Melissa's Story:

I first reached out to Sally in the Spring of 2021. hoping for some stress relief and intrigued by yoga trapeze pictures I had seen of a friend, yet concerned that I would struggle with it because of arthritis in my wrists, knees and ankles. I had been going to a local yoga studio on and off but finding it difficult to modify the poses as needed. One ankle in particular feels very unstable, and it hurts to put too much pressure on my hands. Right from the start, Sally showed me that it was still possible for me to practice yoga, with the extra support of the trapeze helping me to get into poses and stay there (without falling over!). The 1:1 attention in our sessions, which have been nearly weekly since I started, helps me to feel capable and strong, and I have learned to go out of my comfort zone and relax while hanging upside down. We end every session with an inversion, which is still a little scary at times but Sally’s excellent cuing and spotting allow me to relax. I can start off with my head or my hands a few inches from the floor, and by the time I’m done I’m touching the floor. I always look forward to my time in Sally’s studio and leave feeling flexible, confident and relaxed. My favorite moments are those in which I’m fully in the trapeze, whether it’s in a full backbend, flying like Superman, or cocooned as a final relaxation. Also, non-graceful me loves when Sally asks me if I’m SURE I haven’t had any dance training. I look at the photos of myself upside down in jackknife pose and sometimes can’t even believe it’s me. Contacting Sally over two-and-a-half years ago is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.