Middleton Yogi of the Month: Amy Pophal | Dragonfly Hot Yoga Madison WI

Middleton Yogi of the Month: Amy Pophal

My first experience with Yoga was a huge disaster. Prior to my classes at Dragonfly, I had never attended a Hot yoga class before and my very well meaning neighbor talked me into going with her to a Flow class at a different studio. It was 100+ degrees in the yoga room and I lasted all of five minutes before I surrendered to the heat and laid on my mat for the remainder of the class. I literally thought I was going to melt before the class was over. After that experience I was really put off by Hot Yoga and was in no hurry to return.

In 2012, I was experiencing uncomfortable muscle tightness in my shoulders, back and hips and decided to try Yin (in the mild room) to see if that would help decrease my discomfort and pain. I took one class and was hooked. I started by adding more Yin to my schedule and eventually decided that Yin in the Hot Room would be beneficial. After that I branched out and tried Cardio Barre, Flow and Slow Flow. Eventually, life took over and I didn’t take time for myself and my overall health suffered including a weight gain of forty pounds.

After the pandemic and retirement, I decided to focus on my health. I lost sixty pounds and then came back to Dragonfly to build muscle and set up an exercise plan to keep myself healthy and in shape. I attend a variety of classes each week. I love Mary Leigh, Lindsey and LeAnn’s Cardio Barre/Barre Classes because the classes are always different and keep me on my toes as well as give me a great workout. I work on my core by attending Chanelle’s Core Flow class at least once a week. I schedule Yin into my schedule as much as possible. Fran’s Aroma Yin is a Sunday afternoon staple for me and I enjoy Mari’s Yin on Monday nights.

When I complete a class at Dragonfly I feel so many emotions. Pride in myself for taking control of my health and having the chance to participate in so many types of exercise that I never thought I would ever be able to do again. A huge sense of accomplishment for setting a goal and taking steps to make gains in that goal. I also feel a sense of emotional and physical strength for taking time for myself and my health which makes me a better person in all areas of my life. I look forward to all my classes at Dragonfly and am excited to see how they change my life in the future.

Instructor Lindsey Loeffler: “Amy is such a positive presence in class. She is now a regular and a staple in all of our barre classes! I have loved watching her grow in her strength and confidence over the past few months. Not only is she a rockstar at the barre, but she is always building everyone up and helps to keep the class going. I’m so thankful that’s she’s a barrefly!”