Pike Yoga

ATTITUDE • MATITUDE • GRATITUDE

At Pike Yoga, we believe that EVERYONE needs yoga. Yoga is the one practice that complements all other exercise programs. Whether practiced daily or once a week, yoga will produce considerable benefits.

Our philosophy, "Attitude. Matitude. Gratitude." comes from our practice of yoga. 

Most of us come to class with some form of an attitude, and not necessarily in the negative sense. Our attitudes can arise from frustration, guilt, anger, fatigue, loneliness, excitement, urgency, contentment, or any number of other feelings. So then, we come to the mat and practice; we begin to work through these outside distractions. 

Yes, it's a made up word. Matitude is simply being present--there on the mat--with the breath, the mind, and the body. Matitude is dynamic--always changing, always evolving. It is the practice of being who it is that you are supposed to be. 

The final component is gratitude. This is where the intention of your practice is absorbed. It is finding light in darkness, quietness in chaos--simply being thankful.

Filtering by Category: Pike Student Stories

Pike Student Stories: Henry Moore

Germantown, TN - August 2018

Henry Moore, 68, didn’t set out to lose weight or transform his life, but that’s exactly what happened.  In 2006, Henry experienced a medical scare when his blood pressure spiked to a dangerously high level.  Unaware of the reason for feeling somewhat ill, he decided to get his blood pressure checked in order to eliminate blood pressure as the cause of his discomfort.  Being a blood donor, he drove to a nearby Life Blood center for assistance.   

Upon seeing that his blood pressure was near 180/120 (high blood pressure has recently been redefined as 130/80), the nurse did not allow Henry to drive himself to a nearby hospital emergency room because of the seriousness of his condition.  Pat, his wife was notified and came to his rescue.  At the hospital, his condition was stabilized, and a serious situation was avoided.  “That was a wake-up call in my life and I knew I had to make some changes” said Henry. He was subsequently diagnosed with sleep apnea and fitted with a CPAP device which he used during sleep for the next 12 years.  He also practiced life-style moderation, took prescription medication for blood pressure and cholesterol, and occasionally got some physical exercise.  Yes, his overall health could be considered as good, but he knew he could do better.

During the spring of 2015, Henry noticed the positive physical transformation his daughter Nicole was experiencing after four months of yoga.  Hesitant, because his physical conditioning was somewhat lacking, he eventually decided to try yoga for the first time.  He was pleasantly surprised by the exhilaration and the feeling of accomplishment that he experienced at the end of the session and immediately knew that his yoga journey had just begun.

Henry spent the next several months building strength and confidence by practicing yoga at home guided by YouTube instructors and visiting several out of state yoga studios while traveling on business.  Upon his return to Memphis, he searched for a local studio.  While perusing the Pike Yoga website, he was intrigued by their motto “Attitude-Matitude-Gratitude” and felt that there just might be something special about the studio.  Henry decided to give Pike a try and attended many different types of classes.  “I can honestly say that after practicing over 350 sessions with all of the teachers at Pike Yoga, I have not been disappointed during the last three years, not even once”.  As his fitness level and confidence improved, he found the Ashtanga and Vinyasa practices both physically and mentally rewarding.  Henry practices 6 days a week now and visits yoga studios around the country during business travel.  He says, “I’ve heard many yogis say, ‘Yoga is for EVERYONE’ and ‘It is YOUR practice’, and I believe that to be true. In a world where competition is prevalent in many aspects of our lives, a person can practice yoga with the knowledge that your personal success is not measured or determined by others, but by YOU”.

After three years of a regular yoga practice and twelve months on a plant-based diet, Henry’s health has improved to a point where his blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are in decline.  He has reduced his body weight by 25 pounds.  He no longer has sleep apnea and does not use the CPAP machine.  “Today, at age 68, my fitness level is somewhat similar to what I experienced at a MUCH younger age…Yoga has paved the way for my life transformation and I’m so grateful for the practice” said Henry.   

Pike Yoga is located at 7853 Farmington Blvd, Germantown.  

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