Pathways Yoga is a Healing Journey: Nancy Sampson Finds Peace with Yoga Business

Nancy Sampson has heard all the excuses about why people don't want to try yoga and she has an answer for most of them.

"Recently, I had a man say he couldn't do yoga because he'd had a hip replacement," she said. "I told him I had him beat. I had two [hip replacements]."
Nancy just celebrated her first year anniversary at Pathways Yoga Center in Carterville, but she has been teaching yoga for many more years, including stints as an instructor for Great Shapes in Carbondale, the extension program at John A. Logan College and Vigiano's World of Fitness in Herrin.

She also started building her Carterville clientele with home lessons, beginning with Carol Zwick. Soon, Carol introduced her friend Susan Murphy to the at-home yoga program and Nancy was on the path that would lead her to create Pathways Yoga.

"They were the first ones I did yoga with after my hip replacement. I think it was about two weeks after the first surgery," Nancy said.
Susan is still one of Nancy's regulars. You can find her there most Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

"I think as we get older, we tend to have a lot more problems with balance. Most people don't even realize it until they've had a fall. I think yoga can help prevent that," Susan said.

Nancy teaches Iyengar yoga, a form of yoga that concentrates on form and balance in an effort to prevent people from injuring themselves while trying to get fit. It is a lesson she learned the hard way.