Our Beginning

Dann Thew

Director Bikram Yoga Oakville

I am so excited to open a Bikram Yoga Studio in Oakville, Ontario. This is my story of how I found out about Bikram Yoga, my very first class and what inspired me to become a teacher and open my own studio in Oakville.

Hi, My name is Dann and I was once where you might be now. I was a beginner in this series known as Bikram Yoga. I was 280 lbs, off work due to depression. Depression I had experienced on a regular basis since I was 14 years old and on my first day in the studio I was 35 years old. A friend invited me to take a yoga class (he failed to tell me it was the Original Hot Yoga) and since my only other experience with yoga was in a very cold room I decided to wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I had a real struggle that first class (Pernille taught it and I practiced next to a yoga teacher who worked at the studio). I really was surprised how challenging the yoga was and kept thinking to myself when does the Om happen? I managed to finish that first class and right after; I forgave my friend for not telling me it was hot yoga. When I walked out of the hot room I remember feeling. Nothing big but just feeling something intense like a reconnection to myself that I had not felt in years. I was hooked, I went to the front desk and signed up for the intro special and practiced very regularly.

During my first few weeks of practice I learned that Bikram Yoga was very individual. In other words I could be in class with someone who had the flexibility of a contortionist and another person in a wheel chair, or someone who never has been able to touch their toes. Yet despite these differences everyone gets 100% of the benefits if they use the correct form. That is what has really sold me on Bikram and why I come back again and again.

I was able to go back to work earlier than my doctor predicted. In the first 6 months of my practice I lost 100 lbs going from 280 lbs to 180 lbs. I was so proud of myself for setting a health goal and meeting that goal. Pernille noticed too and entered my name into a contest and I won for my effort to change my health for the better. To me yoga is the key which unlocked the shackles on my spirit and set me free. I am so happy to have my regular practice and notice the mind body and spirit connection I get from my practice. I was so happy as a student I wanted to effect a great change in those around me much the same that Pernille had done for me. I worked in the oil field near Drayton Valley for 2 years to pay for my yoga teacher training. I had quite an experience working in the oil industry. On August 31 of 2007 I was ready to say goodbye to oil and move on. My Mother suggested I register for the September 14 teacher training in Hawaii. I sent an e mail to the registrar for Bikram Yoga and was accepted into training the next day. In 14 days I packed my stuff into storage and moved, went to Hawaii for the most profound 9 weeks of my life and became a certified Bikram Yoga Teacher.

I now have the joy of doing a job that I love and still cannot believe that I get paid for. For me yoga is my saving grace and when everything was falling around me Bikram Yoga was what brought me back to myself and to be one with my breathing. I recently took a class and the teacher said something that I will always remember. When we practice yoga the breath is number one, it is the most important thing that we do, everything else is optional. For me the one lesson I learned from teacher training was about faith. Faith in myself and my connection with my mind, body and spirit, I think of this story to illustrate what I mean. I imagine walking up a path on a mountain top. Dense fog surrounds me, I am walking into this fog as it becomes thicker and thicker. Faith is knowing that if I take a step and there is no solid ground below me that is the moment that I will be taught how to fly. Take this opportunity to spend 90 minutes with yourself in this moving meditation. Take these 90 minutes to transform and save your own life. It is a time to recharge, revitalize and reorganize. A time during the day when you are number one, you fill up your own cup so that for the rest of the day you have enough to give 100% to everyone you meet. We all have a story, this is mine and I hope that you find some comfort knowing that if the story of your life you see right now is not what you imagined for yourself. You are taking a step in the right direction to make it the life you will love living andremember to breathe.

Namaste