Our teachers are fully certified Bikram Yoga instructors who spent 9 weeks immersed in an in-depth study of Bikram Yoga with Yoga Masters Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury and their staff of senior teachers. They did 2 classes a day, plus anatomical studies, for 6 days a week, for 9 weeks.  The course is the only way to become a qualified Bikram Yoga instructor.

SHAAN LIM (Studio Director)

My story of this yoga began in summer 2005 when I was referred to it by a good friend of mine. My first class was a torture! However I felt amazing after the first class and kept going back for more ‘torture’. I didn’t know why I kept going back, but after every class I always felt a great sense of achievement, and a good sense of well being.

Through my years of growing up, I always wanted to help people. I was always amazed at how the Bikram teachers taught; how much compassion they had for the students and I wanted to be just like them; to be able to help others achieve great health, to be able to help make the weak, strong again. I practiced Bikram yoga everyday and finally decided to go to teacher training in 2007 in Hawaii and have never looked back since.

The biggest challenge in coming to the hot room is not the heat; it is setting the intention to come to class and following through with it. The struggle in the hot room is something else, it is similar to something in life; never easy, always hard… By practising daily, I have discovered the secret of Bikram Yoga; I wake up everyday feeling so energized and ready for anything that comes my way! Now, as a Bikram Certified Instructor, my goal is to help people establish their Bikram Yoga practice, improve and heal their lives, regain their health, faith and most importantly, compassion in themselves.

JESSICA LOERA

I first tried Bikram yoga here in Melbourne when looking for a new exercise routine. I found it very challenging, but liked the sense of accomplishment that I got after every class, so stuck with it. I soon was looking for an even bigger challenge and decided to go to Teacher Training -- just to see if I could do it.

I completed my training in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2007. I swear that it's the hardest thing I've ever done, but maintain, that it was even more worth it than I could have ever imagined. During training, I realized that They were right- the intensive training regimen was truly a nine-week course is self-discovery.

Through the years, I have become much more self-actualized and have also come to realize that Bikram yoga is so much more than just a physical workout, that it truly is a personal journey of the body, mind and spirit.  Bikram Yoga teaches us that through faith, self-control, concentration, determination and patience we truly begin to develop our foundation of mental strength.

The most rewarding thing about being an instructor, is that I can now help other people to find their own true calling and to heal themselves through a consistent Bikram yoga practice.  It's hard to hide anything from yourself when you strip your mind bare and spend 90 minutes in a blistering-hot room. A person learns very quickly that excuses don't help and that only through 100% honest effort can you realize your goals (both inside and outside of the hot room).

"I'm happy to be doing something that I love. I can travel the world and teach class and help people to help themselves, while still learning more about myself every day. Through Bikram yoga, I have found contentment, happiness and health and I feel the best I've ever felt in my life".

ERIKA STEPHENSON

I always had a very poor immune system growing up and suffered with severe tonsillitis. After finally having my tonsils removed in 2009, I decided it was also about time I got my health back on track! It was then that I was encouraged by a close friend of mine (who is also a teacher) to try Bikram Yoga.

My first class was certainly overwhelming, but I loved it! Even after doing just one class, I immediately felt the benefits. As I went on and did more and more classes, I slowly became addicted to this yoga and how it left me feeling! My skin started to glow, my sleeping patterns improved greatly and I no longer suffered neck or back pain, which had always been an issue for me due to working on a computer all day.

After practicing for only 8 months, my health had improved tremendously. I could honestly say that I felt like a whole new person! This was when I decided to become a Bikram Yoga Teacher. I attended the Spring 2010 Teacher Training in Las Vegas, which was without doubt the hardest but most rewarding experience I have ever been through.

Of course there were days that I thought I could not go on, but our mantra was to “trust the process” and so that I did. I never imagined that three little words could mean so very much. Sometimes we simply have to just let go, trust the process of life and have faith in ourselves. I learnt to believe in myself and found strength inside me that I never even knew existed.

I believe we all have the power to achieve self-realization. Now I hope to inspire others through Bikram Yoga and motivate them to change their lives as I have mine. I am so enthused when I speak of Bikram Yoga to my family, friends and people I meet and try to encourage as many as I can to give it a try. I hope to share my experience and pass on what I have learnt to my students, so that they too have the ability to heal their mind, body and spirit. I truly feel honored to be able to teach this miraculous yoga practice!

JOANNE MCGRADY

I remember the very first time I did a Bikram yoga class..... it was in Jersey (Channel Islands) 2003. I woke up the following morning and remember that I hardly could move, my muscles were so tight and I recall thinking that I had experienced the hardest workout of my life – every part of me hurt, even to breathe, all of my muscles between my ribs were sore.  I later learnt that this was normal and the feeling normal, just the intercostals muscles being stretched, as they had never been stretched that much before. Although I have always worked out in a variety of ways and have loved the challenge of trying new sports, I felt differently after my first Bikram yoga experience, very differently!

Something in me wanted to go back and do another class.....  I felt great within myself!!

After coming to Melbourne a year later I found Bikram yoga again and began practising – I just loved it!! I started only doing 1 class per week, this grew into 2, then 3 and before I knew it I found myself wanting to become a teacher and teach other people this amazing, healing, powerful yoga, not only physically but mentally also.

I was managing a swim school at the time but after 4 more years of doing this and loving the job, I knew that my passion lay in yoga so I saved up and took a huge leap of faith, enrolled onto the Spring 2010 teacher training course in Las Vegas, left my full time job with the vision that when I came home to Australia, I would be coming back as a Bikram yoga teacher... WOW!!! My dream...

I remember been told from my teachers that the Teacher Training Course was the most difficult thing they have ever done - physically, emotionally and mentally  so I tried to prepare myself but in all honesty no amount of preparation could be done for  the nine weeks ahead. It truly was one of the most difficult things I have done in all aspects but it taught me so much about myself. I have gained a new sense of respect for myself and others, patience and a much deeper love for myself any every other person in my life. I cannot thank Bikram enough for teaching me these things.

The way I look at it is like this - if I am able to teach and help heal a person then that’s great! But teaching and doing something that I love, and being given the opportunity to see and feel the results in my students from practicing this therapy in an absolute blessing, and I am so thankful that I am able to do that!!

Just remember – “It’s never too late, it’s never too bad, and you’re never too old or too sick to start from scratch once again. “  Bikram Choudhury

I look forward to practicing with you and teaching you..... see you soon.

DIKLA VITKIN

I picked a flyer at the Library one day, about this Bikram hot yoga. Thinking to myself how come I didn’t hear about it before, It made so much sense to me doing yoga in the heat so you can soften and stretch your muscles safely. I hurt my back years ago practicing another form of yoga and had to go through physiotherapy. It wasn’t fun at all, feeling a tiny bit of the pain and discomfort that people with serious back problems go through; like my mum who lives with pain for many years going through five operations in her back…

Bikram says that the spine is a source of energy in the body. If you take a piece of steel and soften it with heat you can reshape it and create a new product. Exactly the same you can do with your body. I was very surprised to have such a quick changes in my body, my skin, and my soul, and more amazed I was to see what it did to my mum with her broken body, from the start she felt more alive and painless. With this spirit I took off to Los Angeles, USA, the Bikram yoga teacher training spring 2011. It was such an amazing body-mind-spirit journey I will never forget.

Since I have started practicing Bikram yoga I feel so much healthier, happier and calmer. I have no doubt that this yoga really works. I’m trying to practice as much as I can between the duties of being a mum, a graphic designer and graphic software instructor. My plan is to have less hours in front of a computer and be a full time yoga teacher, meaning more in the hot room.

Bikram says “You never to old, you never to sick, you never to late to do yoga” so you can heal yourself Body-Mind-Spirit. It will be my pleasure and honor to guide you through this process of self realization.

NATALIE TRAN

My first Bikram yoga class was back in November 2009. My friend, who is also now a teacher, came over to my place one hot afternoon all sweaty and red like she had been running around the block. The next day we went and I absolutely loved it. I signed onto a 30 day challenge and never looked back! I recently completed my training this year, 2011. The 9 weeks of intense training comprised of 2 daily yoga classes , lectures from Bikram himself and senior staff, anatomy classes and the occasional Bollywood movie with 400+ people from all over the world was the most fun and memorable experience in my life so far.
 
Why Bikram Yoga? I love the heat. It's great way to cleanse the body, detoxify and is a great whole body work out- inside out, from bones to skin! Though it's the same 26 postures every time, I always find it a challenge. Practicing Bikram Yoga has taught me more patience, determination, self control and is a big stress reliever. I practice 4-5 times a week and teach as many classes as possible, currently 5-6 per week. My favorite posture is Camel.  I like the 360 degree backward bending- If you feel a bit dizzy, then you know you're doing it right! 

Something non-Bikram related- I recently left my full time job working for an Australian telco company after 7 and 1/2 years. I have a Diploma in Business Marketing and am completing a Bachelor of Commerce - majoring in Accounting & Business Law at Curtin University. I am also a big Harry Potter fan!

As a teacher I am here to guide you through your practice and am keen to watch students progress. Teaching Bikram yoga is not just a job, but a hobby, I always look forward to coming into the studio. Watching students struggle in class and make it through the 90 minutes with a smile on their face at the end is great. Having students thank me and keep coming back class after class is a fantastic feeling as I know I have done my job. Teaching Bikram Yoga is most fulfilling and I hope to be able to teach it for a very long time!

ALISA STEENS

Fell in love with Bikram yoga instantly! My first class was like, whoa... I love it! At the time we used to live in Dubai and I worked as a radio DJ. My family and I just moved in the country and studied travel and tourism. It was a lot to chew and eventually got to me, stressing out, tired all the time and totally messed up.  After my scenario at work when I froze ON AIR, my boss talked to me and said “I think you should try Bikram Yoga “. Of course I had no idea what Bikram yoga was, although I had tried other forms of yoga when we lived in New Zealand.

My first class was great! I loved every moment of it, so I went back the very next day. Then it hit me hard! Struggled the whole time, thought I was going to die, hated every minute of it, felt sick and yes.. I wanted to kill that yoga teacher hahaha.. Didn’t go back for a few days, but for some strange reason - my body and my mind was yearning for it. So I thought maybe it’s not as bad as I thought and should really give it another go. That was it! I never looked back since.

Three years of practice, after Shaan took me to Craig Villani’s seminar – it just clicked! That I wanted do this. This practice saved my life in so many ways and wanted to share this to the world and help people to be healthy, happy and enjoy life. LIVE THIER BEST LIFE!

I completed my teacher- training in Los Angeles, in spring of 2011 and it was the most intense and the most difficult experience I have ever done in my life. But then I came to realise that it was actually my process of self- realization and self- discovery, the real journey of my life.

Bikram yoga is not just a physical achievement, it goes beyond that. At first, beginner students will feel the physical benefit of it (absolutely). The intermediate students will start receiving the mental benefit of the practice as they understand the connection between their mind and their body. You make that connection using your breath. Then for those who have been practicing for some time, it does become spiritual practice. When mind and body connects, its magic, and that’s spiritual for me. Yes, it’s the same 26 postures every time, same heat etc. but every day you come in, your body is different. And that’s the real challenge, it’s not always going to be easy. In fact it’s very difficult physically, mentally and emotionally but the thing about Bikram yoga is.. it works naturally. Mind, body and soul.

JAN LI

I was born and educated in Shanghai, China, and moved to Melbourne with my parents in 1993.

Before becoming addicted to yoga, I was and still am working in the Hospitality area with the Hyatt Group. Standing in the kitchen cooking food sometimes can be quite stressful. I then found yoga after talking with my friends. Not long after, I found Hot Bikram Yoga to my delight, and have been comfortable and very happy with my body since.

After 6 years of practicing Bikram Yoga, it is now a necessity for me to keep my body in shape. It also helps me to understand my mind and soul. Bikram Yoga is indeed a kind of philosophy as well as giving us a fit and well rounded figure as well as a calm mind with no stress.

In the Spring of 2011, I completed my teacher training in Los Angeles to become a dedicated and serious Bikram Yoga instructor who loves her teaching to this day. Bikram Yoga has such incredible healing powers in many ways. I am honored to share my years of experience to help people of all ages to keep fit and well.

Remember, Bikram Yoga can change your life. Sometimes life can be difficult. But despite our individual struggles we can come together as a family to practice yoga together, giving us energy, happiness and enjoyment, helping us all to make the world a better place.