I took three classes in all while visiting in New York this weekend, and I have all the dvd's at home.  I've been working out with the dvd's, intermixed with other dvd's I have, ever since they started coming out.

I have scoliosis and arthritis in my back, which began to cause me a lot of pain after I had two children, 15 months apart, just after my 40th birthday. I'd been a runner before that, never paid much attention to my "core", and sort of took it all for granted.  I reached a point where I Had trouble getting out of bed, and couldn't stand for more than a few seconds without searing pain.  

I'm 49 now, and i still have to be very careful with my back, but I can tell you with absolute glee and utter amazement, core fusion changed my life.  I did a lot of physical therapy, and that got me started, but Fred and Liz took me to a level I thought I'd never know or see.  

Coming to Exhale, and taking the classes, was an amazing treat.  I absolutely adore Bergen; i wish i could see her every day, and Jessica also was so sweet and helpful and inspiring.  It was wonderful to get the feedback about form, and equally wonderful to see the different type of work that can be done at a real ballet barre.

I'm sore now, but it's a very happy feeling.  I worked out at Exhale every morning, and ran around the city with my husband (who is younger than me) and kids all day, for three days.  How is it possible that they were more exhausted than me? 

I tell everybody, CF is the fountain of youth.  I found it.  Not just youth, but quality of life and movement.  Just imagine how great I'll feel when I can get my heels off the ground in that flat-back series!

Thanks for everything.  

I am so thrilled to be a member of exhale. I suffer from depression and the core classes keep me not only in the best shape of my life, but mentally positive. Don't know what I would do without exhale and your amazing instructors. Thank you!

I've been taking classes for the last four months, and every class is still as intense as the first one. I took a regular gym class over the weekend and was surprised how easy it felt. The core fusion instructors are constantly correcting your form and giving you tips to help you stay motivated during class. Going to class is a pleasure and a pain (in the best sense that you will likely be sore afterwards.)

I'd thought about trying yoga for years but was intimidated. So when I joined Exhale and saw a class called "Absolute Beginner Yoga," it was a little less scary and I gave it a try. Now, ten months later, I've reaped so many benefits from my yoga practice that I can't imagine why I waited to try this. Some of the Exhale staff asked me to describe these benefits - here are a few of the physical and mental advantages I've gained (or lost as the case may be):

By far, at 54 years old I am now the strongest I've ever been. Without picking up a single weight, I'm building lots of strong, lean muscle everywhere. My goal is gorgeous "yoga arms."

I've lost almost 40 pounds since January, through a combination of regular yoga practice (including lunch time classes a few days a week), moderate cardio (mostly walking and hiking on the weekends), and eating healthier within a reasonable calorie range.  I was recently taken off blood pressure medication after years because I no longer need it.

I've learned to take the mental aspects of my yoga practice with me "off the mat" wherever I go. This includes a centered, very present attitude, breath control, and the ability to remain calm in the face of almost anything. This is perhaps the greatest gift of all from my yoga practice, and one that I hope serves me well this month when I participate in the 60 mile breast cancer fundraising walk Yoga is a practice, not an event. I don't have to be good at every pose, or perfect to succeed. Once the excellent Exhale instructors helped me realized that, it opened up a world of possibilities.

I started going to Meg's Core Fusion Cardio class regularly this year in order to supplement my training for a half marathon. The conditioning I did in this class helped keep me strong and energetic through 13.1 miles, and I cut 9 minutes off my previous half marathon time. This class was great as it kept my cardio conditioning up, but without the stress on my body that running can sometimes bring.