Last March 1st, Bikram Yoga Pasadena started its Annual 60 Day Challenge, inspiring students to take 60 classes in 60 days and see how their bodies can change from the inside out.
Val Sklar Robinson, Bikram Yoga Pasadena owner and instructor, believes that this challenge—now on its 13th year—proves that anyone of any gender and any ability can do yoga.
“My favorite story from the 60 Day Challenge is about retired police captain Gene Street who is an avid practitioner. He did the challenge about three years ago,” Robinson says.
Why did he take up Bikram and why did he join the challenge? “We wanted to go to Fiji for our wedding anniversary. I wanted to look good. It was pure vanity,” laughs Street. “But what I didn’t know was this was going to bring a solution to 10 years of chronic back issues.”
“I also had the diagnosis of the beginning of a kidney disease two weeks before I started yoga. Ten days later, on my next blood work, the trajectory of the kidney disease absolutely changed,” he says.
As Robinson puts it, “he had medical problems and he literally reversed the beginnings of kidney disease by doing yoga.”
The 60 Day Challenge didn’t leave Street placated; instead it pushed him to give his all. “If people could do it, I could do it, too,” Street proclaims.
For Robinson, the beauty of this challenge is seeing everyone from different backgrounds and lifestyles come together to achieve a common goal.
“Another guy [in the 60 Day Challenge] is a member of the LA Bomb Squad. He is hard to miss in class with a huge cross on his back and eagle and flag on his chest that says freedom all in American flag colors.”
After 9/11 he felt he needed a little symbolic protection of god and country, explains Robinson.
Paul Robi will do class twice a day if he is not on a job for the LA Bomb Squad. Mr. Robi along with Gene Street are part of a group of people who have really dispelled the myth that yoga is for women.
Robinson fondly calls them the “dudes doing yoga.”
They are humble enough to know that this is the single best thing they can do for their health and well-being.
Our last story might be the most inspiring and motivational one yet, so check back soon.
Bikram Yoga Pasadena is located at 2089 E. Colorado Boulevard Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 3049642 or visit http://www.bikramyogapasadena.com