TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR MEMBERS

This month marks my two year anniversary for my practice.  I recall two years ago during our Thanksgiving visit to my sister’s in Washington D.C.; she invited me to a Bikram hot yoga class so that we could burn off our thanksgiving calories.  I felt like I was having an asthma attack, constantly gasping for air, but I made it through the entire class.
As soon as we returned, I signed up, and I’ve been coming ever since.  I had to take full ownership of my own wellbeing, and I made up my mind to make an investment in my own health.  It started out a couple times a week and I’ve been consistently coming 5 to 6 times a week.  My motto is simple:  “Just Show Up!”  Over a period of consistent practice and a lot of aches, pains and bruises I am amazed at the overall results: I have lost 25 pounds, my blood pressure is great, I have low cholesterol, and my resting pulse is in the low 50’s. I now can even do postures that I’ve never thought I could do.
I like going to class, since everyone is different, it’s inspirational to see others in their own practice which gives me the energy to keep going on the days that I have no energy.   I also get to learn from others and from their experiences which helps me.  But, most of all, I get some great teachings from our teachers and I try to listen and do it. I am truly grateful for the studio‘s authentic Bikram teaching and all the other great practitioners.  Not only is Bikram very therapeutic and detoxifying for me, it’s also the perfect balance between mind and body, yin and yan, strength and balance.  I get a whole workout all the way down to the cellular level which I had never experienced before.  Over time I have really grown to appreciate my practice more and more every day.

Judy

December 2009

Greg and Jamesina

I'll cut to the chase: Bikram's Yoga simply works for me. I
became a Bikram's "regular" back in December of 2008. As
a competitive runner, I've definitely heard plenty of advice
on the benefits of core strength, not only for injury
prevention, but all-around health. I feel that Bikram gives
me the perfect balance of all-around strength and fitness
and lays the foundation upon which I can progress in
abilities as an athlete. One of the best things I like about
the routine is that in order to get an excellent flexibility and
strength workout, I don't need to devise an elaborate
routine and debate about how long I should keep in each
posture. Simply show up and do what the instructor says.
I had actually been to a Bikram's class over a year earlier (at
the downtown location back in 2007, when there were still
two in town) and remember drinking so much water during
that session that the instructor felt bad for me and actually
went out of the room to refill my bottle halfway through -
aw! It was so difficult for me that I just never worked up
the courage to give it another shot. Jump forward to over a
year later - my fiance (now wife!) and I were seeking out
some activities we could do together. We started regular
practice in late December, and two days after Christmas, I decided to give the 60 day challenge a go. It kicked my butt at
times (especially the "makeup" days where I went twice) but was really good for me. At times I thought I might be the
only grad student alive pulling myself out of bed at 5:30 to hit that 6 am class, but it's definitely a good feeling once
you're done. Life as a grad student at UNM definitely takes its toll on my free time (I'm studying Electrical & Computer
Engineering), but I've found that you can always make time for the things that are really important to you.
Anyone who's watched me do spine twisting posture will know how hopelessly inflexible I am, though I can do awkward
posture with the best of them. (I should really challenge James to an awkward-off, that would be fun.) Wait... what
does that say about me if the only posture I can do well is called awkward??? But the lack of flexibility is all the more
reason for me to keep at it. I believe that what I lack in flexibility, I strive to make up for in effort in each and every
class. I try to carry that philosophy over to the rest of my life - in my relationships, my running, and my work.

Greg

October 2009At first, I was attracted to yoga because I thought it would make me flexible. I knew increased flexibility would improve
my running, and ever since I had participated in middle school gymnastics, I was particularly excited about being able to
do the splits (which I still have never quite accomplished).
I started out by going to a college gym for yoga. It was... as could be expected from a gym yoga class. Over the next
couple years, however, yoga was becoming more popular and mainstream, and before long there were 4 different yoga
instructors and a slew of classes offered. At least then it was in a separate private room, instead of in the middle of the
basketball courts.
Emily quickly became my favorite teacher. She had studied Jivamukti Yoga under David and Shannon in New York City. I
was vegetarian at he time and quite excited about the "spread love and peace to all beings" aspect of Jivamukti. But
more than anything, her classes were much more intense and rewarding than any of the other generic American hatha
yoga classes.
When I moved to Albuquerque, I was lost without my gym yoga and rather randomly decided to give a Bikram yoga class
a try. I can't say I liked it the first time. I attended classes sporadically the first 6 months. The heat level was annoying.
But after my husband rather immediately decided to attempt the 60-day challenge, I couldn't let this newbie to yoga
out-do me, and I started attending more regularly. Wow, am I glad I did! Not only has my posture improved, but for
once yoga is increasing my flexibility at a faster rate than my marathon training is stiffening me up. Not to mention all of
the internal benefits we all can tell is going on during and after a Bikram class.
I really can't wait to experience what the next year and hopefully lifetime of Bikram classes will do for me. Who knows...
maybe I'll even go to teacher training someday.

Jamesina

October 2009

Suzan Rivera with Father

A DREAM COME TRUE!
It was the beginning of another wonderful yoga class when Jeannette, the owner of
Bikram's Yoga, asked if she could talk to me after class. Gosh, I couldn't think of why she
wanted to talk to me. Was I not locking my knees? OMAGA!!!!!

After class, Jeanette informed me that I had been selected "Student of the Month." I was humbled, as there are so many students who are much more worthy of this honor than I. Here is my testimony: My niece, Annie Day, invited me to join her for the ten-day

challenge.  I was getting married in a month and wanted to look my best so it sounded like a great idea. I was recovering from a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after having been positively diagnosed with the BRACA 1 gene. It had only been a month since my surgery when my doctor told me I could not play tennis or run for another six to eight weeks.  He gave me the thumbs-up for yoga. Wow - this was the most difficult class I had ever been to. I knew I would do whatever it took to complete this challenge. As the days passed, I started noticing changes in my body, mind and spirit. Hey, I'm lovin' this Bikram Yoga!

My wedding day was the most wonderful day of my life. I felt like a million bucks walking down the isle to marry the man of my dreams.  I want to thank Jeanette, James, Darcy and Kim who have been and will continue to be my mentors. Bikram Yoga will always be an important part of my life. In my dreams, I would one day love to be a Bikram instructor. For now I will treasure each moment when my husband compliments me on how great I look and how proud he is of me!

If I can do it, so can you. See ya in class!

I came to my first class in September 2007 because my daughter, Cathy had just gotten back from teacher training and had been insisting that I try the yoga. I finally gave in.  Two years earlier I had been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and as a result was on many prescription medications including prednisone.  I hurt badly in that first class, probably detoxifying my body from all of the medications I had been taking.  I was so hot and uncomfortable: I had never done anything like it before.  After my first class I was not sure about the yoga.  However, being so sick at that time I wanted to give this form of healing an honest try since nothing had worked so far.  I kept coming to class, about 4 times during those 10 days, hoping that this could possibly help my health.  Perhaps 2 weeks in to my regular practice, I began to notice improvements, my rheumatoid arthritis was hurting less, the swelling in my joints had come down.  Suddenly I had a sense of hope that maybe I could feel well again!  Over the course of the next year, I gradually weaned myself off of the medications I was taking.

To date I have done several challenges, my longest run was 103 classes.  I have stuck to my yoga because I keep experiencing the benefits.  In little ways, my body continues to heal with every class I take.  For someone who had almost given up and thought that I would spend the rest of my life in chronic illness, I can honestly say it has been a blessing (and quality of life saver) to find Bikram yoga. Thanks to all of my teachers and classmates for all of their support.  I don’t know what I would have done if I had not found you and the yoga. 

Maria Mondloch
June 2009

This coming November it will be five years that I have been coming to the studio.  I still remember coming in that first time and David Rogers showing me around and telling me about all the benefits of the postures and explaining the hot room.  I definitely knew I had some past injuries that I needed to work through and that my flexibility could stand improvement. Why not give it a try?
I found the first six months of classes extremely challenging.  There were postures I couldn’t even come close to doing and times when I realized the hard way what was best to eat and drink during the time leading up to class. 
At the time of time of this writing, I have just completed two back to back 60 day challenges.  But why? I realized at the end of 2008 that my practice wasn’t as strong as it should be after four years.   In fact my attendance had dropped to only a couple of times a week due to travel.  I decided it was time to improve my practice and try to get to that next level.
I started with a 30 day challenge because this sounded easier than a 60 day challenge.  I then added subsequent 30 day challenges.  I have never felt better.  I have lost weight, and have noticed marked improvement in my strength, muscle tone, and endurance.  My health has also been excellent.
There are still postures I struggle with but there are none that I think are impossible.  The key, as we are all told, is to come in and do the best you can do every class.  This doesn’t mean that there can’t be big differences in classes from one day to the next.  In fact I am amazed at how different classes can be.  I am however finding that as my practice improves that I have more days that I feel super afterwards.
I am so happy to be part of a studio where the owner strives to make this a studio we all can be proud of.  This is reflected in a nice environment to practice and through instructors that “walk the walk.”   All of the instructors are encouraging, knowledgeable, and believe in what they are doing.  There are also few classes that you don’t see instructors taking classes along with everyone else.
And let us not forget all the other students and their friendly faces.  I am inspired and encouraged not only by those that have been coming for a while but also by those that can stay in the room during that first class.  After all, we all started with a first class.

Brent Shipp

April 2009

Yoga! Stretching! Are you kidding? I am a triathlete, not a chanting contortionist! So what if I can’t touch my toes, and truth be told, I can barely touch my knees, but still Yoga? I don’t care if my friend and animal rock climber Sarah swears by it, just leave me out of it!

Yes, that was me last July, and while I know no other men are stubborn like that, even I acquiesced after one more running injury bollixed most of my racing season. I still remember my first class. I came early and let my mat mates know that I was a jock and pretty skeptical about this whole thing. Well on one side was Wes, who has run something like 8000 marathons, and on the other Linda, who has a physique that clearly has athlete written all over it. Hmm, I remember thinking, maybe there is something to this!

So off we go. First posture. Yes, I know how to breathe. Can’t we get a move on? Uh oh, second set, why are my triceps feeling this? Why am I tipping over? Second posture. Why can’t I elongate like the others? And, backward bend. Arg, are they kidding? Then head to knee with hands under my heels. Whoops almost fell over. Hey, this is hard!

And that was in the first ten minutes! Ninety minutes later I was a dripping mess, grinning from ear to ear. My legs shook like they had a mind of their own during several postures, and my entire body had said “no mas” several times, but all the areas those years of running and cycling had made so brittle had been worked hard in a way that I knew was restorative. My heart that so proudly rests at 36 beats a minute had topped out like I was sprinting up La Luz. Yes, I was hooked.

So where am I seven months into this? I still love it after averaging 5-6 classes a week, including the logistically “impossible” 60 day challenge. A more difficult challenge is capturing the essence of what it has meant for me. Yes, the physical benefits are nothing less than transformational. Yes, it demands focus. To even try and “check out” will leave you at the mercy of the all-knowing instructors. And how do they always know?! 

Yet, like so many of us who work so hard to fit this into our schedules, I know it is more. This is one of the most thoughtful and kind communities you will ever find. Totally dedicated to improving themselves, they are at the same time incredibly compassionate and selfless in their energy. I know first-hand, as this crew has been there for me as my life has taken some fairly unusual tacks these days.

So while I am glad to report that my hands can wander within striking distance of my toes, and I am running, cycling, and swimming injury free, the “why” of it for me is the other crazy people in that room. They are beacons of life and living, and as such, a community that I am thrilled and proud to be a part of.  

Ted Balph

Albuquerque Feburary 2009

Today I turned 55, and I feel fantastic!
When I came to Bikram’s Yoga 10 months ago, I was one of those people who after the first class said, “That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life!” followed by, “When’s the next class?”  For exercise, I had been running 5 days a week, but after some time (and a dog-walking mishap) my hips and knees were really bothering me.  I knew that I needed to do something to increase my flexibility as well as strength, and have found that this yoga accomplishes both of those needs for me. 
I’m also one of those people who stores tension in my neck and shoulder area, but after a few months of practicing Bikram’s, even my chiropractor commented on how much my upper body strength and musculature have improved.  I’m becoming more self aware and in tune with my body, and now don’t need to get chiropractic adjustments as often.  Every day I am becoming stronger and feeling more balanced, both physically and mentally.
Recently, I finished the 60 day challenge thanks to the help and encouragement of all the teachers and the kind support of my classmates.   What a great sense of accomplishment that was!
Though I still have days when I feel like the proverbial canary in the coal mine (does anyone else in here feeling like they’re going to die?!), I can usually take a few long, slow breaths and the panic subsides.
I am thankful that I have finally found a holistic exercise regime that I will be able to do for the rest of my life.
I love this hot, sweaty, satisfying Bikram’s Yoga!!!

Mary Niccum, 55

December 2008

Wow!  It’s been a year since I started my Bikram Yoga practice, and what a year it’s been.  If anyone had told me last December what  Bikram yoga would do for me, I would have laughed (it would be one of the few things I would have to laugh about).
     My sister, Diana, had some serious talking to do to convince me to try out the ”crazy” yoga that she heard about to help with her unflexible knee.  She told me I had nothing to lose, she would even pay for my first 10 classes.  I told her she was crazy!  My sciatica was so bad I couldn’t even stand for five minutes, and the rest of my spine was in such bad shape I couldn’t stand straight and it hurt to sit.  How was I going to do 90 minutes of yoga?  I finally ran out of excuses, so I gave in and we went to our first class.
     Heather taught my first class.  She said the goal for the first class was just to stay in the room for the 90 minutes.  But her energetic, enthusiastic, calming way of teaching had me trying all the postures.  My Balancing Stick was very much a broken umbrella, the backbends were no more than letting my head drop backward, and the spine strengthening series only got a couple of inches off the ground, but I stayed in the room!
     I went to eight of my first tem classes.  After day five I decided that I was not going to die and I actually felt better.  So I decided if this didn’t kill me, it just might heal me.  By the end of December I was able to start getting off some of the medication I was taking for the deteriorating disks in my cervical spine and in the lumbar.  At the end of January, I was off both my pain meds, my muscle relaxers, sleeping pill and even most of my allergy meds!  I was also able to start weaning off a particularly nasty medication I was on for the nerve damage done to the ulnar nerves in both hands.  By the end of March, I was off all my meds, except for my blood pressure (the doctor was resistant to me quitting that one).  My blood pressure was down from 142/94 to 120/75 though, and I was down 15 pounds.
     Then in April I was hit with a setback.  I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol.  I was able to convince my doctor to give me some time to try and get them down without medication.  Three months later my fasting blood sugar was down from 142 to 110, and my post meal was down from 194 to about 105 and my cholesterol was down from 242 to 138!  I was now almost normal with my blood sugar and normal with my cholesterol.  I didn’t have to go on medication.  By September my blood sugar had dropped into normal ranges of 95 fasting and 100 post meal and my weight was now down 26 lbs (not to mention that my tight size 10 clothes were now a loose size 4).
     I am very happy to say that at the end of my first year of Bikram Yoga, I have met my goal of getting off my medications for my weak, deteriorating spine and I am relatively pain free.  I have also had the added side benefits of the weight loss and a much firmer body, more energy, I sleep great, my body and spine are much stronger and I have controlled a new disease without medication!
     I am looking forward to the continued progress I know I will make in 2009, and will lose the last 15 pounds that I want to.  My outlook on life is much more positive which gives me the encouragement to do what I want.  I friend told me last week that I have a sparkle in my eyes that has not been there for a long time.  Wow!  What a year it’s been!

Rose Furlong, Albuquerque

Janurary 2009

My first inspiration was, Mary, a friend I hadn’t seen in about a year.  I almost didn’t recognize her.  She looked physically transformed.  What had she done?  She told me about her months in Bikram’s Beginning Yoga classes, how she had lost weight and that her health overall continued to improve.  If Bikram’s yoga had worked for Mary, maybe it could help me.  At the age of 51, after failing at all different forms of exercise and various health regimes, little did I know when I hobbled into my first yoga class with a broken right foot, exhausted and desperate to lose weight that encouragement was on its way.  My goal was to just get through the first day.

The next thing I knew it was a week later and I was seven pounds lighter.  Wow!  I couldn’t believe it.  I had my motivation to get through the next week.  I started noticing other changes. I didn’t eat as much.  My clothes fit differently.  With each class, I was feeling a little stronger than the day before.  But by the third week, the changes in my body took another turn.  The heat during some classes accelerated hot flashes, which made me nauseated.  I couldn’t do all the postures because my foot hurt.  But every instructor encouraged me to continue, to press through, to remain in class even if it meant that some days were not as good as others.  Once I made it to thirty days, I made up my mind to finish the 60 Day Challenge!

I am happy to report that at the end of sixty day, I’ve lost twenty pounds and more than ten inches cumulatively.  I have energy again and physical movement I haven’t had in my body since before two major abdominal surgeries five years ago.  Last week my podiatrist told me that my broken foot is almost healed and that I had remarkable flexibility.  My goal now is to lose the remaining twenty pounds.  Many thanks to all the instructors who’ve helped me make Bikram’s Yoga a lifestyle.

Rebecca Hilliard, Albuquerque

Novemver 2008

Tell your story!

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"I had not practiced any form of yoga but I was intrigued and interested to learn more about Bikram's Yoga. However, I needed to be realistic about practicing in extreme warm temperatures because I have Multiple Sclerosis. I feared that my practice in a studio heated to 105 degrees would initiate one of many MS symptoms and I would have to stop my yoga practice. Given my fear and my thirty-five year history with MS I sadly let go of the idea of becoming a Bikram's Yoga student.

"One morning this little voice in my head told me to just try a Bikram's Yoga class. Yoga was unfamiliar to me but I cautiously stepped into the studio and began my practice. At first I attended class once or twice per week. Amazingly, I enjoyed my practice and wanted to attend as much as I could. After each class my body felt stronger and my mind was more at ease. I increased my practice to four or five days per week. Over time I observed changes to my body, a sense of strength, steadiness, flexibility, and I experienced less pain within my body. I fell in love with practicing Bikram's Yoga.

"One day David asked if I ever thought about participating in the 60 Day Challenge. I responded negatively because I felt I was doing enough yoga by participating 5-6 days/week and that served as my challenge. David was persistent and felt I should consider doing the Challenge. I pondered David's suggestion for many days and within that time I realized I was facing a couple of my fears; that the postures would be too challenging, and/or my MS symptoms would surface and halt my practice.

"October 2, 2004 I went to yoga and committed to practicing the 60 Day Bikram's Yoga Challenge. I had faith in myself and knew I could complete the Challenge, but as I began the Challenge something felt different. While I was cruising along, practicing yoga 5-6 days per week I realized that I was becoming complacent, simply satisfied with daily accomplishments. I began the 60 Day Challenge and noted that I had relaxed my yoga focus. I gained a new focus, used the yoga postures to achieve balance between my mind, body, spirit, and found that I could go deeper into some of the postures. I am a very proud, 60 year old yogini! Thanks David for your gentle suggestion!

"Many thanks to David, Shea and Letitia for their knowledge, professionalism, and compassion. They provided a unique experience for my first yoga practice, and more specifically, continue to guide my journey into Bikram's Yoga."

 ~ Gwen Walker, 60, Old Town, Albuquerque

"I have noticed significant strength and flexibility improvements in my body since I started Bikram's Yoga. It has also provided me with a sense of emotional and spiritual stability in a trying time. I look forward to practicing for years to come. This is just the beginning. Thanks, Bikram's Yoga!"

 ~ Jeff Cohen

"It's said that the best part of a Bikram's Yoga class is when it's over. My husband and I have been practicing Bikram's Yoga for almost a year now, and we agree. But it's what keeps us coming back – we love the results. It's is the toughest thing we've ever done – this is not incense-burning, bell-chiming yoga, it's more like boot-camp yoga - a strenuous, full body workout, and the more you do it, the more you learn about yourself, your body and your capabilities.

"Allan suffered acute neck and back pain for years and tried drugs, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, even whining, but nothing consistently worked. In March I tried a Bikram's class and was so impressed he agreed to go the next day. I never thought I'd see my fighter pilot/airline pilot husband try yoga, but he was at his wits end. After that first class he felt relief, and even though we don't come as consistently as we'd like because our jobs as pilots take us away, he is virtually pain-free and we've both been amazed at our progress.

"We'd weight trained for years, but in the last year I haven't lifted a barbell. My muscles are still strong and my body is far more balanced. We feel healthy from the inside out. It's been a great thing to do as a couple.

"In my travels I've had the opportunity to take Bikram's classes in Australia, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and around the US. I love the worldwide accessibility of this discipline, but of course there's nothing like your home studio – David and Letitia, Shea and Brian have all been such great mentors. We're total converts."

 ~ Alison and Allan Gabel, 45 & 47, NE Heights, Albuquerque

'I have been consistently practicing Bikram Yoga for more than three years now. In that time, I have seen amazing transformations in both my body and mind. I've been an athlete all my life, mostly as a runner. Before practicing Bikram I began to notice the wear and tear on my body, especially in my knees. My first few classes were brutal, but I kept at it. With every class I noticed how much more I could do and how much better I felt during the session and throughout the rest of the day.

Recently, I flew to Los Angeles to have a series of fitness testes done. The trainers who took me through the testing were amazed at my physical conditioning. They said that I am in the condition of an elite athlete. My resting heart rate is under 49. I told them it is due to Bikram Yoga!

At this point, Bikram is such a part of my life that I visit other studios wherever I travel and I always try to recruit friends and family to experience the same benefits I have from the practice.'

- Cecily Scott

"Everyone who walks through the door to take their 1st Bikram's class has some doubts as to whether this might be a good fit into their exercise program. For me, I was very concerned about my knees. Having had 4 sugeries involving both knees, I am left with advanced arthritis and a displaced kneecap on the right and surgical removal of my left kneecap. In addition to doubt, I had fear that doing this series of poses would result in another surgery. Thanks to the personal interest and tremendous encouragement from the staff, consistent practice of Bikram's yoga has healed my knees to a degree I never thought possible.

"I have had to learn patience, as healing 54 yr old arthritic knees doesn't happen overnight. One of the most challenging "knee" poses has taken me a year to see significant progress. I find it amusing now that my knees begin to ache when I miss more than 2-3 days between classes.

"Another wonderful benefit of Bikram's yoga that I wasn't even looking for is learning how to completely clear my mind. Like most people, my professional and home life are full of "multi-tasking" taking care of my needs and others' needs. For 90 minutes, I have the opportunity to empty my brain of everything and focus only on listening to the instructor and doing what is said. It is extremely difficult to keep the mental clutter from seeping in. When I get through a class with close to 100% focus, I feel overwhelmed with the accomplishment. It adds another level of discipline to my life that I can practice at any time. I look forward to ongoing benefits of this tremendous and consistently challenging class as I live my life."

 ~ Anna Barnett, M.D., Albuquerque

"I began my Bikram's practice in July of 2004, with the intent to heal running-related injuries caused from putting in so much mileage from the track season. After all of the physical therapy and seeing the athletic trainer, these injuries were still hampering my performance. I asked my mom, a physical therapist, what else I could do and she replied, 'Try this yoga called Bikram's.' At first I thought to myself, 'Yoga, come on, I need something that will actually work.' I had this stereotype in my mind that yoga was not something a twenty year-old male would do but was and only for older people. I decided to try it and in my first class, I just about killed myself.

It was nothing like what I had expected. I must have sweated out a gallon of fluids and I left that room dizzy and my extremities were tingling. Besides the fact that it was the most intense hour and a half of stretching I had ever done, it gave me a serious muscular workout. I was sore the next day! Continuing my practice on a regular basis has provided me increased flexibility, strength and definition.

"More important than strength and flexibility is the mental strength that I get from Bikram's. I am currently in the Navy going through BUD/s (Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL Training) in San Diego, CA. I have gone through some of the most challenging moments of my life at this training and there are surely more to come. I could not have made it through Hellweek and do what we do everyday if not for the way Bikram's has shaped how I conduct myself. One thing that David said to me that I think about when I am in a tough spot is, 'your greatest source of strength and stamina is your own breath. When you're in a tough spot, follow your breath deep inside, slow it down, and build the internal sense of peace that is the true source of your strength'."

 ~ Craig White, 21, Albuquerque/San Diego

'After practicing Bikram Yoga for a year and feeling my body begin to change for the better I decided to start a great adventure: 60 days in a row of Bikram Yoga. The first 20 days went by for me pretty easily. I was psyched-up now and actually made progress. The middle 20 days were where the amazing wisdom of Bikram came to light for me. This was when yoga, Bikram's Yoga, began to visit and change every sports injury I had ever suffered. I had not been able to lock out my left knee and balance on that leg because of a torn ligament. In doing this yoga every day I became more and more able to balance on that leg. It was as if a genie were inside my body gradually reworking it.  The torn fascia of one foot prevented me from standing on my toes but gradually I am getting able to stand on my toes. The mangled wrist that prevented me from using my thumb in many ways is actually straightening out and my dexterity is improving. That wrist is on the same arm where I broke the forearm. The range of motion in that arm was restricted but it is improving. The arthritis in my shoulder from rotating large martial arts weapons is bothering me less and less as the muscles become stronger. As a matter of fact , now that I think of it, all of these changes seem to be related to more muscle strength.

The middle 20 days were the hardest. This was when the mind began saying that this whole thing was crazy, and that I didn't really have to do this. However, during these days the genie was at work not only in my body but in my mind. Concentration and determination were building just like deltoids and biceps. The need for concentration during every minute of the classes in order to breathe was becoming fixed and long-term for me. This was a time when my usual zazen began to be replaced by single point meditation for 90 minutes of every day.
 
Bottom line, The 60 Day Challenge changed all of me for the better. I finished the last day of my challenge two weeks before my 71st birthday.

- Allen Ferrel

"I decided to commit to take yoga class every day for sixty days as a way to prepare for the Bikram Yoga teacher training program. I had already practiced for 30 consecutive days, and I thought it would be good to do the Bikram Challenge - 60 days in a row! 
 
I really liked having an excuse to go every day for sixty days. I appreciated knowing I’d have that time for myself.  I’m at home full time with our two and five year old daughters, so carving out the time for yoga and setting up good care for them while I was in class was a challenge in itself.  I’d like to keep up the daily yoga schedule but I know I can’t.  One of my life challenges is balancing my time and energy and focus on the myriad of things I enjoy and love in my life.
 
Two years ago I left my career as a Manager at Sandia Labs to be home. I kind of lost touch with who I am – often only referred to as "Lauren's Mom", or "Halie’s Mom" or even just “Mom” by strangers.  The 60 day challenge helped me reconnect to myself and what I need.  I also learned that the days when I take care of myself through yoga I feel better prepared and happier to take care of my family."
 
~ Robyn Leland, Albuquerque

"Doing the challenge, coming to the studio consistently, finding new friends, learning to be more open to differences, is teaching me that strength alone will kill me. I need to add flexibility and balance to my life - physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Each day as I begin my practice I question why I am doing this, when will this torture be over - yet each day I come back. If these questionings do not disappear after a few postures I remind myself why I made the Bikram commitment in the first place. The commitment came during one practice when I was so unhappy with myself that I was thinking I should just leave. But I did not because I decided that I only need one reason to show up and to do my best - and that one reason is my family. The only gift I have control over is how healthy I can become. My commitment is to do all I can to be healthy (no strokes) so that I can be present for Jane, my children, their partners, and my grandchildren - to not be a burden - to be energetic - to be caring - to be the person I want to be."

 ~ Meg Cox, 62, Bernalillo