Teachers

Teacher Profile: Nicola

How long have you been teaching Bikram yoga?

I completed teacher training in November 2006.

What was the hardest pose for you to learn?

The hardest pose to learn to teach is probably, Spine-twisting Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana). There are lots of lefts and rights to remember and when you swap sides, they're all the other way around! The most constantly challenging pose for me to practice is Camel Pose (Ustrasana), but I find focusing on breathing really helps.

What is your favourite pose and why?

Half Tortoise (Ardha-Kurmasana) as I love the stretch from top to bottom of the spine.

What's your favourite thing about Bikram yoga compared to other styles of yoga?

I love finishing a class with my whole body feeling totally stimulated and worked out. And also in that it requires such total concentration, so your mind stays engaged too.

What's the most common thing you see students doing wrong?

Fidgeting and looking around, particularly during the pauses between the standing poses. It means they've lost concentration, it detracts from their meditation and it is distracting for other students.

What is something (unrelated to yoga) that we would be surprised to know about you?

In my distant past I used to be a croupier, dealing blackjack, roulette and baccarat.