TEACHER TRAINING

Bikram's Yoga College of India
Intensive Teacher Training Program

2008 Training Schedule
Fall Session: begins on September 14 to November 15, 2008

As a result of the the many students who are still registering we have extended the deadline.

All countries, nationalities and languages are welcome to enroll in our teacher training program and spread Bikram's Yoga around the world.

I N S P I R A T I O N A L

A Tribute to Emmy

from Shelly's Desk

pictures provided by John Walsh

WARNING! Beware of frauds who offer "Bikram Yoga Teacher Training" anywhere other than The Fairmont Acapulco Princess Hotel in Acapulco, Mexico.
Read More...

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YOGA ETIQUETTES

 
Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?"
I began taking Bikram yoga classes in London in 2006, at the City studio. I attended class a couple of times a week, and only sporadically, taking months off at a time. I had not yet developed it as a practice, and only used it as good exercise for my body. I knew there was the potential to get more out of Bikram, but I allowed my hectic lifestyle and difficult schedule to prevent me from building a holistic practice. I also had a lot of fear and anxiety about the heat of the room, and constantly told myself I could not do it, that I was not good enough, that I would never be as good as the ‘front row’ girls in class. Then in April of 2007 I experienced a major life change. At the age of 31 I left my husband and moved back to America. I left everything comfortable and safe behind me and set out to establish an independent life for myself. My goal was to take care of myself, and to really figure out what that meant to me. I chose the neighborhood where I live in Baltimore partly because of Bikram Yoga Hampden. When I saw the studio was just two blocks from my apartment, I said ‘it’s a sign!’ I knew Bikram could help me get back to a centered, healthy place, looking after my body and my spirit at the same time. I began to practice several times a week that Summer, and noticed changes in my body, confidence and feeling of purpose in my new life. But then I was distracted by a new relationship that led me to work for a defense contractor in Iraq. The job and the relationship were destructive and I left Baghdad after six weeks. I returned to a Maryland winter in a deep depression, confused about my purpose in life, wondering if I had made any correct decisions in the last six months. I did not feel safe in my life, I had no job, not enough money, and I no longer trusted my ability to make good decisions for myself. I had left my life in a mess when I flew off to Iraq, and now I had to face my divorce, my finances, and my battered physical and mental health. I was struggling to just survive. Struggling to even want to survive. I started medication for severe anxiety and mood stabilization. My doctors thought I might have had a manic episode and was now going through the crippling depression that often follows. Getting back on my feet had to be slow. I was barely functioning. But I started back at yoga, and was going almost every day. Being in class was the only time I felt in control of myself and safe from the anxieties that overwhelmed me at home. One of the teachers, Anna, recognized my commitment to my practice and how much I was changing day by day. In January of 2008 she mentioned the studio’s 60-day Challenge. I didn’t think I could do it, that somehow that was for those front-row types that make Bikram look easy. But she said I was the perfect candidate. I needed a challenge, some kind of goal in my life, and I signed up. Those 60 days changed my life. I was so proud of making a commitment to myself, to looking after me. I struggled every day, but kept going. I got sore, but kept going. I got sick, but kept going. I had heartbreaks and financial setbacks and kept going. I finally got a job, and kept going. I lost 30 lbs and kept going. My life was different. I had confidence in myself again. I felt different- I felt well. My doctors took me off all medication. I wasn’t afraid of my life any more. I knew that I had the ability to persevere, to learn, to grow, to survive struggles, to change the way I think and to achieve goals I set for myself. On March 7 2008 I completed the challenge as a completely different person than the woman who started it. Anna had left Hampden but one of my other teachers Jess really celebrated my achievement and recognized all my hard work. It felt great. Since then I continue to practice every day that my work schedule allows, which is about 6 times a week. Even in the last month since completing the 60-day Challenge my practice has noticeably changed. I am in the front row every day and I continue to get stronger, more confident, less afraid. Mentally I can ‘stay in the room’ in a way I never could before and that is the greatest lesson I have taken into the rest of my life. Be present. Stay in the room. Focus. Breathe. It is working. I have been promoted at my job. It was only ever a stop-gap job, something to do while I find a position in my field (art conservation). I told Jess about being promoted at Whole Foods and that in some ways it upset me because I was still in my ‘temporary’ job. She said- you can always do Teacher Training. I laughed and said, ‘maybe after about 3 more years of practice’. But she said I was ready, that the key to becoming a Bikram teacher is to understand the yoga mentally, not to be a perfect practitioner before you are trained. She had watched me change and push myself, to come out of a struggle and grow enormously using my mental strength every day. I was so excited. Here it was. My purpose. A goal, a mission, a calling, a way of life. Something I believed in and loved could be my new job. To teach, to share with others everything Bikram means to me and does for me- the whole idea is so exciting. The opportunity seemed to open up to me like a new, very clear path through my life. Here is a career that can provide fulfillment through helping others, life-long physical and mental health for myself, and a place within a positive and supportive community of yogis and yoginis. I can’t wait to get started.
(041608)
Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?"
After the dreadful day’s events of 9/11, I found myself slowly diving into a deep, dark depression. The tragedies occurring throughout our world, personal issues with raising teenagers, menopause and other issues in my life were taking a toll on my soul. Some days it was difficult to get out of bed, let alone be present in my interactions with my students, friends and family. My creativity as an artist and designer came to an abrupt halt. I was desperately searching for a purpose in my life…a quest that would last for the next several years. I eventually quit my teaching job and started a business, hoping that the new direction would help to heal me. Although there were many aspects of it that were challenging and rewarding, I still felt a huge void in my life. By the time my fourth child was ready to leave home and go to college, I was still suffering from depression and searching for something more meaningful to fulfill me. One of the young people I was mentoring in my business at the time was Angela, who is a Bikram teacher, now living in Singapore and teaching in the studio there. Angela kept talking about this yoga; whenever she did her face would light up and one could feel the dedication and passion she felt for it. She kept urging me to come to a class, saying that I would love it and that it would be so healing for me, both physically and mentally. And so, on a Monday afternoon about a year ago a small voice within told me to go to a class, and I quickly become hooked. It was so strenuous, so painful at times. Something kept taking me back to the studio throughout the next days and weeks and I soon realized that when I had to skip a few days because of my many obligations I was missing something vital and essential for my mind, my body, my soul. I love the energy in the studio, and am so grateful for the dedicated and truly awesome teachers there. Elizabeth, Michelle and Thomas have been so encouraging; each an inspiration in their own way. Bikram yoga has helped to tone and heal my body, given me back my waning energy and has helped quiet and focus my mind. I find I can handle stress better than most of the people around me now, and I look forward to what each new day brings. I have reconnected with old friends, made many new ones, am enjoying spending time with my children and grandchildren, have sold my business, and feel like this new path in my life is the right one, at last. Becoming a Bikram yoga teacher is what I need, what I want, and what I must do. I feel it is a “calling”, and I trust that it will deepen my experience with others, with myself. I may not be able to solve the world’s problems, but I can help heal it’s inhabitants, one person at a time with the Bikram method. Being able to inspire and heal with this yoga is a privilege and a gift, and I feel so fortunate for the opportunity to learn, practice and share with others for 9 weeks. (010507)
 
Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?"
I\'m at the point in my life where I need to make a bold change and reverse past behaviour of running away from life and challenge. Instead I would like to strengthen my voice and claim a place in this world, while beginning to embrace the possibilities this world has to offer. Being a naturally shy person, this path of becoming a yoga instructor represents a significant challenge and one that I would like to take on to overcome some of my barriers and fears. Also I feel that I would bring something particular to the teaching practice in my calm, sensitive and nurturing presence. Life is a difficult journey filled, for many of us, with so much struggle and pain. I personally have suffered a lot of emotional and sometimes physical pain in my struggles with depression and bipolar condition. Bikram practice has been one strong healer in my journey to take back my life and to choose to see the world as a positive place in which to continue to live and to live more fully in. My optimism and resolution has often wavered, but the yoga studio has consistently been a nurturing place where more often than not any negative moods are turned around and through the poses my mental/emotional chemistry generally changes to make the world three shades brighter by the end of each practice. This is something I would like to share with others as I see so strongly how the practice has benefited me. At the current moment I would like to devote more time and energy to this one thing that has been the most positive thing in my life for the past number of years. Having worked many years at a desk job which was quite insular and lacking in meaning for me, I would welcome something that is more interactive and where I would more directly feel my impact and in which I might enhance my own and my students\' energy in the exchange. I believe this teacher training and the practice of it afterwards will be a transforming experience and I look forward to the challenge and to embracing what changes the future may bring.

(011207)
 
Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?"

I fell in love with Bikram yoga my very first class. I was especially turned on by the challenge of it. The combination of physical strength, mental focus and calm is very healing. I enjoy the elevated heart rate and the warm temperature as they push the limits of our ability to breathe calmly. The postures are incredible for strengthening the spine and joints and for alleviating tension throughout the body. I am a certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, but I feel that I will better be able to help people with their bodies as a Bikram Yoga instructor. I also feel it will help me continue to engender a positive relationship with my own body, foster a meditative mind and celebrate my exuberant soul.

(011607)

 
Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?"
When I took my first Bikram Yoga class at the age of 15, I was completely baffled and overwhelmed at the whole experience. As I continued my practice and began to learn the benefits and true healing power of the yoga, I figured that I was young and healthy and that most of the healing was for those older and sick or stiff. Like most people my age, I felt invincible and that my main task was to make myself stronger and more flexible. When I was diagnosed last year with Type 1 Diabetes, I lost over 30 pounds in one month and was on the verge of a diabetic coma. After a stay in intensive care. I began going back to Bikram Yoga classes and started the 60 day challenge a few weeks later. Bikram says "Give me 60 days and I'll change your life" So that's just what I did. I gave him 60 days. And he kept his promise. I realized that I wasn't invincible. I wasn't healthier than all of these older, more rigid people around me in class. In fact, I was in much worse shape. I was forced to truly put my ego and expectations away and focus on the yoga. Doing the challenge again truly changed my life. I literally nursed myself back to health this past spring. I am still insulin dependent but only need a small amount and have extended my "honeymoon phase" or time of some natural insulin production, almost twice as long as my doctors expected. I credit it all to Bikram Yoga. I, personally, have been healed inside and out and I crave it every single day. As a student and aspiring teacher, I have the blessed opportunity to see other students, old and young, healed. I want to be a Bikram Yoga instructor because I want to help others accomplish their goals and repair their broken bodies. Bikram Yoga is truly my passion and I want to teach so that I have the opportunity to share it with others.
10/24/07
 
Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?"
Beacause I believe in the healing power of Bikram Yoga. In the 3 years I have studied Bikram Yoga, it has opened my mind and heart into taking responsibility for my health and those around me. It has helped me be a much calmer person and look at things in perspective by making me realise how you can achieve this in everyday life by controlling/concentraing on the breath. The main reason is that in the summer of 2006 I was going through chemotherapy for non hodkins lymphoma. In between my chemo sessions, when I was able, I practised Bikram Yoga. The yoga not only helped me feel clean, I have no doubt in my mind it helped my body/organs to detox, kept my fitness levels and just made me feel better about myself and more in control. The teachers were amazing during my practice at this time. And it is something I want to do with all my heart. To help other people realise the \"power\" of Bikram Yoga.

(011907)

 
 
Spend nine weeks immersed in an in-depth study of Bikram Yoga with Yoga Masters Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury and their staff of senior teachers. The course, leading to a certificate of completion, will introduce you to the basic knowledge needed to begin teaching this powerful healing yoga.
Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class has proven itself to be a uniquely therapeutic form of yoga. By learning to instruct this powerful yoga class, you have an opportunity to share the life-enhancing benefits of this yoga with others. This intensive program, designed for dedicated students of Bikram Yoga, offers more than 500 hours of study, providing you with the tools to begin teaching Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class. By giving you a solid foundation, the course prepares you for the lifetime journey of becoming of yoga teacher.

Study and Practice Bikram Yoga with every waking breath. The course covers asana, anatomy, therapeutic applications and health benefits of Yoga, nutrition, philosophy of Yoga, Bikram's Posture Clinic, and the Bikram Yoga dialogue. Through dedicated practice and study of the 26 postures, you will expand your knowledge of the Bikram Method and prepare yourself to teach it.

Learn from Bikram himself. World-renowned Yoga Master Bikram Choudhury began practicing Hatha Yoga in his native India, at the age of three. At five, he began studying with Bishnu Ghosh (Paramhansa Yogananda's brother) and quickly became a yoga champion. At age eleven he was the youngest contestant ever to win the National India Yoga Competition. At age 20, a weightlifting accident crippled Bikram. With the guidance of his guru, Bikram created the 26 posture series that restored his health. Combining Eastern discipline and Western medicine, Bikram perfected his comprehensive system suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. This training course is an incredible opportunity to learn first-hand from one of the great living Yoga Masters. Eventually, you can apply to open an affiliated Bikram Yoga studio and become part of our worldwide network of over 400 affiliated studios and over 3,000 teachers.

Course acceptance is by application only. A minimum of six months of continuous Bikram Yoga practice at an affiliated studio and a recommendation from your teacher are required. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.  For those devoted and disciplined students in remote areas, find our how you too can become a Bikram's Yoga Certified Instructor. Contact shelly@bikramyoga.com

Please read about the prerequisites in the FAQ's

The Training will take place at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess Hotel in Acapulco, Mexico. The housing is mandatory. We are currently accepting applications for the Fall Session 2008 which begins on September 14th to November 15th, 2008.  

Enrollment in the training is limited. We urge you to apply early. Tuition is $6,600.00. Accommodation is available for $3,900.00 on two students per room, which to be included with the deposit.


 

going to class

getting towels

the lunch line

the food
"The Journal of a Bikram Yoga Teacher Trainee"
Chapters 1 - 5:
The Beginning of the Journey
Chapters 6 - 9:
Ick & Two Dollar Flags
Chapter 10:
 Wigging Out a Little
Chapter 11:
Return of the Cockroach
Chapter 12:
 It Works!
Chapter 13:
 The Worst Week?
Chapter 15:
 Back In Action
Chapter 17:
 Out of Focus
Chapter 18:
The Heat Is On
Chapter 19:

Tryptophan Dreaming

Chapter 20:

Tolerating LA

Chapter 21:
Woo Hoo
Chapter 22:

Graduation

Chapter 23:
Home
Where are they now?
The Class of Fall, 2002
The Class of Spring, 2003

Applicants: PLEASE READ THE Following:Teacher Training FAQ's
It will answer most of your questions.

For more information please email Shelly@BikramYoga.com

>>  Please begin your application process <<
by going to our Instructions Page

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" When I retired from life as a professional dancer in 2000, it was with some sadness. I had danced my whole life and I knew that the strong connection I felt with my body would be lost as I entered the ‘real’ world of work and made my way into a more ‘normal’ career. So I joined a gym, sat at a desk all day long and soon developed a painful case of RSI. I was lucky in that I had never suffered from any injuries during all my years of dancing, yet as soon as I sat down at a computer, I became injured right away! I tried to combat the RSI with various forms of yoga and although I enjoyed them, nothing particularly clicked with me and I began to despair as the pain in my neck worsened. Then I found Bikram. It was much more challenging, both physically and mentally than anything I had ever experienced. Even though I literally crawled out of the studio after my first class, I was hooked! As I practised more and more, I became aware of how competitive the world of dance had been. I realized that I was somewhat afraid of criticism and yet at the same time, I was quite competitive with my classmates. I learnt that I needed to let these feelings go and work with what was available and without expectations, each time I took my place in class. After a while, I began to see that my teachers were like my friends. They were so positive and encouraging. Life was constantly changing, but no matter how good or bad things became, Bikram was constant. I began to realize that there was no good or bad luck in life, everyone was experiencing just the same problems as everyone else. It was the way you handled these problems that made the difference. So, I began to feel happiest ‘on the mat’. I could get through the often tedious days in the office if I had Bikram to look forward to. I became more balanced and less stressed, my skin became clear, and the RSI in my neck completely cleared up. Additionally, I was physically more toned and I slept better than ever before. I began to see in the wider sense, how yoga was becoming a life for me. It was a connection to my core self. On the mat, we were all equal, I was not defined by my job, my material wealth, my possessions, nor my career. On the mat there was just the yoga, just today, just what my body could do right now and the acceptance that every day would feel different. And the sense of achievement I felt after class was immense. Whatever happened in life, whether it was my Mother’s breast cancer, the death of my Father or the loss of a relationship – I was able to transform all these problems into opportunities to learn and grow and this was a direct result of Bikram. And finally, I like to think that I became a better person out in the world too. For me, Bikram has been the key to happiness. The benefits of this practice are numberless. I love the yoga and I would love to teach it. By becoming a Bikram certified teacher I would be able to devote my life to passing on the secret of happiness! I could not ask for anything more satisfying.


(042507)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" I started Bikram Yoga about 16 months ago. I was doing an AmeriCorps program tutoring elementary students and was making a stipend of less then $800 a month. The studio owner in my town was generous enough to give our AmeriCorps group a price deal that was too good to turn down, I had to try it. I had recently hurt my knee running and started going to yoga more and more as a substitute. Pleasantly surprised that my knee pain had subsided, I was hooked. About four months into my yoga practice I experienced a family crisis. My older brother by two years disappeared. He was teaching English in China and was on vacation in Laos when he mysteriously vanished. Three weeks after the date our family got a phone call from the U.S. Embassy in Laos. The police had all of his belongings that were left in his guesthouse room but he was no where to be found. My parents, younger brother and I have been over there numerous times and have produced very few leads. More than a year later now, he is still missing. I have never felt so much pain, stress and anxiety over the unknown. As we hit the one year anniversary last week I found myself wondering how I have lived through this year. I know one answer, Bikram Yoga. The only place where I can think clearly and work through my pain is in that wonderfully hot room. The emotional benefits of my practice are indescribable and after a while I took notice to the physical benefits as well. I am in the best shape of my life, which is amazing if you take into account my stress level. I found the best way of coping and I want to help other people find this healing practice. This yoga has been my savior and my hope is that it can save other people as well. It works miracles on mind and body and as a firm believer in miracles I haven’t given up on my brother. I love you Ryan. Namaste.


(032707)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" I personally have never been so challenged, yet coupled with this challenge is a wonderful sense of peace. A sense of peace that has eluded me for several years that is until I was introduced to the practice of Bikram Yoga.I am a single mother with a fabulous little boy to raise.I feel as a parent I must lead by example,in my attempts to be the best I can be for him...I have come to realize,I must be the best I can be for myself first. This hasn't always been the case in our lives. Two years ago I experienced the greatest despair I've ever felt(DIVORCE). This despair preempted not only my life but the life I wanted for our child. I was consumed with anger and fear that which I dissimulated and quite well I might add. When honestly I felt as though I was falling apart inside and my spirit was slowly dieing.Through the grace of God, great counseling and sheer determination I am persevering.I owe much of this mental state to the art of Bikram Yoga.I'm getting stronger, my mind, body and soul seem to be playing well together. My self deprecating feelings are almost none exsistent and with continued practice will surely give way to the positive energy and goodness God has in store for us. My courage albeit born of despair is only one of the many reasons to undertake the study and learn more about the art of Bikram Yoga. With pure heart and genuine intentions to enhance not only my life... I'd love the opportunity to become a facilitator and help to enhance the well being of those wanting the best for themselves. This would be my desire.


(030607)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" I have had such amazing healing and strengthening experiences (both physically and psychologically) since beginning this practice. I used to smoke and tried taking a few Bikram Yoga classes in the summer of 2005, but had such a difficult time with the heat that I did not continue. I did carry on with my other workout regimens such as kickboxing, weight training, Pilates and Ashtanga based yoga. One year later I quit smoking and began practicing Bikram yoga. It was a gift I’d promised to give myself after one month of not smoking (and ended up being after 2 weeks). It is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received! After the 1 month mark, I began bike riding again and felt I could ride for miles and miles. I was amazed at how much my cardio vascular system had expanded from practicing Bikram yoga. I had been taking this body of mine for granted and had actually treated it with such disregard/disrespect- but no more. It has been 8 months since I began practicing regularly and every day that I practice I feel myself breathe a little deeper, and I feel my body changing in these unexpected sometimes tiny, other times gigantic ways. I never knew I could feel so elated about the simplest things: keeping my knee locked for a full minute, feeling the fuel and strength of muscles I never knew I had while performing every day tasks like opening a jar or bottle, getting in and out of the car, playing my cello or fiddle, or simply squatting down to play with my cat. The practice stays with me both in and out of the studio, and with each practice I am more aware of and thankful for my life in its entirety, for myself- mistakes and triumphs alike. I want to share these benefits with others, which is the reason I would like to become a teacher. Time waits for no one and sometimes you just know that something is meant to be shared with and by you. It is what it is. I am looking forward to this grueling experience and to the continuation of my journey.


(030607)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" Bikram Yoga is a part of my life. I could not explain my story in the last two and a half years without referring to what this yoga has done to me.
It has made me more aware, it has made me stronger, it has made me healthier.
Now i can recognize what is good and not good for me, and it's helped me develop the strength to follow through with what my heart tells me to do. I changed my diet. I changed my sleeping patterns. I changed my way of relating to other people, and to myself.
So i started practicing in New York City, a place that i love. Long story short, i fell completely and absolutely in love with Bikram Yoga, not really understanding at the beginning what was going on. I kept my practice, noticing i was happier and in more harmony with the people around me. Things started changing in my life. Old, solidified habit patterns started getting dissolved.
About a year after i started my practice, someone offered to pay for the training (i've never had much money). It was a secret idea that i had, but it seemed really impossible for me, as i paid for the yoga working at the studio, hardly making enough to live. I was happy, i started doing everything i had to do. Maybe you remember me sending my application for the last spring training. At the end it didn't work out, monetariy: "not now, maybe later". Whatever.
I already had it inside and this time, i was decided to MAKE SURE that i would go, even if it took me a whole more year and it meant moving to another country (again). I'm chilean/italian, so i went back to Chile, grabbed my Italian passport and came to Paris, where i didn't know anyone and didn't speak the language, but at least i had the right to open a bank account and make it work out financially!
This year in Paris (what a wonderful school!) i've deepened my practice, and discovered new layers of this life changing discipline. I want to become a Bikram Yoga teacher to give this to other people. We all need to be more aware, stronger, healthier. I want to contribute as much as i can to spread this powerful therapeutic yoga.


(030507)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" Over the years I tried out different kinds of sports, which I always quit. There was no group spirit, no beginner class or no challenge, nothing to keep me participating. At last I went regularly to a fitness centre. There I spent hours and hours to work out my body. The training wasn\'t only boring but one-sided and there never seemed to be enough time to exercise the whole body. Going to the sauna after workout made the stay in the studio even longer.

When I went to my first bikram yoga class I was fascinated by the high temperature making sauna unnecessary, by exercising my whole body within 90 minutes and by the energetic feeling afterwards. I met people at my age and older. I met advanced people and people who struggeled even more than me to get through class. Even though everybody was practising on their own, there was this group spirit, because everybody did the same exercises in the same hot room. It didn\'t matter at which level I started. It just mattered to stick around and to do something good for my body and mind.

I finally found the right kind of sport for me and started to attend class regularly. Now, I\'ve been doing bikram yoga for one and a half year. It\'s the first time that I\'m able to identify myself 100 percent with a sport. Whenever I\'m in class I can tell how much will-power and determination it takes to improve the abilities of body and mind, that it is a life-long way we are taking and that the first struggles to get our body under control are worth overcoming when we get to know how much better we start to feel once we are in motion.

It makes me aware that good instructors are needed and that it is a challenge to become a teacher leading students through class. I want to become a teacher to help people with gaining back their flexibility and fitness. I also want to support and encourage them to train their concentration, balance and body-control within the 90 minutes of class. In the future it is a nice thought to open up my own studio in Berlin, Germany, after traveling through Europe and the world to teach in other studios. As a singer and songwriter I can teach classes, earn a living, stay in good shape, be independent and still do my music. Going to Hawaii and attending the Bikram\'s Yoga College of India-Teacher Training is a great opportunity to become more familiar with the yoga, to learn more about it, to take the challenge of improving my yoga practise and physical fitness even more and to freshen up my English. I hope I get the chance to be part of the trainee class in spring 2007 and look forward to hearing from you soon.


(021607)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" I have always been an avid enthusiast of staying healthy mentally and physically through positive activities. But before I was introduced to Bikram yoga my activities consisted of running marathons and competing in triathlons. I was finding myself getting minor injuries, aches, and pains that would face me every morning when I rolled out of bed. The choice of whether my body was ready to face a day of pounding out a run, even if it was just a short one, led to anxious feelings about how I was treating my body. Shortly after running my second marathon I faced a serious muscle strain in my foot, which sent me to a good friend who is an acupuncturist. She treated me and as we discussed my injury she suggested that I try Bikram yoga to help balance out all of the cycling and running I do in my life. She also knew that I was facing tough decisions about my college education and again explained how Bikram yoga had helped her look within herself to make some life decisions. I was a bit timid at first because of my complete lack of flexibility, as well as my fear of calming my mind and practicing stillness. From the first day I stepped into the Bikram yoga studio I have grown as a person in many different aspects. Bikram yoga challenged me, and continues to challenge me, both mentally and physically. My flexibility, core strength, and overall strength have improved tremendously. After every Bikram class I attend I leave the studio feeling rejuvenated, energetic, and calm. The most important change I have experienced is within me. Bikram yoga takes a tremendous amount of focus and concentration, which has led me to really pull my energy back within myself. Listening to my mind and calming the distractions has really allowed me to focus on my body, my thoughts, and my emotions. I have taken my Bikram Yoga practice and apply it to my life. I have become a more mindful individual that is healthy and happy. I want to become a Bikram Yoga Teacher because I believe that every person can benefit from this practice. No matter what an individual is facing the benefits that Bikram yoga brings are positive and unbiased. My love for my practice has inspired me to be able to share that with others as it was shared with me!


(020607)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" I started practicing Bikram Method Yoga a little more than 4 years ago. My interest was first piqued in hearing about someplace, any place, in Seattle where I could feel warm from the inside out. I had moved from the Southeast the year before and I just couldn\'t seem to get acclimated to the colder climate. From that first class, I was hooked--not only the warmth, but the ability to move, stretch and feel like I\'d had a great workout without the impact of running. I also knew that I\'d met a challenge that would hold my interest for years to come. As I became more involved in mountaineering and outdoor activities, I saw the benefit of the Bikram yoga practice. Whether climbing Mt. Rainier or completing a 95-mile solo backpacking trip, my Bikram yoga practice was with me. With each step, I could hear Marta saying, \"You can do anything to the count of ten!\" And, as a resulte I summited the mountain and trekked up one more peak on my 11-day journey. I was living the dream of my life, and I did it with joy, thanks in large part to my Bikram yoga practice and the new found strength of both my physical body and my mental aptitude. Since those first few years, I have come to appreciate the growing mental and spiritual awareness the comes from regular practice. Each time time I enter the yoga studio, I read the sign \"No Yoga. No Peace. Know Yoga. Know Peace.\" I have come to understand the wisdom in this sign with each class--and have come to understand that Bikram yoga brings more peace and joy to my life than any thing else I\'ve ever done. With this peace has come a believe in myself and a tenacity to accomplish those things I desire--from climbing mountains to having more honest and intimate relationships with others to having a deeper understanding and appreciation of who I am as an individual and my ability to have a positive impact on the world around me. I can think of no better life for myself than to daily practice, and teach, Bikram yoga. For me, it embodies being in a body I love, having a mind focused on happiness and peace, and being a buoyant and inspiring spirit to those around me.


(020307)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" When I was 17, I decided that joining the Army would be a great way to pay for my college education. I was awarded a scholarship to become an Army Officer. I have always been extremely driven, but extremely insecure at the same time. I\'m smart, and I passed my exams and picked up on the intellectual aspects of the military easily. The physical, however, wreaked havoc on my body. We ran every day, up to 10 miles some mornings. Fridays, we strapped 30 pounds on our back and marched in our ill-fitting boots, carrying 8 pount rifles. We were weighed on a regular basis and being \"fat\" meant losing everything. I was considered \"fat\". And my insecurities exploded. The army had destroyed my body and the \"fat\" comments made me destroy it even more. I stopped eating, I wouldn\'t drink water the day before we were weighed, if I did eat, I used any medication possible so it didn\'t stay in me long. I hated myself. I was told that I could either stay in the army and try to \"suck it up\" or I could be discharged and seek professional help. I signed my discharge papers soon after. I also discovered Sarah Morse\'s (now Sarah Shomion)plans to open a studio in St. Paul. I was ecstatic. I knew this yoga was something I had to do. Now, I can\'t live without it. It changed my whole life. I\'ve gone from self-hatred, insecure, frightened, embarressed etc etc to a person who is more comfortable and more confident with themselves. I work better with yoga. That\'s why I have to become a Bikram Certified Teacher. I want to show others that yoga changes you from the inside out, from the mental to the physical, that no one is ever the same after taking Bikram Yoga.


(013107)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" The intensely healing and invigorating qualities of Bikram Yoga have had an incredible impact on my body as well as my soul. In the beginning of 2006 my Father passed away, after a painful, long and traumatic struggle with diabetes. I looked after my Father everyday he was in the hospital for five months, and although it was emotionally tiring I was able to stay positive and I believe strongly that practicing Bikram yoga during this time was a main contributing factor to my perseverance. Each time I took a class I was able to release all of the tension and sadness I felt over the slow deterioration of my Father and by letting go of these feelings I was able to really work within each posture and feel my body creating the fresh flow of oxygen and positive energy that I knew was necessary for me to continue looking after my Father until he was ready to leave us. It has been almost a year since he died and since then I have become more dedicated in studying and practicing Bikram more than ever before and I attribute this to an increasing understanding and deep appreciation of what Bikram offers to its students both emotionally and physically. This practice is a continuous challenge and is consistent in creating a strength and concentration within me that is equally beautiful as it is powerful. I wish to continue my practice of Bikram yoga not only as a student but also as a teacher who can uplift and empower fellow students of Bikram to reach beyond their supposed capabilities and nourish the wonderful possibilities that Bikram yoga creates within us all.


(012407)

Great Reason of "Why Be a Bikram Yoga Instructor?" In 1994 I fell from a roof and shattered my right calcaneous. This left me in daily pain and suffering the consequences of limping around: hip pain, lower middle and upper back pain as well as chronic neck pain. Physical therapy made a little difference but the pain was always there, sometimes more intense sometimes less. In March of 03 I went to my first Bikram class ( hated it, but i felt differently and decided to give it a real try (3 times a week for 6 months) just to see if it would help my pain. Of course it did. I increased my frequency, by spring of 05 I was doing it 6 times a week in conjunction with my Aikido. This past winter when Lee was preparing to go I tried 7 times a week for 9 weeks just to see if i could do it. Last month Lee informed me that Bikram was looking for teachers to go to Japan to teach Bikram yoga there. My mother is from Kyoto (my father is an Irish American cowboy from northeastern Oregon)and has family there. I went there as an exchange student in 1975 (Waseda University, Kokusaigakubu: International Division) That's where I started Aikido. Because I haven't practiced my Japanese language skills in years (I wasn't quite fluent then, though I could get by. 2 1/2 years of study) I have lost most of it. Here's a great opportunity to return and recover those skills. My accent is still pretty good, having listened to my mother abuse English with that accent all my life. At 51, my kids are almost grown (daughter 18, son 16) and circumstances being just right, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Japan and things Japanese. I was an Asian Studies major in college with a focus on Japan. When it all gets added up what better thing to do but deepen my Bikram practice, learn to teach a practice that I'm convinced is the very best thing one can do for one's self ( body, mind and spirit) and return to Japan. I expect to continue my Aikido practice while there. This is the short version, in person I have been known to go on and on. But that's the jest of why I want to become a Bikram Certified Teacher. I was concerned that my practice may not be on par with others, since I'm still struggling with the standing postures on my right foot. The progress I've made is totally remarkable. I asked Drew, Becky, Gibran and Lee in the past few monthe to look at my practice and coach me in specific areas, and they assure me it good enough to get there, and I expect that the training will help improve it further.

 

August 31, 2006

My life is good because of you. I don't know how else to say it.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart...

 

Dear Boss:

You hear it all of the time, I know, but I have to tell you that Bikram Yoga saved my health and changed my entire life for the better. When I came to your College of India I was on the verge of being very ill and of course the Doctors were only helping themselves to my pocketbook. When I started your practice I immediately got better and over 3 1/2 years the yoga has continued to heal my body, mind and spirit. In addition, teacher training was the most important thing that ever happened to me, even more important than my family because the training taught me how to be a better wife, mother, and daughter. I'll briefly explain.

Since graduation, my husband and I split up. I moved out and filed for a divorce. Although my peers and family were more supportive for the break up than getting back together, and it logically seemed like the right thing to do, in quiet moments I could hear your voice yelling at me, “Why do you give up? WHY DO YOU GIVE UP!!?”. I remembered the late nights listening to your lectures on the ‘crucification of a society'. I knew when you said those things you were right. I cancelled the divorce and worked things out with my husband, which has been the greatest decision I've ever made (after teacher training).

You taught me to be a better daughter. My Mom and Dad are good people, but they weren't good parents. As a young child I was neglected and abused, like a lot of people, and was repeatedly seriously malnourished. I lived on the streets after the age of 13 and could not go to school. I was angry and fearful and didn't like myself very much so I continued to abuse myself for 12 more years. I had a lot of car accidents, falls and beatings over those years. My body was broken and my spirit was dead. My mind only wanted escape. I don't want sympathy for that, it made me who I am today and I only tell you so you understand how important Bikram Yoga is to me. God has bigger plans for me so I found a way to get over it.

Although that is over now and life is great, I've had trouble with my parents because I felt they should have done a better job. As they have aged, they have become needy. Before teacher training I always believed I wouldn't help if they needed me, but you made me realize that was wrong and selfish. People do take better care of their pets than their parents and that is a disgrace. My husband and I now take care of my Mom and have moved her into a condo down the street from us. We just took her on a cruise! I am a good daughter to my Dad as well. This is only because of you, and it has made my life better than I could have ever imagined.

My life is good because of you. I don't know how else to say it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I really wanted to tell you this because I am the one who is going to open the Denver studio and I believe in my gut and in my heart it is an honorable and important mission. It is part of my destiny to do so. It must absolutely be done right. I am so excited to flood Denver with Bikram Yoga! I have so many ideas about making the studio a huge success and the wonderful effects it will have on the other Bikram studios. We can make the studio and all of Denver the ‘model home' of Bikram Yoga. That alone can ultimately heal the nasty energy that is distracting fearful studio owners from the truth about Bikram Yoga.

There is so much focus on what is wrong that sometimes we don't even remember what is right. What we give our attention to becomes energized. If there is only focus on the bad, the bad will continue to get stronger. That can all go away with a super kick ass BYCOI Denver that focuses on Bikram Yoga and the Bikram Community. It can serve as a regional center for Bikram meetings, clinics, parties, everything.

You get gifts from your students all of the time, but the best gift I can think of to give you is a Bikram studio in Denver you can be proud of. In honor of you and your guru Bishnu Ghosh, and my children and future grandchildren, I commit to do a great job.