Abby




ABBYOGI

web net phone car run hurry go do faster
 finish race
succeed win hurry go

STOP. STILL. BREATHE. STRETCH. CALM.
 RELEASE.
 DISCIPLINE. STRENGTH. TWIST. FLOW.
 CHALLENGE.
 CLEANSE.

Calm Tall Aware Focus Reach Value Control
Maintain
Breathe Be Live



   Barbara      

Bikram yoga has made a huge impact on my life. Early on I discovered the truth in the healing powers of the Bikram series. I had chronic pain in my left shoulder that would be temporarily relived by acupuncture. Physical therapy and sports medicine did not work for me. After several months of Bikram practice, a few times per week, I discovered the pain disappeared. It has never returned.

Now I have more startling evidence of the powers of Bikram yoga. I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in January, 1999. At the time of my diagnosis my white blood cell count was 35,000 parts (the normal range is 5-6,000 parts). CLL is a slow, progressive disease with no cure. It impacts the immune system. I immediately became pro-active by adding a Naturopath to my treatment team, modifying my diet and training myself to react differently to the stresses that we all experience daily.

Over the course of the next few years, as I continued to work in the public school system and act as power of attorney and medical liaison for my aging mother, my white blood count rose to over 75,000 parts. I was getting close to needing chemotherapy. I retired from work, my mother passed away and I increased my yoga practice. The transition to retirement was eased and my stress was reduced through the practice. Suddenly, my white blood cell count plummeted to the mid 30’s, low 40’s. It stayed at those levels for over 2 years. My oncologist asked me what I was doing. I told him-Bikram yoga. My most recent blood count was 26,000 parts, lower then when I was originally diagnosed. Again, my doctor looked at me and wanted to know what I was doing. I told him that the only thing different in the last year has been the number of times per week I practice yoga. Neither of us believes that I will have a miracle cure but I’ll settle for keeping the leukemia at bay.

I've exercised regularly my whole life. I jogged, did aerobics, weight lifting, bicycling and sports. I tried yoga but it wasn’t until I found the Tacoma Bikram Yoga Center, and its wonderful instructors, that I found a comprehensive program that satisfies me physically and mentally. It’s all I need.
Thank you.

                                           Cindy
 
              

I have always been very physically active, with interests from ballet to roller blades. I have taught adult fitness classes and I am currently in my 20th year as an elementary school P.E. and health specialist. Although I knew the health benefits of yoga, I had never tried it.   My perception was that it was too slow and boring.  I couldn’t imagine getting a complete workout or an aerobic benefit from such static poses.   I also thought I wasn’t flexible enough to make it worth the effort.

    
Wow, was I wrong!  Bikram Yoga is the most challenging and rewarding workout (work-in) I have ever done.  I have brought my tight hamstrings to class an average of four times a week for almost a year and a half.  My husband will tell you that our evening and weekend schedule revolves around my yoga.

    
Even though I have significantly reduced my running sessions and have eliminated weight training, my cardio respiratory endurance has been maintained, and my muscle strength and tone has been improved.  Gone is pain and weakness in my wrists and ankles now that those joints and muscles have been required to take an active role in my yoga practice.  Chronic lower back and leg pain due to a bulged disc is really very rare now.  When I do feel a “twinge,” I goto class, rather than avoiding movement, and I always feel better.

    
The teachers here are highly trained and knowledgeable.  They bring their unique personalities to the familiarity of the consistent dialogue.  I respect and appreciate all of them. 

     After a long, loud, active day of working in the gym with kids, I find respite at Bikram Yoga.  Eventually the ringing in my ears stops and the sounds of “Teacher, look at me! Watch what I can do!” fade away.  I become the student, and I breathe…… But, I must admit that during class when I am working so hard, I occasionally catch myself thinking, “Teacher, look at me! 
Watch what I can do!” 


Debbe

I started practicing yoga about 6 years ago.  I had been over training at the gym in preparation to climb Mt. Rainier.  My back held up until after the climb, but then I soon started having severe back issues.  Surgery was required to relief a herniated disk.  Thankfully the surgery was successful,
but I realized I needed to change the way I was working out. 

I began practicing yoga on my own using videos, but after two years was feeling like I needed more of a challenge.  I heard about ‘hot yoga’, got online and discovered Tacoma had a Bikram yoga studio. 
Four years later, I feel great both mentally and physically.  Bikram yoga continues
to challenge and intrigue me. Yoga has also been my rock mentally. 
Life has its shares of ups and downs and yoga gets me through it all.      

I have visited other Bikram yoga studios while traveling for work or pleasure.  I have yet to find one where the instructors are as dedicated as ours in keeping the practice and studio disciplined.  This really makes it a breeze to concentrate on the yoga.

Our studio has really morphed into a nice little community.  It is always so nice to see friendly, familiar faces.  Thank you to Yohana, Kelly, Scott, and all the students!


Cappi

When I started I was in the student-teaching phase of the UPS M.A.T. program and had 3 sons in high school. I found the focus and release of the yoga helped me balance those hectic months.  I am now a 6th grade teacher with a son in college and 2 in high school and I cannot imagine having the stamina, balance or grounding I do without Bikram and the fantastic instructors at BYT. I am turning 44 next week and hope that I am still practicing when I'm 88, or as Scott would say "when I am 144" !

I live and work west of the Narrows bridge so I commute to Tacoma just for Bikram because it is such an integral part of my life. 


Carolyn 



I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for 4 years. After the first day of class, I knew this was the program for me. Bikram yoga has helped me learn how to let go of stress and become more in tune with my body. Now that I am in my late 40's Yoga has helped with regulating my hot flashes and night sweats. That's one reason why I am in class almost everyday.

There have been many days that I have pushed myself to come to class, just keeping in mind that I would feel so much better when class was over. Then Yohana, Scott or Kelly would say something that would reflect how I was feeling at the time that would make me feel better and give me the energy I needed to make it through the class. Thank you Yohana, for bringing Bikram Yoga to Tacoma.


Mark



I was over 50 years of age when I took my first yoga class EVER! Fortunately it was at the Bikram Yoga Center of Tacoma where I felt encouraged to persist and accrue the benefits of a consistent yoga practice.That was a mere 18 months ago. I have retired from 23 years of the practice of medicine (the 16 years in Puyallup). I supported my patients who wanted to practice yoga as part of their rehabilitation or health promotion program.

Since my Bikram Yoga experience I actively encouraged and actually prescribed the Bikram Yoga Method for my patients, especially those patients with recalcitrant musculoskeletal painful conditions.
 
Bikram Yoga has benefited me in a very holistic way addressing body/mind and spirit. At the level of the Mind I am grateful for my increasing focus and concentration. At the physical level,increasing my flexibility has improved my golf swing ( though not my golf score ).The Center's example of Spirit through the Karma yoga program is an encouragement to the greater community. I am grateful and proud to have the Bikram Tacoma community - Instructors and Students as a part of my life.


Phyllis & Janice


Mother & Daughter



Phyllis - Working out is something I started when my children were teenagers. I tried, jogging, aerobics, biking, swimming walking and rollerblading over the years. When my daughter Janice lived nearby we did our workouts together. So she couldn't wait to bring me to Bikram yoga in June 2003 when I was visiting from California. It's the best all around workout. I really liked the studio and the instructors. When I went home to San Diego I found a Bikram studio just one mile from home. When I am at home I go every day.
Since starting Bikram yoga I feel younger , I have lost weight and inches, gained muscle, my asthma has improved, my vision has improved, and I have gained bone density. Both of us would like to thank you for running such a wonderful studio. We really appreciate how clean you keep it, your commitment to keeping it chemical and odor free, and most of all the quality of the instructors. 
 

Janice - I have been working out in one way or another my whole life. From horseback riding to step aerobics I have done it all. My cousin told me about Bikram yoga about 5 years ago. So, when I was visiting him in Florida in January of 2003 I went to a few classes with him. I really enjoyed the workout and the philosophy. I was pleased to find a Bikram yoga school in Tacoma when I returned home. At first I only made it to class once or twice a week because of the commute. But as our esteemed instructors are always saying, the more I did Bikram, the more my body wanted to do Bikram.

I have now structured my work day around attending the 9:30 class. Everyone knows that is my time. Making this commitment to yoga has payed off greatly both physically and mentally.

It is the one thing I do for myself everyday(almost) that can not be interrupted!


Linda