Lisa Atkins is a very busy woman.
In addition to caring for her son, Sloan, 12, she teaches yoga and Pilates classes, and a Yogalates fusion class, to Health and Kinesiology Department students at Mississippi University for Women, leads private in-home sessions and, on Saturdays, assists KK Norris, the owner of The Attic vintage clothing store, in the downtown Columbus shop.
“I never see her sit down,” Norris said of Atkins, who is about to get even busier.
She this month will open A&W Service Center, with her husband, Andy, a mechanic who previously worked at Wood Chevron, which is owned by Atkins” father, Jimmy Wood.
Asked Wednesday where she finds the energy for all her activities, Atkins, 39, waved her hand, indicating the dance studio at MUW”s Stark Recreation Center, where she folded her 6-foot-5-inch frame into position on the polished wood floor and talked about the benefits of leading an active lifestyle.
“If I didn”t do this, I would probably be a mad woman,” she said of exercise. “I work out every day in some form or fashion. And that”s definitely what keeps me (going). I”m one of those people if I don”t work out, I”m off for the day, something is just not right (and) I”m grouchy.”
Have you always been physically active or is exercise a habit you had to develop?
I”ve been pretty much active since I was a teenager. I had health problems with blood circulation, and that”s when I picked up yoga. I had a problem with leg cramps and it helps that.
You”ve taught yoga now for about 15 years and Pilates for about seven years. How did you get involved with yoga and Pilates and which do you prefer?
I was kind of forced into it. When I worked (as a personal trainer) at Fitness Factor, the owner thought I”d be really good at it and she (got) me into taking a class.
I prefer yoga because, for me, it has more of a flow to it. The way I instruct it, it”s like a dance. There”s no religious connection to what I instruct. I try to make it for everyone and make everyone comfortable doing it.
Is there a particular body type which is more suited to yoga or Pilates?
Yoga is for everyone and Pilates is, too, because they both have zero impact on the body. Both teach you how to utilize your breath to calm yourself, which is really useful in stressful situations we face every day. At the end of either session, you always feel refreshed, relaxed and ready to face your next challenge.
Pilates works more of your core and yoga is more about strength, flexibility, stretching and breathing.
I have all fitness levels in these classes, everyone from the physically fit to people who never work out. It”s for everybody at all fitness levels, because there is a modification for every pose, depending on injury, fitness levels and comfort levels.
Do you think yoga and Pilates lately have increased in popularity?
I think it”s really grown a lot, since I started doing it, especially in this area. I think it”s more widely accepted. A lot of people were afraid of the religious situation when it was brought to America and a lot of that has been taken out and (yoga and Pilates have) been brought into a gym situation. Of course, Pilates is very trendy. A lot of celebrities say that”s where their body comes from. It”s really amazing how quickly (Pilates) works as far as strengthening your stomach muscles and lower back.
Yoga and Pilates seem a little similar, but they”re actually completely totally different things.
Tell me about the benefits of practicing yoga or Pilates.
It helps me handle stress better. It makes me want to lead a healthier lifestyle. I”m not a yogi vegetarian and you don”t have to be. But they make you want to eat healthier and be healthier. You don”t want to eat a steak and go do yoga. But I still like to eat steak!
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
