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As a former triathlete Lucie discovered Bikram yoga after getting injured while training for a long distance triathlon race.
It not only replaced her need to exert herself and challenge herself on a physical level but it gave her many more benefits which she would have never even thought of before.
Lucie become a teacher in the fall 2008 in Acapulco, Mexico, about a year after she discovered bikram yoga and it has been a continuous journey since.

She is an animal lover and recently read a quote that touched her very much: “You are not going to change the world by adopting one animal, but the world is going to change for that one animal.”

One of Lucies’ other favorite quotes and thoughts is “You can do anything if you set your mind for it.”

Richard's first taste of Bikram yoga was in 2002 at which time he immediately recognised its therapeutic benefits. For him the yoga enabled a transition from an unhealthy to a healthy lifestyle, directly through the practice itself which reinvigorated his mind and body, and indirectly through the changes that happened outside the yoga room.

Seven years later, he fell in love with the yoga in a whole new way at the first Teacher Training in Las Vegas. When not doing yoga, he likes exploring Toronto on his bicycle.

One of his favourite quotes is from Bikram himself:"Never too late, never too old, never too bad, never too sick, to start from scratch and begin again."

Charlene’s journey into Bikram yoga began in 2004 when she attended her first class.  In 2008 she completed teacher training under Bikram Choudhury in Mexico. “It was truly one of the best decisions in my life.”

Teaching yoga is a joy to Charlene and she considers it a privilege to help people see their potential and learn to let go of any preconceived limitations or boundaries.  Using the power of the mind to control the body and the power of the body to control the mind.

Charlene’s passions are global; from environmental issues, food and travel. She has traveled extensively throughout the world often by bicycle. She is always inspired and humbled by the people she meets throughout the world with so little but often with the biggest smiles, warmest hearts, and generosity. A reminder that true happiness can only be found within;

Bikram yoga can be the key for many here in the west to unlock that happiness.  In her class you can be sure to be inspired to work the edges of your practice and leave with a message of love for others you share the planet with and of course…. love for yourself.

Mike earned his formal education in the field of engineering, followed with 12 years of formal employment in various types of (very formal) corporate settings.  In the fall of 2002 Mike came to his first Bikram yoga class without any previous yoga experience.  It was not a very pleasant class since most of it he spent on the floor fighting dizziness and blackout sensation. 

The second class followed two days later, driven more by vanity (who says I can’t do this) than by the enjoyment of the fist class.  It was much better than the first class and immediately led to the third one.  The first three classes led to about 600 in the fist 2 years and ultimately to the teachers training in the fall of 2004. 

Since then Mike is teaching Bikram yoga full time, living corporate free life, frolicking in the heat of Bikram yoga studios.  Mike’s mission is to make students face their “Can’t Do” demons, recognize them, size them up, and later tame them and turn into a pair of oxen productively pulling the cart towards better health and well balanced life.  Success, even if achieved with only a few of the students, is very gratifying and makes the entire enterprise well worthwhile.  

Mike’s fantasy remains that one day the entire city and the province will be ringing with mooooing of the oxen, formerly “Can’t Do” demons.  Even the manure can be put to some good, environmentally friendly use.

Debbie discovered a Bikram Yoga studio in the fall of 2008, located on her way home from the office, took one class and has never been the same since. 

The yoga was different than any other physical, mental or spiritual exercise she’s done and seeing the changes within herself, along with her natural ability to lead and help others, made her decide to leave her 9-5 life and go on to become a Bikram Yoga Teacher, taking part in training in Palm Springs, California in the spring of 2009. 

With her background in Social Service Work, her inclination to motivate others to see their full potential is her life long commitment and what better way to bring it all together than to teach yoga, the balance we all need in life!

One of Debbie's favorite sayings is: "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission."  - Eleonor Roosevelt.

Alex started practicing Bikram yoga back in 2006 after he started feeling pain in his knees from being a runner. His background is teaching music to students (mainly the guitar and piano) as well as a mechanic so he is well versed on the creative and technical side of life.

Alex completed his Bikram yoga training in spring of 2010 in Las Vegas and he loved the experience of the training.

Alex came to Canada from Mexico back in 2005 and has loved being here in Toronto. He loves the different cultures and people of the city. His interests include playing the guitar, dancing, and doing Bikram Yoga (sometimes twice a day).

One of Alex' favourite quotes is "the right way is the hard way". Make sure to look forward to taking one of Alex' classes in Spanish for those of you who want proof that you can do Bikram yoga ANYWHERE in the world!

Helen was introduced to Bikram yoga in 2001 after having run the New York City Marathon.  She immediately fell in love with the class and more specifically, how she felt after class. 

She is a great lover of the outdoors.  Cycling, running, swimming and most importantly, Bikram yoga Is the glue that holds these disciplines together and allows her to continue without injury. 

She vowed from class one that she would complete this training and practiced and waited patiently until her daughters where off to University. 

Helen received her Bikram Yoga teachers training in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009. 

“The only  thing better than a Bikram yoga class, are two Bikram yoga classes.

Namaste

Robin started practicing yoga when she was expecting her third child.

She was amazed by the relief and overall sense of well-being from a gentle hatha yoga practice. She had her first Bikram class at bikram yoga Red Tree studio in January 2009.

The healing and incredible transformation that occurred for her and many people in her life inspired her to go to teacher training in October 2009.

Robin loves hanging out with her children, travelling, gardening and outdoor adventures.

'Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring'

Maria dragged herself to her first Bikram yoga class in 2007, it was one big blur and she didn’t come back until 1 year later. She was going through a lot of life changes, losing friends and relationships, career and lost her soul.

She found herself again in the hot room. This time she was up for everything. Each class, it seemed, she sweat a whole person, and each class reveals to her weaknesses and strengths, helped her accept herself exactly for who she is, and shown her how to work with what she has.

She explored and allowed herself to be fully transformed at the Teacher Training Fall 2009.

Through regular practice, Maria leads a focused, dialogue driven and nurturing class balanced with firm command and compassion.

She participated in the Eastern Regional Competition twice with the hopes to inspire others just as those she admires have inspired her.

Seema's discovery of Bikram yoga came back in 2005 when she was looking for ways to improve her health. Due to the stress and enviroment of her previous job in mechanical engineering, she found herself tired and sick all the time and didn't know why this was all of a sudden happening. Her skin condition was getting worse by day and her 'tiredness' was really beginning to show.

After many trips to doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists etc., she found out about Bikram yoga through her cousin who lives in England. Not expecting much from a yoga class she tried it and was completely blown away and hooked. Within a year, she went to the spring training in Los Angeles in 2006 and has completely changed her life around. Her health improved.

Seema loves to help people realize the potential in themselves and challenges anybody that wants to see a change in their lives to try Bikram yoga. Her story is not uncommon among the Bikram community but is still life altering.

Alignment and technique plays a huge role in how she instructs her classes especially to prevent injuries. Once the alignment starts to improve, then the real class begins as being focused and concentrating will really help to reach ones full potential.

One of Seema's favorite quotes is “having means nothing if you don't know how to use it.”

Vesna was born in Belgrade.  She completed university as a translator of Arabic language and moved to Egypt where she resided for 3 years.  After living in Egypt she came to Canada and studied business  and computer programming at Ryerson University.
 
Her discovery of Bikram yoga in 2000 proved to her to be a perfect weapon to deal with the stress and shortcomings of the high paced corporate environment where she worked for 11 years.  Her role as a mainframe computer programmer and technical systems analyst for Royal Bank was balanced with a daily dose of Bikram yoga medicine.
 
Her teacher training was completed in Los Angeles in 2003.
 
Vesna’s passion in life other than yoga is West African music.  Her collection is extensive and ever growing. 
 
There is a saying that scientific truths go on changing, but poetic one is eternal.
 
Regarding her teaching style, Vesna believes that ‘the best leader is the one who helps you so you don’t need them any more.’