Category: #BeginnersYoga

Yoga with Gail PB. How it all began.

My experiences with Yoga!

Places where I teach Yoga….. back in 2002…..
[ Citizen’s HealthPlex Group Exercise Schedule | GymX Group Exercise Schedule | Detar Health and Fitness Center Aerobic Schedule ]

Yoga Training – YogaFit ™ Level I, Level II, YogaFit™ for Kids, YogaButt™, YogaAbs/YogaBack, YogaFit™ for Seniors. 
Also Katherine Robert’s Yoga for Golfers™ , also I’m up to date on my My Red Cross Adult CPR, First Aid and AED training.. 

My interest in Yoga began back when I was taking fitness courses along with the computer courses at Victoria College. I had taken the Weight Training, Walking, Karate and Physical Fitness classes. The college wasn’t offering any Yoga classes and through a survey, myself and others requested that Yoga be a fitness class offered at VC (there wasn’t a facility in town that offered any Yoga classes that fit my schedule). The first time that Yoga was offered through the college I took it. As with any other fitness class at the college several things happened.

In order for one to see if they are indeed making strides towards their fitness goals, you need to make assessments and measurements. At the beginning of the semester we measured weight, height, circumference measurements along the calves, thighs, hips, waist, chest and upper arms. A crunch test, along with a push-up assessment was done. Two fat body measurements were done-one with the pincher calipers and the other with an electronic fat body calculator. A Cardio endurance one mile walk (the Rockwell test) was also performed. Lastly a sit/stretch measurement was conducted. The assessments was a good portion of our grade. At the end of the semester all of these assessments were done to “measure” our fitness level, due to taking the Yoga class.

Not only was I feeling better and well rested, from my initial assessment, I confess that I could only do ONE push-up. Through the learning of the different Yoga poses, practicing, etc., at the end of the course not only did I reduce my body fat percentage, lose inches (and increased inches in my arms/calves), but I increased my number of push-ups to 19 (with my age was finally conducted at “average” fitness) and also increased my flexibility in my sit/stretch measurement. Also I decreased my resting heart rate.

One of the activities that we had to do was to present a Yoga class to the students. We paired up with 2-3 other individuals and selected the Yoga Mountain phase that we were to present to the class. After my 10 minute portion of the presentation the instructor had asked if she could use my Yoga sequences in her classes. (Sure!) She also recommended that I become certified and that I might like to teach YogaFit styled classes. (Perfect, so that I can schedule Yoga classes to fit my schedule!) So that is what I did. I’m currently trained in Level I and Level II, Seniors (Chair Yoga), YogaFit™ for Kids, YogaButt ™, YogaAbs/YogaBack by – YogaFit™ , and I just finished a workshop training in Yoga for Golfers™ by Katherine Roberts (see Yoga For Golfers™ web site!!) .

Back in 2004 was teaching Yoga classes at GymX, Citizen’s HealthPlex and Detar Health and Fitness Center, and a bit of teaching at Busby Dance Center, all from Victoria Texas.

On another interesting note, during this entire time that I was taking the college class, getting certified, etc., I told my 75 year old mom how I so enjoyed the Yoga. She started taking the Yoga classes offered at her local YMCA. Immediately her balance was better for her, her flexibility and range of motion in her arms increased, and whenever she took her class her blood pressure lowered (she takes medicine for her blood pressure). Balance and flexibility were some of her concerns and to get a bit lowering on her blood pressure was just a bonus. Now mom is a pretty active person. She swims laps twice a week at the YMCA and also tries to walk at least 45 minutes 3 times a week. Not only that but she bowls a mean 160 average! Now isn’t it interesting that she noticed changes in her body when she added Yoga to the mix.

Additionally for me, I’ve had bunion surgery on my right foot and had a fourth degree sprain on my left foot, so I have some “foot” issues that I’m always concerned about. With the various balancing poses that you do in Yoga, I’ve become more confident on my “footing” and balance. I never thought I’d be able to do the “Tree and Eagle” poses, much less the “Dancer” pose (I can do them now!). Its been a work in progress, but I’m very pleased with the results!

Collected here are some comments from students who have taken my classes:

• “feeling very relaxed after a session”
• “my pain in my back has eased up considerably”
• “I sleep better at night”
• “I feel energized”
• “I need your class to help my legs and my back feel better”
• “When I don’t come to class, my stress levels become very high”
• “I’m ready for a nap, I’m so relaxed”
• “I’m not having any spasms in my left leg”
• “I can manage my stress better”

I’m almost tempted by the type of comments that I get from my students to call my class “Yoga for Backs”.

So take a Yoga class….you never know what benefit it may have in store for you!

Active Yoga / Beginning Yoga / Chair Yoga/ Yoga for the Sports Enthusiast – Class Descriptions

Active Yoga – A fitness yoga class uses traditional Hatha yoga poses, in the context of a fitness workout, to make you relax and sweat at the same time. The goal of fitness yoga is the increased strength and stamina you expect from a vigorous workout and the inner peace and tranquility that yoga is famous for. One hour format.

Beginning Yoga – This class introduces students to fundamental yoga postures, including stretching, strengthening, balance and alignment in the postures. Emphasis is on the standing, seated, and relaxation poses. Additionally, this class, uses a sequence of yoga postures to strengthening your core muscles, which will, in time, help lessen back pain and strengthen your abdominal muscles. Less strenuous than the Active Yoga, the goal is the same increased strength and stamina and in a 45 minute or 1 hour format.

Chair Yoga – This class was designed for those that have trouble getting up and down from the floor. Seated / Standing Chair Yoga poses are modified to the chair and work all parts of the body to improve strength and mobility. The class focuses on mild stretching and breathing exercises designed to promote physical fitness. Forty-five to Fifty-five minute class.

Yoga for the Sports enthusiast

• improves flexibility, strength, balance, posture & breathing. (Soccer, Track, Power Lifting)
• helps to relieve back problems caused by twisting the spine. (Volleyball, Basketball, Dancing, Wrestling or Football)
• enhances body rotation so a proper swing can be fully executed. (Golf, Tennis, Racquetball & Baseball)

Current teaching schedule:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
9:35 – 10:30 Detar HealthCenter Beginning Yoga	8:45am – 9:35am  GymX – Active Yoga / Beginning Yoga *	9:35 – 10:30 Detar HealthCenter Beginning Yoga	8:45am – 9:35am  GymX – Active Yoga / Beginning Yoga *
	10:30am – 11:15am  Citizen’s HealthPlex – Beginning Yoga		10:30am – 11:15am  Citizen’s HealthPlex – Beginning Yoga
			2:00 p.m. Chair Yoga Detar HealthCenter

* Beginning Yoga is taught, unless the mix of people are of the intermediate level.

[ Citizen’s HealthPlex Group Exercise Schedule | GymX Group Exercise Schedule | Detar Health and Fitness Center Aerobic Schedule ]

Gaileee in South Texas
 

Fast forward about 20 years or so….

Moved to the Golden Triangle Area here in southeast Texas. Local cities are Port Arthur, Port Neches, Nederland, Groves, Beaumont, Bridge City and Orange Texas.

Initially taught at both the YMCA of Port Arthur and the W.P. Hebert Wellness and Fitness facility in Beaumont, Texas.

Took my advanced teacher training at the Yoga Institute with Lex Gillan in Houston Texas near the downtown medical center.

Did additional training in adaptive yoga, chair yoga, yoga for Multiple Sclerosis, Yoga for Scoliosis. Adaptive Yoga with Mathew Sanford, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra Meditation, Prenatal Yoga, Childrens and Kids Yoga.

The Kids yoga classes at the Ymca, and at Exygon Health and Fitness were fun classes to teach. I eventually took the kids yoga to the local Mother’s Day Out program at Wesley Methodist in Nederland, Texas. I’m a registered Childrens yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance.

Additionally taught prenatal yoga at Detar Health Center in Victoria Texas, which eventually led me to teach baby yoga for my youngest child and my grandchildren. Used the Itsy Bitsy methodology to teach the baby yoga classes.

Taught officially for the National MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society, the Lonestar Chapter for over 10 years prior to the pandemic.

Had the opportunity to teach at the local VA, and took Veterans Yoga Project Mindful Resilience Trauma Training, and for the past five years been teaching online for VYP through their various offerings after the pandemic and currently. Taught Chair yoga, gentle yoga, back care yoga, chair tai chi, and beginners standing tai chi.

More recently looked into QiGong and Tai Chi practices for my own personal interest and have become certified in Chair Tai Chi, Tai Chi Ball QiGong, and Beginners standing Tai Chi Yang Style Short Form 12. Teaching the Chair Tai Chi and the Yang Style Short Form online for Veterans Yoga Project.

Got especially interested in yoga for scoliosis, for back care, as I have those challenges, and now teaching a gentle yoga for back care class. More recently online for VYP, but in years past was a popular class, taught weekly at Wesley Methodist Church in Nederland, Texas.

Also became a licensed Zumba Instructor, and teach a seated dance fitness class for the senior population at Lakeside Center in Beaumont Texas. Additionally teach a weekly Chair Tai Chi Ball QiGong with a Splash of Yoga at Lakeside Center.

Updated 2/2026

Gentle Yoga, Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis, Kids Yoga!