Community Experiences
The experiences shared here are pulled from letters, emails and even Facebook posts that Crys has received.
Navigate to:
FEATURED TESTIMONIAL - Yoga Helps Rock Climber Prevent Hypothermia!!
“I went climbing in Red Rocks, NV over Thanksgiving. The forecast was for sunny weather (it's sunny about 355 days a year in Red Rocks) with a high of 65. I expected it to be chilly for a little while in the morning, but it is usually very warm in the sun even in cold weather.
So, I'm a couple hundred feet up a climb by about 9:30 a.m., and it's still cold (maybe mid 30's to low 40's), and the sun was too weak to warm anything yet... and then clouds roll in. I start shivering so badly that I couldn't really "lead" (be the first person climbing), so I am sitting still belaying (holding the rope for) my partner for an hour or more at a time, with only 20 minutes or so of climbing in between - not enough to warm me up. I could barely climb because my leg muscles were stiff from shivering, and I couldn't feel my hands or feet. By 9:30, it is still really cold, with big black clouds in the sky, and there were even flurries!
I was shivering out of control and my hands were going numb (not good when you must hold your partner's ropes), and I started to feel a bit panicky after this went on for a couple hours. I was feeling nauseated, then light headed. We were not in a place where we could rappel down safely, so we had to go up.
So I thought of your Yin Yoga class were we were sitting still for long periods of time (and where I was a little cold but no where near hypothermic). I started concentrating on my breathing, and sort of willing energy (and blood) into my extremities. I didn't try to stop shivering altogether b/c I figured it was helping to keep me warm, but I was able to control it. I was able to calm my mind and relax about the experience of being physically uncomfortable...as physical discomfort and pain come from the body, but suffering - which is truly dangerous when climbing - comes from the mind.
At any rate, the Yin Yoga techniques worked well enough to get me through over 5 hours of very cold belays and climbing until we could get up to a place where we could rappel down....and also to focus enough mentally to do several long rappels (the majority of climbing deaths happen due to errors on rappel!). The sun never came out and I doubt it got much warmer than 40 degrees. . .
Actually, one thing I love about yoga is that it helps me be relaxed about being in physically difficult/uncomfortable situations (both "Yin" and "Yang" yoga). Or even, in some ways, emotionally difficult situations too! I don't know if that's proper yogi thinking, but it is true for me.”
- Rebecca L., avid rock climber & yogini
Yoga Experiences
"The past 2 weeks I have had 2 classes with you. I am all about alignment when I teach Pilates, take any class, run or whatever. Because of you, I have been thinking more about my rib cage. HOLY COW!!!!! Where the h*** have my ribs been all these years. All I can say is it feels like someone has hit me in the lower rib cage area with a baseball bat. It is AMAZING!!!! Thanks for helping me find the new muscles....you... ROCK!!!!!!!" - Meg Poe, Pilates Instructor, Durham, NC
“What I love about your class is not just that you have such a clear and thoughtful way of leading us through but you make it a whole person experience, engaging our spirits as well as our bodies. And you find room for the humor and humanity of it all. Not to go on but I thought I'd let you know what I think. So thank you for your thoughtful, intentional approach.” – J.B., Durham, NC
“The coolest yoga teacher ever!” – S.D., Toronto, Canada
“Thank you so much for a wonderful week of yoga. I have taken away a lot from your classes.” – R.K., actor, Mumbai, NY, LA
“Now that I've taken classes from several other instructors...you are by far the best!” – M.P., Raleigh, NC
“I loved your class and so did everyone in my entourage (ha ha)! But for real: my friends are all coming back to bathe in the glorious energy you give. We stood outside and talked about what we loved about your class for nearly an hour.” – K.C., Chapel Hill, NC
”You are such a beautiful woman - through and through - and teacher extraordinaire. It's one of your many gifts, to show the way.” – R.H., Cary, NC
"I've taken from a lot of teachers over about 15 years, and I can't decide if you are my favorite but you are definitely in my top 2!" - S.L., Copenhagen, Denmark
“Crystal Rivers is the yoga instructor other yoga teachers go to when they want to learn to develop a more balanced and spiritual practice. “ – excerpted review from www.drheiko.com, Cary, NC
“Crys, my fav yoga lady!” – C.C., Cary, NC
“So wonderful to get the "Crys experience" again! I left tonight with a big smile on my face (just like everyone else). “ – B.R., Cary, NC
“Thank you again for all the beautiful, joyful yoga…” – M.F., Cary, NC
“. . . you're the BEST!! “ – J.B., Raleigh, NC
“I really enjoy and learn so much from your classes. I always look forward to them.” – C.B., Cary, NC
“Thanks so much for class tonight! I love bound half moon! Cannot believe I have never been there before.” – B.P., Yoga Teacher, Cary, NC
“You are the teacher I’ve been looking for! I feel so inspired right now!!” – C.N., Cary, NC
“. . . my favourite yoga teacher!” – E.S., model, London
"Crys, thank you for the class you gave us today because you helped me to make a decision I've been struggling with for awhile now. The way you told us to reflect on whether we were following our inner rhythm or someone else's . . . I realize that I have been so unhappy . . .you have given me the insight and courage to make the change." - B.M., Ibiza, Spain
"Thanks for helping making my first trip to Ibiza such a lovely time. We had a great time - imagine that? In silence . . . " - S.L., Ibiza, Spain
"I am really looking forward to going to another of your classes. You have great energy - very positive and relaxing, which is wonderful." - R.L., Morrisville, NC