Mariella is a true, sweet soul. We see her here at BYRD almost every day. Some days she comes in with a smile on her face and a skip in her step, other days are a little more subdued - we all know what it feels like to have a loooonnnng day - but no matter what, you always leave feeling better than when you came in. Mariella: "I have been to Bikram Yoga Red Deer for four years now. I love it! It’s my ‘happy place’ where I can go relax while getting a great workout at the same time. Bikram Yoga helps me unwind after a long day at the office. The instructors and the facility are amazing. The studio is very welcoming, bright and clean. The instructors are very friendly as well as understanding, they know and understand that each individual has personal limits and they encourage you to push yourself further without sounding pushy. Bikram Yoga is the best medicine that I have taken in years. I recommend it to everybody."

When I was a young girl, I really wanted to be a gymnast so my mom registered me with the local gymnastics club. Fast forward a few years later...I'm still going, but the club is faltering, so my mom gets together with a couple other moms and they find a club 1.5 hours away. Twice a week I get to leave school early (yay!), head into the City, practice for 2.5 hours before heading back home. I don’t remember how long our mothers did this for us, but I am grateful they did! The first few times we went, I remember being struck by how seriously they practiced. How disciplined! ALL the time it was like they were practicing for the Nationals. This was leaps and bounds away from our normal. At first my friends and I would slack off at every opportunity, only to have coach holler at us to get going. We had a choice to make, change our habits or quit coming. None of us wanted to quit so we committed to change. My favourite apparatus was the balance beam. Almost four feet off the ground, 16 feet long and only 4 inches wide – each time I stepped on the beam I felt like a GIANT, and that made me feel like I could do anything. I found the confidence and the trust that my mind and my body would talk to each other and work together to do what needed to be done – hopefully without skinning my shins! To learn to do a cartwheel on the beam, you first do a cartwheel on a line on the floor - you do it 10 times. Once you've 'stuck' the landing on the line 10 times IN A ROW, you get to try one on the 'little' beam - only 12 inches high. When you've stuck the landing on the little bean 10 times in a row, you finally get one try on the big, full size beam. Next session you start all over again. Like it's the first time you are trying it. Now my thing is yoga. The similarities are striking. It’s no longer my friends distracting me, it’s my own mind - I’ve had to find new ways to hold myself accountable, to practice with integrity. To focus. To connect my mind with my body until I find the magic. There are days when I don't want to practice, when I think that my life will be easier if I don't, but that's bullshit. Everything is hard until it is easy. You are your own best teacher. The yoga postures are your tools. Be the best you can be. There is no reason to be anything less. Enjoy.

Haeley and David are two of our favourite humans - each time they come into the studio is simply a pleasure. And did you know that once upon a time Haeley worked with the BYRD teachers to help us learn how to use our voices more effectively? Haeley says: "Fierce. Fiery. And, totally worth it! I have enjoyed the effects of Bikram Yoga in my personal life (calm, awesome wife and mother :-)), my professional life (I can breathe beautifully, very important for vocalists) and in my overall health (great energy all day, restful sleep at night). Not to mention the amazing staff and facility where you feel like family. Bikram Yoga Red Deer rocks!" We agree, Haeley, you are awesome!

Being silent...and still! is something that a lot of people struggle with - you are not alone! Lots of people associate silence with blocking out - people, sound, interruptions, that kind of thing. But Finding your silence, your quiet, actually expands us. Supports us. When you find time to listen to the real, inside you everything else falls into perspective.

Every Thursday at 7:30 pm is All Access at BYRD! $7 well spent.

Feel it in your abs, not in your pocket book! Every Wednesday at 730pm is IHP $7 All Access. Drop in this class only $7!

TRUE STORY! It's happening! Studio X - in Edmonton will be having an Open House April 28 & 29. Doors will open at 10:10. One class a day 4pm.

just sayin.

Yoga is logical. Many people know that yoga is helpful with recovery from injury or medical procedures, but do you realize that it's also a great way to prepare for a medical procedure? The more balanced and strong you are, the easier your recovery will be - just ask Jocelyn the next time you see her. Here is a little of her experience in her own words: "A life journey to be the change you want to see in yourself. I began my Bikram Yoga journey 4 years ago, and don’t regret it for a second. In that 4 years, I have gained strength, awareness, and respect for myself through each posture, meditating through each movement I make. I began yoga in preparation for ACL surgery, to gain strength and awareness to provide a more positive recovery. Two weeks after surgery I was back in the hot room building my knee. Every instructor was so supportive and knowledgeable in how I could make minor adjustments to each posture so I could be as successful as possible. Every yogi in class was just as supportive, like 1 big family, community. All in all I have gained self awareness, respect, strength and a more positive energy within myself impacting my mind, body and soul. Namaste."

No one said it would be easy to change your life, but you are worth it.

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend, y'all! Don't forget about our reduced schedule tomorrow (Monday) 10AM Bikram NOON IHP 4PM Warm Yin

Better late than never! Our Easter schedule has been up around the studio for a few weeks, now. In case you missed it, make sure you memorize it now! Or screenshot this image and refer to it. Slightly reduced classes, but still a little something for all!