 | | | | Karen & David Buckner | Bikram Yoga Dallas Directors, David and Karen Buckner, grew up in such close proximity, they could have run into each other decades ago at Charlie's Hamburger Joint (where David was the cook, and Karen often a patron) in Houston, Texas. It was not until many years later, however, that Karen and David's paths finally crossed in a most unlikely place: teacher training at Bikram's Yoga College of India in Los Angeles.
Back in Dallas, David had recently given up practicing law to follow his yen for yoga. At the same time, Karen had quit a sales job in Portland and put all her belongings in storage, planning to travel the world teaching yoga after training. After realizing they grew up in the same place the very first day they met in LA, Karen remembers David asking innocently, "Would you ever move back to Texas?" "No way!" she recalls protesting vehemently.
They became close so quickly, many trainees mistakenly assumed they had come to teacher training together. During the intensive 9 weeks, David and Karen grew together in strength: physical, mental, and emotional. They also learned the value of living in the present moment. After training, Karen went back to Portland and David to Dallas, but this lesson proved invaluable as they quickly realized their life was together.
Karen decided to prove she's a Texan after all, and joined David in Dallas to run the Bikram Studio in November of 2003. After renovating the studio in December of 2003, and marrying in the Bahamas in June 2004, Karen and David remain open to the daily lessons of yoga and life. "I guess," Karen notes, "we were ready to find each other." |
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| | Instructors | All of our instructors are Bikram Certified. Why is it important to learn from a Bikram Certified Instructor? Click here to find out. |
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| | | Joseph Encinia | Born and raised here in Dallas, TX. I started practicing Bikram Yoga in May 2005. Bikram Yoga is one the best things I have ever done for myself. It has truly changed my life. Mentally, it has given me more peace with myself and the world around me; physically, it has taught me my body could do things I never dreamed it could do.
I haven't always been very healthy; now, in large part due to Bikram Yoga, I am in the best shape I have ever been. Diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at a young age (which affected the majority of the left side of my body), I spent years in and out of Scottish Rite and Children's Hospital trying to rehabilitate and strengthen my joints and muscles. After a major knee surgery, I taught myself how to deal with the discomfort and move on. As a result, my physical activities were limited and I was consistently taking pain medication. Then, at the age of thirteen, quite unexpectedly, I had a heart attack. I was not the only one surprised--family and friends were caught off guard as well. The causes are unknown, but most likely hereditary; regardless, it made a tremendous impact, and I've explored many forms of exercise since to regain control of my health.
One day I decided to explore forms of exercise to regain control of my health. After a long journey, I discovered Bikram Yoga. I simply expected a physical workout. I found much more than that. I have transformed. I no longer suffer constant pain. I've lost weight and developed lean muscle mass. I can contort my body into positions I never thought possible. I have gained a peace of mind I previously never knew existed. I have transcended many limitations within myself – mentally, physically and emotionally. I am accomplishing things I once thought impossible.
I've learned to accept responsibility for making changes in my life. Bikram Yoga has taught me to look at challenges in front of me, smile and meet them head on. I have learned to focus on the tasks at hand and live in peace with myself and the world around me. To me this is the gift of yoga. The gift which I have the responsibility to share for the rest of my life.
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| | | | Michael Zaccagnino | bio coming soon |
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| | | | Farky Fuszfas | I was born in Budapest, Hungary. I attended school there and eventually graduated with a degree in engineering. In the middle of the 90' my wife and I started traveling. We spent some time in Europe, Mexico, Canada and the USA. In 1999 we moved to Dallas where my wife started taking Bikram Yoga classes and loved it. She tried to convince me to go with her, but I resisted very strongly. I have always loved sports; I played soccer, competed in canoeing and my favorite, inline skating, but yoga?! I thought it was for girls. It took her six months to convince me to take a class. I agreed to take one class, that's it! The one class turned into two, three and before I knew it, I was hooked. I felt great after each class and most importantly, with regular practice, I was able to say goodbye to my long time lower back problem. I am happy to say that I now suffer no pain in my back.
I took the teacher training in 2002 and yoga has been the center point of my life, our lives, (my wife and I took the training together) since that time.
We kept traveling and went all the way to Australia. I taught yoga in Adelaide, South Australia until the summer of 2007 when our journey brought us back to Dallas. It is a great feeling to teach in the same room where I was gasping for air in my very first Bikram Yoga class.
I am a very happy husband and father of my two boys! |
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| | | | Allison Vieger | I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After I graduated college with a degree in Fine Arts as a visual communication major, I worked as an art director and designer for over 5 years.
I practiced ashatanga/power yoga for 6 years. I found Bikram yoga while looking for a new challenge in my daily yoga practice. And boy did I find it! My first class was painful but something kept me coming back day after day. I am a big planner (and a big worrier) and dealing with the 'unknown' has never been my strong point. Because of my constant worrying, I always had difficulty sleeping at night. For the first time in my life, I was able to find an inner calm that quieted the chatter in my head. I was amazed I could lie in bed at night and actually fall asleep peacefully. I found that I didn't have to be forever looking forward to the future, trying to plan and control everything. I could exist in the now- be present in the room-in mind, body spirit connection. I quickly fell in love with this amazing yoga!
I graduated from training in November 2008, the exact anniversary of my 2 years of Bikram yoga practice! Although training was very challenging at times, it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I am thrilled to be teaching students in my home studio where I had my very first class. I feel honored, humbled, and so blessed to be able to share my passion of this amazing yoga with others.
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| | | | Isaac Christopher | A series of physical setbacks and a desire for a complete overhaul of the mind, body, and soul led Isaac to his first Bikram Yoga class on September 23, 2003. The Bikram Yoga series has had a profound effect on his life. Isaac received his Certification from Bikram's Yoga College of India in the Fall of 2008. He is a committed student and committed to teach the purest form of Bikram Yoga.
Isaac has a social services background working with developmentally disabled adults and children, but it's his artist's heart that is the driving force behind his love for music and all things creative. Bikram's Yoga has helped Isaac realize the potential within each of us and he encourages students to use self control, faith, determination, concentration, and patience as a pathway to the kingdom of health. |
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| | | | Sherry Ellis | My first exposure to yoga was in a gym. The teacher would crowd us into the aerobics room and crank up the heat much to the dismay of the gym's management. The class was offered once a week and lasted less than an hour. I did not know much about yoga but my body wanted to practice more than once a week so I started looking for a yoga studio. I tried a couple non-Bikram yoga styles but did not experience the changes in my flexibility that I had hoped. I was frustrated. Then I read about Bikram Yoga in the newspaper.
I was a challenging first-time Bikram student, not taking direction, trying to do too much, but I kept coming back. I was hooked. My body began to open up and I felt terrific. Sometimes I struggled with the heat but I always felt so good afterwards, clean from the inside out, relaxed and healthy.
After practicing for five years, I decided to give up a 26-year management career and become a Bikram Teacher. I spent the most challenging nine weeks of my life in Los Angeles with Bikram and his staff to earn my teaching certificate. Since then I have taught in Elk Grove, Sonoma and Granite Bay, California and then Richardson and Dallas, Texas. I love the yoga and the opportunity to share the yoga with others. One of the most valuable aspects of Bikram Yoga is the extended community it provides to students and teachers. Spread the word and help expand our yoga community.
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| | | | Laura Burch | I was born in Lubbock Texas and moved to the metroplex to attend college. After four years at UTA I moved to Dallas, changed schools, and finally ended up getting my degree in Fashion Design. I was always active, but it was in the fall of 2005 that I badly injured my leg while training for a marathon. I could not walk and the doctors wanted me to do expensive and time consuming rehabilitation. A friend of a friend suggested I try Bikram Yoga. He said it was a real workout I would appreciate. I went and hated it! The heat was shocking, but I had bought a month long package before class. I decided to try one more class before giving up. Over three and half years later I found myself at Bikram Yoga teacher training. I can not explain how much this yoga has improved the quality of my life. Now as a teacher I have the opportunity to give back and share this powerful subject with others. I am truly blessed. |
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| | | | Rachel Hudson | A native of East Texas, Rachel's yoga practice began in Hawaii in the mid 90's. Over the years she found Bikram Yoga in 2002 and practiced as much as her restaurant management schedule would allow. After leaving restaurant operations in 2005 and settling into restaurant sales, Rachel finally began focusing her efforts on a stronger yoga practice. With increased efforts, knee and hip problems which have followed her from her high school days slowly began to fade as she grew stronger and stronger with continued practice. With Rachel's full time commitment to Bikram Yoga in 2008, Rachel made plans to attend teacher training in spring of 2009 in Palm Desert, California. Since the summer of 2009, Rachel has taught with continued passion for the yoga and draws much of her inspiration from many of her students who have also overcome challenges themselves.
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