Kitty Umhauer

Certified Bikram Yoga Instructor

I first discovered Bikram yoga in 2003 while studying art history at Cansius College.  The first Bikram classes I took were so hot but so challenging that I wanted to do more.  Unfortunately, I was involved in finishing my degree and working full-time and did not have the financial ability or time to continue practicing.  After completing an Introductory Special I thought of going back but never managed it.

In 2008 I rediscovered Bikram.  A friend at work told me about a new studio in the area and advised me to try it out.  Some say that it isn’t the destination that matters but the journey you take to get there.  I had reached a point in my life where everything seemed to be going wrong.  I was depressed and overly stressed.  I thought I was a failure.  My return to Bikram was meant to happen and the time prior to it was difficult but necessary for me to fully embrace a committed practice.

Finding Bikram made me take a hard look at myself.  I found the beauty and peace within that depression had covered up.  Every time I practiced I had at least one moment of sheer exhilaration and joy at the fact that I was there, in the hot room, completely present and completely alive.  The physical changes that came with my practice were just an added bonus to the mental health Bikram gave me.

My practice made me want to be even more in touch with my self and others so I attended teacher training in Las Vegas in 2009 after a year and a half of dedicated practice.  I had thought that I was as happy as I could be as a student but I was wrong.  The training challenged me physically and mentally but also allowed me another deep look at myself.  I saw the healing that yoga gave me and it filled me with joy and gratitude.

The journey is what Bikram yoga is all about.  There is no final destination in the practice or in life; there is always a new horizon to aim for and a new journey to undertake.  I encourage everyone I know to give this yoga a try.  It doesn’t just reveal your true self but makes you embrace and love who you really are.