“Transformation can come in many modalities, but few include the physical, like yoga,” states Craig Villani, teacher extraordinaire, at the beginning of our leadership intensive weekend with BYSJ teachers. This comment struck a chord with me. I’ve often wondered why this yoga is so powerful, even beyond the obvious of what does physically and mentally….
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16 Years of BYSJ – Michele’s Special Anniversary Party Message
Congratulations BYSJ! You’ve turned 16 – sweet 16: Two studios and yet one growing thriving community upholding this powerful tradition that is Bikram Yoga. Over this year, winning regionals, nationals and recently internationals, the power of who we are as a community is more exposed. People ask me all the time and now even more…
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Becoming World Yoga Champion
The Day of the World Yoga Championships Here it is Sunday morning and we are up and out to take class and get ready for the big day. Both BYSJ teacher, Lee Dickensen, and Bay Area teacher, Gina Middleton, are in the top 10 of their division from yesterday’s successful competition (men and women ages…
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Planting Seeds with Bikram Yoga Folsom
“It’s like starting out on the 90th floor,” says Ryan Martinez, owner of Bikram Yoga Folsom. I’ve known Ryan for a long time as a teacher at BYSJ, but his true itch was to travel. He did the bulk of it in Chile, rock climbing and wilderness guiding, with his gal, Isidora! Ryan is…
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“Know better, do better, feel better” – Diane Ducharme Gardner at BYSJ
What a weekend! About Diane Ducharme Gardner For two days, Diane Ducharme Gardner graced us with her presence and her mighty teachings. She owns the studio, Yoga for You, in Massachusetts, which just celebrated 23 years. She graduated from Bikram’s Teacher Training in 1995, the 2nd teacher training with Bikram with just 30 people, for 12…
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Acceptance: Lessons from a Weekend with Joseph Encinia
I have had several “stand-out” memories with Joseph Encinia over the years in my yoga life. One of them plays like a time-lapse: watching Joseph in competition year after year always in the top 10, falling out of either Standing Head-to-Knee or Standing Bow pose. Every time, it was crushing to watch, as you just…
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My Top Tips from 20 Years of Practicing Bikram Yoga
How fitting to write this today, on my anniversary of 20 years of starting yoga! Yep – August 11th, 1998, just a few short months after my mom passed away. I took a class on the advice of friends to help my grieving, and never looked back. I instantly knew that Bikram yoga would…
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Yoga Immersion: My Experience Winning Nationals
“Yoga Immersion” is what I will call the four days spent on a journey to Madison, Wisconsin to participate in the USA Yoga 2018 National Championships. Once you enter into the Immersion, life’s priorities become: how you are getting to class, when and how are you going to eat in between performances, and whether you…
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Nourish JOY
I write this on Chris Canevaro’s 3 year anniversary of his passing. It seems impossible that it has been this long already. Where did he go? The older I get, the more I ponder the death experience itself as that day looms closer. It’s not a dismal pondering, but one of curiosity and of faith that, like…
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How to Live A Thriving Life – Michele’s Insights on her 54th Birthday
It’s my 54th birthday! I enjoy celebrating birthdays and mine is no exception. Through the years, I make a point to do a gathering because my greatest gift is to spend time with those I love who mean a lot to me. Sounds like that might be easy to accomplish, but, as you experience, time with family…
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