.::Bikram Yoga College of India

Joani and Mike are on the faculty of Bikram's Teacher Training and spend several weeks at each training assisting Bikram and his International Headquarters' staff. Throughout the year, they provide support, information, apprenticeships and guidance to certified Bikram Yoga teachers from around the world.
Learn more about Joani and Mike

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ALL OF OUR TEACHERS ARE BIKRAM CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS Along with our regular teaching staff, we often have visiting guest teachers who teach at our Bikram's Yoga College of India - Houston. All of our instructors have been certified to teach Bikram Yoga by Bikram Choudhury, having graduated from his intensive, comprehensive residential Teacher Training Certification program. All of our instructors also maintain current recertification qualifications. Every Bikram certified instructor must meet recertification standards every three years by returning to study with Bikram himself. We are proud to say that all of our senior teachers maintain their relationship with Bikram and our yoga lineage. This ensures that you, our students, receive the highest quality of instruction available today.

Tony Banks Tony is the operations manager for both schools, where his talent for organization and repair work are regularly put to good use. Originally from Houston, this well known traveling yogi has put his roots back down in Texas. After running Bikram's front desk at world headquarters and then traveling and teaching coast to coast for a number of years, Tony brings extensive knowledge and experience into the classroom when he teaches. Tony is passionate about Bikram Yoga, and has witnessed thousands of Bikram Yoga miracles, along with experiencing several of his own. Tony was recertified to teach Bikram Yoga at Bikram's International Headquarters in 2001, and again in 2004. He considers teaching Bikram Yoga to be an honor and a privilege.

Jack Cooper - A native Texan, Jack is a pharmacist and computer wizard, retired from corporate America. He is the General Manager of the South Blvd school, and her runs the front desk, school, with unflagging kindness, a great sense of humor, terrific attention to detail, all of which are invaluable! Jack's good natured spirit infuses South Blvd. with a gentle yet enthusiastic energy, and his love for Bikram Yoga transmits itself to everyone who walks through the door.

Joyce Cavanaugh After many years immersed in nature, living in the rugged beauty of rural Maine, Joyce decided to seek her Bikram Yoga apprenticeship in Houston. Much to her surprise, after overcoming considerable culture shock, she discovered that she loves living in this sultry, WARM, bayou city.

Joyce gratefully credits Bikram Yoga with restoring her to radiant health after nearly dying from heavy metal poisoning. It also restored full range of motion to the parts of her body severely injured in a hit and run accident. Joyce brings compassion, humor, gentle discipline, and encouragement to her teaching. She knows first hand what it's like to be so ill that just getting to class takes super human effort. She also knows it's worth it to make that effort.

Joyce began her formal yoga training in 1993 under the careful guidance of Swami Chidvilasananda, and received her Bikram Yoga Teacher certification in 2002. She is the assistant director of the Fountain View studio, where her many skills and talents are used in the daily support of students, staff, and the Bikram Yoga mission.

Lynn Ferguson bio to come

Mary Kate Henninger bio to come

Ana Saldana bio to come

Marvin Nunez Marvin discovered Bikram Yoga after finishing a 3 year tour of duty in the army. While his military experience had many benefits, it also left him with a stress fracture, as well as knee and shoulder injuries that never seemed to heal.

He took his first class thinking he'd be bored out of his mind, that yoga was a wimpy kind of thing, but that maybe it would help his injuries. He finished his first class humbled by the incredible challenge, bursting with energy, already experiencing less pain. After just six weeks of regular practice he no longer needed his knee brace.

He recently completed 120 consecutive days of yoga. "Bikram Yoga has completely changed the way I look and feel. I have a new attitude, and I've become a well rounded person. Bikram Yoga is a part of my life, and I will practice it for the rest of my life."

Mauri Mauyer After years of volunteering in the community and substituting in the Clear Creek School District, Mauri began to look for new directions to explore in life. In 2005, she discovered Bikram Yoga through a dear friend who was battling an illness. The discovery turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Although uncertain about what to expect, it was important to her to support her friend and so she decided to venture into the unexplored territory of Bikram's Hot Yoga. "I can't say I liked it the first few times I walked through the door, but my new yoga partner made sure we were there each week, like it or not! After some time, I started seeing and feeling the benefits and the healing. I loved the way it made my mind, body and soul feel. It was, and still is, life changing. And somewhere along the way my thoughts shifted from doing Bikram Yoga FOR a friend, to doing Bikram Yoga WITH a friend... I finally realized the beautiful gift I had received. She had given me the gift of Bikram Yoga, and for that I am eternally grateful!

I love being able to share this yoga with people. I love seeing the impact it has on other students and hearing what it has done for them. Working at the studio allows me to see how the lives of others are changed, just like mine was. It is truly inspiring!

Naomi Arnold- Naomi Arnold is the special projects and communication facilitator for our schools, where her creative ability and organizational gifts are employed on a daily basis. She offers administrative support, restores order to chaos, and provides a deep well of warmth and caring to both students and staff alike. Naomi runs the front desk weekdays at our Fountain View school, where her open mind and loving spirit infuse the school with great, uplifting energy.

Growing up in the Montrose area of Houston, Naomi was surrounded by artists, musicians, and other free spirits. This infused in her a love for travel, new ideas and adventure. Periodically living on the West Coast, she always returns back to Houston with a grateful heart, because there’s no place like home, and Houston is home!

Naomi has been a student of Bikram Yoga since 2001. She plans to go to the 2008 Fall Teacher Training in order to deepen her love and understanding of this incredibly transformative yoga. She says “ Bikram Yoga has dramatically changed me, physically and mentally. But equally as important, I am grateful to have been a witness to, and a part of, helping our students create miracle in their own lives with this yoga. There is no greater joy than helping others change their lives in such a positive and uplifting way”.

Janna Scott - Janna started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2003 and completed her teacher training in Los Angeles in June 2005. She taught briefly in her native Boston before moving to Houston. Every class she has led during the last two years inspires her as she witnesses the enthusiastic efforts of new students and the tremendous progress and accomplishments of long-time practitioners.

Janna teaches at both the South Boulevard and Fountainview studios. Her favorite poses are utkatasana (awkward) and poorna-salabhasana (full locust). The advice she gives to new students is to be patient with your body. “You will come to love the heat, the asanas, and the challenge. And you will love how you feel after you complete the class!”

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Janna enjoys traveling, spending time with family,friends, her dogs, and following her beloved Red Sox from afar. While she misses Fenway Park, she is delighted to have found a permanent home here in Houston.

Andrea Bahry - Andrea discovered Bikram Yoga while living in New York City in 2005 and recovering from a running injury. She was blown away by the challenge of the 90 minute class. Thinking she was a runner, not a yogi, she put the yoga on hold, but the yoga was always in the back of her mind.

When she moved to Houston in 2006, she was training for a half marathon and once again, injured herself. The first thing she thought about was the incredible healing effects of Bikram Yoga. This time she put the running aside and decided to commit herself to a regular yoga practice. That continuous practice made her realize that she not only got a great workout, but she gained flexibility, she slept better, and she felt much happier.

The friendliness and support of the staff at Bikram Yoga Houston caused Andrea to approach Joani and Mike for a job, one month after starting her practice. She has been working the front desk at SB since Jan. 2007 and is continually amazed at all the transformation she sees. “I truly believe in the benefits of Bikram Yoga. I not only see and feel these benefits in myself, but I see them every day in the students. I feel so proud to be part of something that can make people feel better about themselves and that can bring people health and happiness. I am thankful everyday for finding Bikram Yoga and for being part of the Bikram Yoga Houston community ”

Kate Henninger - It may have been Kate's good karma that brought her to the doors of Bikram's Yoga College of India, or it may have been simple good luck (is there a difference?) But there is no doubt that it is her good karma and great good fortune, developed these past five years practicing Bikram Yoga at the FV studio, that is carrying her forward into her future.

Kate is an anthropologist and student of international relations by education, and a bilingual 3rd grade teacher by trade. She gratefully shares her life and dreams with her dear husband, Peter, to whom she has been married for over 25 astounding years! She is the mother of two very precious daughters - Mary Kate, who helps run the front desk at the FV studio, and Meg, an art student at Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio.

Kate is honored and deeply grateful to have stumbled upon one of the very best things in this world, and, to be in the presence of some of the kindest people she has ever encountered. This includes the staff at both schools as well as the students who practice there. Bikram Yoga has changed her life, for the better, to be sure. Kate currently helps run the front desk at the FV school, and she will be attending the Spring or Fall 2008 Teacher Training . She says " I look forward to continuing to develop my yoga practice, along with my understanding of life, karma, and universal law. It is my heart's desire to open a Bikram Yoga studio in the near future - I long to give to others what I have received myself. I am deeply grateful to Joani and Mike for their kindness, wisdom and guidance."

Cheryl Alexander - photo and bio to come

Therese Sua - Therese discovered yoga through Thai massage when she first went to Thailand in 1999. Piqued, she looked for yoga practitioners back home in the Philippines, but most styles were meditative and the studios had inconsistent schedules. Frustrated, Therese wistfully shelved yoga to move on to varsity rowing and kickboxing, and focused on advertising courses in college. However, none gave the peace and true satisfaction she received from practicing yoga.

During a stint in animal rights after college in 2006, Therese was persuaded by a fellow office colleague to sign up for a "hot yoga" class not far away. At the last minute, her colleague canceled, but Therese went anyway--and discovered Bikram Yoga. Enamored with the heat, the the specificity of the 26 postures, the "happy glow" and the non-competitive, supportive atmosphere, Therese said to herself, "this is IT!" believing in it so much she decided to pursue Teacher Training in Spring 2007. She hasn't looked back since.

Upon graduating Teacher Training, Therese contacted Joani about the possibility of an apprenticeship in Houston, and after touring Europe with her family arrived in Houston ready to begin the next step in her yoga adventure. She teaches at the South Blvd location under Mike's careful and compassionate guidance, and enjoys the support and camaraderie of the entire Bikram Yoga Houston staff. "I love teaching Bikram Yoga and I love living in Houston! I've grown so much since I moved here. I find it especially exciting to work with the new teachers and the students training to go to Teacher Training, helping them prepare to teach. Itís important for me to be able to give what I've received and make the circle complete".

Annemarie Canales- Native Houstonian Annemarie discovered Bikram yoga after a fateful trip to Hawaii in the summer of 2006. Upon her return in August, she attended her first class at the South Blvd. studio. Having previously tried yoga and thinking it slow and boring, she was quickly humbled by the challenge of the heated 90 minute class and immediately bought a package.

The warmth and kindness of the studio made Annemarie think how awesome a job there would be and as fate would have it, she was offered a job to work the front desk at South Blvd a year later. She is currently in the middle of her first 60 day challenge and is already amazed by the transformations in her body, mind and life. "What I love most about it is that it allows me to eat whatever I want and I sleep like a baby!"

Annemarie truly believes in the healing aspects of this yoga and finds it an honor and privilege to work under the brilliance of Mike Winter and Joani Nunez. Her journey with this yoga is just beginning...

Cathy Athearn - Originally from England, Cathy arrived in Houston in 1991, via Saudi Arabia, Holland, and... Massachusetts! Plagued by on-and-off back pain since her early 20s, she had two disks removed from her lower spine in 2001. She followed that up with a car accident which herniated yet another disk. As her doctor (with a gleam in his eye) recommended more surgery, she fled from his office and into a Bikram yoga studio.

Bikram yoga had such an amazing effect on her spine and her whole well-being, that she scheduled her life around it, at one point doing three 60-day challenges in a row (grand total = 180 consecutive days!). In the Fall of 2007, she attended the 9-week Bikram Yoga Teacher Training and became a certified Bikram Yoga instructor.

"Don't let having injuries or an inflexible body keep you from trying this yoga," says Cathy. The joy of the process is the gradual progress you make every day... All you need do is start right now. It was three years before I even touched my toes." As Bikram says: "It's a journey, not a destination."

Beth Whittemore - At the urging of a friend Beth walked into the South Blvd Bikram Yoga studio here in Houston with no expectations. Ninety minutes later she walked out of the studio looking like she had been submerged under water for the entire time but feeling like she was walking on air. The next day, after completing her second class, she resigned from her gym and never looked back.

Beth watched in astonishment as her body and mind transformed completely over the next couple of months. Her kids without any urging began to join her on a daily basis. began to practice in secret over at the Fountain View studio. His secret was out quickly when the logistics of laundry overwhelmed him.

With the complete support of her family Beth went to teacher training in the fall of 2007 and became a certified Bikram Yoga instructor. Since returning Beth has discovered that her love of the yoga has expanded to include teaching Bikram yoga. She says, "I consider Bikram yoga to be the best gift I have ever received, and I believe that sharing the yoga through teaching is my way of giving that gift to as many people as possible."

Lori (Taz) Trevino - After many years of working in management in the corporate world, Taz decided to hang up her Masters in Finance from Johns Hopkins University and start preparing herself to teach Bikram Yoga. In her previous life she was a marathon runner for fifteen years, and a runner for 30 years total. Taz also participated in long distance bicycle rides like the MS150 from Houston to Austin. In addition she participated in many other 60 to 100 milers throughout the Dallas and Houston area.

In December, 2003 her older daughter visited from California and asked to find a Bikram Yoga studio where they could practice during her visit. They did, and Taz started practicing Bikram from that day forward. Over the past four years she has completed three 60 day challenges; and, as a personal challenge to herself, completed 200 classes in 167 days last year prior to going to training in Hawaii. She has taken more that 1,100 classes to date!

"My passion for Bikram Yoga has surpassed all of the challenges that I ever experienced during my running and biking days. Not only does Bikram Yoga change you physically - but more importantly, it changes you mentally and spiritually. The Yoga has helped change my life to one of calm and peace. If I can be inspirational to anyone else by sharing this Yoga, then I believe that the Universe has led me to where I belong."

Inga Alanne bio to come