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Why it's important to have Bikram Certified Instructors
Bikram Yoga is the Original Hot Yoga. Many claim to teach "Bikram Yoga", but unless your studio has Bikram Certified Instructors leading you through your practice, you are not receiving the true Bikram Method Yoga. Find out why it is important to learn from Bikram Certified Instructors.
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Andrea Griego, OwnerI fell in love with BIKRAM Yoga in 1996. I was 35 years old with an extensive running background. In fact, I have to thank the miles of road under my feet for getting me to the Bikram Yoga Institute. If it were not for my aching knees, hips, herniated lumbar disc and an encouraging friend, I would have not ventured into a yoga class. I had the runner's mentality of avoiding anything having to do with reaching for my toes. In addition, the thought never occurred to me that it wasn't about competition. Little did I know there would be so much more than stretching in a hot room. Within the simplicity of the 26 postures, is a beautiful and amazing healing modality for my physical body, mental body and emotional body. My practice has been a true journey that continues. One that I would not change...the practice has changed me. It's not about perfection, but it's about the practice and process! In the words of HAFIZ: |
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Kelly Kruljac |
Why I became an instructor It was with this Bikram class that I recognized the child inside and made a commitment to take care of her, and so my yoga journey had begun. Had I realized the positive impact it would later prove to have on my life I would have been practicing this yoga much earlier. I've made my yoga practice a priority and it has worked wonders for me each day. By the third month of my practice Andrea Griego, owner of the Bikram Yoga Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, had offered one lucky yogi the opportunity to blog about their yoga experience in exchange for free yoga. To earn the job I went home that night and wrote a blog and emailed it off. And so from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2010 I openly wrote of the experiences of my life and how my moving meditation transformed my weak, barely there soul, revealing a mountain of self discovery, which grew to extreme heights as I grew in my practice. Within 17 months of steady yoga practice I had made positive changes, mainly changing my life's direction and outlook, leaping myself into a healing career, enrolling myself in Bikram's Yoga College of India. It was recognizing my strength and newly found self-love in the mirror week after week, month after month, that I was able to make these changes. And it is a great feeling to have learned from the BYI staff and now to be a part of it. It is with this staff that introduced me to my Guru, Bikram Choudhury, who killed my old self, just to be reborn on a new path in this life: The path of self-realization. It is through my practice that I learn each day about myself, by allowing time to myself, to love myself and learning how to trust the process of life. And so I teach in hopes one day everyone will practice yoga. |
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Robin Ferro |
Why I became an instructor When I walked into the studio for the first time I didn't know the first thing about Bikram Yoga! I had done yoga before and figured how different could it possibly be. My first class was a whirlwind. I loved it! I found myself wanting more and I actually attended 26 out of my first 30 days. From here it turned into a regular practice. The bonus is that my asthma has improved and I no longer take all the daily medications. I'm healthy, and couldn't be happier. I finally found something that I can do forever...a passion. With this passion came a desire to share it with others. What better way than to become a Bikram Yoga instructor! I completed teacher training the fall of 2008 and have been an instructor ever since. I love what I do and try to share that same joy and excitement I feel with each of my students. They are my inspiration and I am honored to lead them through their practice. Find your breath, find the stillness, just breathe... |
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Don Grostic |
Why I became an instructor I mapped out all the studios that were close to my house. The closest yoga studio was a Bikram studio. Was it pure chance or fate? Looking back now, I think it was fate that I ended up in that Bikram studio. I took my first class and thought my head was going to explode from the heat. I stuck it out and finished the class. After, I felt great. I had never felt like that before. I was peaceful, relaxed and energized all at the same time. I didn't know that I could feel that good. I continued going two or three times a week for about a month. I was concerned because I was not feeling all the wonderful benifits that the teacher was describing in class. So, after class I decided to ask him, "How do I get all these benefits that you describe?" He first asked me how many classes a week I was doing. I told him, "two maybe three". He then responded, "you are just playing with the yoga and not being serious about it." I was shocked. He said, "if you want all the benifits that I describe in class, you need to do a 60 day challenge." I asked, "what is that?" He told me, "one class per day for 60 days". I thought to myself, how am I going to do this with a full time job that is 30 miles from my house and the yoga studio. So, I asked my boss to support me in the 60 day challenge. Lucky for me, she was nice and supported me. She said, "If you and your staff get your work done each day, they you can leave work to attend your yoga class." It was hard to do one class every day. There were some days that I ran in the door right when class was starting. But, it was all worth it. I completed 63 days in a row and would have done more if it weren't for the studio closing on Thanksgiving day. All I can say is, WOW! I felt like a new person after 60 days. I was no longer stressed. I felt relaxed and I could move like a teenager. My digestion was great, and I felt peaceful most of the time. I was sold. In fall of 2002, I was laid off from my job. Scared as could be, I decided to go to the yoga training instead of looking for another job. I knew this was my chance to become a teacher. It was the hardest most rewarding thing I have done in my life. I loved teaching so much, that I did not go back to my professional job for two years. I was blessed with being able to be a Bikram yoga studio Director for two years. Unfortunately, the studio owner decided to sell the studio. So, I figured it was time to go back to my professional careeer. I was able to find a great job and now teach yoga and have a professional career. I truly believe that Bikram yoga has changed my life. I can now balance a stressful job and teaching yoga. For me, this was only possible through the practice of Bikram yoga. Namaste |
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Melissa Jackson |
Why I became an instructor |
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Mandy Manus |
Why I became an instructor |
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Jackie |
Why I became an instructor I have been always been an athlete, starting with swimming long distance competitively through High School and College. I later began to develop a love for running. I ran marathons and really enjoyed it. In the fall of 2009 while training for the local PF CHANGS marathon I lost my husband of 20 years to a massive heart attack. My love for running suddenly stopped. And that is when I found Bikram yoga. It became my therapy, my physical workout, and my passion. It was different then any other yoga or exercise I had ever done. It was challenging, exhilarating, relaxing, and therapeutic all at the same time. As a mother of six beautiful children, I decided that heading back to Corporate America was not going to work. I loved the yoga and decided that I wanted to help others like myself through teaching. And so my journey began and I attended Spring 2011 teacher training and graduated exactly a year from my first BIKRAM class! I hope I can share my love and passion for BIKRAM yoga with others. Inspirational Quote |
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Karla |
Why I became an instructor This yoga has truly connected me through the mind, body, spirit connection. In 2003 I was in a car accident. I was driving, and in a matter of seconds a tire blew on our SUV and everyone on the right hand side died. My husband, my youngest daughter who was 11, my oldest daughter (who survived the accident) her best friend also died. This yoga has helped center me, still my mind and yet gives me strength, determination and willpower to continue through this journey we call life. Physically this yoga has helped me gain the strength back in the left side of my body. I was told by doctors that I probably would not survive the surgeries that I needed, due to the loss of blood and the severity of my injuries. Little did they know, I had already crossed over with my husband and daughter and was told it was not my time, I had to go back! Spiritually this yoga connects me deeper every time I teach or take class, it also helps ground me in the work I do. I graduated from teacher training in the fall of 2010 from my home town of San Diego. The day I graduated; I received my first book that had just been released from my publisher. Grief the Universal Emotion of Loss. My life is full with teaching, educating and working with people in grief and loss, and spending time with my grand babies! My hope is that someday Bikram yoga will be dispensed after grief, loss and trauma as easily as an anti depressant. |
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Lila Eskridge |
Why I became an instructor To me though, I had never even heard of yoga and ignorantly believed that it was only for people that liked to sit around chanting and burning candles and incense. I had no idea that yoga was something designed to connect the body and mind. It was exactly what I needed, my mind and body seem to be on different planets. Honestly the only reason I walked in the door was because I liked the way the lotus flower looked on their sign. I was skeptical and doubtful and resistant for about 85 mins. I fell in love with yoga that day only after class was over. Decided I was just gonna come everyday for 60 days just like the teacher recommended. It certainly wasn't easy and there were days that I actually cried because I didn't want to go. About four months into my practice, I just decided to surrender. I heard the instructor say she had the best job in the world. She gets paid to do what she loves and change peoples lives. That was it for me, I wanted to do the same thing. So here I am now loving my job and passing my yoga knowledge on to my family. Through yoga, I lost the extra weight and haven't needed medication for anything in a long time. The Bikram series transformed me into who I always wanted to be but didn't know how. I feel so lucky to stand up there and witness the same thing in the students! |
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Katherine Sullivan |
Why I became an instructor I decided to go to Bikram Teacher Training in Fall of 2007. I took time off at ASU where I was studying Kinesiology. The courses I have taken, especially anatomy and physiology, have only deepened my love for this class. The human body is so strong. I am amazed, however, at how intricate each system of the body is...so much more delicate than we think. And it is only when these systems are working properly together every second of the day that we can live healthy and happy lives. I have practiced Bikram yoga in Dublin, Madrid, Boston, Colorado and Hawaii. I feel so lucky to be part of the Bikram community as both a student and a teacher. It has let me travel to other states & countries and, while in a foreign place, lets me feel at home. It has pushed me to do things I never thought I could do. And it allows me be surrounded by positive happy people everyday. Inspirational Quote |