Quotes from satisfied clients

How my students have benefited from yoga/massage:

Hiyala Indiga from Body prayers yoga/massage is a gifted massage therapist. I leave her studio free from pain and with a deep feeling of well being. Hiyala's skill draws from extensive and ongoing training, vast knowledge of how the body works, and powerful intuition. She works with, not on, her clients. She asks questions, listens well, and shares what she knows so I can participate in the healing. The work is never about her and her success, but about what I need to learn to heal. When she thought another approach might help, she worked with me to figure out the next step.
I am grateful to Hiyala for her great skill and generous spirit. She is totally committed to increasing wellness in the world. I have learned a lot from her and look forward to continuing to work with her for healing and enlightenment. Ann Haglund - Client

Good Morning Hiyala - My name is Nicole. My mom had seen you a couple of times during one of your community ed classes.I believe it was for Seniors but you let her in. She has had severe back problems for many years. She has had 2 surgeries etc. She was saying that you were so nice and you were the only one that was able to help her relieve some of the pain. Unfortunatly she can not really afford your classes but I was hoping that maybe you could tell me about your prices etc. She said that you had helped her kind of one on one because she was not able to get into the postitions. So I am hoping to get my mom some help. Could you just let me know what your prices are.. I am not sure if because she needs your help with positions etc if it needs to be a private session or if she could go to a class with more people. I really apprecaite your help with this. I just want my mom to have some peace with all of these back problems. She is so young and so much to live for and she is just struggling so much with all of this. I would also be interested in seeing what kind of prices for long term yoga with you.. I know that one session isnt going to cut it!! Thanks for all of your help.

Hiyala and Classmate's integrity of the practice and philosophy of yoga was inspiring, grounding and created a warm inviting space for connecting to self and others. Joanna Rojas, Emma B Howe ymca student

Hiyala is superb! She really helps us with poses without pressure of doing more than we're able.

I am looking forward to starting yoga again, and you are so right the classes at the gym

don't even come close to what you offer .

Yoga and my breast cancer journey. When I recovered from breast cancer surgery, I knew that I wanted to continue yoga, and so when cancer treatment began the past fall, I signed up for classes with Hiyala at Body Prayers Yoga and Massage Studio. The asanas helped me to connect to 'normal life' when chemotherapy was eliminating cancer cells as well as healthy ones. The asanas lifted me out of the haze of strong chemicals and gave me a mind and body connection. As I would relax, energy moved through my body and I felt positive and more alive. Hiyala gave me a visualization that I used many times during treatments and want to contiue to use as a cancer survivor: "I love my breasts, I love my body. I am cancer free and getting better every day. Healing energy is flowing through my body with every breath I take." This has helped me to think positively about my body and it's capacity to heal, along with by spiritual connection. I consider Hiyala a wonderful teacher and friend. Bette Larson ,retired

Hi, Hiyala,I will be glad to bring in some information (flyers) for Dr. Rice / Dr. Hample. However, he usually does not have items like that sitting around in the lobby area. If the topic of yoga comes up with a patient, it would be good for him to know the availability of a yoga studio offering what you do. Yes, we have seen some injuries come through because of the large class format being taught by people that might not be qualified to deal with the diversity of individuals who attend classes. Yoga is definitely not one-size-fits-all. I know that I could go through local community ed or classes offered by the City of Lino Lakes and pay a lot less, but I wouldn't have wonderful Hiyala as my teacher and friend. You offer a lot that I wouldn't find elsewhere, and that's one of the reasons that I am willing to pay considerably more to be a long-term student at Body Prayers. Namaste and hugs, Dar

I wanted to mention also how yoga has helped me through some of this time. I have had some lung involvement first with pneumonia and then the lupus. I am still testing out well on the respiratory involvement though. I think that is because I can breathe more deeply and utilize more areas of my lungs. I hope this bad boy medication takes hold soon and I can do more things. It is hard going from being so active to being so weak. I am maintaining a positive attitude and will get on top of this. Carolyn, retired

I fell down my back stairs last night and sprained my ankle. Am in an air cast and limping. I regret to say I will miss this Wednesday's class. I wanted to also take the time to tell you how greatful I am to be one of your students. You push me gently and make me have faith in myself that I can do things I never thought I could/would do. Thankyou!!! Judy Rasmussen, RN

Spiritual Growth: I wanted to get this book on Hinduism and Christianity back to you The author certainly makes some very good points. I think the highest expression of all religions points towards a core of universal truths. If people looked more for this common ground the world would be a lot better off. A while back you asked me what I wanted to get out of yoga. I said something about wanting to know God in a more experiential, less conceptual way. That is happening. Well, it had already been happening, but it is happening even more now. You are definitely a part of this changing in my life, in that you have helped me move toward a spiritual practice that is less obligation and more opportunity and journey. You've been able to do this because you have a very matter of fact, gentle, open way of teaching and leading. Also, you have a lot of knowledge to pass on. So Thank you! Frank Stafford Davis, Presbyterian Minister and author of Jordan's Near Side

For me, the activities last night were moderately difficult. I did feel comfortable just doing what was comfortable and I did feel non-competitive (not usual for me) so that helped make it a positive experience for me. My shoulders were a little sore - that's where I carry a lot of my tension. I am looking forward to continuing and learning more so I can participate in yoga more than once a week. When I left last night I felt refreshed and it felt like I could feel the oxygen going through my body. I am overweight and so my body awareness is weak and paying attention to it is a goal of mine. Your non-threatening way of approaching the class was welcome. See you next week. Jeanne Kelley

From a male client who contacted me for massage. Because of the ambiguous nature of massage, I have to make sure that my clients are coming to me for therapeutic massage, so I usually ask what is the reason they are coming for massage? This man's reply was so well put that I asked if I could share it with you on my website:Over the past six months or so I've been refocusing on taking better care of myself. More of what's good, less of what's bad. My wife goes for a massage somewhat regularly, and thought it would be a good complement to my overall program of better health. I've also been spending a bit more time thinking about spirituality, and I found your web site interesting. Stressful times at work have me feeling I need to spend some of my energies elsewhere.

from a student who decided one session to try a pilates class at a different location: I liked the pilates but wasn't impressed with the class. The instructor is young & teaches full-time at Bally's. She used a headset microphone to be heard & had music blasting throughout the exercise time. During the yoga part it was okay, nice music, but for the pilates it was faster & way too loud--I finally had to ask her to turn it down because I couldn't hear her at all. She seems nice but is very heath-clubby & lacks your charm, charisma & lovely voice. I hope you know what a great teacher you are--I'm totally spoiled by your style & if my first yoga class had been like this one instead of yours I'm sure I never would have stayed with it. Thanks, dear you.
Valerie

I don't believe that you should feel a need to match the lowest price that a client finds in the marketplace. A relationship with a massage therapist is far more than the dollar amount of the service. I can't think of many services that are more dependent on the connection between provider and client, and the techniques used are certainly a distinguishing factor that is not driven by price. Businesses constantly try to differentiate themselves by quality and service, but few have the opportunity to provide as much distinction as you have in your profession.

Mike

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I was looking back in my DayMinder trying to accurately recall when/how our paths crossed. It was March 12, 2004 when I was in a minor car accident. I then began to regularly see my chiropractor and have weekly massages. Since then, I see my chiropractor regularly and receive a monthly massage straight from your heavenly hands.

In the meantime, this lovely person with her heavenly hands, was telling me all the benefits from practicing Yoga. The first thing I thought of was the TV show, Greg and Dharma. Well, Dharma is/was a good person so I was a little less skeptical. However, there were still 3 major reasons why I should NOT do Yoga:

1 - I am a Christian which means I love Jesus with all my heart, mind,soul and strength.

2 - Have a traumatic brain injury which has given me many physical challenges.

3 - Am a man (with a little boy trapped inside).

I reluctantly came to my 1st Yoga class Thr.14Oct04.

My concerns about Yoga have been slowly but surely dissolved since my first class. Hiyala focuses on each individual and adresses the needs and concerns of everybody.

1 - For me, she has been careful NOT to mix Yoga with a religious belief or statement.

2 - Due to my Traumatic Brain Injury, my balance is basically gone. Hiyala is constantly thinking and improvising for me so I am reaping all the physical benefits from Yoga. I have never felt more complete !! She has taught me how to relax. She has made my life an art to living.

3 - Although I am the only man in the class most of the time, Hiyala makes it very comfortable for everybody. This is done through group class discussion and one on one communication.

Hiyala may be God's angel on this earth !!