Filbert Montes

Certified Bikram Instructor

I was born over 54 years ago in Ruidoso, New Mexico a small ski and mountain town in southern New Mexico.  It was there where I learned to ski at a very young age and learned to love and appreciate athletics and  the great outdoors. Athletics and outdoor adventures have been a part of my life ever since.  I played every sport available in high school, continued to ski every chance I got and eventually came to the University of New Mexico on an athletic ski scholarship.  As many of you kniow I continue to ski alot and will probably be noticeably absent  during the winter. I absolutely love Taos New Mexico and perhaps will someday open a Bikram yoga studio there.
 
While I was at the University I also became increasingly interested in the sport of soccer and coaching in particular. I played alot of soccer, eventually earned every coaching license available at the state level and then even obtained a national level "C" license.  I coached many years at the club level here in Albuquerque and even coached at Eldorado High School for a year in the women's program.  In fact several of my former soccer players have already come to some of my classes since I became a Bikram yoga teacher.
 
I have never been one to shy away from anything physically challenging. For instance, without naming every challenge, let me give a few examples. In just three years while attending the University's law school I journaled over 10,000 miles of running at one of Albuquerque's most popular running spots, the UNM North golf course. Additionally, I have run over 20 full marathons, climbed several 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado, have completed over 20 full crossings of the Grand Canyon (over 20 miles each way), competed in both road bike and mountain bike races and competed  in numerous triatholons. My  most recent challenge was attending nine full weeks of Bikram yoga teacher training. Now you know a little bit about how I channel my drive, determination and yes somewhat intense personality. 
 
Even while teaching Bikram yoga I continue with my Law practice.  I have been a devoted lawyer and advocate for 25 years and continue to have a passion for helping others by being their advocate, their voice, in the legal system. The majority of my practice is representing injured workers  as a worker's compensation attorney. I am bilingual and hope someday to even teach a  Bikram yoga class in Spanish.
 
Yoga wise I have  studied and practiced  several forms of yoga prior to embarking on my Bikram yoga journey.  I began over 12 years ago with Iyengar yoga and was fortunate enough to even attend a yoga retreat with Iyengar himself.  I studied and practiced Ashtanga yoga for many years and have also practiced and studied Anasura yoga with John Friend,  power yoga with Baron Baptise and even Kundalini yoga. 
 
While seriously involved with  practicing Ashtanga yoga I was told by a fellow ashtangi about Bikram yoga and it was suggested that I would probably like Bikram yoga. Ashtanga yoga is also very physically demaning.  I researched it and found out that the first Albuquerque studio was scheduled to open in October of 2003. I was at the front door when David Rogers opened the studio for it's first class and basically haven't looked back since.  I have taken over 1000 Bikram classes and eventually decided to take the next step and go to teacher training.  Teacher training is another whole story in and of itself.
 
Personally, I have been blessed with three beautiful, wonderful talented children, Sarah, Evan and Nicole.  All three are now in their twenties and they have all practiced here in the Studio at times. 
I hope to see them here again soon.  I raised them as a single parent from the time my youngest was only seven as their mother passed away from cancer at a very young age.  In fact to share even further, my yoga journey actually started out as a way of helping me to deal with my grieving over that loss. 
 
At this time my life could not be better. I share my life with  a beautiful, loving, cute as a bug partner, Catha Hays, who many of you know from practicing here at the studio. My law career is incredibly rewarding and I absolutely love practicing and teaching Bikram yoga.  I look forward to continuing our yoga journey together.