TWENTY

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

Truth in yoga is being true to yourself and your practice!

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

Yes as I was exposed to The Synergy Yoga Center aka The Yoga Room in Encinitas, CA. They preach love and yoga, yet function as a cult dictating what their yogis do and controlling their lives.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - Cleanse

two - Purify

three - Love

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

Bikram has completely changed my life and helped to make me aware of my surrounding environment as well as myself.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

The feeling of being alive, being in touch with the universe and my fellow yogis is a high that is unexplainable in this lifetime!

NINETEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

the truth is the satisfaction when you complete a class, when about 85 minutes prior you felt that there was now way in hell that was going to happen. It is a satisfaction that carries with me and makes we believe in myself more.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

well....actually....yes. I feel that a Bikram competition is contradictory. The great thing about your practice is that it is yours. Seeing others do postions differently is fantastic, but competing in them is another issue. For part of the rethoric in class to be all about yourself, encourging members to compete is getting into another avenue that i feel shouldn't be touched upon.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - camel

two - camel

three - rabbit

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

Well, it has taken away about twenty pounds. Besides that, it has presented a fantastic challenge that humbels me everytime I take class.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

I enjoy the way my body works as a result of class. I am able to do my job better, with greater patience, and also with a better results.

Jon, B Age: 29

Crofton, MD USA

EIGHTEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

accepting what i see and feel. proving i can push my limits beyond the now. balance.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

yes, strength verse flexibilty. more muscles equal less limber. if i eat too much practice is hard if i eat too little practice is hard

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - breath better

two - relax more

three - open farther

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

more patience, forgiveness, more grounded. healthier state of mind, body and soul

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

strength training, joint opener, sweat, meditate

jesse, m.

Age: 34
carlsbad, ca

carlsbad, ca

SEVENTEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

i alwasy feel better after i practise....it shows me sides of myslef that might not always be what i want to see....but they are always important to b seen.....i am much happier since i have yoga as a major part of my life...practising and teaching

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

No Response

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - i will practise until the day i leave this planet

two - i will continue to grow, learn and improve my practise

three - i will be able to inspire people to heal and empower their body , mind and spirits through yoga

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

recognise that any physical limit starts and ends in my mind....that there is so much more possible than i thoguht there was....trusting rashashree ( bikram's wife) i pushed though overpowering backpain from a bad epidural....and today i am painfree and close to touching the floor beind me when i do a back bend :)

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

because i alway makes me feel better....to me it feels like the question...."why do you brush your teeth every day

Amrei, N.

Age: 28

melbourne, victoria, Australia

SIXTEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

It forces you to deal with yourself. The good things and the bad. physically and mentally.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

only if you allow yourelf to create them or buy into other peoplesideas of them.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

No Response

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

I'm 38 and I feel better than I did when I was 25.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

See above and it makes me happy

FIFTEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

Yoga Makes you YOU!

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

No Response

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - To always have it available in my life

two - To do the best I can in every class

three - To share it with others

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

Bikram Yoga sweated away my false self and showed me who I am. It peeled back the layers of self doubt in me showed me the power and strength that lies within. It changed my life!

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

It keeps me well emotionally and physically. I can deal with the challenges life may bring so much better

Norma, S.

Age:41

Byron Bay, Australia

FOURTEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

The truth is proper practice of Hatha Yoga will bring whatever is inside of you out.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

I don't believe there are contradictions in yoga, only apparently opposing forces that are in truth united.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - To create good physical. mental and emotional health.

two - I guess that's three!

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

See #3 above. Also a way of working off my karma, since I became a teacher.

THIRTEEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

The truth about yoga for me is the revelation my fundamental self. Through the bikram yoga i partake in, the challange i step up to each class, anything that is not essential to my being is brought forward to identify with and understand. Allowing me, with hope, to let go of anything unnecessary and further expose my own truth.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

Yes, in a sense. The mind and the will often disagree with the body or vice versa. The resistance or difficulty of a posture in the body and or mind, is usually the posture the person needs most. More of a conflict of interests, a resistance.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - That a greater understanding of my own practice will further my skills as a teacher

two - Greater compassion and understanding for myself and others

three - More balance in every aspect

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

An greater understanding of myself and also what is not self. Balance and a greater acuity of the self in general.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

It challanges me. Everyday. It makes me and my body happy, which transmits to the rest of my life and those who surround me.

Camilla, G.

Age: 28

Melbourne, Australia

TWELVE

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

It works

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

Commercialism

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - Health two - Strength three - Spiritual uplifting

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

All of the above. And freedom from Drug Addiction, freedom from physical ailments, freedom from self-defeating negative thoughts, freedom from resignation and cynicism, freedom from apathy. Bikram Yoga has opened my Spirituality.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

Because of the above. I feel clean, peaceful and good after class. Tim C. Oceanside, CA USA age:48

ELEVEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

yoga will stimulate my mind , body and soul.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

no

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - to be truthful to the practice two - to accept my limitations-not seeing them as a weakness three - to see all the pretty colors during the final savasna that I usually see.

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

understanding myself and the way I intruperate life for me. It also has given me a focus on a direction in life to imporve my health

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

It is the first yoga I have been introduced to.

TEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

Yoga is a dicipline. It keeps me focused on my body in a healthy way, caring more about what I eat and my hydration. It has improved my life.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

No

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - stay healthy two - become more flexible three - keep improving my body image

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

Confidence, determination, dicipline, a better body image, help with my tennis elbow, overall feeling of good health.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

I feel I get a complete workout, mind, body, soul. Sherry I. San Diego, CA USA age: 47

NINE

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

I don’t worry too much about the truth in my practice from a spiritual or ominous perspective. The truth is in that the yoga practice feels good to my body. It makes me feel younger and healthier. My body looks better and I feel better, and that’s enough for me. Sometimes I wonder if I should approach yoga from a more spiritual, religious perspective, but I usually talk myself out of this because I don’t feel that I need to have that connection with it at this point to get out of it what I do.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

I believe that there are things that we have assumed about the world that appear to be contradicted in yoga. We assume that it is harder to move then it is to stay still. We assume that when we are working hard and our body needs more air we should breath faster, but we end up taking short, fast breaths, and what we really need to do it to breath slower so that we can get more air deeper into our lungs. Although these things appear to be contradictions, yoga just offers a different frame of reference.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - Longevity two - Deeper range of movement three - Develop more strength

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

It has helped me become more physically in shape and aware of my body. It has helped me realize my strengths and weaknesses both physically and mentally. Anonymous, Encinitas, CA U.S.A

EIGHT

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

The truth is, I must realize my limitations, and cut back on my expectations.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

The more you practice the better it gets. Not so at my age.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - To strengthen my core. two - To keep my weight in check. three - To have a sense of calm, outside of class.

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

A sense of accomplishment, as I took the 30 day challenge, and finished it as one of 16 out of some 65 participants.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

Because of my age, I feel the heat helps my joints. Sylvia B., Carlsbad, CA USA age:63

SEVEN

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

To accept where I am at that moment in time. Being in the present and breathing in life.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

The only contradiction I've found being a student and a teacher of yoga is "killing yourself" in a posture. When simply sometimes its just not possible.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - Be one with mind, body and spirit two - Always challenging my limits three - Too inspire

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

My life back.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

Calms my mind down and challenges me physically. And I love the heat, like to sweat everything out.

SIX

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

Greater well-being; the flushing of toxins is truly beneficial to human beings.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

No

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - Weight loss and maintanance two - Quality Longevity three - Good health

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

The practice has brought me back to the person I really am. I am more social, happy with a greater clarity of mind. Physically, I am much stronger; improved posture, etc

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

Curiousity brought me to Yoga several months ago. Because of the physical and mental benefits, I will practice for the rest of my life.

FIVE

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

That it is healing body ailments that I have challenged since I was 13 years old. Knowing that I had moderate scolliosis, I went in search of an excercise cure... one that eventually led me to back surgery. Yoga at 50 years old is looking like the cure.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

There is a lot of pain getting to the cure. I don't believe this is true if you start when you are young. At my age I feel I am overcoming many bad postures and excessive excercise regimens that will take a long time to correct. I am in class and my correct spinal curve takes place and I am in bliss, if I miss a few classes my body tends to go back to 50 years of memory.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - Continue on a regular basis so my efforts are cummulative two - Retrain my poor posture, muscle habits so they stay in correct form. three - Master the rabbit pose and bow pose.

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

A sense of well being, knowing I can improve myself everyday. I hope to continue to a point of excellence even at 60 years old or beyond.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

I/ve done aerobics, step aerobics, running, biking, weight training since high school. I have always strived to be fit and healthy. In my 40's I went crazy in my cardio weight training curriculum. I was so fit and looked so good and really felt good except I was destroying my spine. By the time I recognized the systems, I needed back surgery to stand up straight again. Once I recovered from surgery I slowly tried to reconstuct my cardio weight training again. When my back began to fail again, I tried yoga out of desperation. My first few classes I reconciled the fact that my disc might burst in poses my surgeon suggested I eliminate (forward bending). But I got better and better. As my low back healed I learned my bigger problems resided in the thoracic region with scoliosis and my neck with inflexiblity. But every class makes me better physically and mentally. It is unreal that I spent my youth thinking yoga wasn't challenging enough. I am trying to get my kids to do it now while they are young. The fountain of youth is what yoga means to me. Cindy E., Fallbrook, CA USA Age:50

FOUR

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

that it can be whatever you want it to be

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

no - I think everyone can practice some form of yoga and benefit from it

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - happiness two - strength and flexibilty three - health

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

strength, balance in many aspects of my life

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

I love the heat

Lisa Z. Carlsbad, CA age 36

THREE

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

Hatha yoga allows me to slip into the gap of no- thought, detachment and pure joy...sometimes...about a second here and there.

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

Not much in my practic. However, life is contradictions so there has to be contradictions in any practice that is done by any one person. It's life, is organic, is in constant evolving.

3. List three hopes you have for your practice.

one - To have no hope or expectations two - to stay in the moment three - to be detach from the practice

4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you?

Everything. A job, friends, family, piece of mind, and lots of joy.

5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga?

Because if I don't practice I go crazy in my mind. Cristina R. Atlanta, GA Age:43

TWO

2. Do you believe there to be contradictions in the practice of yoga? If so, what are these contradictions?

not if you really understand 3. List three hopes you have for your practice. one - physical fitness two - awareness of the self 4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you? improved physical fitness and overall health; a calmer mind; tools to use in daily life; a deeper understanding of my body, mind and the relationship between the two; a renewed appreciation of play;

ONE

1. What is the truth about yoga for you?

To practice honestly doing the best i can in every class. Neither to overdue or bulldog my postures, nor to give up too easily whenever a mental or physical challenge arrives. At the same time, be kind to myself no matter what i kind of day or practice i am having. This runs through to my life as well. Both as a wife, mother, teacher, business owner, daugther etc. i try to be present, and honestly, honestly do the best i can. 3. List three hopes you have for your practice. one - To maintain it consistently even when life gets busy. two - Continue to practice throughout my second pregnancy three - Patience with my mind and body, no matter what comes up in both 4. What has the practice of Bikram Yoga given to you? The strong belief that most of our power to heal, strenghten and enrich our lives is in our power. Instead of buyiing into all the fear and media in our lives, especially in respect to health and medicine, we can practice Bikram yoga and strenghten our immune system and body so it is at maximum strength to fight disease and sickness. Also, the mental benefits are staggering. Being a willful and very energetic person, the practice of Bikram yoga, looking in the mirror, focusing on yourself and practice for 90 minutes brings a sense of peace and calm that i bring into my daily life. I operate from a calmer, more contemplative place that allows me to think before i act or say, instead of just being reactive. This, may be the biggest gift of practicing yoga. Awareness of your self, shortcoming and all, giving you better tools to want to grow and improve how we react in certain situaions in life. 5. Why do you practice Bikram Yoga? Orignally to help with the pain from a very arthritic hip from a childhood break. Now, for all the reasons listed above plus so many more. Plus, i love owning a studio and sharing this yoga with students. 9 year anniversary is in 3 weeks!