May 2013
Jerry & Tonya Thomas

It all started with a bet, "I bet you won't last more than 15 minutes!" Jerry Thomas says to his future wife, Tonya, after she explains to him that he is coming with her to their first ever Bikram Yoga class.

As many discover in their first class... it was a challenge, but both were immediately hooked. That class was 2 ½ years ago, now they are both regulars practicing 2-3 times a week!

Both Jerry and Tonya have seen immense progress in their postures, as well as benefits outside the yoga room, from decreased anxiety and stress management, to better sleep, glowing skin, and weight loss. They even love the heat! (well maybe only Jerry does right now)...

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March 2013
Shekira Cooley

Like most people, Shekira Cooley was nervous to try her first Bikram Yoga class. She surprised herself at how quickly she fell in love with the practice, not to mention all the weight loss that was taking place!

She even completed a 30-day yoga challenge. Soon all areas of her life started to change, and her family and friends have even joined her in the hot room!

Shekira is an amazing contribution to our yoga family. "She's got a great attitude, always tries her best, and never gives up" is what her regular teachers have to say.

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Student of the Month - January 2013
Bart Miles

Dedicated, hard-worker, never complains, always positive; those are just a few words that our teachers use to describe our January Student of the Month... Bart Miles!

Many in our yoga family already know who Bart is. Wearing his signature headband, eager smile, Bart can always be found in the front row at both studios, either at a morning or evening class.

As a runner, Bart found Bikram Yoga 3 years ago through a friend who insisted Bart join her, after hearing about his hamstring and Achilles-tendon tightness issues. After a challenging first class, Bart was determined to finish off his one-month trial. He soon found himself addicted.

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December 2012
Kathleen (Lietz) Sugamosto

It is not WHAT you do, it is HOW you do WHAT you do... as said by our Student of the Month Kathleen (Lietz) Sugamosto referring to her yoga practice. A self proclaimed 'GROUPON junkie' Kathleen first heard of Bikram yoga by purchasing the 2011 Groupon for the Detroit Bikram studios. She was excited to try 'Hot Yoga', thinking it would be nice and 'relaxing'. Not really realizing what she got herself into, Kathleen was sure she would not return… It took five days and she was hooked!

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November 2012
The Mutter Family (Mark & Kids)

Not sure what to do with the family this holiday season? Well how about going to a Bikram yoga class!  That's exactly what our special "Yoga Family of the Month" will be doing! When Mark Mutter's kids Maria, Elizabeth, and Paul visit him from college they make it a family outing to get to a Bikram Yoga class together.

The Mutters' Bikram Yoga journey started over a year ago when the eldest daughter Maria Mutter (an avid yogini), persuaded her dad, Mark to try yoga. A stressful divorce, empty nest, and move, had Mark ready for a new chapter in life. On a whim, he found himself at the Troy studio ready to sweat! The rest is history!

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October 2012
Agnes Cieslik-Szuberla

One of the most beautiful events to witness in a Bikram Yoga class is a glowing pregnant woman doing Standing Bow Pulling Pose. Agnes Cieslik-Szuberla is that pregnant woman. She is also our very special October Student of the Month!

An active, winter sport loving woman, Agnes never thought she'd fall in love with Bikram Yoga so fast. Her initial fears of a heated yoga class diminished as she progressed quickly, started understanding the postures, and couldn't help but feel great and energized after each and every class. Not surprisingly, a 30 Day Challenge followed, and soon her wardrobe was full of yoga clothes...

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September 2012
Michelle Hewitt Have you ever thought of going to Bikram Yoga Teacher Training?  Maybe that thought has crept through your mind after you finished a 30 or 60 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge? Or maybe it was while you were laying peacefully in Savasana, after a particularly hot and grueling class? Well, that possibility is becoming a reality for our September Student of the Month... Michelle Hewitt. [read more]

July 2012
Kathy Curlee

Monday through Friday at our Farmington Hills studio there's a student who just makes it to class just before the door closes. Monday through Friday she heads to the front row, eager for class to begin. Monday through Friday she comes to class… no excuse. This determined student is Kathy Curlee, our special July Student of the Month.

A loving wife, driven business owner, and mother of 3, you would think she has no time for yoga. Not Kathy. After her very first class she was hooked. Results soon followed: an increase in energy, glowing skin, and weight loss.

Kathy now comes to class 5 days a week, every week. She even practices to Bikram's CD while away on vacation! Now just over 10 years of practice she's still going strong and can't imagine her life without it. She wishes to one day become a Bikram Yoga teacher herself.

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June 2012
Julie Wagner

As a student of Bikram Yoga, we come to class and are regularly encouraged to focus on ourselves in the mirror, stay calm, work hard, breathe… but then sometimes we take a quick peek around, over to our left, over to our right, or even in front, or behind us. We naturally want to check out other students. Wether it's someone's beautiful standing bow, or someone we've never seen before, we may get a bit distracted. Then we see a student who is really calm, poised, and even elegant as she gracefully works hard on her balance in standing head to knee. She seems to glide with ease. That student is our June Student of the Month, Julie Wagner.

After beating cancer 5 years ago, Julie knew she needed to add something new into her life. Thanks to her friend, she found Bikram Yoga, which has helped her in more ways than one. She has seen tremendous benefits from her regular practice and one of the most important lessons she's learned is to breathe, both inside, and outside of the yoga room. Through her calm breathing she is able to concentrate on her postures and stay calm and collected in her practice.

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May 2012
Deepa & Kanwal Bagri

The month of May always reminds us that Mothers Day is just around the corner. Our Student of the Month is a loving wife and mother. When we chose her, we couldn't help but also feature her handsome husband and extremely adorable little daughter. This brought us to choosing our very first family trio as our May Student(s) of the Month. They are Deepa, Kanwal, and of course little Riya.

Deepa and Kanwal are the sweet couple that practice regularly at our Farmington Hills location. They often meet at the studio to pass off Riya, so the other can take a class. Their yoga practice started about 3 years ago, and both have not looked back. Having experienced many great benefits from their practice; from lower doses of medications, weight loss, to even in their relationship, which has made them both more forgiving, and compassionate. Even though the postures are always the same, to them, the practice never gets boring. They enjoy the challenge as it's so rewarding!

The yoga story you are about to read may even inspire you to get your spouse into the yoga studio! Enjoy and Happy Mothers Day!

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April 2012
Jim Lyle

Our students and teachers at Detroit Bikram will not be surprised that we have chosen Jim Lyle as our April Student of the Month. You may actually be asking yourself, wasn't he already a Student of the Month? That's what we thought too!

Jim has been a huge part of the Detroit Bikram family from the very start. Over the years Jim has bonded and formed life long friendships with many of students and teachers too. He's even known to draw a crowd after class in Farmington Hills to chat over coffee.

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March 2012
Laura Lazar

A flushed face and 'cute' yoga outfit of her neighbor is what brought our March Student of the Month to her first Bikram Yoga class, 10 years ago. Yes, 10 years ago! Laura Lazar, the soft-spoken and always smiling regular, can be found at our early morning Farmington Hills classes on the left side of the room. A determined and patient student, Laura has come far in her practice and even makes an effort to attend classes when she's traveling out of state, or country.

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February 2012
Dr. Jerry Aiello Who would have thought, that a Delta In-Flight magazine would lead someone to a hot and sweaty Bikram Yoga class! That is exactly what happened to our motivated February Student of the Month. Dr. Jerry Aiello (a busy Chiropractor and Consultant for the Track and Field Athletic Department at the University of Michigan) started his regular Bikram Yoga practice eight months ago. [read more]

January 2012
Julie Gervais As the holiday season comes to an end, we start to plan for the upcoming year and reflect on the past. We count our blessings that have come into our lives, and hope for a new, healthy, happy New Year! Julie Gervais, our January Student of the Month has a lot to look back on this past year. After one of the more difficult years of her life, she is surprisingly feeling better than ever. A ballerina for over 20 years, Julie found Bikram Yoga 8 years ago, but didn't start a regular practice until 9 months ago when she was diagnosed with arthritis. Through her ups and downs this past year, she has been able to remain strong due in large to her physical and mental release she gets in a Bikram Yoga class. Determined, and eager, Julie is a dream student who no matter what always has a bright smile on her face! We are so thrilled that she has become such an important part of the Detroit Bikram community! [read more]

December 2011
Gail Mondry At Detroit Bikram, we are always amazed at the wide variety of students who come to practice at our studios. Our students come from all walks of life. They range from different age groups (early teens to way into their 80's believe it or not), to a wide variety of professions. From doctors, teachers, nurses, stay at home moms/dads, lawyers, architects, waitresses, retirees, college students, professional athletes, and even yoga instructors who teach other styles of Hatha Yoga. That brings us to our next Student of the Month: Gail Mondry.
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October 2011
Erin Spencer

For many of us, our first Bikram Yoga class was a challenge to say the least! That was definitely the case for our October Student of the Month, Erin Spencer. Erin started her yoga practice 11 years ago as an exciting addition to her addictive workout routines that included dance, track, boxing and kick-boxing! "The more extreme, the better", Erin would say.

All the while, she suffered from major ailments ranging from Hypothyroidism, Arthritis, Scoliosis, Fibromyalgia, and Depression, amongst many others. After years of excruciation pain, Erin decided that the only thing that ever made her feel better was her Bikram Yoga class. She kicked up her practice and started a personal challenge. Soon, incredible results followed! Read her story and truly be inspired at how life changing, and even life saving Bikram Yoga can be!

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September 2011
Andrew Lusk If you just started Bikram Yoga, you may have seen our September Student of the Month around the studio during the early morning, or weekend afternoon classes. His name is Andrew Lusk. I bet it would shock you to know that just 6 months ago, he weighted over 40 more pounds than he does now!  As teachers, we see students on a regular basis and when we see these kinds of results, we get excited! Not to mention proud of the hard work and effort that a student has put in to their practice. This goes without saying when you see Andrews before and after photos. [read more]

August 2011
Suzy Bricker

After a hot, sweaty Bikram Yoga class, most of us leave the yoga room drenched, red faced, and couldn't bear to be seen in public! That's not the case with our August Student of the Month, Suzy Bricker. A Bikram Yoga student of over 10 years, Suzy leaves class looking as glamorous and put together as she did when she walked in…with a healthy rosy glow on her face. Having overcome cancer and divorce in a four-year span, Suzy will be the first to tell you that it is through her Bikram Yoga practice that she was able and prepared to get through these life challenges.  To Suzy, Bikram Yoga has changed her life in more ways than one.

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July 2011
Larry Kilgore

When looking for the definition of dedicated, Larry Kilgore's name should pop up. Yes, that is Detroit Bikram's July Student of the Month, Larry Kilgore. A student of Bikram Yoga for over 8 years, Larry is one dedicated yogi! Without question, Larry will always be in an early evening class during the week, rain or shine, front row, smile on his face, and eager to get started. His hard work and honest effort never go unnoticed amongst teachers and fellow students who have all been inspired by him. Over the years his practice has evolved as his stamina, strength and flexibility have improved, but he'll be the first to tell you that he's far from reaching all of his goals! Larry has become a huge part of the Detroit Bikram family in more ways than one. We all truly value his love and dedication to his practice, and our studios. Keep up the great work Larry!

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June 2011
Sam Kas-Mikha

Here at Detroit Bikram we look for certain criteria when we choose a student of the month. How long a student has been practicing is not one of them. It doesn't matter if you have been practicing for days, weeks, months, years, if you have the passion and commitment to your yoga practice you have a great chance of being picked! That's the case with our June Student of the Month, Sam Kas-Mikha. Sam is a busy entrepreneur of a successful Karate School, called Champion Karate here in Michigan. He is a Hall of Fame Martial Artist who is an undefeated 6-time world kickboxing Champion in 6 different weight classes. On top of that, he's also 8^th Degree Black belt Grand Master in Tae Kwon Do! WOW!…  Not to mention he is also a Bikram Yoga student!

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May 2011
Mary & Angela

As Mother's Day approaches, we thought what better way to kick it off than to have a mother/daughter duo featured as our May Students of the Month! Mary & Angela stand out at Detroit Bikram because these two are a team! Rarely will you see one without the other. Mary (the mom) usually shows up first and Angela (the daughter) is not far behind. You can see these two practicing side-by-side and motivating one another at almost every early morning Bikram Yoga class. Not too long ago, their stress levels rose and their health declined; these two entrepreneurs decided not let these negative issues go on any longer.

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April 2011
Bob Smith To all the Runners out there, you don't want to miss this! I'm sure no one will be surprised that Detroit Bikram's April Student of the Month is Bob Smith. Many of you know, or have seen Bob around the studios. He is one of the "early-birds" that regularly attends the 6am and 7am classes with no complaints! Bob is always eager to take on another Bikram Yoga class to add to the many athletic challenges he has planned for the day. [read more]

March 2011
Mimi Braun Detroit Bikram Yoga is a large community of healthy happy yogis and yoginis.  One in particular is our Student of the Month, Mimi Braun.  Those who have become regulars over the years know exactly whom I'm talking about.  She is the beautiful brunette that never seems to miss an evening or weekend Bikram yoga class...
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February 2011
Bonnie Andree

This month we are so happy to announce Bonnie Andree as our Student of the Month! Many of you know Bonnie and her husband Larry, both dedicated Bikram Yoga students in Farmington Hills. We asked Bonnie to describe her experience with Bikram Yoga, because we know her story will inspire many people in our community. Thank you Bonnie for sharing with us!

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December 2010
Pierre Lamarre If you frequent our early morning yoga classes, you probably already know our Student of the Month, Pierre Lamarre. Pierre is a dedicated Bikram Yoga practitioner. We love having Pierre around the studio, he nearly always has a smile on his face, and has a warm, easy going nature. We asked Pierre to share his Bikram Yoga story with our community. [read more]