Watch Patti Smith show you the benefits of hot stone massage for the back. It relieve various things such as stress, tension from past injuries, fatigue, or chemical imbalance. She will show you how a hot stone massage can really loosen you up and get you groovin’!

Katie Bartell is the rockstar of the month! She has been going to Mindful Movement almost since Nicki Noftz opened the business. She has always come regularly, but in the last couple months, she would be coming to at least four classes per week to take yoga, dance, and Pilates!

In Katie’s words:

I am fresh out of high school and loving it! Recently, I have had to make some big decisions. As you know, seniors have to decide if they want to go to college or not. Well, I wanted to go to college. I applied to seven different schools, all of which I got into except for one that was a tough school in L.A. I struggled for months deciding on what school I wanted to go to. It was between a private university in Florida, a progressive, public school in Washington, University of Denver, or a progressive, private university in Southern California! They were all great schools to choose from and so different. That is what made it so hard! Then I started to question if I wanted to go to college at all and instead go to a healing arts school in Tempe, Arizona called the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts!! I narrowed it down to the private school in California or to the public school in Washington. I could have flipped a coin! I finally decided on the private school in California because it was cheaper. Phew, that felt good!

BUT, then a few weeks later, I started to doubt my decision! I was reconsidering the healing arts school in AZ or the public school in Washington. The public school in Washington was always very dear to me and still is. It was the first school I visited, I felt at home there, I fit in, and I have a special connection to the land there. But then I also had a special draw to the healing arts school as well! I still had never visited the healing arts school. In the meantime, I was planning a trip to Australia from July to August! So when I planned my flight home from Australia, I booked a stop in Phoenix to see the school. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I wanted to do, and before even leaving to go to Australia, I made the decision to go to the school in Washington. I felt that a four-year university is the right thing to do, I could figure out where I wanted to go with my career, and it felt like home. Yay, I finally made up my mind and was happy with it! But I still had that visit to see the healing arts school in August…

I decided to go to Australia for 4 weeks all by myself. I started in Sydney and traveled by bus 1700 miles up the East Coast to a city in the tropical north called Cairns. It was absolutely amazing! Hands down, I had the best time of my life. I met so many amazing people from around the world and at times, I felt complete peace and acceptance with life. Even though I plan on doing much more traveling, this trip will ALWAYS be special. I was only 18, and it was my first trip out of the country by myself.

Yet, I still had that visit to the healing arts school. Haha. Well I visited it, and all the fears that made me decide on the college in Washington were washed away. I really liked the school and its energy. I made a big leap of faith, and yet, ANOTHER change of mind! In one day, I had withdrawn from the school in Washington, decided to go to school at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts for massage therapy, and leased an apartment! So now I am living in Arizona, sweating like crazy in this heat, getting settled in, working as a personal assistant for Nicki Noftz and another yoga studio owner here in Tempe, and waiting to start massage therapy school. Yet, all the while, missing Mindful Movement and the home it has become for me.

Now back to the rockin’ Mindful Movement! I have absolutely loved my time at the studio. I started off in Pilates with some lower back issues. I had hurt my back while dancing. And in a couple months, Pilates cleared it all up! I loved coming to class with Nicki, and I really enjoyed my time there. At the end of this past April, I started to take Emma’s dance class, her yoga classes, SOLE yoga dance by Maya, and Nicki’s yoga classes. I was at Mindful Movement more than at home! It had become my home away from home.

Nicki has always been such a good role model and mentor for me. I am forever indebted to her for her guidance, her listening so well, and being my rock when I needed her. She has shaped who I am today.

Mindful Movement isn’t just a place to improve our bodies; it’s truly also a place to improve the soul.

Katie’s Jams:
Butterfly by Jason Mraz
Walk It Off by Matt Duke

Let’s give Katie a big, great AIR FIVE that can travel 1500 miles!!

Nicki Noftz shows us how to do the Pilates exercise: side legs. This exercise strengthens the hips and that beautiful booty, stretching the thighs, legs and back. These exercises can be great for people who have tightness or slight discomfort in their lower back and hips. Check out this swingin’ video where the owner of Mindful Movement demonstrates on the lovely Beth.

Teryn teaches us how to properly perform the famous downward facing dog to stretch the shoulders, hips, and hamstrings. Watch the video to learn how to stretch from the tips of your fingers to the pads of your toes!

This rockstar has gone above and beyond to keep Mindful Movement rockin’! In the short time at Mindful Movement, Tina has referred 2 people, is dedicated to 3-4 Pilates classes per week, always comes in with a bright smile and rocks out with skiing and white water rafting. This rockstar knows how to live life to the fullest with an awesome attitude! As we speak, she is on a white water rafting trip making waves. We can’t wait to hear all about her experience!

In Tina’s Words…

I was enrolled in Park and Rec classes for many years and felt the benefits. But, the 6 weeks with Nicki have improved my body 10 fold. I feel great all over. An airplane ride is much more enjoyable when you can cross your legs thanks to Pilates.

Tina’s Jams:

Rihanna “Disturbia”

Old Crow Medicine Show

Make sure to give this rockstar a high five next time you see her.  She totally deserves it!

Watch as Nicki and Beth demonstrate double leg kick! This move is a great strengthener for the shoulders, back, legs and hips and helps to open the heart and chest. Now go rock out your double leg kick!

Watch as Nicki and Beth demonstrate double leg kick! This move is a great strengthener for the shoulders, back, legs and hips and helps to open the heart and chest. Now go rock out your double leg kick!

Check out our video demonstrating the how-to’s and benefits of this gentle backbend!

Sue Dudzik Janczak is definitely a Mindful Movement rockstar!  Sue has been a community member for approximately 2 months.  Although she is a Mindful Movement newbie, her rockstardom shines through in everything she does.  Whether she is shakin’ it in SOLE Yoga Dance or contorting in yoga class, she brightens the day with her infectious giggles and energizing spirit.  No matter what you throw at this rockstar, she is always willing to try it with a smile on her face. 

In Sue’s Words…

I am a life long Wisconsin resident who has dabbled in yoga for several years. With a career in marketing, yoga provides the perfect release for stress and tension.  Now at Mindful Movement, I am SERIOUSLY pursuing my yoga practice.

The classes at Mindful Movement are fabulous!  True to yogic practice, they are challenging without judgement.  The instructors are energizing, motivational and highly knowledgeable in range of motion to fit every body!     

Sue’s Jams:  

Prince “The Word”

Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” 

Make sure the next time you see this awesome lady to let her know how much she ROCKS!

Niki Burns is the Mindful Movement Rockstar of the Month. Niki has been a community member for a year, dedicated to her Pilates practice.  Currently she finds time for private Pilates, yoga class and SOLE Yoga Dance to maintain her rockstardom.  But, this isn’t the only reason Niki is a rockstar.  She is the lady behind the vamped up studio.  She dedicated many hours to help re-design the studio for our community.  If that wasn’t enough, Niki will join the Mindful Movement team teaching several Gen Zen classes.

In Niki’s words…

I am thirty (and flirty…jk)…a wife, a mother, an artist, a photographer, a writer, am bounding with creative energy, a volunteer in several areas, and a lover of Pilates and yoga.  I have been active in Pilates for a year and practicing yoga for two months now.  I will be teaching children and youth pilates at the fabulous Mindful Movement.  Children and keeping them healthy and active is a great pasison of mine.

When I say Pilates has changed my life, I mean it, cliche and all.  In one short year I went from feeling and functioning like I was an eighty-five year old woman, to feeling and functioning like my actual age of thirty. I am battling genetics of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.  The clock has been counting down for me since I was fifteen.  Having had consistent and sometimes life crippling pain for half my life,  I hit a physical and emotional wall.  I had tried EVERYTHING.  Every exercise fad. Every kind of exrcise equipment. Diets. Vitamins. Etc.  Just plain everything–with  little to no success.  Finally being told last spring that my bad knee was degenerating and now my GOOD knee was too, and that yes, I have arthritis in my neck now as well, I knew it was time to be drastic in my approach.  I wanted a life.  I wanted my thirties to be pure awesomeness, cause well…I deserve it!! I didn’t want to feel eighty-five one more single day!  It was suggested by my Atlas chiropractor to try either Pilates or yoga, both of which I knew almost nothing about. So, I fortunately found Nicki at Mindful Movement.  And after just one phone conversation with her, I was sold, hooked, elated beyond words.  I knew.  I had found my answer to a better, happier and full of energy life I have so desperately craved for decades.

Pilates, and now with the addition of yoga, has begun the journey to finally healing my body.  My aches and pains are a fraction of what they once were.  And if those aches and pains flare up, or like I call it “sing at me”, the time frame has been reduced!  Which is tremendous!  Two, three, or four days of pain has become ONE DAY!! And not AS painful!! My weaknesses have been improving way WAY beyond my expectations.  I actually feel strong.  Yes. Strong with the new addition of flexible! Pilates has also calmed my mind and spirit with natural releases of serotonin, which is HUGE for me.  I have digestive issues that are due to a lack of natural serotonin in my system.  So not only has my stomach distress been healed, my mental stress has greatly been reduced.  I am internally quiet.  I have learned how to control stress that triggers these issues.  Simply amazing.  Just the breathing alone that I have learned has powerful qualities.  And finally, Pilates has helped my soul feel complete, free and youthful once again.  I love how I feel.  Plain and simple.

I am STILL sold.  I am STILL hooked.  And I am STILL elated beyond words, just what pilates and yoga have done for me, and my life.  If you are searching for something more and something lasting, choose this pathway.  It WILL give you more than you can ever imagine.  It did for me.  And I am ever grateful to the ideals and focus of Mindful Movement…their name says it all…

Niki’s Jams:
Ingrid Michaelson “Be OK”
Rebecca Sayer

This girl totally rocks! Make sure you give her a high five the next time you see her!