Aaron Hebshi - Graduate Student
"I started yoga a year and a half ago at a summer class at UH Manoa taught by Shelley. I loved her style and soon enrolled in her YMCA classes. She and Ray give well-rounded sessions, where certain poses expand upon or complement other poses. After a session, I feel lighter, more open, like my circulation reaches every corner of my body. Regular practicing is helping with my chronic back and hip problems."

Physically, I expected to gain more flexibility, but yoga exceeded my expectations. For example, due to an old sports injury, the range of motion in my right shoulder has been limited for decades; now my range has increased more than I ever imagined, and I'm confident that with continued practice, I will eventually regain total range of motion.

But, in addition to flexibility, I was surprised to learn that yoga provides strength (equal to weight training) and balance as well - a complete body workout! Yoga has improved my posture (so I'm more aware when I tend to slouch), and my sense of balance. Before I started yoga, the heels of my shoes would be severely worn before I felt an imbalance; now I feel the difference immediately. Even the most athletic, physically fit person will be amazed how much more they can achieve with yoga practice.

Even more important to me are the mental and spiritual gifts of yoga. It has given me a greater ability to focus mentally, and has taught me how to find a calm center inside myself, free of distractions, that I have been able to use in my life outside of yoga class.

Due to ignorance, most people I know have misconceptions about yoga - they think it is about weird contortions. They're afraid of looking silly and they don't think they're physically capable anyway. But it is really a self-journey that anyone can take. It's about self-progress, not competing with others - if you focus on competing with others you can't achieve your best.

Yoga allows you to recognize your physical (and mental) limitations and teaches how to go beyond these. And Shelley and Ray are excellent guides on this journey - knowledgeable teachers, caring people!"

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Alison Sherwood - Postdoctoral Researcher, UH Botany
"I started yoga just over a year ago, on the suggestion of a friend who thought I might benefit from a more conscious form of exercise than I was used to. It's remained the only kind of exercise that I enjoy as much now as when I started which in large part is due to the fantastic instruction I've received at the Manoa Yoga Center."

Ashley Ji
"I have been doing yoga about six months. As a person who has never been athletic, and never been committed to any exercise, I simply amaze myself how much I love yoga. Since the first day, I have never not looked forward to coming to yoga, even days when I am not feeling well or when I am having a bad day.

Now I consider doing yoga as a necessity rather than a luxury for myself. I simply would find my way to come to classes no matter what my time constraints are.

What I love about yoga, along with obvious physical benefits of strength, focus, stretch, and exercise, is how it is a metaphor for life and is different from sports or worldly pursuits in its non-competitiveness. Practicing yoga teaches me that I can grow as a person the most when I suspend judgments, and disconnect from competition, and therefore accept myself at the present moment, not just my physical body, but my whole self. I believe this is the foundation for me to respect, value and love myself, and only then can I truly do the same for others.

I love my teachers, Shelley and Ray, for they have mastered combining quiet gentleness and discipline. Most of all, I feel connected to them as I feel they are students in a journey, rather than masters.

Yoga, to me, is sacred, is decadently enjoyable, challenges me endlessly, and transforms me."

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Bessie Zoller
"I started yoga several months ago thinking, I can't do that, but let me tell you, under the guidance of Shelley and Ray, I have enjoyed yoga very much."

Candice - Writer/Teacher
"When I get off-center and start spinning in uneven, crazy loops, yoga brings me back: five minutes of relaxation and breathing releases my stress and gives me a fresh start.

Yoga helps me find places in my body where energy is stuck, so I can open up my flow.

I discovered yoga 30 years ago and it's the only discipline I haven't gotten bored with. I love the stretching, meditating, exercise, camaraderie and I love Shelley and Ray: they are very supportive and kind people!"

David Raleigh Student
"I used to lift weights at a gym with these helpful instructors. They always warned us not to cheat when lifting. Cheating would result in excessive stresses on the joints.

After three months of yoga, I recognize that it was not only in the gym where I was "cheating". Twenty-five years of slouching, sleeping in funny positions and walking with flat feet has resulted in a network of muscles which act more like a virus than an aid to daily life.

Yoga has helped rein in these renegade muscles. Instead of emphasizing the muscles which are grown out of proportion, I've worked to strengthen the muscles I've ignored throughout my life. It has helped free my skeleton from a set of muscles that had grown knotted and corrupt. Corrupt like the GOP."

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Dennis Suyeoka - Restauranteur
"I came to yoga after realizing that my regimen of weight lifting and running over the past 35 years made me tight and injury-prone. Greater flexibility and the absence of pain in my shoulders was the first benefit of practicing yoga. More energy and better digestion are benefits I also attribute to yoga."

DJ Gervais - Medical Billing Specialist
"Two years ago I had an ecstatic spiritual experience that was derived from a combination of breathing techniques and body exercises. I heard of Pranayama and concluded that a daily practice of Yoga, combined with my current meditation practices (the Latihan of Subud and Mindfulness) and the practice of Spiritual Lomilomi (Hawaiian massage), would allow a future opening to higher consciousness. Well, that's the plan, we'll see"

Hetty Eisenberg - Student
"My mind, so laboriously and carefully trained in the art of intellectual pursuits, at first resisted the keen attention to presence that can make life so enjoyable and self-satisfying. Yoga, within a mere year, has been phenomenal for bringing my awareness into my body - the eternal self slowly allowed to surface and reveal its gorgeous demeanor more and more - and my meditative explorations have been so enhanced.

Yoga is an incredible conduit of wisdom. Thanks to Shelley and Ray for being great, patient, and knowledgeable teachers!"

Karen Geisler - Marine Debris Diver, Professional Mermaid
"From the beginning, Shelley and Ray welcomed me to class and both are obviously enjoying what they do and teach with a calm and approachable manner, making sure every class is fresh and challenging.

I am finding yoga is integration into my life as time passes. I enjoy yoga physically, but it is my mind and soul that truly benefit.

When I was working out at sea I tried to practice every day-quite a challenge on a moving boat! I found that developing my own practice helped me to deal with everyday happenings and helped me to use my muscles that weren't being used on the boat.

Yoga puts me back in my body. I am discovering muscles and inner strength I never knew I had. I am also getting to know myself through my body in a way I never have before."

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Matthew Brown - Graduate Student
"The experience here has been nothing but positive. Yoga has allowed me to gain a new sense of balance and mental well-being. In addition, the physical aspects have been unreal. I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine) at age 20…it has improved my spinal and hip mobility more than I ever would have expected. It helps your surfing too."

Rich Lew - Sales
"I always wanted to learn stretching and eventually meditate. (Dreamed as I travel to interesting places, I could stretch and meditate.)

I like the feeling of treating my body. It wants to work and strengthen the weak muscles, loosen the tight ones.

There are immediate benefits. My breathing changed, now I'm more flexible. I don't get as many cramps, my upper chest and arms are not as tight. When I feel lower back pain, i.e. in long flights, I know how to treat myself. I'm calmer, feel more in tune with my body. I combine yoga with basketball to balance my exercise."

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Sandra Marie Hebshi - Research Assistant
"Yoga has helped me to undefine my limitations, while inspiring me to take on new challenges. Yoga is energizing and focusing."

Takashi Matsuoka - Writer
"Yoga has many physical benefits, and they're apparent from the very beginning. The deepest changes - in attitude, demeanor and spirit - appear more gradually, and are even more beneficial. How you behave toward others and how others behave toward you, that's what really matters, right?"

Vicki Omura

A little over a year ago, my interest in yoga returned. Like so many in our hurried society, I began to seek balance and harmony in my life. I was hearing so much about the benefits of yoga both physically and spiritually that I thought I'd give it another try.

As I began to look into classes that were being offered, I found many to be a bit too expensive, for my budget anyway. Then in an issue of the "Midweek" publication, I saw the listing for the Manoa Yoga Center. The price was right, the times of the week in which the classes were offered worked into my schedule (the class schedule is very flexible!) and the Atherton YMCA location on University Avenue was ideal.

Not knowing what to expect, I attended my first 90-minute class. What I was most appreciative of was that all the props that were needed to assist with various poses were there! Blankets, mats, straps, bolsters and blocks were available for our use during class! For me, that was indeed a nice touch.

I found Shelley, the instructor, to be a very experienced teacher. She was kind, welcoming, very patient and attentive, ensuring each pose was done in the proper form. She always encouraged us to do only what we could, being that there were various levels of students in the class, and that it was alright if we couldn't do every pose precisely right. Yoga was about the journey. I felt comfortable right away and before you knew it, the class was over.

I look forward to my Tuesday evening class. In the past, if I got busy at work, I'd skip my workout at the gym. Now, however, if it is a Tuesday night, my class is the priority.

I find myself feeling better, sleeping better and in general just having a better outlook on life. I don't let the little things bother me as much as I did. Yoga has indeed become a part of my life, so much so that I am considering taking the class twice a week instead of just once. I have more confidence in some of the poses, and am still working towards headstand. When I can do this pose on my own, I will have reached my first goal in yoga! For now though, I am sticking with shoulderstand and continue to work towards perfecting that pose. It gets better every time!

From time to time, the Manoa Yoga Center will do special weekend yoga workshops (also at a great price!) where the poses are a bit more advanced. The workshop helps you to expand your ability and introduces you to new poses. I attended a portion of a workshop recently and enjoyed it very much. There were several poses that I couldn't quite get right during the class, but again, it didn't matter. You just try to do what you can, always working towards taking the next step, and pushing yourself a bit further than you did the day before.

If you are considering taking a yoga class, I encourage you to take one from the Manoa Yoga Center. You will not be disappointed!"

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Weixin Matsuoka - High School Student
"I first heard about yoga from my family. My aunt is involved in yoga, as is my ex-stepmother, from whom I still take classes. My father is my current yoga partner and, together, we take one class a week.

I thoroughly enjoy taking classes because yoga has made me much more flexible and has definitely increased my muscle strength.

Strangely enough, I have also found that taking yoga has opened my mind as well. I am now much more open to new activities and ideas.

Yay for yoga!"