Bikram Yoga El Paseo



Cruising back from my 50th birthday trip to Bermuda, I couldn’t stop silently repeating the mantra, “I think I can, I think I can.” Who would have thought that a theme from a childhood book would replace the very “adult” mantra from my yoga world, “Lock the Knee”! This mantra endeared me throughout my 9 weeks of Bikram Yoga teacher training (or Bikram Boot Camp as it was referred).
  
YES, BIKRAM!!!!

The “HOT” yoga style that has taken the nation by storm. I’ve been practicing this style of yoga for over 8 years and am in the best shape of my life. I’m healthier now than I was in my late 30’s and early 40’s.

Upon my return from my birthday cruise I was to make my final decision of whether or not to purchase my home studio where I started my Bikram practice 8 1/2 years ago. Bikram Yoga Palm Desert. This practice literally saved my spine, extended my career as a dental hygienist, and forever changed my life. Bikram Yoga is a form of exercise that is more than just yoga, more than a workout. It’s a lifestyle.  A lifestyle that intertwines ones mind and body by placing hardships on us in the hot room while teaching us how to deal with the hardships in our everyday personal lives.

Bikram Choudhury, known via a controversial reputation as the “bad boy” Yogi, brought this amazing, and in my opinion, living saving practice to our country back in the 70’s.  Bikram now has an unbelievable following of athletes, actresses, models, and everyday people like myself that all understand the value of this healthy, lifestyle yoga practice! 

Ten years ago and on a shoestring budget, Denise Abraham single handedly brought Bikram Yoga to Palm Desert.  Ego cast aside and instead inspired by a pure love for the healing nature of the Bikram series, Denise saved our spines and our lives one sweaty posture at a time.

Bikram believes that the quality of one’s spine is directly related to the quality of one’s life. I know that Denise, through Bikram, saved mine. Back surgery is no fun and more importantly back surgery begets back surgery. Most post-back surgery patients are never the same and many have undergone the knife more than once . Fellow Bikramite, Roger Hope, in his mid sixties and a consistent practitioner says it clearly, “Bikram Yoga is the Fountain of Youth.”  

Denise, along with her husband Damon, have been teaching us yoga postures and life lessons for the past 10 years. However, given personal concerns coupled with their children now at ages of critical cognitive growth, it became time for them to move back east to Denise’s roots and the pursuit of a higher level of education for their children.
We feared the fate of our studio with this news. We’ve always been a tight knit group—a yoga family—and none of us wanted to see the studio close. So the loyalists of Bikramites dug in their heels. As a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and one of the longest practicing members, a group of supporters rallied around me to take over the helm of the sinking ship. (Poor choice of words when you are on a cruise. . .!)  Overwhelmed and daunted by the task (Denise Abraham has big shoes to fill) my initial reaction was somewhat intimidated.  However, while riding the wave (yes, literally, on my way back from Bermuda) with a full moon above (so often a given around my birthday) it all became clear.

We Cancer babies know we are ruled by the moon. So it was no small coincidence that I got a phone call from a dear friend, senior certified teacher Stephen Kaleda, that he would be officially moving back to the desert and eager to be on my yoga team. Stephen taught at Bikram Yoga Palm Desert for years and was another strong influence in my practice.  Additionally, two other certified teachers and dear friends, Justin Hadlock and his beautiful wife Carolina, are also on board with this new plan.  

I knew that I could not individually take on the complete operation of running the studio, but to have the collective effort, love, and support of all my fellow Yogis—teachers and students alike—I knew not only, “I think I can” but as far as really feeling confident about taking on this task, I CAN!! 

I welcome everybody to Bikram Yoga Palm Desert – ‘Our small yoga studio with our BIG YOGI HEART’. This is truly the ‘THE STUDENTS’ STUDIO!!! 
 
Namaste,
Ann Marie Palma