As a guy who played rugby for 25 years my body is a mess of injuries.

I received physiotherapy for five years, treating a serious back injury. But I continued to suffer daily back pain. Bikram yoga has been the best way I’ve found to treat these injuries and relieve the ongoing pain. I only wish that I had found it during my playing years as I believe that Bikram is a powerful injury prevention and rehabilitation tool. Not to mention, a great workout which focuses on strength and fitness as well as flexibility and balance. I highly recommend practicing Bikram yoga to all sportspeople, including former and current rugby players.
- Rueben

I first went to Bikram yoga to lose weight and tone up. I thought that yoga was for flexible people – and I couldn’t even touch my toes!

However, Bikram yoga helped me to improve my flexibility, lose weight, and tone up. It also helped improve my mental concentration and stress levels. I have done Bikram yoga for a number of years now, in different places. I did Bikram during my three pregnancies – it helped to even my mood, and stopped me from getting back pain and other pains associated with pregnancy. Importantly, it even got me back into my pre-pregnancy jeans after giving birth! I highly recommend Bikram yoga and I am stoked that there is a studio in Dunedin.
- Moana Theodore

At 50, and a wee bit more, I discovered Bikram Yoga through someone writing on my Facebook “… survived a Bikram Yoga class”

Now those simple words were the challenge for me. I’ve never clicked with Yoga as I’ve always liked high energy exercise, but the word “survival” sent me searching the web to find out about BYD. I went to my first class with no preconceived ideas as to what it could do for me, but absolutely loved the feeling of sweat literally pouring from my body, and was walking on air immediately after my first class with such a good feeling (like I had been detoxified). After 3 sessions, a long standing impact injury (deep in my right butt) disappeared. This is after years and years (20 in fact) of physio and brief stints at rest from running (where I felt pain with every step) to relieve it. I’ve never been able to shake it – till now. I’m feeling incredibly strong running now – no pain -and overall heaps more energized day to day due to BY. I’m eating better, have more glowing skin, and after about 8 years of interrupted sleep, consolidated sleep is gradually returning. Love it and never want to give it up! Every session is a new challenge for me, whether it be just gaining a little more flexibility on the “go back, way back”, or balancing for a second longer…I’m hooked.

– Barbara Galland

Bikram yoga has helped me mentally and physically.

I’ve noticed that when I practise regularly I am a happier and more relaxed person, and find it easier to focus. Physically, I have become more flexible and lean. Going to class is an awesome way for me to escape anything that is dragging me down and dedicate my full attention to improving every posture to get the best possible benefits from Bikram!
– Anna

Over the past two months since I begun to “see where it would take me” my posture, strength and balance has improved remarkably as my body shape changes.

I have learnt tools to relax physically and mentally and now sleep soundly. (52 year old overweight female)
- Ros Fitzgerald

Bikram yoga has changed so many aspects of my life that I can barely even remember what it was like before I started!

Before the Dunedin studio opened I was in a total rut: physically, I was unhappy with my eating habits and body, bored with my exercise routine, and I felt like I was actually losing ground instead of gaining it. Psychologically and emotionally I was pretty down too: I felt isolated, lonely, and lethargic most days, which is not at all like me! Then Bikram came along … and something about it – the heat, the massive physical and psychological challenge, the people, the teachers – kickstarted me into waking up again. Now I feel like I’m back in touch with who I really am: physically, I feel fit, flexible, strong, and appreciative of my body; psychologically and emotionally, I feel  happy, optimistic, centered, and incredibly grateful. I honestly believe that Bikram yoga is the key that helped me wake up and come alive again. (Plus, even in the coldest of Dunedin winters, I’m guaranteed at least 90 minutes of glorious, sweat-drenched heat every single day – which does a lot for my state of mind!)
– Angela

Bikram has improved my health dramatically since I have started going.

I have asthma but since going to Bikram I have been put on 1/3 of the dose of medication I previously had to take, and also I can now run outside without any breathing problems – something I never used to be able to do and that I have longed to do, being a person who loves running. Bikram has taught me patience and how important breath is and how, with persistence, you can achieve anything. It is fantastic to now have less toxins in my body from medication and be helping myself in a natural way. My flexibility has also increased and I am no longer afraid to try new things. There is no going back now, I am happy to have Bikram as part of my life.
– Corinna

After repetitive injuries I needed a form of exercise that would strengthen but until I found Bikram I always felt bored and lost motivation if my exercise wasn’t high impact. I’m not bored yet!!

The more I learn the more I can challenge myself. Every class clears my mind and leaves me restored and detoxified and there’s no more neck and shoulder stiffness at work. Plus – my arms and back look great and after 2 ½ months certain areas I gave up on years ago have started to change shape . . .
Hope to be back soon,
cheers Rebecca

I Never Thought I’d Like Yoga – But This Is Aces!

I have done running and swimming for fitness for years. I have been doing Bikram for only 2 months, but so far I can see it leaves me feeling unlike any other exercise has. I wouldn’t say it’s a feeling of euphoria, but I just can’t wait until I go back to the studio for my next class. I really enjoy the fact that every time you go to a class, you are there to improve upon the previous one. For most other forms of exercise, I’d say doing exactly the same routine every day gets tired.  But at least as a beginner in Bikram, it seems as if there is a lot of scope for doing deeper stretches and being able to hold a pose longer. I’m not at all into beatnik spirituality and yoga is not really something I ever thought that I would really enjoy, but it’s aces.

Bikram takes you to a place of pure bliss.

To face yourself, your body, your busy mind. I love it and know that Bikram will be a part of my life forever. I hope that everyone in time takes the time to give it a go. The world would be a better place.
– Anon