Photo courtesy of YoGoGirls
YoGoGirls Michelle Thomas (right) and Debby Siegel (left) practice moves from their new yoga workout, “Inversions."
St. Louis yogis Michelle Thomas and Debby Siegel keep their feet in the air and their hearts above heads. Four years after the two met, Thomas and Siegel founded YoGoGirls, a blog dedicated to uplifting and educating yoga lovers around the world. They believe in the benefits of saying “yes” to yoga today and every day, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced yogi.
“Anyone who can breathe can practice yoga,” says Siegel, who discovered the power of yoga at 44 and began teaching at 48. She calls herself a “yoga evangelist.” Siegel creates and teaches a variety of workshops, but she’s also a triathlete, climber, and cyclist with a love for all things beautiful.
Siegel’s adventurous interests led her to a triathlon camp in Illinois, where she met her YoGoGirls co-owner, teammate, and best friend Thomas. Thomas shares Siegel’s passion for combining fitness and yoga practices with art and design. With over 20 years of marketing experience, Thomas brings her own unique and sophisticated aesthetic to the YoGoGirls brand.
Photo courtesy of YoGoGirls
Examples of the bicycle workout that propelled YoGoGirls to fame.
After designing a new workout that combines cycling and yoga and received worldwide recognition in the yoga community, Thomas and Siegel are working on what they hope will be another game-changer of a workout. It’s called “inversions.”
A two-hour workshop combined with instructional videos is intended to build confidence and core strength through hand, head, and forearm stands. Turns out, defying gravity has some unexpected perks, including circulation improvement and anti-aging. Siegel adds, “Plus, it presents a fun way to retain the youthfulness of playing.”
Photo courtesy of YoGoGirls
The YoGoGirls practice their "inversions" workout.
Balancing on your hands and head may sound a bit daunting at first, but this workshop offers more than just getting into impossible poses. In the videos, Siegel and Thomas offer advice on balancing work, family, and all other aspects of life starts with taking care of oneself; avid meditation and self-awareness can help. What better way to find this figurative balance than to master the literal balance required for turning upside down? “Practicing yoga and meditation have been vital to our ability to balance single parenting with multiple jobs while staying healthy and fit,” Siegel shares.
According to the two experts, “Yoga is a practice of transforming and benefitting every aspect of life.” With the philosophy of the YoGoGirls, you don't have to wait for New Years to come along before you start making some real life changes to your fitness and well-being.
Photo courtesy of YoGoGirls
Michelle Thomas (left) and Debby Siegel (right)
