Berit Kruger-Johnsen
It’s so simple really – Bikram Yoga makes me happy! A small ad for Bikram Yoga Capalaba caught my eye in June 2008; Hatha yoga in a hot room. Someone had thought of combining the two. It seemed too good to be true. I had tried yoga before but the slow pace and cold rooms had put me off. My first class was so hard and soo hot. But I loved it in a perverse way. I’m from Norway and I think I am built for polar conditions. I fought the heat every single time the first seven months. Today I crave it. It allows me to extend to my maximum and it has taught me discipline as I am focusing on my breath and on becoming the posture. My mental and physical strength has grown, my determination and focus has sharpened, and I feel in touch with my true self – grounded but joyful.
With Bikram Yoga I feel I have reconnected with lost knowledge and this system helps me work towards the intimacy of body and mind I took for granted as a youngster. I decided to become a teacher because I believe that Bikram Yoga is physically accessible to everyone and that the postures gives us a key to a normal range of motion that we all should expect and grant ourselves.
Becoming a teacher has been a big step for me. I have been working as an illustrator and artist for more than 20 years. My working-life has revolved around visual communication and my “product” has been a very tangible one. So finding a voice to communicate and developing the ability to speak in front of a large group is a new journey to me.
I have to be reminded to tuck my tummy in and to listen, as I learn, struggle and hunt for the zen in doing something over and over again. As someone recently reminded me; “a smile is just a muscle twitch away from that grimace”.
The opportunity to go deeper into a field and continue to learn as I turn into a teacher is priceless and I feel so privileged. To be able to take this next step at Bikram Yoga Capalaba, my home studio, makes me happy too!
