Naomi
I always try to find the balance between flexibility and strength, because my students both need to move forward.
In 2008 I lived in New York. I had all kinds of jobs and the only thing I missed was something that I could use to put my physical energy into; I have a background in dance and I used to move a lot. A friend invited me to join her at a yoga class. Yoga did not appeal much to me at all, but when she said it was hot yoga, I knew it would be a challenge. And I love that!
Intense first lesson
That first lesson was intensely hot and I was wearing clothes that were too warm, but I still loved it and after class I felt like I was floating. What I had missed so much after my dance career, I found back in Bikram Yoga. The next three months I went to class every day. My body changed very fast and I also grew tremendously mentally.
From student to teacher
Five months later I knew I wanted to teach. I am someone who likes to explain things and guide people in their development. As a Bikram Yoga teacher, I could help people find their physical and spiritual vitality. I scraped all my money together and followed the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in San Diego in the fall of 2010. Senior Bikram Yoga teacher Lynn Whitlow has guided me for three months and since then I travel around the world to teach.
Magic
Wherever I am, Mexico Miami, Vienna, Latvia, or my hometown Tel Aviv: I see how yoga does its job. Everywhere there is a different mentality, but in the end we are all working on the same thing. Bikram Yoga clearly shows this and that’s what I like about it.
Teaching Yoga
Thanks to teaching, I can positively influence the lives of other people. Sometimes I see during the lesson someone’s face, where they suddenly understand instructions about the Bikram Yoga poses. That motivates me enormously because I know how difficult it can be to keep going if nothing seems to be happening. But also giving Bikram Yoga is a challenge. I always try to find the balance between understanding and strict, because my students need both to move forward.
Bikram Yoga beginner’s tip
The hardest part about yoga is coming to class. The only ‘bad lesson’ is the lesson you did not come to.