Bikram Yoga El Paseo

At Bikram Yoga El Paseo this past Friday morning I couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous morning sun and COOLER temps outside as I got to the studio just before 6am to teach the early morning class. Hopefully the dreaded humidity of summer is gone and we are heading into a beautiful fall.

I would be remiss however if I didn’t say a proper goodbye to this fabulous summer of memories. After 35+ years of consistent full time work, I took a GIGANTIC LEAP and took a lot of the summer off. I had a milestone birthday as well and as THE “retirement age” is getting closer and looming over me, I honestly feel that my summer hiatus was well deserved!!

After 35+ years of Dental Hygiene practice, 11 years of Bikram Yoga teaching, and 10 years of owning and running a studio while still practicing Dental Hygiene, I can honestly say that I left behind a well oiled machine that I worked tirelessly over the years to cultivate. This would not have been totally possible however, without, as Paul McCartney would sing, “with a little help from my friends!” My friends and Yogis at Bikram Yoga El Paseo!!!

A BIG shout out and THANK YOU to my OMazing TEAM!!!

IN June I got married on the Amalfi Coast of Italy and while honeymooning in Europe, I had no worries about the studio because I left it in good hands. SHOUT OUT to my fabulous teachers: Kristin London, Alix Spears, and Carolina Castro for stepping up to the plate to teach extra classes to cover my schedule! They were all also flexible in covering each others classes so some could take long weekends to beat the heat, and Kristin could take a wonderful vacation week to visit her adorable granddaughter Aubrey in Texas!!

Special SHOUT OUT to long time staff member Dennis Guest for stepping in and stepping up whenever and wherever needed! He has come to the rescue more than once!

GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT to Alix Spears who not only covered more teaching classes, but took on all the studio management duties and administrative duties along with the laundry and cleaning in my absence. She did all the grunt work essentially. Double duty teaching and managing is very challenging and my appreciation for her efforts is enormous!

My summer follies didn’t end when my honeymoon ended and I was off again to visit family in Washington state and Chicago. Once again I had to call on my OMazing team and the teachers stepped up to the plate to cover extra classes. This time not only for me but for Alix as well as it was time for her to head out on her 2 month European adventure!

THANK YOU 🙏 Kristin London and Carolina Castro for taking on the extra classes and to Dennis Guest who was right there with them helping out where needed! Additionally, this time I hired student Janell Picard to handle all my management and administrative duties as well and my “grunt work.” BIG SHOUT OUT to Janell!!!

Upon my return I had to chuckle a little with the comments I heard from my “acting” studio managers. They heard me say a couple of times “welcome to my world.” I can remember hearing those words from a former student of mine who was a certified Bikram teacher and had owned and sold 2 Bikram studios on the East Coast. He stated, “How do you like owning a studio? I bet there are days you wish you were just a teacher again: Walk in , teach class, and walk out without all the added headaches!?” I hadn’t been an owner long enough at that point understand the magnitude of that statement. That would come later. He went on to say that he doesn’t miss owning the studio or even teaching and in his retirement he is “very content just practicing!”

I can honestly say that after 10 years of doing it ALL, I STILL LOVE ❤️ TEACHING and I STILL LOVE ❤️ Practicing and missed them both immensely while I was gone. (Although, I did get to sneak a couple classes in up north thank God.) Managing and running a studio is definitely challenging and I can’t always say “I love it” but the warm welcome I got when I came hOMe and the gratitude that the students shared for me keeping the studio open and running is worth the aggravation that I’m sure every business owner encounters.

I always start my Bikram Yoga classes out with asking the Students to consider what they are grateful for and to always practice with gratitude! In this crazy world where people tend to find numerous things to complain about, one should be able to find and focus on – that ONE thing of which they are grateful!

Today I am grateful for my amazing summer and my even more amazing team that collectively kept the hOMe fires 🔥 burning in my absence this summer!!! (Literally and figuratively 😉 )

It’s great to be hOMe, back into my routine, and back in the hot room for sure!!!

Goodbye summer! HELLO FALL!!
Hope to see you in the hot room soon!

“DO YOGA, BE HAPPY, FLOSS DAILY”
Namaste`

Ann Marie 🔥