Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Ross.
Brenda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Most of my memories have the love of working out and trying to stay healthy which was God leading me down the path of where I am at today. Here is a little bit of how He got me to where I am today with WHoly Formed Yoga.
Quite a few years ago, my family owned a martial arts studio. I enjoyed teaching Taekwondo, kickboxing and self-defense classes. I also competed in tournaments at 2nd-degree black belt level which required vigorous training. I soon discovered I had Phase III Vertebral Subluxation Degeneration which caused too much pain to continue my training. I went through several years of physical therapy which helped alleviate some of the pain but not enough to be able to work out in any capacity. I was told my only option was surgery… which was not an option for me. I knew God had other plans.
One day, a friend introduced me to Dr. Sammy Hardin, a chiropractor. After several months of spinal adjustments and following Dr. Sammy’s advice, I began to feel some relief from the excruciating pain I had experienced over the past 15 years. Dr. Sammy suggested, I begin a Yoga class to help me with my flexibility. I signed up for a class at the community college in the fall of 2005. I really enjoyed the workout and it was just what I needed to help loosen up my joints and to complement the chiropractic care I was getting. That winter, I went skiing for the first time. What a wonderful feeling to be able to be active again!
In the spring, I signed up for the intermediate class and dreamed of becoming a Yoga instructor. A few weeks into the class, my teacher announced she had breast cancer and another Yoga instructor would be replacing her. I was saddened by the news; she would be missed. The new teacher instilled the practice of the religious roots of Yoga while my former teacher had encouraged us to make it our own for whatever religion we practiced. My spirit told me to drop the class. As much as I enjoyed the class, I was not going to be disobedient to God and stay in a class that did not come into alignment with His word. I took another avenue and worked out to DVDs at home.
Several months had gone by and I received a call from my daughter saying that she had come across a Christian alternative to Yoga certification program. I was so excited… I could start working out and using the stretches I enjoyed toward a certification that glorified God. I began looking into the different programs that were offered but realized the timing wasn’t right.
In the spring of 2008, the church I attend, Celebration Covenant Church in Frisco, TX had a Women’s conference. The theme was Dreaming in Color. It was so encouraging and helped me realize that I needed to pursue my dreams and not keep them on a back burner. I began to pray and received confirmation through a close friend that now was the time to pursue my dream which was getting my certification in a Christian alternative to Yoga program. I did some research and found an awesome website called Faithfully Fit that fell in line with my beliefs and in 2012, I went through Purple Lotus Yoga 200 Hour RYT program.
When God puts a dream in our heart, it will always be there; it’s up to us what we do with it.
The Women’s Conference encouraged me to dream again and to pursue the dream that God put in my heart. I am here today because of that dream, a dream of ministering to women and helping them to improve their mind, body, and soul through a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
In October of 2015, I was blessed with the perfect opportunity to open a studio in downtown Garland. It had been a 7-year journey, the number 7 is the foundation of God’s word and it is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). And this past year, I started offering a 200 hour Christian Yoga Teacher Training Program.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When starting a business, there are always struggles. I guess mine would be not having a permanent location. Until I found the building for my studio, I was teaching in quite a few locations. Now, WHoly Formed Yoga has a permanent home!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the WHoly Formed Yoga & Wellness story. Tell us more about the business.
What sets me apart from others is that I teach Christ-centered yoga. My studio is a place where people walk in and say they feel the Spirit of the Lord here. It has been so wonderful watching all of the relationships formed here. All our current students help the new students feel welcomed by introducing themselves and then they help the new student get set up for class.
What I am most proud of is the comradery of everyone here. Anytime we have an event, all of our teachers and some of our students volunteer to help out, whether it’s a few hours or an entire day!
Some of the things we offer at our are Thai Bodywork, Dolphin MPS treatments, Yoga Teacher Training, Workshops, Thursday morning Bible Study and we even have Girls Night Out painting and craft activities.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not quite sure how to answer this other than I have been blessed to find the perfect building in the perfect location with the best landlord I could ask for. I have made so many lifelong friends through starting my business.
Pricing:
- $75/month for unlimited yoga classes
- $99 for 8 class pass
- $15 drop-in
Contact Info:
- Address: WHoly Formed Yoga & Wellness
624 W State Street
Garland, TX 75040 - Website: http://www.wholyformed.com/
- Phone: 214-793-1717
- Email: brenda@wholyformed.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholyformed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholyformed/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wholyformed
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wholy-formed-yoga-garland
Image Credit:
Paul Dusza
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
