TEACHER BIOS
Stephanie Dixon Owner/Teacher
I began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2000. I was suffering from a lower back injury, 2 herniated discs L4 and L5. I injured it when I was 16 years old. I was hospitalized several times throughout most of my adult life. I also had associated sciatica symptoms for over 12 years and I started to lose the function of my right leg. By the age of 26 I was limping and tripping on my right foot because I started developing atrophy in my calf.
My doctors told me I needed to have surgery. It scared me to death! I tried many different types of modalities to try to heal myself but nothing helped. I was totally depressed and really started to lose faith I would ever get better.
Until one day I walked into this small Bikram Yoga studio in the basement of Diane Ducharme’s studio. The very first day I knew I had found something special.
Now I have been practicing Bikram for 9 years and my back feels great and I have had no sciatica symptoms. I decided I needed to attend teacher training in 2003. It literally, changed my life 180 degrees.
I really had no idea what was in store for me or what I was capable of. I feel stronger, healthier and happier now in my mid 30’s than I ever have.
Bikram Yoga has changed my life so much that it inspired me to teach others how to heal themselves. I am dedicated to my practice and to continue to grow and change. I believe in this powerful series Bikram created. I have continued my education by attending many seminars as well as attending teacher training.
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Jason Minx -- GRADUATED Dec 2009!!-- Teacher/ Studio Manager
(Imitating John Salvatore- Halloween 09')
Hi my name is Jason Minx. My story of finding Bikram Yoga begins at about 2.5 years ago around the latter part of 2007. I was 31, and just returning from 6 months working on the road for PEPSI Sports Marketing. While on the road I jogged approx 30 miles a week. I loved to run, and I have been doing it for 10 years. During the last 8-12 months my weight was beginning to increase. How can I be getting heavier when I was running 5-6 miles a day, dieting, and weight training? The answer was that my body had a reached a plateau. No matter how much I ran I would not lose the weight. In that 6 months I gained 20lbs (fat) and began destroying my knees and ankles to the point where I could not bend them without searing pain tearing through my body. My family has a history of obesity, and I have fought with weight gain my whole life.
When I got back in town I joined match.com, because I was back in town and wanted to stay. I went out on a date with this beautiful blonde named Stephanie. Over Ethiopian food she told me that she teaches Bikram Yoga. Me- being a macho guy basically shrugged off the idea of doing yoga. I was under the impression yoga was meditation, eyes closed, dim lighting, and stretching. After a month of dating Steph we began to hit it off. I finally agreed to take a class. WOW-- that was not what I was expecting!! It was so intense, difficult, and quite an eye opening experience. I decided to come every day. Within weeks I was getting range of motion in my legs and knees again. After 2 months I had lost 40lbs and leaned out. I didn't stop. If I was out of town I was looking for a studio. I loved it. Steph decided to open a studio in Summerlin. With my help and expertise we were able to find a great spot and build this wonderful studio. The last piece was for me to teach. My chance came in the fall 09'. I rocketed through training and jumped right into teaching. My goal is to help people the way this yoga helped me. I graduated with Erika Peterson, Kimberly Reed, Bennie Shapiro, and so many more. I do this yoga regularly. You have to. It is not an exercise plan. It is you prescription for life. Now I can eat whatever I want. AS long as I do yoga my body stays at its natural state. If I were to diet I would probably lose another 20 lbs!!
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Kirk Schab- Studio Manager/Teacher
Biography coming soon! He is travelling through Panama right now.
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Brandy Lyn Winfield-- Teacher -2010 Bishnu Ghosh Championship
Brandy Lyn has been practicing Bikram yoga for 6 years now. She became a certified Bikram Yoga Instructor in fall of 2007. This is a 9 week intensive training program. (In fact Bikram moved the training from headquarters in LA to Las Vegas Hilton Nov 09! 300 students twice a year, from over 5000 studios worldwide...) BrandyLyn was recently hired by Bikram, just after she won the Nevada competition, to manage the Mumbai (Bombay) studio, where she is instructor to India students! The Indian students LOVE the fact that Brandy is from Las Vegas, and even more that she was the Nevada yoga champion. Yoga is very different in India, where the competitions start as young as age 5 years old! The India students told her to "bring back the trophy for them" from the LA international competition.
This year's yoga competition was held in LA. More info available at International Yoga Asana Competition.com and Yogacup.com It was a 3 day event that involved the USA yoga finals-20 men, 44 women competing for US title. The 2nd day was the semi-finals, including all other represented countries. From the semi-finals, 10 men and 10 women advanced to the international competition on Sunday. Countries that made it to the finals: Czech Republic, Netherlands, USA, India, Canada-West, Poland, United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, Mexico and China> Brandy won 1st place in the female category on all three days-taking home the international Yoga female title. She qualified for the event by winning 1st place in the Nevada regional competition, which was held at Town Square in November. Also competing from Nevada was Zeb Hormison-adult male, and Kehonu Sturm and Codi Petrie youth division. Kehonu placed 2nd in the male youth!
Brandy Lyn was originally born in Moab, Utah, but has lived around the world. She has lived back and forth in Summerlin/Las Vegas, SLC, and now Bombay! As the International Yoga champion, she will travel as a Bikram yoga ambassador giving seminars with the male champion, Kasper Van Den Wijngaard from Denmark. She credits Bikram Choudhury, Sarah Baughn-her coach, and all the yogis and yoginis who have inspired her world wide, for her success.
Bikram Choudhury is the "grandfather" and inventor of "hot yoga". The Bikram method is a very specific sequence of yoga poses designed for people of all ages and abilities. The uniqueness of Bikram Yoga is the heated yoga room! 110 degrees, 40% humidity! hot, hot, hot!
Lisa Johnson-Teacher (and a true inspiration in the studio!)
Lisa began her Bikram practice in the year 2000 after moving to Las Vegas from New York City. Lisa knew after her first class that the Bikram method was for her. In 2001 after suffering extreme whiplash in a head on car collision, she found herself moving through the recovery process utilizing her yoga practice, regular massage, rolfing, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments to mend her body. As a result her yoga practice led her to quit a ten-year career with the Eastman Kodak Company and join the Fall 2002 Bikram Yoga Teacher Training under the guidance of Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury in Los Angeles, CA. Lisa has assisted and participated in every Bikram Teacher Training since her own graduation. Lisa opened her first studio, Bikram Yoga Las Vegas in December of 2004. In 2005 Lisa and her staff of teachers organized, hosted and coached approx 17 students for the first ever Nevada Yoga Regional. In 2007 she opened her second studio in Las Vegas, ‘Bikram Yoga – The Strip!’ and further hosted the 2007 NV Yoga Regional. Over her years of studio ownership, Lisa brought most every senior Bikram teacher in for seminars at her schools to continue her growth, and the growth of her teaching staff and student body. Lisa now serves as a judge for Regional Yoga Championships and has supported the National and International Bishnu Ghosh Yoga Championships since their inception. While Lisa is not currently a studio owner, she enjoys her continued teaching, judging regional championships and her PRACTICE! She is forever grateful to Bikram, Rajashree, her students, and all the teachers that came before and after her, that have enriched and been a part of her yoga journey. Lisa believes that helping others change their lives, and learning to create peace within, will create a domino effect so that ultimately through yoga we can attain world peace.
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Lacey Fedel- Teacher
(Lacey in Standing head to Knee)
Born and raised in fabulous Las Vegas, Lacey has been a full time makeup artist and part time model since 2005. She was introduced to Bikram yoga through a friend in February 2008. She knew after taking her first class that she had found something magical. After six months of practice, Lacey decided to follow her new found passion and attended Spring 2009 Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in Palm Desert, CA. Lacey hopes to spread the gift of yoga all over the world, helping to guide those who seek transformation in their journeys to self discovery.
"See you in the hot room with your happy, smiling face! Light, love, and namaste!"
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Kelli Sonner- Teacher
Bikram Yoga was introduced to me from my friend, Ben Shapiro in February 2008. In March 2006, at the age of 21, I had a snowboarding accident at Lee Canyon, NV. The injury left me with fractured T9 & T10 vertebrae & severe back pain. After two years of physical therapy & many pain killers with little improvement, I was convinced I would have back pain for the rest of my life. I was given the book, Bikram Yoga: The Guru Behind Hot Yoga Shows the Way to Radiant Health and Personal Fulfillment. After reading the book, and trusting this could be the way to heal my spine, I took class every day for 1 month. The back pain immediately began to lessen, the fear of helplessness completely disappeared & got I in shape too! Not only did I heal my spine, but I also gained personal determination, mental concentration & self control. I knew very soon after starting the yoga I wanted to be a teacher. I went to Bikram Teacher Training in Spring 2009. Becoming a teacher has taught me even more about myself & about the people that come into my life. I am so grateful to have found Bikram Yoga & hope to be an inspiration to people who feel there is no hope other than surgery. I believe the most important thing in class is to go without fear. Trust yourself, your body & trust the yoga.
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John Salvatore- Senior Teacher
(John Salvatore in Dandayamana-Dhanurasana Standing Bow Pulling Pose)
I decided to go to my first yoga class after a friend told me that it was the hottest and most challenging workout they have ever done. I never did yoga before in my life, but for some reason I felt compelled to go that very day. It was called Bikram yoga. Little did I know that this so-called “workout” I was about to casually throw myself into would end up changing my life. After my first class I was hooked. I practiced every day for 2 years before I made the decision to become a teacher. I honestly felt that it was a sin to keep this wonderful thing all for myself. I had to share it and felt inspired to pass on this amazing gift I had received. It was my duty. I graduated from Bikram Yoga’s teacher training in the spring of 2001. Since then, I have been teaching not only in my hometown in New York City, but all over the United States and now here in fabulous Las Vegas.
Don’t ever give up, don’t ever lose hope and don’t quit 5 seconds before the miracle.
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Marc Hocking - Teacher
I live at the Yoga Studio-- Just call me Hockwacker!
(What should I have for Lunch?)
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Erika Peterson - Teacher (Fall 09')--
Bio Coming Soon!
(Chrissy M, Jason, and me at Teacher Training Fall 09'--T-Force!)
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Kimberley Reed - Teacher (Fall 09')--
Bio Coming Soon!
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Frank Gantman - Teacher
Biography coming soon!
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Mark Frye- Teacher
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Summer Rellamas- Teacher
Summer Rellamas first found Bikram Yoga in the summer of 2007, and it was love at first class. Then came a 30-day challenge, which turned into a 60-day challenge, which finally led to teacher training in the Spring of 2009. "Bikram Yoga found me at a time in my life when things were so chaotic, and it was the one part of my day, where I came, I sweat, and for 90 minutes my mind was completely shut off and I was at peace. It was my light in a dark time and it saved and improved every aspect of my life. I knew in the first week that I wanted to be a teacher and I'm grateful for every day I get to share this beautiful gift of Bikram Yoga with the community.