Had you practiced yoga before coming to Thavma Bikram Yoga?
I have been practicing yoga for 14 years and specifically Bikram yoga for over 2 years.

What Made you decide to do the 30 Day Challenge?
The past year involved several significant changes that have transformed my life. Yoga has been the central source of comfort and calm—a space where I could access stillness in the face of all the movement. The 30-day Challenge represented a commitment to my values and staying connected to Self. My life and priorities are about to change once again and the timing was right for me to pursue the Challenge and to face those upcoming changes with grace, balance, and flexibility.

What did you want to accomplish from your 30 Day Challenge??
Did you achieve your goal? As a professional Life Coach, I coach clients everyday about getting out of their heads and into their bodies. I realized that I was also spending way too much time above my shoulders and needed to walk my talk. With the Challenge, I set out to access more stillness in my mental practice to find moments of freedom from the “thinking-mind.” I did achieve a greater sense of stillness, presence, and ease in my practice—the work is ongoing and without end.

What changes did you see during and after your 30 days of bikram yoga?
Through the intense daily practice I improved my body awareness and my mental awareness. I was able to access a space of comfort and calm even in the moments of discomfort. Now I am even more connected to my body and have noticed improvements in how it functions. I have also eliminated the stress pain in my back and I am sleeping better at night. This yoga is incredibly healing.

What did you learn/gain from doing Bikram yoga regularly?
Having a daily Bikram practice is nothing short of transformational. I am stronger physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually having made the commitment and following it to fruition. I don’t know why I waited so long.

What did you love most from doing the Challenge?
The real magic happened when I left the studio…when I took the yoga off the mat and into my day. My mind was calmer and more focused. I have been more mindful of my posture and make adjustments throughout the day—this has helped eliminate back and shoulder pain. I now feel a strong sense of alignment in all areas of my life—priceless.

What’s your favorite posture!?
I try to avoid favorites—so the other postures don’t get jealous… In all seriousness, the balancing postures are the best diagnostic of my state of mind. That’s where my practice is right now.

What do you think about our Studio!
I have practiced in many studios over the years but none compare to Thavma. One of the reasons I was reluctant to try the Bikram style of yoga originally was the conditions of the only local studio, smells, cleanliness etc. I couldn’t wait for Thavma to open. The studio is super clean and inviting. The energy of the teachers, owners, and fellow students is positive, supportive and uplifting. The instruction and adjustments I’ve received, most specifically from Marina, have definitely taken my practice to a higher level. I am grateful that I and so many others are benefiting from their devotion to yoga.