Dear Midge,

Thank you!  

My experience at Bikram Yoga Burr Ridge has exceeded by expectations and  I would be there everyday if I lived just a little closer!

I remember how much I suffered the first few weeks, but slowly and surely my suffering turned to peace through meditation and mindful breathing. Also, I was skeptical about not having an instructor showing me what to do in every posture, and the idea of being ‘my own teacher’ just didn’t appeal to me at first. However, over time I realized how valuable that lesson was too; it continues to teach me patience and self-acceptance.  Lastly, my yoga practice has become my ‘fountain of youth’.

So, thank you Burr Ridge Team! I look forward to many more classes with you.

Blessings and Namaste,  

Cathy Berry
July 2011

Dear Midge,

I wanted to express how physically challenging and personally rewarding the 30 day challenge was for me. I have completed an Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run) and many 1/2 Ironman competitions.  In addition, I am a former greco-roman and freestyle national veterans wrestling champion (2009). I thought all my years of endurance and wrestling workouts were tough physically and mentally but they did not prepare me for Bikram Yoga. With that said, I really had to check my ego at the door to complete this challenge. I found myself gaining a new level of mental toughness/clarity and physical endurance as I went through the 30 days. To this day, in each yoga practice, I find myself learning something new about myself mentally and physically.  Each class is a humbling and growth experience. It has helped me become a stronger athlete and much more focused in my daily life. It is also a wonderful way for couples to connect and stay active together!!   

As a practicing clinical health psychologist, I prescribe Bikram Yoga and your facility to many of my patients for a wide range of issues. My patients echo what I am saying and report feeling better both in mind and body from taking up Bikram Yoga.  

Your staff are outstanding instructors and mentors!!! I enjoy how they create a mind-body connection in each practice session. I am hooked and will continue on my own journey in Bikram Yoga and will continue to prescribe it to my patients.

Thank you for the challenge and wonderful practice sessions,

Trace Robinson, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Dear Midge,

I just wanted to tell you how awesome I felt after this (30 Day) challenge.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I wasn’t even sure why I signed up for this.  That said, despite the scheduling challenges that attending class every day created – I felt more centered than I have in months.  I learned that it is possible to find time for myself every day.  It is possible to exercise even when my  mind can think of other “more beneficial uses of my time,” (including sleep).  It is possible to do all the poses (versus conserving energy for camel).  When all is said and done, I realized that my own mind is more of an obstacle than I appreciated.  That lesson was worth learning not only for exercise but in other areas of life as well.  

I wanted to thank you and all of the instructors for all of the energy and support that they shared.  I doubt very much I would have made it past day 2, but not for their positive attitudes and humor.

And once I repay all of my colleagues for covering for me, I’ll be back in class!

Thanks again.

Shannon Mrksich

Hinsdale, IL

Congratulations Kevin Favata!

This is Kevin Favata. On November 21st, 2010, he completed 100 consecutive days of Bikram Yoga, and took all his classes at Bikram Yoga Burr Ridge!

Congratulations Kevin!

Dear Midge,

After Tomek's class (day 13 of the Challenge) started out with much soreness in neck. Re-adjusted in Rabbit. Compressed very deep to put forehead on knees. Pushed hips up and felt spine open after release. All pain in neck gone.

Day 14 - in Rabbit - felt spine open more- but admittedly - got scared and released. Never felt spine open so much before. Wasnt sure this was good thing. Consulted after class with teacher and got confimation this was good!

Laura

Burr Ridge, IL

From a Bikram Yoga Burr Ridge client's blog, http://redefiningwealth.wordpress.com

Checking my ego at the door (or at least on the way out)

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Kanwar Singh

As with many others I know, I tend to be much better at dispensing advice than following it.  In fact, I’ve made an art form of hypocritically ignoring my own best counsel.  I mean, after all, if you’re going to ignore something, you might as well ignore it well, right?….

One of the main areas where I’ve focused much time in “advising” others is with respect to the role that ego plays in our own sense of happiness and joy.  It’s no secret that for over 5,000 years most every saint, holy person and shaman has cautioned us that absorption in and with ourselves leads directly to a sense of unhappiness.  To that end, no less than the ancient Rig Veda proclaims in absolute terms that the “ego is the biggest enemy of humans.”

So, there it is.  Right?

Until of course you have to put it in practice….  Self honesty can really be a buzz kill.

My wife has been going to Bikram yoga classes for almost 2 weeks now.  It’s part of a 30-day challenge–though calling it a “challenge” is like referring to self-flagellation as an exfoliating scrub….

Seeing how great she looks and feels, I decided I’d join her this week.  Now, I should say straight away that I’ve been doing yoga for the better part of 15 years and fancy myself quite the yogi (though I’d never done Bikram before).  And, thus, with a peacock’s pride, I informed her that I’d join her and “give it a try” (using a tone of voice that suggested that all of her talk about how hard it is was only because she wasn’t nearly as fit or centered as I am–see what I mean about ego?).

In any case, we walked into the studio and the first thing I noticed (before entering the yoga room) was that all the men were walking around with their shirts off.  Now, I’m in decent shape but have enjoyed myself quite a bit this summer and thus was sporting a bit of a gut.  And, “egoless” as I am, I quickly tried to convince myself that I’d be fine wearing a shirt into the class.

That didn’t last long.

At 105 degrees Farenheit, the shirt lasted about 90 seconds and then quickly found itself being flung to the floor (I’m surprised I didn’t rip it off).  And, so from that point on, noticing that the entire room was surrounded by mirrors so we could check our form, I was forced to look at (and try to conceal) my “form.”  Pathetic.  I know.

Not long thereafter, as we entered into a particularly strenuous set of poses, I found myself wanting to impress the teacher, my wife and, well, the entire rest of the class with my facility with yoga.  I held every pose fully and intentionally to the end.  I pushed every stretch to the limit.  I contorted myself like a pretzel.  And, then I spent 2 minutes lying on the floor in exhaustion.

Not surprisingly, in my zeal to demonstrate my yoga prowess, I used up most of my energy leaving almost nothing in the tank with still half the class to go (which is, by the way, a full 90 minutes).  Did I mention that the room is set at 105 degrees?!?!

I did finally end up making it through the class and didn’t cop out and leave the room, though several times I eyed the exit quite longingly.  And, as with most lessons that carry a greater message, it was when I finally stopped thinking about me and how I was being perceived by others, that I found my “juju” — my spirit — and that’s when the class just flowed.  It became effortless.  Well, actually, it was when my wife leaned over during “pigeon pose” and sternly said… “check your ego at the door.”

I’ll spare you the overused metaphors but will leave you with the following:

“Ego is like a room of your own, a room with a view with the temperature and the smells and the music that you like. You want it your own way. You’d just like to have a little peace, you’d like to have a little happiness, you know, just gimme a break. But the more you think that way, the more you try to get life to come out so that it will always suit you, the more your fear of other people and what’s outside your room grows. Rather than becoming more relaxed, you start pulling down the shades and locking the door. When you do go out, you find the experience more and more unsettling and disagreeable. You become touchier, more fearful, more irritable than ever. The more you try to get it your way, the less you feel at home.” – Pema Chödrön

In the almost disquieting calm that followed 90 minutes of one of the most trying yoga practices I’ve experienced, I realized that I had no choice but to quiet my mind, focus on my self, without judgment, and ignore the incessant cries of my ego to think about my place and perception by others.  It was wonderful.  Truly.  It’s amazing what happens when you practice what you preach…

Chardi Kala (“may your spirit rise”),

Kanwar

Dear Midge,

Thanks for offering this wonderful program of "hot yoga" to the western suburbs.  I was a little skeptical at first, since I am 60 and this didn't sound like something I would enjoy.  But you have made me a convert.  

My daughter started taking classes in New York and convinced my wife and I that we should try it.  Well, it's been a month, we have gone 13 times and we love it.  I am down 10 pounds and have more energy than I did a month ago.  I have a long way to go to get back into the shape I wish I was in, but hopefully with a three time a week regiment of Bikram Yoga and changed eating habits I will get there. 

Thanks.

Bill Crowther

January 2010

Dear Midge,

My friend introduced me to Bikram yoga - and I'm so grateful for it.  I'm hooked! 

The teachers at Burr Ridge, IL (it just opened in June - brand new, beautiful facility) are excellent.  They make you feel so comfortable but still challenge you.  I feel so great after every single class - the sweat is definitely worth every single drop.  The next day after the class I feel like I had a deep tissue massage - what could be better?

Bikram Yoga at Burr Ridge is absolutely great!  I could never go back to the traditional yoga classes that I used to attend.

Gita

December 2009

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