Joni Nowak
Inner Fire Yogi since September 2010
I just thought I wanted a hot yoga room to sweat and feel like I was accomplishing something physical. I had dabbled in other forms of physical activity but none stuck. With a long history of anxiety and a stressful career in Transplant nursing, a nurse friend and colleague JBS knew I NEEDED yoga.
Jen took me to a few yoga classes but my journey really took off when my husband gifted me Inner Fire Yoga for my birthday in 2010. I was immediately hooked with the heat and physicality of hot yoga. What I didn’t realize was that I would eventually cherish my time with the teachers and other members.
When I started those first few weeks everyone was so welcoming, caring and nonjudgmental. That helped calm my anxiety and fueled my desire to come back again and again.
“It’s become my home away from home.”
Hot 90 and Yin are my go-to classes. I have such warm regards for all of my past hot yoga instructors. I remember each and every one of them. Currently I’m very lucky to have Katherine V, Kerry H and Dr. Ruddy. Dar, Kara and Jennifer teaching Yin is a perfect supplement to hot.
My favorite classes at Inner Fire Yoga have given me several years of pain relief from bilateral rotator cuff tears. I feel stronger, steadier and more balanced.
When I’m not at Inner Fire Yoga, (yes both East and West!) I enjoy traveling with my husband, walking to Monroe St Library, and spending time with our four grandkids.
Thank you, Marit, Hannah and team for making Inner Fire Yoga a great community and for keeping it alive during Covid. Inner Fire Yoga will always be a part of my life.