Student Spotlight: Jen

I have always been active in lots of sports - swimming, tennis, softball, basketball, golf, skiing - but as the work life takes over and age prohibits playing some sports at the level I would like, I found myself wanting and needing something else to challenge me. Before Bikram Yoga, I had never taken a yoga class of any kind. I always thought yoga would be boring and not active or challenging enough, and that the "monkey mind" would not meditate long enough. Boy was I wrong! I bought a Groupon and thought I would try one class and if I hated it, I figured I've spent $20 in worse places. After the first class, I was hooked. It felt so good to sweat!

After years of playing many sports and the wear and tear on all the joints, BY has helped my hips and knees tremendously. Before BY, I couldn't sit on my knees as in Fixed Firm. After just 6 months of practicing, I could feel a difference in my knees and hips, and now they are so much more flexible. Organized sports teach you to be competitive, so with BY, it's a competition within, both physically and mentally, and that's been a wonderful learning experience. Bikram Yoga has taught me to be calmer and carefree, and yet dedicated, motivated and enthusiastic about this practice. As weird as this will sound, I've always had a battle with sinuses and breathing through the nose, allergies as well as physical limits (even had sinus surgery!), so the biggest challenge has been learning to fight past this and breathe through the nose the whole 90 minutes. At first, it was a big struggle for me and I felt like I couldn't get enough oxygen into the lungs and would have to sit several of the postures out just to catch my breath. Cardio has never been my strong feature, so learning the 80/20 breathing has been and still is a learning process, as well as having power over the mind when it tells me to get out the posture early. From all the sports and sitting at a computer for work, tightness in the hips, knees, low back and shoulders are still trying to loosen up, but are definitely getting better. I feel like a million bucks!

Bikram Yoga is not only a physical challenge, but it's a mental challenge and a spiritual journey for me. I experienced a tragic loss 9 months ago and just wasn't physically or emotionally able to practice the yoga without having a total breakdown and cry my eyes out. After a grieving process, I pushed myself back into the yoga room. Yes, I cried a few times and felt like I was starting over, but there is something about the BY that is healing and very powerful and very spiritual. And the best part is 5 minutes into the final savasana after 90 minutes of hard work - it is the best meditation, awareness and enlightenment, almost like you're floating or weightless. I have finally reached the point where I can make the "monkey mind" pause, even if it's only for a brief moment. And I love the fact that I learn something new each and every class, whether it's something the instructor said, new awareness about my body, or just the moment I can push myself to a new limit.

I would probably have to say right now my favorite posture is Standing Head to Knee, only because I'm finally getting my head down without falling over! When I can nail it in class, I feel awesome. And Triangle used to be my nemesis because my hips would hurt and I couldn't breathe, (I used to sit a round of this one out!) but now I've almost conquered it. I find the Full Locust and Bow to be my most challenging because I feel like I'm hardly bending in the direction needed!

When asked what advice she would give a new student, she said, "Be patient with yourself as your body changes. It's not about how far you can bend, it's about doing the postures right and depth will come. I read Bikram's books in the very beginning which helped me learn more about the postures, and I highly recommend taking a Boot Camp class or a private lesson!"

Student Spotlight: Vikki

Walk into the Bikram Yoga Paradise Valley studio and you will see Vikki's beautiful mandala artwork throughout. Being an artist, she says, "one of the first things I noticed (when I started practicing BY) were the mandalas that I began creating - "Well-Being" and Letting Go". I like the cleansing, detoxifying effect of the sweating and the postures working my entire system. I feel more empowered; being able to do Bikram Yoga helps me know that I have great endurance. I have learned that my tolerance is greater than I thought it was, both inside the yoga studio and out. There is something to be said for staying and "sweating it out". I generally feel more peaceful, capable and competent when I am consistent about the yoga. It also helps keep me disciplined about my eating and drinking choices.

Vikki started the yoga back in 2008 after hearing JohnJay talk about it on the radio. "Picture it, 2008, JohnJay had just discovered Bikram Yoga and talked about it every day on the radio, how challenging and yet awesome it was. I had to see if I could survive a class! My first class was with Misha, I'll never forget it. I really wasn't sure I could make it through, but SO grateful now I never left the room, turns out I can handle a lot more than I thought I could." Ever since the first class, I have been consistently challenged and rewarded. It is not something that can be mastered, always a new experience, even though it is "the same". She advises new students: "Stay....in...the..room. There is great strength in realizing you can endure something you previous believed was intolerable." Her favorite quote goes perfect with this thought, stating, "The simple truth is that every moment in every person's life contains the teaching that he or she most needs at that time" from the "I Ching" by Brian Brown Walker.

As for the medical and healing benefits of Bikram Yoga, Vikki says, "the yoga was a diagnostic tool for me, I have learned to move differently after the yoga brought to my attention imbalances in my hips and low back. Now I rarely experience the low back pain that made things very challenging in the beginning." Her favorite posture? "I really like Half-Tortoise, it is a great stretch and who can't use the relaxation equal to 8 hours sleep?!"

I LOVE the experience at BYAZ. I appreciate the passion and dedication of the instructors, the generous portions of humor, fun and special events, the commitment, compassion and camaraderie of the students.

Student Spotlight: Ron

Before practicing Bikram Yoga, I had been a long distance bicyclist and competitive tennis player but had to give up both sports due to advanced osteo-arthritis. I also had my larynx removed due to throat cancer and had gained a lot of weight due to inactivity and an inactive thyroid due to the throat surgery. I had a stressful job at the City of Scottsdale and at the time was working on my masters in "Good and Sustainable Communities".

Two days before my retirement I met a co-worker coming out of CVS Pharmacy. She asked me what I planned to due during retirement. I said maybe some golf and that I had always wanted to try yoga. She then spent over a half hour talking about Bikram Yoga and its benefits. She got me hook, line and sinker and I was in my first class six days later. My first class was December 19th, 2003. I had always enjoyed work outs and she convinced me of the physical nature of BY and how much it would improve lack of flexibility. My masters studies were moving me in the direction of meditation and mindfulness and she emphasized the mental aspect of BY practice. On top of that, I always like the summer heat, so BY is perfect!

I have been practicing for nearly 9 and a half years now! I have lost between 20 and 25 pounds. This particularly began after my first 30-day challenge. I ended up needing a hip replacement 7 years ago and after my surgeon reviewed my knee X-rays, he said they were ready for replacement and he would do them any time I asked. When I told him I could still walk 18 holes of golf, he said based on my x-rays, impossible. I believe that is due to Bikram Yoga. My physical therapist compared the flexibility of my knees over a 3-year period and she was amazed that my flexion increased by 12 degrees and extension by 7 degrees. I not only have arthritis in my knees, but also in my shoulders and one of my ankles. In the past few years the shoulders and ankles flared up and my response was to take even more classes, because just standing in the hot room always makes things feel better. In addition my thyroid medication has been reduced since I started BY.

I had another bout of cancer about 5 years ago and I believe my BY practice helped me get through the radiation and chemo therapy. In addition, being a laryngectomy means that I breathe through a hole in my neck, called a stoma. Laryngectomies no longer breathe through their nose which naturally keeps the trachea moist and prevents mucous drying up, which can block the airway. Spending 90 minutes in a BY room at 104 degrees and 46% humidity, at the very least helps keep the trachea moisturized.

My practice has led me on a journey that includes daily meditation and increased mindfulness. I am less bothered by the ups and downs of life and try to enjoy each and every moment.

My favorite posture is "rabbit", even though my first few classes I had no idea what I was doing, but it has always felt good and stretches out my lower back just right. I seem to connect with my breathing as I work on the pose. (On a side note, in the beginning I hated "camel", and would always tell myself, "Just get me through camel". Now camel is one of my favorites.)

Some suggestions to new students are: make sure you are hydrated before, during and after (I've seen too many blooming practices halted due to lack of hydration). Come more than once a week, try at least 2-3 times a week. There is too much information to absorb and if you come once a week or less, it's like starting over every time. We humans thrive on improvement and improvement comes with practice, but at the same time, don't judge but observe. There is fine line between the two, but when we observe, we become what we attend to. For my fellow males and people with physical disabilities, focus on form over depth. Good form produces depth over time. Learn the postures step by step.

One last thing I have to mention is our yoga family. Folks who practice yoga have a special attitude. Egos are pushed aside and compassion is spread throughout the room. Namaste to all my fellow yogis!

Student Spotlight: Karen

Karen started going to BYPV in January of 2005. "My daughter Tamara had started doing yoga at BY Paradise Valley in November 2004. She would come home exhausted and tell me how wonderful Bikram Yoga was - it became her mind, body, and spiritual workout. She said it was hot yoga and you really sweat.

When I worked out - running or hiking - I already sweat more than anyone else so I figured why not give Bikram Yoga a try. Also, I did yoga at the gym and really liked the stretching and mediation." She says even though it has been 8 years, she will always remember her first class. That first class seemed to go on FOREVER but when I was done I was hooked; I have been coming ever since.

Karen says there are so many reasons why she loves Bikram Yoga. Here are just a few: It is a "practice" and not a "perfect" - just need to do my best each time, builds strength, core workout, meditation, sweat, improves flexibility (my husband likes this too), all I need to do is show up (not so hard) and set aside everything else that is going on in my life (that can be hard) for 90 minutes. I deserve 90 minutes just for me.

Karen says she loves Bikram Yoga Paradise Valley because it is a beautiful, big studio with the best teachers anywhere! Other things that keep her coming back are:my fellow yogis, support and encouragement from the teachers - I am always learning more about the postures, opportunities to take special classes (like Niki's intensive class), and guest teachers!

Karen says, "this May I will be 63 years old. By my age my mother had osteoporosis. Knowing I have a number of risk factors for osteoporosis, I have taken steps to keep my bones strong. Before I stared BY my bone density tests showed signs of osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis) but after I did yoga for 2 years my bone density tests improved and have stayed at the same level since. Prior to BY I ran 20 plus miles a week and hiked but my bone density was steadily getting worse.

In the past I never thought I could do a challenge - between family and work I had too much going on to consistently do yoga everyday. Then in October 2011 I was part of a "reduction in force" and figured if there was one good thing about not having a job it was more time to do yoga so I started my first challenge, the Olympic Challenge. As it turned out I started a new job the day after the challenge ended. I even did a few doubles (2 classes in one day), another first for me. To keep my practice consistent, I look at my work schedule each week and plan the class I will be taking.

My favorite posture - hands down - it is the half tortoise. The stretch through my shoulders feels so good (my daughter, Danielle, who is a physical therapist tells me shoulder problems are common as you get older), stretch through my back feels great, and improving the blood flow to the brain cannot hurt.

My personal goal - do Bikram Yoga when I am 72, 82, 92 and beyond. My teachers tell me it is doable; I just need to keep coming. This is one of the reasons I always do the 1-year unlimited package. One of my favorite quotes: "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass - it is about dancing in the rain."

10,000 Yoga Classes?!

Imagine taking 2,000 Bikram Yoga classes. Well that's just what our February Student in the Spotlight, Bill Brown, has done!

Bill began his practice in August of 2006. Since then, Bill has practiced in over 70 different studios in 15 different states. Before yoga, he worked out with weights, did cardio, and of course, he golfed! Although he was in great shape, he had suffered injuries earlier in his life that resulted in surgeries on both of his knees and shoulders. Bikram Yoga has really helped to improve those areas that have been operated on.

Besides healing old injuries, the yoga has really helped Bill to detox and keep his health in tip-top condition. In the 6 years that he has been practicing yoga, he has only been sick twice! The yoga has also helped to calm him down. He says, "that's a big one - don't let anything steal your peace".

When asked what advice Bill would give a new student, he says, "Just keep coming as much as you can, the rest will take care of itself." Well we know Bill is taking his own advice as he informs us that his goal is to take 10,000 classes! He explains, "God willing I should get to 10,000 classes in 2039 when I am 88 years young!!!"