Testimonials
I came to Bikram yoga for the first time knowing nothing at all about yoga in general or Bikram in particular. I had been invited by a friend and was intrigued. The first class nearly killed me, but I could immediately feel the yoga working in my body, opening up cramped, stiff muscles and joints.
Many of the exercises, such as Wind Removing Pose, were the same as exercises I had been given in physical therapy for chronic pain, but I had never done PT this intensely or this consistently. I continued attending classes, although I was at first skeptical of all of the health claims. In fewer than ten classes, I was healed of chronic upper back pain that I experience from using a computer and playing the violin and which had not responded completely to physical therapy; the yoga relieved all of my wrist stiffness from computer use; it has brought about rapid change in my stiff runner's ankles, knees, and feet; it has given me a great deal of energy and I am waking up earlier, with less sleep, refreshed; my skin is softer and younger-looking; drastically reduced cellulite; decreased my appetite so that it is now easy for me to stay on a diet; improved my mood and calmed my nerves; given me a calmer and happier outlook on life.
Within a month, I had also lost several pounds of fat (and gained some muscle) and have begun to heal my disordered body image, which I share with so many other women. I can feel the yoga unwinding four years of stress due to cancer in the family and other traumatic life events which caused me to gain thirty pounds. I have no illness of the lungs, and yet I feel an improvement in my breathing. My allergies do not bother me as much, although I don't know if I can attribute this to yoga or not. These are all benefits I experienced as a person that was basically healthy to begin with. (Or so I thought!)
~Anonymous
As a runner, I find Bikram Yoga to be an amazing complimentary activity. Bikram worked wonders recently on a hamstring issue that I hadn't had much luck repairing with other modalities. Thank you for making Bikram available in our area. Namaste.
~Amanda
My weight and body shape are back where they were when I was in my mid-30's. When I go to reunions, people comment that I look the same as when they first met me. While all my friends are having hot flashes and those crazy menopausal symptoms I am not. Thanks to Bikram Yoga I look and feel great, my energy level is high. I just keep going, and going and going...
~Anonymous
I’m originally from Michigan, and I came to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a golf caddy position. After one year of caddying I switched jobs and began my Real Estate career. I’ve been selling homes in the Las Vegas Valley since 2001. After 7 years and over 250 houses sold, I became a little stressed. One of my coworkers, and good friends, Jon Knoche, told me about Bikram Yoga.
I came to my first Bikram Yoga class and was pleasantly surprised at what a great workout I completed and how amazing I felt. I immediately signed up for the one week unlimited to try it out. After the first week I started to feel less stressed, so I signed up for the three month package. As the three months went on, I started to notice that my core was getting much stronger, and that I was beginning to practice meditation. It was at that time that I realized Bikram yoga really was amazing, and I wanted to become an instructor.
Three weeks before the teacher training began, I was involved in an accident. I dislocated my knee cap, tore my ACL, tore my meniscus, and fractured my femur. I thought for sure I was done and had no chance of attending the training. Fortunately I have a great friend who is the top orthopedic surgeon in Las Vegas, Dr. Randa Bascharon. She provided me with a plan for a fast recovery and the confidence I needed. For the first two weeks I couldn’t leave my bed or stand on the leg. During the third week, when I could barely walk, I attended my first yoga class since before the accident. Simply being in the hot room made my leg feel better. I attended three classes in Vegas and then “hopped” on a plane to Mexico.
I started my classes with a titanium Don Joy brace on my injured leg. Everyday was extremely painful, but my leg seemed to get a little better with each class. On Week four I took class next to Bikram, and as we were in Standing Head to Knee Pose he looked at me and told me I didn’t need the brace anymore. So I took it off. He threw it away, and I have never seen it again. When it was time for Fixed Firm Pose I got as low as I thought I could. Bikram insisted that I go all the way back into the posture. I started on my knees, then went back to my elbows, which was as far as I thought I could go. He insisted that I keep going. It was excruciating pain because I was breaking through the scar tissue, but I made it. There were over 300 people in class, and they were jumping with excitement.
At the end of week four Bikram was teaching class. When it was time for Fixed Firm Pose, he was looking right at me as I went back. He came off the podium, and when I was all the way back, he stood on my thighs and announced to the class, “I fixed his knee.”
I love teaching this yoga to our community. No matter how stressed I may get during the day with my Real Estate job, it always puts a smile on my face to see all my students working so hard. Peace and Namaste.
~Mark Frye
I came to Bikram Yoga in Feb of '07, shortly after moving to Ann Arbor. As a former competitive athlete with a long list of sports related injuries, I was looking for a vigorous way to work out without hurting myself further. Years of Pilates helped me with my alignment and core strength, but did not totally relieve my joint pain and back problems, nor did it provide the cardio work I craved. I began practicing about 3 days per week at first, and it was absolutely painful. Then I decided I either needed to get serious about the yoga or quit, so I committed to a 60 day challenge, and for me, that was the turning point. Something “clicked” and I started seeing the benefits. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected that I would actually begin to heal myself on a physical level. Thanks to Bikram, my sciatica seems to be gone, my knees and hips are finally gaining flexibility, and I continue to gain conditioning, overall strength and mental focus. So, what can I say? I'm addicted!
~Anonymous
Before Bikram Yoga, I was dealing with chronic back pain, asthma and depression. After practicing Bikram Yoga everyday for a few months, my back pain totally subsided, I no longer am dependent on inhalers and I now I have a smiling happy face. I have been practicing at least once a day for the last 8 years and am not stopping anytime soon. Participating in yoga competition since 2004 also inspires me to keep growing. Thanks Bikram!
~Anonymous
Bikram Yoga, Ann Arbor is an excellent Yoga School / Studio. I liked all Yoga teachers there. There are very friendly but in the class they are meaningfully, strict. I enjoyed every class I attended. I recommend this class to all of my friends and associates. Thank you.
~Uday
