multiple sclerosis, today on the show. She grew up in Michigan. She now resides in Miami, florida. She's a fitness instructor, yoga teacher, avid runner and a big Justin Bieber fan. Today she brings her high energy positivity to the show. To talk all things yoga. Sam Jackson. Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much.
Speaker 1:My listeners are getting very tired of hearing from echelon people, but they're going to have to do it again today, except for the echelon people.
Speaker 2:But listen yes, yes, and if you don't have an echelon, we will definitely convince you by the end of this episode.
Speaker 1:I know, when Daphne was on. She didn't try, but she tried.
Speaker 2:So we'll see.
Speaker 1:We'll see. So tell me about your path into fitness.
Speaker 2:So I always was interested in working out. I love, you know, obviously, running. I teach a lot of running classes at echelon, but I started running track and cross country and also I was a dancer when I was younger and my parents tried to put me in all different kinds of sports but I was terrible at anti-coordination. So they decided running is, you know, the thing for you. So I I really did love it and and I love the team aspect and also the individual aspect of that. But and then, moving from there, I started running competitively in high school and then, at the University of Michigan, go blue and from there I studied exercise physiology.
Speaker 2:I just loved learning more about your body, how it moves, how it can impact, you know, your lifestyle, your physical health. I was more important, or I was more interested in at that time, but I feel like now it's shifted to more the physical and the mental side of it, and and nutrition goes along with that. So I studied that for undergrad and then moved to Miami and studied exercise physiology and nutrition for graduate school and then I started working in fitness and I you know I'm so happy I found echelon January of 2020. So that's kind of the summary of it all, but I really just followed what I was passionate about and that led me to where I am now and hopefully you know I can help other people feel better and you know good and confident in their bodies, physically, mentally. You know all the good things.
Speaker 1:When you went to school, did you have a career path in mind? Is is? Is where you're at, what you had in mind, or did you envision something different? Was there a? What path were you thinking of?
Speaker 2:So I thought I would do sports nutrition.
Speaker 2:Just being an athlete, especially running, I feel like it's really hard to know the nutrition side of it and I ended up with a lot of stress fractures in high school, college from, I mean, just the overuse but also the lack of vitamin D you know the winter there, but yeah.
Speaker 2:So because of the injuries I got into yoga and started teaching and that led me to teaching and throughout my graduate degree. So I thought I would do more like sports nutrition for maybe a college or a pro team, but I followed whatever was kind of in front of me and the. I wouldn't say it was easy because it was definitely work, but it just fell into my lap at the right time, like right when I graduated grad school I had an audition for a fitness company in Miami and I was already working at another fitness company and I decided to just see where that took me for a year, and a year turned into like eight years. Here I am now still teaching fitness, but I do really love it. The nutrition pieces is just as important, but I think the fitness side is what I've always gravitated towards. So that's your long answer.
Speaker 1:And how did you end up at echelon?
Speaker 2:I was approached through Instagram from previous employee to come into the studio check it out. It was a virtual concept. Actually, it was January of 2020, like I said. So it was right before COVID and, to be honest, I couldn't. I didn't know that many virtual fitness brands. So I walked into the studio and I saw the reflect mirror and they were like. And they were like, yeah, you would be teaching on reflect and I'm like this hologram on the screen and I'm like, oh well, that's kind of cool.
Speaker 2:But I didn't know the clientele or who I would reach. But when they explained it more to me and just reaching outside of Miami, because right now or before, I could only, you know, see people in person and I really was feeling like, well, I would love to get my family involved. To be honest, like my family, my friends who don't live in Miami, how can they work out with me? And yeah, so I went into the echelon studio and I started working there on reflect, and that's kind of when they first launched reflect. Then, once COVID hit, I really was full time echelon and I really enjoy teaching on that. And then Stride and then, of course, Connect came, which is is so much fun because you can see so many people on the leaderboard and just meeting the members I mean, that's what, meeting the members, maybe not in person at that time, but virtually like sucked me in to the echelon community. So you're not getting rid of me.
Speaker 1:So I need to translate for the non echelon folks the Connect is the Connect is the spin bike, the ride is the treadmill, treadmill and the reflect is a.
Speaker 2:I don't know how to strength, yoga, Pilates, bar a little bit of everything.
Speaker 1:Okay, I've not ventured down that path yet. Yeah, I won't deny that it might happen one day. One of the things with you and watching you on the bike and taking your classes is your energy and your positivity. Is that the?
Speaker 2:way you've always been, is that?
Speaker 1:the way you grew up. Where does that come from? Yeah, I think I try to look at. You know the positive and everything.
Speaker 2:I definitely think it takes self reflection, you know. I think that it takes like being aware when because I can definitely be negative and spiral I mean, everybody can you have a bad day and you're like one thing after another. But taking a step back for me has really helped and I try to stay positive. And especially teaching. I just always think about what I want. When I'm taking a class, you know I want my instructor to be in a good mood, like I'm there to release stress, not gain it. So I want it to be a fun experience and and more on the positive side. So I think I've always been that way, but it's definitely taken practice.
Speaker 1:Actually that's a question that popped into my head earlier. How much of an adjustment was it teaching in person to go into virtual?
Speaker 2:Oh, it was a huge adjustment. You watch my first classes. I don't know, maybe there's still that up, but it is definitely different. But I will say, when you get into the workout, when you get past the warm-up and you're talking, it feels like, especially on the bike, it feels like you and everybody else from echelon is with me on the leaderboard, like I'm like I know them, they're my friends, we go way back and I feel like they're, you know, and I'm looking at the camera. But when I'm looking at the camera I'm thinking about talking to people at home. But I will say, definitely, when I first started I was like who am I speaking to? Is anyone out there taking my class? I don't know, but I tried my best to keep it professional, but inside I was freaking out for sure.
Speaker 1:Could be a huge difference from live interaction to online.
Speaker 2:Yes. So I was going to say you get the interaction I will say after class, like through social media, whether it's Instagram, Facebook, but yeah, it's not the immediate like in-person talking after class.
Speaker 1:I guess the world has sort of made that adjustment since COVID with a lot of people working from home too. When you were in school, going through fitness, what teaching did you get about chronic illness or dealing with people with multiple sclerosis or other chronic conditions?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I well, I was just talking to you about this before a little bit but I studied exercise physiology and in it we had different labs we had to do, which was pretty cool, and in research and one of those was for multiple sclerosis.
Speaker 2:So we we studied and learned about, you know, more of the balance issues that people can have from it and the muscle soreness and also you know I mean just the inability to be able to work out, which is so sad. And I think now there's so much research. I mean I love science so I do stay up to date on the research, but there is so much research on, I mean you brought up to me yoga, but yoga and any other types of fitness, whether it's walking or lifting, and how that can improve chronic illness, whether it's MS or I mean diabetes or or other different types of diseases. So but it is incredible that you have been able to push through and and deal with that and you still show up every day. So you're definitely inspiring to Ashlond but your podcast community. So I just have to say that part of it.
Speaker 1:I might be blushing a little bit. That's why I'm keeping this an audio podcast. So thank you, you're very kind as I jump on to something else you mentioned earlier about yoga and you sit. If I picked it up correctly, you started doing yoga because of your injuries yes.
Speaker 2:So I started doing yoga. I was. So if anyone out there doesn't like yoga, I was very resistant at the beginning. I mean fully, I was a runner and really loved cardio. I mean I still do, but I value strength training in yoga so much more now.
Speaker 2:But at the time I was in my undergrad I dealt with a really bad stress fracture from running and I have a little bit of like osteopenia like, but hopefully not anymore. But anyways, that's a precision for another time. And so I had to stop running completely because my stress fracture was in my femur, which is the biggest bone in your leg, like right, you know your upper thigh. So I my friend was like you should take this yoga class with me, like I think you'll like it. And I took it and I was like laughing the whole time, like I, like you know, to keep, I like to talk in my workout classes. I'm not gonna lie, this is why I am where I am. But I was, you know, joking around with my friend and she was like the whole time was like Sam, you can't talk during this class. It's very serious, even though it was a faster pace yoga and the. It took me three classes and after the third class, I really loved the way I felt.
Speaker 2:It was the mental part of it. I like the physical aspect, of course, because you're moving and you're getting your heart right up, but it was the breath work, like breathing in through the nose, out through the nose the whole class, and slowing down, like instead of having so many thoughts in your head going, going, going. You know we're always going to the next thing and everybody says to stay present. It's so important to stay present, but until you do it you don't realize how good it is just to slow down. So I started doing that and then you know from there, because I had to take so much time off running, I really went probably five days a week and the teacher came up to me and she was like, would you ever be interested in doing a teacher training, becoming a yoga instructor? Like I think you would be great.
Speaker 2:And I'm like, no, I could never get up and run up a room of people and teach. And she was like, well, you know, if you do the training, you don't have to become an instructor, it's just deepening her knowledge and yoga. So I went through the teacher training and I started teaching and I really loved it. Like loved it. I felt like this is where I was meant to be and I had no idea, because I really didn't. I mean, I don't like public speaking Like you put me on a stage and I, even today, it's not happening other than fitness. I mean that's a different kind of stage, but so, yes, that's that's kind of how the yoga thing started for me.
Speaker 1:I think you've already answered the question, but I'm going to state the obvious anyway. Why is yoga so good for stress?
Speaker 2:I think it's the mindfulness of it, so slowing down. I mean, even every yoga class I teach and I've taken, you take a few minutes at the beginning of class and you just find your breath. And we take so many breaths a day and so many you don't even notice because you're going through your to-do list or you're looking forward to your vacation or you're, you know, trying to get to the end of the week A lot of people trying to just get to Friday, and I get that. I think the mindfulness part of it is so good for stress and moving your body. I mean, as you know from working on, it's important to just move, whether you do that through yoga, whether you do that through another type of exercise, like find something you like and stick with it. But the yoga piece and the breath work especially, you know, decrease my stress and taught me to just take a step back. So highly recommend.
Speaker 1:Do you meditate?
Speaker 2:I, you know I'm just getting back into it, but I didn't for a while. But while I was in my teacher training and at that time I mean, we meditated one time for an hour and I didn't even know where the time went. Like I was just that like still, and it is hard for me to be still, so I like to move and like that's. You know, that's kind of my personality type. But now I've just gotten back into it. I think if you're just starting to meditate, three minutes, five minutes, I mean just try it. You don't have to do an hour, definitely not, and everybody has that much time in their day. So, five minutes, just even closing your eyes, saying like breathe in, breathe out, is how I started, because I was like I have to say something in my head, otherwise I'm thinking about my to-do list or some noise outside. So yeah, do you meditate?
Speaker 1:I do not as much as I would like to.
Speaker 2:Yes, the truth comes out from both of us.
Speaker 1:Absolutely it's. I get a lot of meditation through yoga. I do a lot of the restorative yoga with a rent, yes, which is much slower paced and it's a lot easier to focus on breath in that type of yoga.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:As far as meditation goes, I found something called non-sleep rest meditation or NSDR or something like that. Yes, it's 10, 15 minutes, it's just the breathing. It's on YouTube, it's free, it's easy, and I started to do it more. Yes and of course it works, so I don't know why we don't do it Exactly it works and there's so much resistance against it.
Speaker 2:You know I so for a while, when I had a hard time meditating, I tried and I've just gotten back into this whim-hawth breathing. Same thing you can take it online we also have. I know that Nikita is coming out with some breath work classes, which will be great because you're just focusing on that. But that's a good way to meditate where you're focusing on something else, so that you don't just have to like sit, you know, and close your eyes and most people think you're sitting alone with your thoughts. But the guided ones help you get to the next level and then you could maybe, you know, start meditating on your own. But I love that you do the restorative classes because also great for holding poses a little bit longer, which is challenging, reducing stress because you have to stay still and you're just activating that parasympathetic nervous system which is the rest digest, instead of the other way around.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so as much as this podcast is focused on multiple sclerosis, I don't know a lot of people that don't have an issue with stress. So supplies to anyone who's listening. And if you haven't tried it, and then you try it and you find it very difficult, that just means you're normal, because you're going to have a flood of thoughts coming into your head.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Especially depending on what's going on in your life. It's just normal.
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly so.
Speaker 1:And it takes time.
Speaker 2:But it is so important.
Speaker 1:So, for balance and stability, is there a type of yoga that you would recommend? Is there different types?
Speaker 2:Yes. So the ones I'm trained in are restorative. So that's Yin yoga. You're holding the poses longer, it could be anywhere three to six minutes.
Speaker 2:But half pigeon pose, stretching poses, that's my favorite. One Half pigeon is the best, but I'm sure Rin does plenty of that. She's on another level of flexibility that unfortunately if you cycle or run a lot it takes away a little bit of that flexibility. But anyways, you do not have to be flexible to do yoga, you can still take this. The other types are binyasa, so that's moving a little bit quicker, paced One breath, one movement. You're moving from one pose to the next and you're breathing in on one pose and out on the next pose, and that I add a lot of balancing poses in. If you fall out of it, that's perfectly fine. But coming back to it is the most important and definitely trying that type of yoga I think would be beneficial for everyone because it's still more of a workout Without your getting that breath, work, the meditation, the balance, the stability.
Speaker 2:And then another type of yoga is ashtanga and we have this. I know Rin also teaches this as a sequence class. So you're just holding specific poses. That one's a little bit more strict. You're holding the same poses every single class. So it's about, I mean, in a true ashtanga practice it's 27 poses, so that one's pretty intense. But if you're just starting out, I would say a slow flow, which is basically a slower vinyasa or a vinyasa style class, and taking it at your own pace. I mean, if you take it in person, amazing. If you take it virtually, that's also awesome too. But know that people at home, if they're struggling and you want to drop down to child's pose, you can, because I used to teach in person and sometimes you just want to lay on your back and shavasana the whole class and sometimes you need more of the flow and the movement. So, yeah, I think the balancing is really important and you can get a lot of that in yoga. Yeah, being barefoot strength training, I mean a lot of different things.
Speaker 1:It's really easy to notice the difference in balance when you have sneakers on and you go to therapy.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, If you're doing all PSA, you're doing all your workouts with your cushiony shoes. You've got to make sure they're flat. It's actually even better barefoot. So I mean, it's a work in progress for me too. Yeah, it's not easy to do because I was using my ASICs or my running shoes. Then you take your shoes off, you're like oh, this doesn't feel the same.
Speaker 1:This does require balance.
Speaker 2:But for you the balance part of it. Have you found that yoga is helping or other types of exercises are helping with your balancing and MS.
Speaker 1:I don't know that I've had any balance issues due to MS. People have heard me say this before. It's the thing I get frustrated about the most. Probably is is this related to MS or is this because I have no balance?
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Yes, it could be either.
Speaker 2:It could be either.
Speaker 1:Like do I have no muscles in my core or is it something else going on? So I'm always fighting that balance of what's the cause. I'm definitely paying a lot more attention to balance work, whether it's yoga or with weights and doing a lot of single dumbbell work.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I was going to say single leg. Jamie seems to help with that a lot.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure, yeah, he's the best.
Speaker 1:He's interesting when you put yourself in certain situations, trying to keep the balance. It's a challenge, especially if you're not paying attention to what you're just starting out.
Speaker 2:Yes, and it'll get better. It gets better, you know, with time. But some days you wake up, your balance is just off. So you feel like you've made progress, just like with anything I mean life and fitness. You feel like you've made progress and then you get on the bike or you get on your mat and you feel like, wow, I feel like I'm a beginner again. So just that happens to everybody. You know, every day is different.
Speaker 1:It happened this morning at 7 am and I'm not kidding. So for those that are listening and possibly getting intimidated about hearing about yoga, how would you recommend someone start?
Speaker 2:I think, start with the shorter class. I mean, start with, if you can, if you're at home Even. I mean, there's classes, you know, obviously at echelon, but there's classes on YouTube for free. There's, you know, 10-minute, maybe mobility stretching classes that you take before you even jump into a class. But I would say, don't think too hard about it, just get to the class. Whatever one you choose, like press play, just do it, because afterwards you're going to be like, oh, that wasn't so bad.
Speaker 2:I've been taking yoga, actually in person recently. Thanks, just to have my own practice, because I love teaching. But it's nice to take someone else's class and really just be a student. And there are so many first timers. I mean, and this is, yes, this is Miami, but this is everywhere there's so many first timers, so everybody's just trying to figure it out. Nobody's looking at what you're doing. Let me tell you, in a gym, nobody's looking at what you're doing. I promise, unless you're doing something crazy like a handstand into a backflip, I don't know, but they're worried about other people looking at them. So if you're intimidated in that way, I would say, just go bring a friend. I mean, that's also an easy way to do it, like text your friend, okay, every week we're going to go take the yoga class, whether it's virtual or live, and then starting with either the vinyasa, if you want faster pace, or the restorative, because that's just as good. Any yoga class is a good place to start.
Speaker 1:It's funny, I'm just as guilty as the next person of going into a gym and being worried about people looking, yet everyone in the gym is so self-involved and only worried about themselves.
Speaker 2:Yes, I mean, I feel the same way. I used to teach in a gym. That was intimidating, like I felt like everyone was looking at me and I teach there. Why am I scared to work out here? So it happens to everybody. So everybody at home knows, don't worry.
Speaker 1:What do you think someone might notice if they started doing yoga let's say they've done it for a month. What might they feel or notice about themselves after doing it?
Speaker 2:I think it's just keeping your joints mobile. So if you're not moving your joints around, say your hips or your I mean you know the knees obviously you want to be careful, but you want them to be able to move in different directions, not just front to back, but, you know, side to side, moving circles. That's why in yoga you're in different poses, you're opening up your body and then you're contracting your body. So you're opening, you're lengthening and then you're building strength, contracting. I would say definitely if your consistency is it, that's all that matters whether it's one time, three times, you know, five times a week, whatever you build up to, but once is enough. And the flexibility, the mobility, the balance, stability which we all need, I mean especially getting older. Doesn't matter how old you are, but even I'm trying to. I mean, my grandma had a stroke when she was 40, so she's paralyzed on one side and I'm trying to get her into a little bit of like balance work because I want to build, you know, her strength and same with my grandpa. So it's not too late to start. If you're 80 years old and you're just getting into fitness, awesome. If you're 20, even better. But any age is a good age to start that.
Speaker 2:And then I would also say the mental effects of yoga are incredible. I mean, when I was doing it all the time, and even now getting back into it, I'm just more in tune with my body, how I'm feeling, how, when you know when to push and when to pull back right, and when you connect your breath, your mind, your body with one another, it just, it just helps in a big way. And then another thing my yoga instructor used to say and this is probably what got me in the teacher training. She was like you're going to grow at least a half inch to an inch from yoga. I was like, oh great, I could use the height. Five, four, I would like to be five, five. So that part of it no, I it actually is Don't want to get into the research but it lengthens your telomeres, so you age more gracefully, you have a longer lifespan from doing yoga consistently, and that just is the truth. So definitely motivation to get into it and those are the benefits.
Speaker 1:I have also heard. I don't know if it helps you grow, but it keeps you from shrinking. There you go. I don't know if it's true or false, but that's what I'm trying to. What do you recommend to those who are taking yoga? And you're speaking directly to me and you're getting frustrated with lack of progress.
Speaker 2:Well, I was going to say it's hard to measure. That is a tough one, because you know it's not like you see. You know you'll see. Maybe you see physical results, right, because everybody's different. 30% is exercise, 70% is diet. So you can definitely see physical results, the mental results, I mean, that's just how you feel, if you're feeling happier, if you're feeling more relaxed, less stressed, if you can not even less stress, because we'll always have this stress. But how are you handling it? How are you reacting? Are you, are you acting? You know better than you did before? Is it a big piece? But you know, just stick with it because it's fun, the process is fun, the journey of yoga, of fitness. You have to enjoy that because if you're doing it for the external results or validation, it won't last long. It's got to come internally. Why do you want to do it? Or get better in it? Whether you're you're maybe you're just trying to physically look better, that's, you know, great too. But but the internal piece of it, I think, is so important. So keep on going.
Speaker 1:It's the stretching part of it that gets mental, sometimes with a lack of progress, especially spending all the time my hamstrings are so tight yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So if you're, yeah, if you're, if you're doing yoga and you're also doing other exercise, or or maybe you work at a desk and you're sitting all day, your muscles are gonna be tight. So every time you get to the mat, I mean you're, I almost feel like I literally feel like the Tin man in the Wizard of Oz, like I'm like trying to get my kinks out, and at the end you're like what? And at the end you're like, wow, I'm like a new person. I'm gonna feel like this every day. So, yeah, but the I mean, if you're consistent with it, you will see the benefit. Maybe you couldn't touch your toes and then in a few months you can reach for your toes. So the flexibility, definitely you can measure that progress.
Speaker 1:Eventually, yes, speaking of experience. The other thing I don't like about it and it can't be helped is if you're consistent and you start to see progress and you're my age and you stop for two weeks, that progress just goes bye-bye.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, you have to stay with it. I mean good to take some time off going vacation, but the more consistent the better, even on vacation or, if you're going away, find a way to move, maybe not as much, but 10, 15 minutes, I mean great, that's enough. Yes, I get it Two weeks. Two weeks and I feel like all my fitness has fell off. I'm like what happened?
Speaker 1:Yeah, our mutual friend Christine. I don't know if you saw it, she was in Bali and she was working out, so she can do that in Bali. The rest of us can do that too.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:One of the reasons I wanted to talk to you about yoga is it's really seems like a one shop solution for a lot of different things Strength, balance, stress, stretching. Is there anything we didn't talk about that people should know?
Speaker 2:I think, honestly, I think we covered it. Yeah, I and and it's important to say you know, if it's not yoga, it can be something else. Maybe your way to release stress, to build flexibility, is a mobility class, is an active recovery class. The reason I think that yoga is so beneficial is because the the breath work that goes with the movement that then goes into. I mean, I always end class in Shavasana and that's the meditation piece, whether it's a minute or five minutes. So I, yeah, I think I think that's honestly everything you need to know.
Speaker 2:It's like a commercial for getting into yoga. No, I am passionate about it because I didn't like it before. So I get. When people come in and they're like this is too slow, this isn't, you know, a high intensity exercise, I get that piece. So I get that piece. So just stick with it, stay consistent. And you know, if you're struggling, I and all types, every type of person, can take this class. If you have a chronic disease, if you don't, I mean I, once a month, my mom actually works for the Special Olympics and once a month, I teach class to them. It's a yoga class, 30 minutes, and I mean, honestly, they do amazing. So anybody can do it, it's just, you know. I mean, if my grandma can do it, no, it's picking the right class and starting at the right point.
Speaker 1:Exactly, it's the same with the people that want to go a little bit faster, and I'll say faster and stronger. There's power yoga and athletic yoga, which is probably no means easy and it's not boring.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's not boring. You'll stay motivated the whole class. Yeah, so you halfway through you'll go.
Speaker 1:Why didn't I start with the yin yoga?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:It's just different than a lot of other exercises that are out there, and if you're not used to it, of course it's going to be uncomfortable for a second, yeah, and lean into the uncomfortable feeling like lean and that because that probably means you're doing something right If you can lean in and stick with it.
Speaker 2:I mean, that's when you see the results. Same thing in fitness and life. I always think about it that way, like if I'm doing a really hard workout, I am like mentally I'm going to push through, physically I already know I can do it. I mean, you showed up, your body can handle way more. It's just the mind that takes some convincing.
Speaker 1:I think that's a perfect note to stop on.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Thank you for coming on, of course, thank you for having me. You are welcome anytime and, as fitness instructor, I love taking your classes. You do a great job, thank you. I can name several people that agree and you definitely push us to keep going, so thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you. No, it is awesome. Well, this podcast has been amazing, so thank you for having me on and come back anytime. Anyone has any other questions, reach out to me about yoga If you're scared to get into it. I hope my dog's crying. This is my cue to go right. If you have any other questions, let me know and I will be happy to answer. Whether you're part of the Ashland community or you're not, I'm here to help people, whether that's with their fitness or anything else.
Speaker 1:Awesome. I will put Sam's contact details in the show notes. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:I hope you really enjoyed the interview with Sam. I love her energy and positivity and she's a great yoga instructor. I asked you to stay tuned afterwards because of what's happening on August 17th. Now, before I get into it, I just want to mention two things. First, I do believe it's okay to eat unhealthy once in a while and just relax and have whatever you want to have. Second, I think it's always a good thing when corporations are giving back to charities or to research. So what's happening on August 17th is ANW is giving $2 from every team burger sold across the country to support Canadians affected by MS.
Speaker 1:I'm really struggling with this one. I can remember back in January when I was told about the new lesions that had formed on my spine, how important it was for me to eat healthy and how healthy eating will keep me healthy longer. I was encouraged to go and eat the Mediterranean diet. I don't like the fit of go eat unhealthy food to support multiple sclerosis. I like having multiple sclerosis Support it. So I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know if I'm going to have a team burger. I don't know if I'm going to buy team burgers for other people, or maybe I'll buy team burgers and not eat them. That's what I'm bad on the left. I don't really know If I make an analogy.
Speaker 1:What would happen if it was cigarettes? What would happen if it was $5 off every pack of cigarettes sold on August 17th? What if that went to the Cancer Foundation? Would you go out and buy a package of cigarettes? I doubt it. I know I wouldn't, so I would love to see your comments on this one.
Speaker 1:Am I overthinking it? I go back to what I said at the start. Yes, it's okay to eat unhealthy once in a while. That's not going to hurt you down the road. But what's once in a while? And are you really eating unhealthy once in a while or all the time? Yes, it's great that ANW is contributing to help multiple sclerosis in Canadians. I think that's amazing, but it's a mixed message and I just don't know if it's the right fit. I would love to hear your thoughts and thank you for hearing me out. Ps, I'm not blaming ANW or I'm not putting ANW down. I would have the same commentary if it was a Big Mac or a Harveysburger, or pizza for that matter. I'll let you know next week what I do with the Team Burger.