Student Spotlight

Our dedicated students are the heart of our community.
Celebrating Julie Lawrance & Frank Mercer

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Julie has long been a competitive endurance runner. She often places in high elevation mountain ascent races such as the Pikes Peak Ascent race in Colorado and has completed a handful of ultramarathons. When Frank and Julie first met 16 years ago, Frank had never been a runner but he became her support crew for her training and racing.  After a few years, he decided he wanted to try it. Julie guided him in his training and his first race ever was a 50km ultramarathon in the Jemez Mountains!

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They got married 8 years ago and they now run and hike together everywhere. What was missing from their training was core work and stretching. As Julie got older, she realized she could not ignore these aspects of training anymore. She and Frank committed to hot vinyasa yoga at Hot Yoga Downtown over two years ago and they got so much more than they were looking for!  All of the yoga instructors at Hot Yoga Downtown are AMAZING and it is joy to be part of the community there. In addition to developing more flexibility and core strength, they are learning the importance of breath in all aspects of life.

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Last Fall, they trekked in the Himalayas in Nepal to the top of Kala Patthar at an elevation of 18,500 feet. The air is so thin! It becomes difficult to eat, sleep, and breathe. Prior to the trip, they made a decision not to take Diamox, which is a drug that helps in rapid acclimatization and is strongly encouraged for this trek. Julie was mildly worried about this decision, especially when she learned that their entire group (including their guides) were all taking this medication. However, Julie and Frank were the only two out of the whole group (again, including the guides) that actually made it to the peak of Kala Patthar. They were rewarded with a truly awe-inspiring view of Mt. Everest at sunrise.

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They give much credit to the conditioning and emphasis on proper breathing they learned at Hot Yoga Downtown. Trekking at these extreme elevations in the Himalayas was an experience of a lifetime, made possible and so much more enjoyable by being so well prepared for it! They are deeply grateful to Allisun, Danielle, Ashley, Molly, Kelly, Ravena, Rebekah, Caleb and everyone at Hot Yoga Downtown!

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- Julie & Frank

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