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About
You...
Hello Sheila:
I am the student who introduced myself at the San Francisco open house and gave you my business card. We spoke briefly about the need to allow flexion/extension/rotation in all planes for spinal health. I very much agree with you and I believe fitness will catch on soon as well. There is a severe lag time between research and the general fitness population. Strength training or fitness concepts such as maintaining a "neutral" spine at all times are starting to be questioned again. Along the same line, we are beginning to question whether we should be instructing people to consciously change their form during exercise motions or if we should trust that the body "knows" what's best for it most of the time. These are very interesting ideas, very new ideas, and I would love to discuss them with you some time.
I myself had a reoccurrence of lower back problems in the past year that I hadn't had since I was in my late teens. I worked with various professionals to heal (chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, MAT practitioners) and then one day I was working with a Pilates instructor and we discussed my lack of spinal articulation. It was something I was aware of but, after years of "maintaining neutral" in an attempt to ward off back problems, it is difficult to regain the motion. As a former student of the theater, I had taken dance regularly and was very aware of the articulation required by dance and believed that, if I could get back into dance, I would improve my back's health. I have been consciously training my spine to regain articulation and with the eight-weeks of S Factor, so far I am feeling noticeably more limber.
In January, I left my job in Connecticut at ESPN's Corporate Health and Fitness Facility to take a job with Club One as a Fitness Manager. My move to San Francisco allowed me to finally take classes at Sheila Kelley's Factor. I have been following the evolution of S Factor since your inception. My undergraduate work was a combination of exercise science and psychology and I have always been interested in women and body image. As I mentioned, I studied theater for many years. In fact the reason I left theater (and in turn found exercise science) was that my entire adolescent years were spend dealing with agents, casting directors, and teachers telling me I needed to lose weight. This is why I am so glad to be a part of S Factor and its philosophy of supporting each woman and providing them with tools to feel comfortable and beautiful with themselves, their sexuality, and the power we posses.
When I took my introductory class, I spoke with my instructor after class and shared some of my background, etc. She asked if I had considered trying to teach for Sheila Kelley's S Factor. I hope to try out in your next round of auditions as I believe my background would suit your program perfectly. However, I truly wanted this experience for myself first. I spend all day helping others feel better about themselves physically, as well as mentally, and my weekly two-hour S Factor class is my meditation, my refuge, my time for me. It has truly been enlightening, in more ways than I can express. I have signed up for Level 2 and am raring to go!
Thank you, Sheila, for creating this movement. I look forward to meeting you again.
Healthy Regards,
Heather N. Husmer
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| About You Archives | |
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It was such a pleasure to meet you, your husband, your brother and so many other interesting people at your open house at the San Francisco S factor studio. To refresh your memory, a little, I am the guy who asked you to describe your political philosophy in a nutshell. That is a little like asking someone to cram a Lil Minx pole in a purse but I think I got a sense of what your political ideals are. I admire you for mixing that into your business. They seem to go together hand in glove but not everyone would try to use a successful business model to promote a progressive political agenda. |
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I am the student who introduced myself at the San Francisco open house and gave you my business card. We spoke briefly about the need to allow flexion/extension/rotation in all planes for spinal health. I very much agree with you and I believe fitness will catch on soon as well. |
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This letter is so long overdue and I only recently got the courage to write and send it to you. It was nice to finally meet you. I don’t know if you remember me, but I had a brief moment to introduce myself at the Open House you recently hosted in Los Angeles. |
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This is April French from Sheila Kelley's S Factor Encino. I am currently taking Level 2 with Dara McGarry and having the best time! Dara is the most wonderful teacher! She is warm, patient and, best of all, funny. |
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I am a 41 year old mother of two incredible teenage boys and currently a Level 3 student. Sundays used to be a day to catch up on sleep. It's now become S Factor day for me and I wake up for it at 7:30 A.M. I drive an hour each way to take class since San Francisco is the closest studio to me. Thank God I have one in driving distance; I am one of the lucky ones. |
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After just two days of your workshop, I feel completely empowered and sexy and seductive. I'm only 24 and have gained 15 pounds in the last two years and, when I looked at your enchanting instructors, I went “Wow, I want abs and legs like theirs!” I'm not heavy by any means, just have some new rolls in places I don't want! |
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Girl, you are an inspiration. It’s awesome to know there are like-minded women out there and there’s a place where we can go to share; the S Factor studio feels like home. |
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I've just recently beat ovarian cancer. Yeah! I am not your typical candidate for this condition. I stand 5'5, weigh 135 lbs, I'm 34 years old and I am in good health. I didn't know that I had a tumor until the pain took me to the doctor for a check up. |
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I can't believe it has taken me to Level 5 to write to you. Since we were so spoiled back in Level 1 by you popping in and out of class to help, I think I've waited to run into you ever since. |
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I took the book with me tonight and used the warm-up to stretch the girls for our class and they loved it. Imagine their surprise when I pulled out the book and said LOOK WHERE I FOUND IT! |
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Sheila, I am no doubt one of the older students in the S Factor NY group but, somehow, I don't feel it!! I am now at Level 4 and one of "Alex's Girls" as we call ourselves. Alex has taken me on quite a journey, along with my classmates, and now I am going to places I have never been (and I am not talking about the R Bar on the Bowery where one can go and swing on a pole, which is just an added bonus). |
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Thank you so much for the S Factor; it has truly been a lifeline to sanity. I am from New Orleans, Louisiana, and my home was flooded with 8 feet of water in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. |
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