I had only practiced yoga a handful of other times before finding Dfly. I explored the Middleton studio primarily because of the convenient location and the class times that fit with my schedule needs. I have always been active, but gravitated more towards running, weights, and the occasional at-home video. After both of my children were born, I was struggling to find an exercise path that met all of my needs as a new mom who also worked outside the home full-time. My mom had been practicing yoga for several years and talked about how much she enjoyed it, but it wasn’t until I joined her for a class during a girls weekend in Illinois that I really understood how impactful yoga could be for the mind, body, and spirit. The feeling of joy I got out of that first class was so inspiring that I knew I needed to find a studio back home in Madison.
My first class at Dfly was Flow at 5:30am with Suki. I was anxious; I had never done hot yoga before, I didn’t know what to wear, and I didn’t know if I could get up and function that early. Tola and Suki were both so warm and welcoming that I survived and completed a new member challenge by attending ten different classes over the course of the next couple weeks. This was very beneficial because I had always assumed that “yoga was yoga” and didn’t realize the spectrum of practices that existed. I quickly discovered some preferences (I’m not really into jumping jacks) and found a rhythm and routine that I love. I’ve now become a devotee of Suki’s 5:30am Flow class three times per week and can’t imagine my life without it. It energizes me in a way that I didn’t think was possible before 8am, without coffee! I cherish having the dedicated space to get out of my head and just be. I leave feeling centered, focused, accomplished and excited to start my day.
I’ve become a full on yoga ambassador since starting at Dfly. To the many that have said that they’ve tried yoga but that they found it boring or that it wasn’t for them, I encourage them to keep exploring all the options out there. Unlocking yoga for me was a combination of the studio (convenience, cleanliness), the schedule, the instructor (the right blend of exercise and mindfulness), the music (much bigger impact than I ever imagined) and the actual practice style. I feel so lucky that I was able to find my match at Dfly right away. At this point in my life, I’m the strongest and most balanced I’ve ever been. I’ve enjoyed the physical benefits from yoga such as muscle toning and flexibility, but being able to incorporate the breathe-work into my daily life has been tremendously helpful and something that I try and work on with my now 3 and 6 year old. I’m excited to continue to grow in my practice and hope to still be doing headstands at 70 like my mom!
Instructor Suki Warda: “When I think of Sara, words like strong pillar to friends & family, dedication to humankind, & beautiful listener come to mind. I am honored that Sara creates time in her full life to practice with us at Dragonfly. We have such an amazing group of people like Sara that we get to connect & breathe with.”
