Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Baghdad, Iraq, but I grew up in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. I’ve lived in the Dallas area all of my adult life.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I took my first class in April 2001. I was trying to cure my shoulder pain. I’ve since learned that the “shoulder pain” was the beginning of my arthritis. I have Psoriatic and Osteoarthritis. Bikram Yoga keeps my joints working. My Rheumatologist tells me I’m a poster girl for the good effects yoga has on arthritis.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
Bikram Yoga improved my health and my life. I wanted to share. I wanted to create the community we have at BYR.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
Spend time with my husband and family. Walk my dog. Read a book. A meal, a good time with friends. I enjoy the simple things.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
Any backbend that we do. Backbending makes me feel amazing.
What advice would you give to any new student?
To stick with it. You need to be willing to try. You need to be willing to learn. You will get more out of it than you think. The yoga will improve almost every aspect of your life.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Oklahoma City, OK. I grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma until I was 19 and then moved to Texas.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
My first Bikram class was on September 1, 2014. I’ve always been very active in working out, running, etc. and a friend of mine invited me to a free class one day! Fell in love with it from the moment I stepped into the room.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
I became an Instructor because I truly believe in the healing process of Bikram Yoga and want to share it with everyone!
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I like to spend time with family and friends.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
My favorite poses are Camel and Rabbit. I love the feeling of my entire front side opening in the deepest backbend in Camel and I love to get the front side compression and spine stretch in Rabbit.
What advice would you give to any new student?
Advice I would give to a new student is to “BREATHE”, stay in the room, and focus on stillness in between postures. And of course, come back tomorrow!
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Blue Island, Illinois, and moved to Wylie, Texas, when I was 12 years old.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I’ve been practicing Bikram Yoga since 2013. My journey began when a friend invited me to my first class, and I’ve been hooked ever since!
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
I became an instructor because Yassi encouraged me to take that step! Over the years, Bikram Yoga has impacted my physical and mental well-being, helping me develop resilience, focus, and self-discipline. Becoming an instructor felt like the perfect way to share those benefits with others.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
When I’m not in the yoga room, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
My favorite pose in the Bikram series is Standing Bow. It challenges my balance, flexibility, and strength all at once, while requiring focus and concentration. It’s also just so beautiful!
What advice would you give to any new student?
Trust the process!
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Dallas, TX and grew up in Carrollton.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I have been practicing since May of 2009 (almost 15 years) when a friend recommended the practice to me when I told him I was no longer making any weight loss or strength goals from going to the gym.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
I had participated in the yoga competitions since early in my practice. I fell in love with the advanced series of postures and took the advanced work shop in 2011 with Bikram in California. Since then, teaching the advance class at BYR has brought me so much joy. The practice has not only served as a fountain of youth, but has pushed physical stiffness further down the road and allowed me to stay more active for activities like hiking, swimming and biking.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I enjoy spending time with my husband Joseph and my cat, Phoenix, and my two dogs Jackson and Ranger.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
Rabbit. Through all my physical conditions whether it be peak health or multiple injuries, rabbit has always brought me the most relief and made me feel free of tension.
What advice would you give to any new student?
In the beginning, it is a test of endurance. Trust in process and come as often as possible. Push yourself to as far as your body can go in the posture without falling. Stay there and wait till it goes from discomfort to comfort. Before you know it, your depth in the posture will come naturally.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Carrollton, TX. I now live in Richardson with my two wonderful kids.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I was introduced to Bikram Yoga in November of 2005. I was looking to alleviate lower back pain.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
After competing in the Texas Yoga Asana Championship in 2007, I decided that I wanted to be a Bikram instructor. I feel so lucky to be able to help people heal themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually through the teaching of Bikram yoga. Practicing Bikram yoga has helped heal my body and develop confidence in myself.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I spend time with my kids. I’m also a creative director at a graphic design firm and I create for a wide variety of clients. I am most proud of the creative work done for the fitness community. I’ve helped many studio owners launch their business and I continue to spread the word about the healing aspects of yoga through design and marketing campaigns.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
My favorite pose changes all the time. As my body and mind shift and the focus of my pratice develops I find certain postures getting more attention. So come to the studio and ask what’s my current favorite!
What advice would you give to any new student?
Listen carefully to the instructors words. If class gets challenging, try to calm your breathing.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I took my first Bikram Yoga class in Montreal, Canada, in 2006. My wife, Karen, and I were searching for a yoga studio to take a class, and we happened to pick a Bikram studio.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
I became a yoga instructor in order gain more knowledge of yoga and to help others on their yoga journey. The teacher training I completed is based on ashtanga-flow yoga. As far as greatest effect, I’ve enjoyed several years of yoga sport, i.e. competition, which has helped to improve my conditioning, flexibility, and strength.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I enjoy working on various house, yard, research, and engineering projects.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
Favorite pose? Hmmm. All poses. I typically focus on poses related to competition or a pose that works an area of soreness.
What advice would you give to any new student?
Take it easy. Enjoy.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Born and raise in Amarillo, TX.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
One year continuously. I begin after having practiced Ashtanga for about six months to a year. I enjoy both practices.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
Cooking, eating, reading, napping.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
Floor Bow and Camel. I enjoy the deep backward bend and the way my spine feels coming out of the postures.
What advice would you give to any new student?
Practice all the yoga, try it all… practice what you like enough to know what you don’t… always practice to some capacity.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born on a military base in Virginia. My family moved every couple of years until we landed in Texas. I have lived here ever since.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
Ten years ago, I was struggling with anxiety and life changes, and I had read that yoga helped to manage and reduce stress and anxiety. When a studio opened near me, I tried a class. The class was hard, but I felt a quietness that I hadn’t felt in a long time, so I kept coming back.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
I love the community built around physical challenges, and I wanted to be a part of spreading that joy to others.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I love going to concerts with my family and friends.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
My favorite pose has changed several times over the years. I currently love half moon. In the beginning, the pose made me feel angry. I’m still not sure why. Now, the pose feels simultaneously gentle and powerful.
What advice would you give to any new student?
Start your day with a 90 minute class as often as possible. Yes, you will be exhausted. Your exhaustion is tension and stress leaving your body. Yes, it’s hard. You will get stronger physically and mentally. You will never regret the commitment you made to yourself.