Teacher Spotlight - Kim D

1. How did you come to practice yoga?

The first time I walked into a Bikram Yoga class was over a decade ago, when a dear friend and running partner said this type of yoga would help me deal with my high stress job and knee pain. 15 years, thousands of hours of teaching and practicing later, I can’t say my journey has been easy. This yoga has definitely been a love-hate relationship, which means it is the exact journey I need to be on.  I have experimented with other forms of yoga only to return back to the Bikram series time and time again. It is truly a healing yoga, a genuine fountain of youth. My love and appreciation for this practice keeps growing. It’s incredibly rewarding to guide people through their own yoga journey and share the knowledge I have accumulated over the years. I won the lottery when I walked into my first Bikram class years ago, and I hope to continue teaching for years to come.

2. When did you decide that you wanted to be a teacher? How long have you been teaching?

I decided to become a teacher 6 months after completing my first 60 day challenge. Bikram says “Give me 30 days, I’ll change your body. Give me 60 days, I’ll change your life."  It did change my life, and I’ve had an almost daily practice ever since. I went to Bikram’s Intensive 9 week training in Fall 2010, and have been teaching ever since!

3. What style(s) of yoga do you teach? What do you like about it/them?

I teach the classic 90 minute Bikram Method. I am also qualified to lead Rajashree’s Pregnancy Series, as well as the Intermediate and Advanced classes.  I am also certified to teach restorative yoga and a method of children’s yoga called “Yoga Calm”.

I could write a book (but let’s be honest, who would read it?) about the innumerable reasons why I have made Bikram Yoga a regular part of my day, like brushing my teeth. Not one aspect of my healthy lifestyle has had a more profound impact than Bikram Yoga. I love that Bikram yoga is physically accessible to people of all ages and conditions. Bishnu Ghosh, Bikram’s guru, said that the root of all chronic illnesses can be traced to stress.  He also said that the human body is self-energizing and self-healing and that yoga is the key to this kingdom of health.

4. What is your favorite pose? Standing head to knee. Why? It started out as my least favorite posture because it’s so darn hard! To execute it perfectly (no knees!),  you need to cultivate Patience, Faith, Determination, Self control and Discipline.

5. What do you like to do when you’re not at yoga?

I love to write code and build websites, visit the Omaha farmers market, cook elaborate meals at home, watch Netflix  and enjoy the great Nebraska outdoors my husband, our pitbull and poodle.

6. Where can we find you on the One Tree Yoga schedule?

Fridays 5:00- 6:30 EAST and Sundays 3:30 - 5:00 WEST. Kim is also currently taking on the Monday and Wednesday morning Silent Hot from 6-7 am EAST.