Bla, Bla, Bla... Bikram Blog: HaPpY Anniversary Bikram Yoga El Paseo and Here's a trip down memory lane!

Bikram Yoga El Paseo is Celebrating our Seven Year Anniversary!!

HaPpY HaPpY BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY BIKRAM YOGA EL PASEO!

August 1, 2012 Our amazing, compassionate founder stepped off the podium for the last time and passed the sweaty thermometer (“torch”) to me. I promised to keep her dream and her special little studio alive. The studio needed a big group hug. It needed tender love and care, and it needed some repair. Emotionally and structurally it took a toll and I was ambivalent about the future. I had a strong base of students who vowed that they would support me, and I will always be grateful to each and every one of them who helped me in the early stages of rebuilding. Some are STILL with me, some have moved away and some have moved on, but no matter what – – they ALL have a special place in our hearts and hOMe till this day! So wherever you are, Today I think fondly of you and wish you well! We have welcomed new students to our studio and wow have we grown!!

SEVEN YEARS! Wow! Time flies and what an OMazing ride. As I enter my 8th year of Ownership, I reflect on the years that past, Our growth, Our family Camaraderie and our Community Outreach (and our old sweaty carpeting…….a thing of the past!) We updated the studio (twice,) changed signage, removed the tired landscaping, and built a sacred Zen Garden with a Proud Large Buddha as the central focal point. A symbol of what our Studio and Buddhism is all about. Although there is a misconception that Buddhism is a religion, it is really a philosophy to remain present and focused. Don’t obsess about the past and don’t worry about the future – live in the moment and stay present and focused!

We Added a Special “Student Wall of Fame” to honor our students accomplishments and chose an individual student to represent one of each of the 26 postures of the Bikram Yoga Method. Their pictures were covered up and an unveiling was presented in each class . I can remember the excitement of the students as they entered class, wondering whose picture was behind the covering……..who would be honored this day!

It seems like only yesterday that we participated in the El Paseo Golf Cart Parade honoring our resolve! We stood with excitement and hope at our ribbon cuttings. (YES we had TWO! Both Palm Desert Chamber and Indio Chamber did the honors in recognition of our diverse community!)

My mother flew in from Chicago to be by my side for he Grand Opening Party and the excitement in the air was exceptional! We threw an outdoor Party like no other. Closing off our parking lot and courtyard, we built an outdoor living room. Live music filled the air with our local Super Star Kal David performing. The magical space we created included an open bar, delicious food and dancing. From dawn to dusk we celebrated BIG are quaint little studio!

While we are still a Pure Bikram Yoga studio and the bulk of our classes are the full prescription 90 minute classes, we mix it up with some silent classes, limited one hour classes, special edition classes and workshops. We celebrate completing each class with a cold lavender towel and every now and again one of our favorite Yogis treats us to watermelon! Shout out Joe Abercrombie!!! You pick the BEST Watermelons!!!

We provide Community Outreach classes at a discounted rate to include all members of our community regardless of their socioeconomic background, and we added a Complimentary Sober Living Class once a month to aide those on their journey of Sobriety. One of our top teachers, our studio Coordinator, Kristin Schwartzman heads up this class, donating her time and talents generously as a way to give back. Additionally along with Stephen and myself she participates in the Contract we received from Hotel Paseo to Partner with them as their featured Yoga Studio.

Kristin is not the only team member that has stepped up to the plate and I honor all my team members for their solid instruction and gifted talents! Shout out to my OMazing team!! BEST ONE EVER! Jenny Groat, Kristin Schwartzman, Alix Spears, Stephen Kaleda, Leesann Shefa and Heather Carr!

Outside of the Hot Room, our Yoga Family knows how to have fun! In 2014 We had a Golf Outing at PGA West where every Foursome had to do a yoga pose on the first tee before they teed off the green . In 2015 we did a spectacular Yoga Retreat in Cabo San Lucas in the Penthouse at Villa La Estancia!

We’ve had our ups and we’ve had our downs. Our most notable down was “The great flood” of 2016. After an inept roofing company left the roof UNTARPED just before a huge rain fall we endured water fall flooding in our studio . We made the best of our situation and made our temporary space hOMe. We made a Graffiti Wall and we all stood Tall! #bikramyogaelpaseostrong

We have a very loving and supportive community that does what they can for community service. We’ve partnered with neighboring businesses to host special healthy events and fundraising events. We do thirty day charity challenges to raise money for community members in need. Our most notable one being raising financial support for a young boy who had lost his leg and was in need for a new prosthesis. Special thanks to the Bikram students who participated in this charity challenge and who sweat it out religiously for 30 consecutive days with sponsors who pledged them along the way.

Thank You Marcie Madain from Fresh Juice Bar for and outstanding job in providing our community with healthy juicing. Thank You William and Crystal Cordell from Bliss Chakra Spa for your amazing sound healing and for donating your time and talents to help out one of our own in the fight of her life. So great to have such caring and health minded neighbors!

We don’t have carpeting anymore and our studio welcomed a Second Remodel in 2017 but we still Welcome EVERYBODY and EVERY BODY to our studio regardless of your size, ability, or age! We truly ARE The “Students Studio” and As Bikram Choudhury himself states, “It’s never to late, you’re never to old to start from scratch again!”

We rang in Year 8 with a special party at my home and an extra ordinary gift from an Amazing Ice Sculpture Artist. Shout out to Ice Magic Extraordinaire, Timm Bennett for wowing our team and making the evening full of love and light and ICE!!!! A COLD Welcome to a warm summer desert night.

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to ALL our LOYAL STUDENTS out there that have stuck with us through thick and thin and are the TRUE CORE of our existence! Extra Special Shout out To Jen Groat who has been with me since DAY 1 and keeps the hOMe Fires (no pun intended) burning …(We are a little older but our Philosophy and our Mission has not changed) … and to all my Yogini Diva Sisters and Yogi Dudes who I celebrate at Fashion Week / Food and Wine – Diva Style every year, I appreciate you with so much Gratitude!!!!

Come join our Community! We will welcome you with Open Sweaty Arms and do what we do best – Sweat out the toxins and keep the body and mind healthy and happy!

After all, “there is no place like hOMe.”