Doug Carroll

Doug is the owner of Bikram yoga Nanaimo and has been practicing yoga his whole life, continually exploring different modalities of health care. Occupations and activities include: commercial diver, mountain guide, skiing, snowboarding, rugby, logger, forestry consultant, facilitator, farmer, horse trainer, fitness instructor, Iyengar Yoga, chiropractic, acupuncture, hanna somatics, massage, dance, modern pentathlon, Bikram yoga, and the list continues.

This guy has lived a lot in his 57 years. And as he says “I continue to live this life, but with much more ease, thanks to Bikram Yoga.“ A sufferer from major spinal problems and many other “issues in the tissues” as he puts it, along with his vast occupations has given him a very good opportunity to feel and understand why some tools are more effective than others, if used correct, as designed.

At 50 years of age he decided to immerse himself in the Bikram Yoga teacher training course. Why? “Because it’s the full meal deal, there's no bull@#$%. I love the direct approach, the clarity and understanding Bikram has brought to this form of health care. He tells the truth, no smoke and mirrors, no esoterical weirdness." As Deepak Chopra says “Bikram has done so much for yoga“. He is absolutely correct. Doug says “just look at all the yoga places popping up in the last few years, it's so trendy right now, and many try to copy in some form or other what Bikram has developed and shared for the last 40 years. That is proof that Bikram yoga works and works well. But I follow Emmy's advice (a 83 year old senior teacher and director of Bikram Yoga): “Bikram yoga is like penicillin, if you take an element out of the penicillin (the routine), it's no longer penicillin. So, for God's sake don't change a thing with this yoga, if you want to keep helping people. You might change, but don't change the yoga, as it's not about you, it's about the students' well being.“ “I LOVE THAT APPROACH" says Doug with his big smile. "I will share my knowledge of the other modalities that I have experience with to help you, but I won't change the basic ingredients. You'll get the same good stuff each class!! If you need something different or more I will help direct you where to go, but in here its Bikram yoga all the way!! This is my way of sharing, giving back, doing my karma yoga, my volunteer work. Guiding people through their Bikram yoga class is rewarding, because my students change and overcome their dis—eases so quickly, it brings tears to their eyes and joy to their life. I'm so grateful that I can help and share what I've been taught."

"I’m a down to earth guy” he says "and I stick with down to earth activities to help people become more down to earth.” This yoga is for everybody regardless of age or health. In fact, the older, the sicker, the more you need to come to class. “It's so simple, sometimes not easy” Bikram would say with a big laugh.
Hope you come and take a class !!!

Amy Hume

Hi!! My name is Amy Hume and I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for about nine years and teaching for almost seven. I cannot believe how time passes. We all have our different reasons for starting and this is mine. I used to have anorexia and have an obsession to over-exercise for hours a day. The heavy pounding to my frail body damaged my back and one Boxing Day I went to emergency room. I was given 2 canes, morphine and medication as I could not walk. My stomach also suffered. I developed H-pylori and suffered from extreme gastrointestinal pain. I was treated with medication but it never worked for me. Here comes the good news, I got healthier, gained more weight but still was very scared with zero confidence. I kept walking by the old cambie location and decided to try yoga because high impact exercise was no longer an option at the time. I loved my first class and knew I wanted to be a teacher right then and there. I have never looked back. I have been inspired everyday by my fellow teachers and students. I have found such happiness in my life that I can’t imagine what life would be without Bikram’s yoga. I look forward to many more years of teaching and practicing and hope to have you in my class

Emiko

Konnichiwa! My name is Emiko and I am originally from Osaka, Japan, but have been living in Nanaimo since 1998 with my husband and my four wonderful children. I enjoy living in Nanaimo because there is so much to do. I especially enjoy the natural atmosphere Nanaimo has to offer. I am very fortunate to live in such a wonderful place here on Vancouver Island. I took my very first Bikram Yoga class in September 2010 and have practiced almost everyday since. The first thing I thought of when I had my first class was “Wow!” I had never had such and intense physical exercise before. I found the practice to improve not only how I felt physically, but mentally and spiritually. I wondered to myself why hadn’t I heard of Bikram’s Yoga before? How can I inform people about this fantastic practice? The answer came quick and I realized I wanted to become a Certified Bikram Yoga Instructor. If I was to become an instructor I can share my new passion not only with my friends and family I can share it with the world. I attended and graduated from Bikram’s teacher training in June 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. I have been teaching ever since I returned home and truly enjoy teaching Bikram’s Beginning Series. Every day is a new day and a great opportunity to get to know each and every one of you and I am happy I can be a part of your forever changing yoga practice. I am truly inspired by everyone that comes to our studio. If we have not yet met, please come and take one of my classes soon. I’d love to meet you! Namaste.

Lisa

I was what you might call a skeptical if not reluctant beginner at my first Bikram class in March of 2008. My good friend had been talking it up a bit over zealously for my taste, for quite some time now. I really liked the intensity of the work out portion but did not fall in love with it at all. It was like kale, good for you but not good to eat. I huffed and puffed my way through this work out for the 3 month package I had signed up on then figured I didn't need it and could get my exercise some other way that was cheaper and easier.

Yeah.. I came back. It took me a year to listen to the calling and when the powers that be put a cleaning job at the Bikram studio in my hands a year later, I signed back on as a student at the same time. This was still a hard exercise and my mind imagined bolting from the room almost every time I would lie down in "Savasana" waiting for the class to start and the teacher to come in and make me do my most dreaded, feared "Half Moon". But it was good for you and I was finding it easier to fit into my life, and I was seeing differences in the poses. It was after I attended a posture clinic with Lynn Whitlow that the exercise became yoga. I started slowing down and simply breathing through my nose to make it more yoga than exercise. By spring 2010 I was at Bikram Teacher Training in L.A. and going to classes on the one day a week we didn't have to do classes!

Now I am so grateful to be able to guide people through this practice, this part of the life experience, this taking care of self, challenging self, gift to self that is called Bikram's Beginning Yoga class. I don't get that bolt from the room feeling so strong anymore and am quite happy in "Half Moon" pose and who would of thunk it... but now; I like to eat kale!

Jim

Jim has been practising Bikram Yoga since the studio opened in Nanaimo seven years ago. He likes to say that he was hooked after the first beads of perspiration formed on his forehead and refers to Bikram Yoga as his “fountain of youth”. Having suffered severe injuries in an auto accident when he was younger, he has continually been searching for ways of keeping fit and overcoming physical challenges for many years. His first exposure to Hatha yoga was at a local gym, and once the Bikram studio opened in Nanaimo, he found the combination of heat and the series of 26 postures was exactly what his body had been looking for. 

Jim is an avid traveller and has taken Bikram classes all over the world. Whenever he is on the road he always searches for the nearest Bikram studio. Having the consistency of the 26 postures in the same sequence makes it fun and easy to take classes in various languages.  

When he heard about the requirements of Bikram Yoga teacher training and the gruelling 9 week course, he was both intimidated and intrigued. He took the course in Palm Springs, California in the spring of 2009 and found it to be very rewarding. He loves to share his experience with this style of yoga with others, and has introduced many of his friends to it. Now that he is teaching, it has brought his own practice to a new level. He loves to see what this yoga has done for others and is always inspired by some of the miraculous stories shared by other Bikram yoga practitioners.

Catherine

I started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2006, while I was living in California. A friend of mine that was practicing at the time suggested that I give the yoga a try. My response was that I didn’t want to waste 90 minutes and not even get a workout. Clearly I knew nothing about the yoga…

I still remember my first class....So, of course I went in thinking ‘no sweat - I got this’. I was working out about 6 days a week and have an athletic background and I thought that, although it would be challenging, I would be able to make it through no problem. Well, I did stay in the room but I certainly wasn’t able to do every posture. After leaving the studio and taking a deep breath I realized that I felt like a million bucks – I was so confused about what had just happened and at that point I knew I was hooked. I went back the next day and the day after that and then the day after that. And, from there it is history.

This yoga has confirmed for me that we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. We have infinite potential when we have our health. Some days I struggle in the hot room and other days seem like a breeze but no matter what comes my way I know that I have the tools to deal with it. I am extremely grateful to be able to maintain a personal practice as well as guide others on their journey to optimum health.

I graduated from teacher training in the Fall 2010 - San Diego. I look forward to sharing this yoga with everyone and anyone. Some days I just want to run around town shouting out about how great this yoga is - but, I know people will look at me like I'm crazy! We’re all in this together so if there is ever any doubt just get to the studio and we’ll support 100% of the way.

“It is never too late, you are never too sick and you are never too old to start from scratch once again.”