Staff List
(Showing 1 - 25 of 76)
Bill Thwaites
Bill Thwaites is the former Technical head of post production for the world famous Abbey Road Recording Studios and has over 25 years experience working with some of the top music artist such as Madonna, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers and many more. His focus has always been one of customer service & care providing an environment in which customers wish to return time and time again. He has applied all the same hallmarks to the design and running of Bikram Yoga Soho. Bill embraced Bikram Yoga finding it provided relief from the symptoms of chronic arthritis where all other treatments and therapies had failed. Working and living with this condition has enhanced Bill's understanding and awareness into the difficult challenges many students face. Since graduating in 2006 Bill has taught extensively in New York & London, and has gained a good insight into the healing benefits of Bikram Yoga and how it helps to transform people's lives.
Elaine Ruddock
My first Bikram class was a revelation - 90 minutes that worked my whole body, made me sweat and gave me an hour & a half to think of nothing - bliss. I had always dipped in & out of various styles of yoga though none of them hit the spot. In my 30s I was plagued with ill health following an emergency caesarean - headaches, back ache and sciatica. After only a few months of continuous practice the sciatica pain seemed to just melt away. It was during the nine week teacher training in Vegas that I fully realised just how much knowledge, experience, time and energy Bikram had put into developing the 26 posture series and why I no longer suffer the headaches or back pain - Thank you Bikram!
Simi Ripper
Simi's yoga journey began in Canada 2001 when she attended her first Bikram yoga class. For her yoga offers mental and physical strength, clarity of thought and a renewed sense of being. Helping to combat the stresses of working in the fashion PR and marketing industry and with continued practise, the more intrigued she became, feeling compelled to deepen her understanding. Traveling extensively in India, training in a yoga ashram and completing the Bikram yoga training course in June 2008 has given her powerful insights to the path of teacher and how she approaches herself on and off the mat. Simi feels honored to share this healing practise with others and increasingly feels touched by the students she meets; all so focussed and determined.
Dom Emley
Dom describes Bikram yoga “ like surfing – a wave of energy that everyone can ride.” He graduated teaching training in 2007, and has directed Bikram’s Teacher Training in the United States for several years.
Paul Dobson
Paul was on a trip to Miami 2004 when he saw a sign for a Bikram Yoga studio. After the first class he was hooked, he couldn't get enough of it! Paul practiced every day of his vacation. Returning to London, Paul continued with his practice before going on the teacher training in Spring 2006. Paul's background is in Contemporary Dance. He performs for various dance companies around Europe and his yoga practice has given him focus. Paul enjoys teaching and being able to support the students with their practice. Paul encourages students to have an awareness of their body, mind and the process of practicing yoga.
Andrew Jungwirth
As exciting as the incendiary world of commercial litigation was for Andrew, he discovered something uniquely rehabilitative and energising in the Bikram series some years ago in Sydney after adding a hairline fracture to a femur to a list of distance running injuries. Immediate results followed. Having been a victim of the “yoga’s not for me” naysayer crowd, being in the hot room for the first time was a revelation. Invigorated, mentally focussed and an undiluted curiosity were what followed from his first class and those benefits have continued with him now for some years, even after completing the challenging but transforming experience that was teacher training in Acapulco in 2008. Andrew finds regular inspiration from leading students in their practices and in seeing them progress, grow and even, occasionally, smile.
Lorraine Bell
Born in Brooklyn New York, Lorraine discovered Bikram Yoga five years ago, while searching for a form of exercise it was possible to get better at with age. "I am not a very athletic person, and the thought of sweating for 90 minutes is still a little intimidating, but there is no denying the way this yoga makes you feel. I want to share this secret with everyone."
Lorraine Carlile
Lorraine has been a dancer all her life training at The Royal Ballet and working professionally in film, t.v and The West End. In 2001 she disscovered the challenge of Bikram yoga, keeping up a regular practice to re-aline her body and sooth aches and pains after dance rehearsals and performances. Disscovering new ways to stretch & strengthen her muscles was the first attraction but over time became more self aware and thrived being in such a welcoming & friendly enviroment where no one is there to judge. Bikram has kept Lorraine injury free, strong minded & spiritually sound. Since qualifying as a teacher in 2009 lorraine has taught in London & Los Angeles. She loves teaching and sharing her passion and enthusiasm for Bikram yoga with her students.
Helena Biggs
For Helena, Bikram is a foundation, a base, a system that works for life. Having practised Bikram yoga for ten years during long contracts as a lead singer in the musical theatre industry, teaching salsa for adults and drama to many young students, it has become Helena’s back bone. “Bikram yoga is a constant challenge and humbling in its form; It is also a most supportive and nurturing environment, a family. This yogic system allows me to step up and face anything, to let go, to get better, to transform and become more aware of my physical and mental processes. It enables me to live a more spirited life.” Helena became a teacher in June 2011.
Beth Crivelli
When I first opened the door into the studio I felt invincible. After years of hard core competition swimming and running I felt no physical activity was in-surmountable, especially not yoga. I was wrong. As I walked into the studio I felt a wave of hot air and thought there is no way I am doing exercise in this room for 90 minutes. Somehow I managed it and every time I found myself in the room I enjoyed it a bit more, felt a bit stronger, stopped looking at the clock for a bit longer and started listening to the teacher’s words a bit more. Disenchanted by my fashion career I decided to swap luxury rags for sweaty shorts to become a Bikram teacher. Bikram Yoga has stretched, healed and strengthened my body, belief system and mind in unexpected and amazing ways. Practicing can be hard especially at the start, but stick to it, really! The benefits are solid. It continuously challenges you. It changes and shapes you in ways you will not believe.
Cristian Liotta
Cristian started Bikram Yoga thanks to a series of coincidences (if you believe in them). He used to run 6/7 miles, 4 times a week and ended up with an injury in the right calf, caused by lack of proper stretching after each running session. At the time he happened to work with an Indian guy who advised him to try some yoga, so went online to look for Yoga Studios near his area. He had no idea that there was an “hot” kind of Yoga, but it sounded interesting, so he got down the Studio and was greeted by the receptionist with a “don’t worry, you’ll get addicted”. Needless to say he fell in love with it immediately. Practised for 18 months straight, almost everyday, and experienced a complete life transformation. After attending a Master class led by Craig Villani in August 2009 decided this was his calling and went to Teacher Training. He graduated in Vegas, spring 2010 and has been teaching since, feeling absolutely blessed and extremely grateful to be able to help people with this amazing practice.
Fed Zanni
Fed is an actor. But don’t tell anybody. He took his first Bikram class on 1st of October 2003 and he hasn’t looked back since. Having played waterpolo for 9 years in his teens (in his native Italy), upon his move to England, he was looking for an exercise / physical activity, in the world, which would require the same level of intensity and could be just as fun. Bikram Yoga was just the ticket, being incredibly demanding and allegedly the Rock’n'Roll of fitness, with the added bonus of healing the body, as opposed to gradually wearing it out, like any other sports. His skin, lower back, sleeping patterns and mental clarity improved just after a few classes: it was the most incredible transformation he had ever witnessed. After seven years of consistent and regular practice, Fed decided it was time to have another unstable career and embarked on the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Course, in September 2010, in San Diego. Teaching and sharing his practice with other people is the most rewarding job Fed has ever had.
Brittney Henry
Brittney comes to us from Vancouver Canada. She has a background in dance and gymnastic, so yoga was a natural progression for her. She had done a lot of different types of yoga, and always wanted to try Bikram Yoga, but was afraid of the heat. Finally after about 6 months of deliberating a customer at her job convinced her to go. She showed up to her first class in May 2009 and never looked back. In the fall of 2010 she officially made yoga her life by becoming a teacher. Her full circle happened when she was able to teach the customer who convinced her to take class in the first place. Yoga has helped change Brittney’s body, mind, and the way she see’s the world and loves seeing these changes happen in other people.