Yoga to Thrive
Originally posted on June 19, 2018
Meet Holly!
Where to begin with the never ending list of gifts this practice has brought to my world? My name is Holly and I began Bikram yoga back in 1999 in Seattle, WA. During that time it wasn't my primary practice, but then nothing really was. you see as a quintessential dabbler at heart, like many of us, it was always difficult to choose. Since moving to RVA in 2001, I continued my dabbler days, always having Bikram yoga as my back pocket yoga "go to" for all of the immediate benefits it offered - joints free of any stiffness or pain, a respiratory system that always got a reboot after reach class, allergy free living, as well as, a general sense of peace in a body at once enervated and relaxed.
Then, an interesting thing occurred many years later. In 2011, I contracted an autoimmune disorder that forced me to reevaluate every physical, emotional, and nutritional step forward. At that point, gone were the days of Zumba, dance, or essentially any aerobic endeavor, and Bikram yoga became a devotional practice which I savored 3 to 4 times per week. Now, 7 years later, with a heart brimming with gratitude and a pain free body, there is a constant skip in my stride. I still joyfully continue this practice, honoring the core principals of a 26 pose series designed to sequentially open each and every part of your body (including its 13 systems!) as they naturally unfold. The benefit of having each pose 2 times per class allows for greater body awareness and intuition, as you scan more in the first, and allow for release in the second. And probably my most favorite principle is the maximum contraction vs. maximum relaxation at play in each pose. Bikram encourages the discovery and understanding of how this active vs. passive discipline assist in creating a body and mind at ease with itself, both in class, and in life.
Did I mention the heat?! Please relieve yourselves of any worry or concern! I'm currently going through my own tropical heat wave as a maturing female, and even then I end up sweating a whole lot less in the outside world than I ever would sans Bikram. The heat is nothing short of an amazing opportunity. Yes! It is an opportunity to extend deeper into the tendinous body, increasing circulation and breath awareness, while slipping into a meditative third eye state. This provides a focus which keeps your mind and eyes from wandering off, as you stare gently and kindly at your own reflection in the mirrors. I, like many other veterans, like to don a smile, regardless of the precision or flailing of the asanas. This always helps me remember to be present and grateful
And the Community! Did I mention how BYRVA feels like a home away from home?! Whether from the students or the teachers, there is a genuine warmth (no pun intended) and kindness that pervades a simple and gorgeously adorned studio. So, get ready to feel like you're in the Caribbean year round! Throw away all the preconceived notions of, 'I've got bad knees' or 'I've got high blood pressure.' Realize THAT is no longer the message you need to carry. After a doctor's diagnosis of knees in stages 3 and 4 arthritis some 20 years ago, my knees are still my greatest teachers and show up to class in ways that make me proud. Heck, I've even known many along my Bikram journey to throw away their need for medicines, and embark on a pain free/symptom free life of enhanced joy and awareness, as a result of a committed practice. Give yourself the gift of at least 3 classes to see and feel your own difference. Like a dear friend, this practice has me 20 years in, and I'm still discovering things about my body and mind and their essential connection to a thriving life. Don't wait, time to THRIVE!
Yoga for Change
Originally posted on April 3, 2018
Meet Debbie!
"Halfway into a 60 day challenge and oh my goodness I couldn't be happier I made this commitment for myself. I've loved Bikram Yoga Richmond for some years, and at times I've been more consistent than others. This challenge is just what I needed to make a big change and it's already made such a difference. My practice has never been better and each session improves on the last. I'm eating better, sleeping better and all around happier. Some may even say nicer too! This isn't going to just be a 60 day challenge but a whole new way of being kind to myself. Thank you Bikram Yoga and each of your fantastic teachers for helping me be kinder to myself.
***Here is a photo of Debbie rocking out her backbend from over a year ago. Stay tuned for "after" picture!***
Yoga for the Family
Originally Posted on May 15, 2018
Hot yoga power couple Mike and Aster have been practicing with us for years! Their kids even practice! Here is a little something they have to say about their practices:
I have worked out in various ways for many years - lifting, running, cross training and martial arts. Bikram Hot Yoga has BY FAR been my most comprehensive, whole body workout by combing balance, stretching, controlled breathing and isometric movements. It is the one routine that I hope to do well into my senior years.
- Mike Herring
Hot yoga has been a healing practice for me and I started back in Dec 2010. It is still a challenge EVERY TIME I show up and I learn something new almost every class.
My favorite thing about taking classes is that it’s a 2+ hours of “me time”...no phones, no dinner questions, ‘just be quiet and do as you are told’ time. I LOVE that.
I also love that it is something I can do for years to come and with my whole family.
-Aster Kidane
Yoga as Commitment
Originally posted on March 20, 2018
Meet Nancy!
I took my first Bikram Yoga class a few years ago and began a regular practice in February 2017 after taking a year off when I had my daughter. I’d found a Groupon and decided to give it a try. I used to work out at the gym with Michelle and she’d always tried to get me to try Bikram Yoga, but it sounded scary. Now I practice 4 times a week and I don’t do any other form of exercise. Since starting my practice, I haven’t really made any changes to my diet. I’m vegetarian and have always been mindful of the things I put in my body. One of the many reasons I do yoga is to be able to enjoy food so that I can splurge when I want to, and then I also keep a sensible diet at home. I have started doing a 3 day juice cleanse every 3 months since trying one with the studio. The reset is truly wonderful!
Besides getting into better shape, I love practicing yoga because you have something to be proud of. When we go about our every day lives we can get caught up in the fog of just getting through the day, and mindfulness can really take a back seat. When I’m consistent with my yoga practice I have something that I can be proud of and track my results. When you hold standing bow for the first time for the whole minute, you want to have cake and a party! It’s that thing in adult life where we actually have milestones and can be proud of ourselves instead of just surviving and getting through the day by going through the motions.
Advice I would give to a new student is figure out your “Why” - why do you come. You know the benefits of Bikram Yoga, that’s why you came to try it, but it’s not easy. It will challenge you, like everything that helps you grow and become a better version of yourself. If you’re not committed to the results and benefits you will get from your practice, it will be tough to stick with it. Commit to yourself and your goals. It will always challenge you but you will get better and you will start craving class. Bikram Yoga is like a deep cleaning for your body from the inside out. Once you get it clean, you won’t want it any other way. You started for a reason, you’re worth realizing that!
Yoga as Medicine
Originally posted on January 31, 2018
Meet Ashley!
"Words can not express how much I love to practice yoga. Specifically Bikram Yoga. I had a class the other day that strangely felt like my first class. I didn’t know anyone, I’d never been to the studio, and I didn’t know the teacher. There was an anticipation in not knowing that felt much like my first day. As we started the class I felt I needed to go slow and be very gentle. As the class progressed I realized that gentle was becoming subtle. Subtle and effective technique and alignment. I worked smart through the 90 minute class.
When I came out of class at the end I said to Tobin, “It’s like I am seeing the world in HD after this yoga. Everything is bright, beautiful, and harmonious in this way that I can not see if I do not reflect and see myself the way I do when I practice this yoga. I truly felt I was brought back to life after a whole day of travel to New Zealand.
If you have not tried Bikram Yoga before, try it. You just must try, but not like one time. Sometimes I hear people tell me “oh I tried that yoga it was hot I didn’t like it”, or oh “I didn’t like the mirrors”, or “the lights were to bright.” The thing is to try you really must go for about a month. Probably before the one month is up you will begin to feel the glorious effects of this class, but you need to give it a little time. Look at it this way. If your doctor prescribed you physical therapy for your knee you probably wouldn’t go one or just two times and then throw in the towel and decide it didn’t work. You would follow through with the prescription for maximum effectiveness. That’s what you must do with any yoga practice. Don’t give up. Just keep showing up and see how your life will change for the better forever.
This is not a fad. I’m over seven years in and am still blown away by how good I feel every single day."
-Ashley Hunter Renwick
@ashley_in_love
Yoga for Veterans
Originally posted on January 16, 2018
Meet Rick!
Rick decided to give Bikram yoga a try (after much trepidation) in 2008.
“I was in for a rude awakening. Halfway through the class, the room started closing in on me, the heat was unbearable, I couldn’t breathe…" Rick tried to leave the room, but the teacher convinced him to stay.
“After I recovered and was walking out the door, not believing I just got my a$$ kicked at yoga, I heard a voice say ‘See you tomorrow!’" Rick’s immediate response was, “Like hell you will.” (Whether or not this was said out loud is debatable.)
Rick couldn’t believe that he found something that he couldn’t do – and that that something was yoga. Rick ended up coming back the next day and he eventually began a regular practice.
“I was always destined to be here, the way I’ve lived my life.” By his 3rd year of practicing, Rick was off pain medication and had stopped drinking. He could run and swim much better, and he was started to gain more flexibility. He also says that his interactions with people have vastly improved. He now has lots of yoga friends.
Rick strongly encourages other veterans to practice yoga to help with injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. “I still have a long way to go, but my quality of life has drastically improved. I only wish that I had started practicing much sooner. It’s a lifelong process, and I’m proud to say that I’m a yogi.”
Yoga for Eczema
Orginally posted on January 09, 2018
Meet Erin!
Bikram Yoga cured my eczema!
Eczema consumed my life since I was a child; I was constantly using steroid creams and on and off steroids pills. Eczema dominated my thoughts and I felt like I had no control over it. When I started bikram yoga in 2012, my eczema virtually disappeared after less than a week. I only take a few classes a week, but I have never had a problem with eczema since.
Not only does Bikram yoga offer fantastic exercise and meditation, it has also freed me from the eczema that caused me sleepless nights and distracted days. I am so thankful to have found this yoga - I recommend it to everyone!
Yoga for Open Mindedness
Originally posted on December 28, 2017
Meet Clinton!
"I went to Bikram Yoga Richmond because I needed to stretch. I had old football injuries that also needed attention. I found much more. I now had a solid plan to address old injuries, but other health issues as well. The numbers from my doctor began to lower and stabilize. My flexibility greatly improved as a ‘friend’ said I looked like a brick when I came in. I know I don’t look like the typical yogi, but I stuck with it and it paid off. Just as tough as football practice. I believe it’s true that nothing worthwhile comes easy. This yoga community is always positive and a fun bunch to be around. I have learned a great deal here about my mind, body, and spirit. For me, it's a gift from the Divine. I feel my horizon has expanded as I am more open minded about life. The possibilities are endless and I encourage all to give it a try."
Clinton would also like to give a shout out to whoever found his prescription eye glasses. It saved him from buying another pair.
Yoga for Flexibility and Healing
Originally posted on December 26, 2018
Meet Susan!
"I took my first Bikram class in 2013. Since I was a dedicated runner/exerciser, I worried more about the heat than the class itself. Little did I know that years of running and essentially doing everything else except yoga had left me with all the flexibility of an ironing board (maybe slightly less). Needless to say, that first class was very humbling. Since I love a challenge, I came back determined to have a better experience. Bikram has definitely healed my body (all those years of running have definitely taken their toll) but I didn’t know how healing it would be for my mind. The practice has helped me handle stress, making me calmer, happier, and more patient. Despite the consistency of the practice itself (the same 26 postures in the same order), every class is a unique experience and challenging in its own way. I hope to continue my Bikram practice for the rest of my life; my only regret is that I didn’t start sooner!"
Yoga as Community
Originally posted on November 28, 2018
Meet Martha!
“When I walked into the Stony Point studio in July 2004, I had no idea the impact that decision would have on my life. I was looking for a little exercise but ended up with a whole new community of "yoga buddies" to share this incredible journey with. Class was hard that first day, and class is still hard, but Bikram yoga puts things back where they're supposed to be. I've been in class in a boot, while dealing with emotional stress, after falling down a flight of stairs and getting over jet lag (Those are separate events--not all at the same time!). It has taught me to breathe, to push, when to back off and it's still trying to teach me to focus and to know when to let go. Of course it's physical and I appreciate my strength, flexibility and endurance, but the mental conditioning is even greater. Soooooo, a great community, an inspiring teaching staff, a lovely studio and a series that NEVER fails to challenge me... what more can I ask?”
Yoga for Trauma
Originally posted on November 27, 2018
"RULE YOUR MIND OR IT WILL RULE YOU” — BUDDHA
Meet Nicky!
Yoga has been teaching me how to control my mind and be still. To share my story a bit...I started doing yoga randomly when I lived in San Francisco but I fell in love with it when I moved to Richmond 6 years ago. I was a newbie and did not know much around the area. I started looking for a yoga studio near where I lived and I found Bikram Hot Yoga! Since then, I fell in love with it and I kept coming back for more. Especially it really cured me after I had a horrible car accident a couple of years ago. I was hurt, sad, and depressed. Mostly I was very angry at the guy who caused the accident. My body was messed up and in a lot of pain but yoga helped me pass through my pain and anger and I was truly grateful for that. From that experience I learned listening to my body better and controlling my mind and thoughts. What I love about Bikram yoga is that when I am in class, it is my time to meditate and think about nothing but myself. The best part is that I feel GOOD after a hot sweaty class for sure!!!
Yoga for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Originally posted on November 21, 2017
Meet Karen!
"Bikram Yoga has changed my life……physically, mentally, and emotionally. Three months ago, I came into the studio with chronic knee, feet and hand pain brought on by rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosed in June 2017).
I was an avid runner for 35 years but due to chronic feet and knee pain, I had to stop. I was so discouraged and thought 'what will I do that will give me the challenging workout running 4-6 miles a day and training for ½ marathons does.'
I have been doing Bikram Hot Yoga in Richmond for three months. Previously, I had done Vinyasa & Yin yoga and enjoyed all of the benefits of yoga, but Bikram is different. The benefits of the heat and a 90 minute practice exceed the benefits of a regular yoga practice. Bikram helps my aching joints every single time I practice. When I depart the yoga studio, I feel stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is hard to admit, but Bikram Yoga has given me an even better high than running. It is the best workout that my mind and body has ever done!"
Yoga Heals
Meet Kara Wood!
"I stumbled into hot yoga 12 years ago (2005) with a running injury—I had pulled the IT band in my left leg. I decided yoga would be healing and I would pick up running as soon as I was better. Well, heal I did! First the physical and then the mental. That's right, yoga affected every corner of my brain. It didn't happen in 1 class. The transformation is still happening. Yoga has taught me patience, how to embrace every moment, become more humble, and the realization that with the mind body connection (yes, there really is one) you can heal any chronic condition. I suffered for most of my life with chronic back pain. 5 years ago I I learned I also had severe osteoporosis. Yoga gave me the mental clarity and wisdom to find the cure for both my chronic back pain as well as the osteoporosis. Just last Monday I saw my doctor and she still shakes her head in disbelief. Manifest the outcome you wish and it will happen. Namaste."
The Greshams: Yogi Family
Meet the Gresham family!
"Our family has been practicing at Hot Yoga Richmond for two years. We have experienced inner and outer transformations, due to this yoga practice. We are so grateful to be a part of such an inspiring yoga community."
Life- Changing Yoga
Meet Lucy Homiller:
"This was my fifth birthday celebration as a Hot Yoga Richmond student and I feel better than I did the first day I came. HYR is my soft place to fall. I come here when I'm happy or sad, healthy or injured, well-rested or tired and it has never let me down. I'm a 5:30am-er to the core and I adore the teachers and students who venture out of their comfortable beds and comfort zones to better their days with yoga. I could not be more grateful to have hot yoga in my life."
Commuting Yogi
Meet Josh Howell who drives an hour EACH WAY to get his yoga in!
"As a frequent business traveler, I found myself looking for a consistent fitness regimen. Hotel treadmills were not cutting it. In April, on an international business trip, I happened to see a sign for Bikram Yoga just blocks from my hotel. A 6:00 am class was offered and I went with zero expectations. After my trip, I found myself home and craving the practice. The closest practice to me is Hot Yoga Richmond and an hour commute each way. My first experience with HYR at the end of April was extremely positive. Full classes, energetic instructors and supportive practitioners all striving for the mental and physical benefits a consistent practice enables. While most people react with shock that I would drive an hour each way a couple times a week, I see it as a small trade off for the mental and physical dividends I've experienced."
Yoga for Runners
Meet Courtney:
"I started hot yoga in February 2011 as a form of cross-training for distance running. Admittedly, I was skeptical and didn't consider yoga a workout. I was wrong. And then I fell in love with it. When I moved from Dallas, TX to Richmond in May 2012, I continued my practice at HYR and immediately loved the sense of community it provided as a newbie to town. I'm running more recreationally than competitively these days, but yoga still helps keep me stretched and limber, and has also greatly improved my balance (yay trail running!), breathing and probably most importantly - stress levels and attitude. I know on even the worst days when I really, REALLY don't want to go to yoga that I'll leave feeling so much better, both mentally and physically. So thanks HYR for keeping me happy, healthy and sane!"
