Bikram yoga builds on the 5,000-year-old Hatha yoga tradition for a challenging new fitness routine.
The practice, developed by Bikram Choudhury in India in the 1970s, uses 26 postures and two breathing exercises done in a room at 105 degrees Fahrenheit to enhance the effectiveness of the practice.
“It’s the best thing I could have ever done with my life. Bikram saw that there were many people who needed yoga and he developed a way to teach systematically that covers most injuries that a person could have. It transforms lives,” said Bikram Yoga Vernon studio co-owner Adam Kopeck. He started doing Bikram yoga to help deal with pain that had left him unable to work as a mechanic. He liked Bikram yoga so much that he went on to train as an instructor and now teaches with his sister and studio co-owner, Dionne Kopeck.
“You don’t have to have a yoga background to do Bikram. We have people of all ages and body shapes and sizes,” said Dionne Kopeck. “You can work at your own pace. Sometimes people say they have to get in shape before they come to yoga but you come to yoga to get in shape.”
The practice works for Natalie Chambers, who has five kids, is working on her Ph.D., owns a business and works part-time. “I always make room for yoga. It’s amazing,” she said.
Darby Johnston is a 16-year-old student who started doing Bikram yoga with her mother, Cobi Johnston, last spring and loves it.
“I like the challenge and how good you feel afterwards,” said Cobi Johnston. She and Darby and 20 others completed the Hot As Hell Summer Challenge by coming to yoga five days out of seven the whole summer for a total of 45 days.
Vineta Hillis, 69, spoke about Bikram yoga from a senior’s point of view.
“I had done yoga a long time ago and when I noticed the studio here, I came in to have a look. This is the best of the best in my view. The strengthening rewards you right from the start and you don’t want to stop,” she said. “It’s trimmed me down to a more natural weight and I find that for me it is meditation.”
There is always more to learn with advanced classes that use up to 84 postures.
The instructors keep learning too — Adam is going to teach in Dubai in December and Dionne will be doing further training in Australia in January.
Bikram Yoga Vernon has an open house Saturday and Sunday, with three free classes (10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) each day, a barbecue, henna tattoos and prizes. For more details, call 778-475-5845 or see www.bikramyogavernon.com.
