Olga was working as an architect until 2003. During this time she felt increasingly stressed in all parts of her life and started to feel aches and pains in her body from spending much time in front of a computer. Olga had tried other types of yoga but spent a long time of putting off going to try a Bikram class. ‘..when I finally made it to class I was immediately drawn to the yoga because of the challenge that every class gave me. I very quickly started to feel better about my body and I felt more relaxed.’ Olga continued a regular Bikram practice for 4 years before embarking on her life changing decision to give up her regular job and train to become a teacher.

Olga's dream was to combine her love of yoga with her love of architecture and design a space where people could come and enjoy this fantastic yoga. 'I feel that in Fulham and Balham, I have created a beautiful retreat for people to get away from the hectic world around them and do something incredibly good for their body and mind.' Olga believes that Bikram yoga is for everyone, whatever their age, size, body type. Olga's first daughter, Yasmin, was born in 2005, Skye was born in 2007 and Lily was born in 2009. Olga is now looking to open a new studio in London Bridge but no more children…for a while…!

Bikram standing on my back in padahastasana

Sanjai is a not so secret agent of yoga, travelling the world on missions to spread the light. In days gone by, he used to be undercover, fronting as an accountant. However, he is now so well known that he has abandoned his cover and now practises with reckless abandon wherever he lays his hatha. Showing at a studio near you soon.

Dianne Tayles began practising Bikram Yoga in Jersey, Channel Islands in 1999. It helped her at the time to deal with a very stressful job and lifestyle in International Banking, as well as losing several stones in weight. She moved to London in 2001 and continued practising, eventually training in L.A. as a teacher in Spring 2003. The more she taught and practised Bikram Yoga, the more interested she became in the therapeutic effects that she perceived in herself and saw in her students.

She eventually gave up the finance world completely in 2005 to go back to University full time to retrain as an osteopath. Dianne saw the similarities between yoga and osteopathy and thought they could work well together. Since successfully qualifying with a Masters in Osteopathy, she has opened her own osteopathic clinic in Southfields, near Wimbledon, and continues to alternate this with teaching Bikram. She finds that the knowledge she has gained as an osteopath contributes to her teaching skills when dealing with students who are coping with injuries, and that the yoga can be used as a therapeutic tool when treating osteopathic patients. A perfect combination.

In March 2005 Harriet discovered Bikram Yoga. At that time Harriet was working herself too hard, driving a thousand miles per week and generally putting herself under huge amounts of pressure to succeed at the wrong thing!! Harriet believes that Bikram Yoga helped her to understand that she was pursuing the wrong destiny. It brought herself deeper into her own body and she learnt that much of the pain she felt was down to stress and internal conflict. Harriet knew that after her second Bikram class she was destined to become more involved and eventually teach. ‘So here I am a qualified teacher and a happy, healthy yogini. Bikram yoga has changed my life and I truly believe in the power of this yoga. If nothing else it will give you a little glimpse of who you really are, and help you become fit, strong and healthy: mentally, physically and spiritually. Come and see us for a sweat soon!’

Sonia first discovered Bikram yoga in 2003 in Paris, France where she was working as a professional dancer. She became addicted to Bikram yoga from the very first class and within six months, having retired from dance, went to train in Los Angeles to become a teacher. She taught full time in the Paris Bikram studio from March 2004 for two years and in the summer of 2006 returned to the UK and began teaching at the Fulham studio.  Sonia loves the power this yoga has to transform the body both physically and emotionally and the fact that anyone, regardless of age, size or experience can benefit from practicing Bikram yoga.

Anna is happily married with two cats. She suffered with pain in the top C1 to C5 vertebra together with numbness/semi paralysis in her fingers which was identified as 'erosion wear and tear' by a neurologist. She had three years of physio, but the condition did not go away.  After two months of Bikram Yoga her symptoms disappeared and she has never needed another physio session. She loves her job, loves the yoga and loves what it does for people.

Heidi has been practising Bikram yoga since 2000 and teaching since 2003. Having always been interested in a wide variety of sports, this yoga appealed to Heidi due to the challenge. She enjoys the fact that after a class, she feels that she has had a 100% full body work-out, both inside and out. What Heidi also loves is that Bikram really is available to anyone, no matter your age or ability. Heidi says ‘The most fulfilling thing with teaching yoga is seeing the benefits and improvements on students when they choose to include it in their lifestyle’. Heidi fell pregnant in 2007 and continued her Bikram practice throughout. We wish Heidi much luck with her new Bikram baby!

After being a regular practitioner of Bikram yoga at Fulham since it first opened and bending everyone's ear constantly about the amazing physical and mental benefits of the Bikram series, Karen finally completed the Bikram Teacher Training in Fall 2007. Karen feels extremely fulfilled to combine her love of the Bikram series with a desire to teach and strives to assist every practitioner in order to achieve maximum health and vitality, regardless of age and/or fitness level. She is keen to help individuals achieve their personal goals through yoga, be it weight loss, building flexibility, strength or rehabilitation after injury. With a background in ballet and trained as a freelance lifestyle journalist, Karen aims to imbue her classes with  a strong sense of integrity, discipline and fun and through her teaching, make a convincing argument that this yoga really can and will make a profound impact on your life.

Jessica’s background is in dance. She was part of a contemporary dance company in Rome. In 1998 she left Italy and came to live in London to satisfy her desire to explore the world and learn another language.

She joined some dance classes, but after a while she decided to have a break from dancing.  For few years she didn’t practice any form of physical exercise or expression, until a friend persuaded her to come to a Bikram class. She had been always fascinated by the yoga world. Finally she awakened her body and her mind again.

In Spring 2006 she went to the Bikram teacher training and since then she has been teaching in Rome, Indonesia and London.

She has also done different courses in massage therapy and she recently attended another yoga teacher training. Jessica believes in the incredible power of the body, that finding the awareness of the body brings peace and consciousness to the mind.

Simi's yoga journey began in Canada 2001 when she attended her first Bikram yoga class. For her yoga offers mental and physical strength, clarity of thought and a renewed sense of being. Helping to combat the stresses of working in the fashion PR and marketing industry and with continued practise, the more intrigued she became, feeling compelled to deepen her understanding. Traveling extensively in India, training in a yoga ashram and completing the Bikram yoga training course in June 2008 has given her powerful insights to the path of teacher and how she approaches herself on and off the mat. Simi feels honored to share this
healing practise with others and increasingly feels touched by the students she meets; all so focussed and determined.

Clarissa knew she wanted to teach Bikram Yoga soon after she took her first class four years ago.  She was an IT Consultant working sixteen hour days, commuting two hours each way, carrying tremendous responsibility and working under extreme pressure. Clarissa became aware that she required an outlet from this frenetic life style and this is how she discovered Bikram Yoga (and has never looked back!).

Clarissa qualified as a Bikram Yoga Teacher in November 2005. She believes the most rewarding part of teaching is to watch students develop physically and emotionally.  She wanted to become a Bikram Yoga teacher to inspire others, as she had been inspired.

Francesca was introduced to Bikram Yoga while living in Chicago in 2005. Sustaining a back injury after a wrestle with a taxi, a friend recommended Bikram Yoga which helped to ease low back stiffness. Happily, practising Bikram Yoga also increased calm and self-esteem.

Motivated by her own personal benefits and by witnessing those achieved by fellow practitioners, Fran graduated from teacher training in June 2007. In addition to teaching in London, Fran has taught in Chicago and Bend, Oregon. Fran works as a freelance medical editor and has a PhD in Pharmacy.

Raj was introduced to Bikram Yoga in 2002. He didn’t realise the effect it was going to have on his life at that time. Raj had been involved in the restaurant business for over 25 years, working in an industry that is 24/7 can be very mentally and physically consuming. Through his regular yoga practice he found mental clarity and physical strength and decided that it was time for change in his life. In the spring of 2008 he embarked on the teacher training program.

Yasmine is an enthusiastic and positive teacher with a great passion for yoga. Since graduating from Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in November 2005 she aspires to continually grow as a teacher and student.

Paul was on a trip to Miami 2004 when he saw a sign for a Bikram Yoga studio. After the first class he was hooked, he couldn’t get enough of it! Paul practiced every day of his vacation. Returning to London, Paul continued with his practice before going on the teacher training  in Spring 2006.  

Paul’s background is in Contemporary Dance.  He performs for various dance companies around Europe and his yoga practice has given him focus.