This letter is a thank you and a true testimonial to the awesome power of Bikram Yoga!

On October 30th, 2009, to no fault of my own, I was involved in a car accident. While I was driving I was hit by another car on the passenger side of my vehicle. The wreck caused an injury to my neck and spine. I suffered side-by-side, left and right whiplash of my neck, bruised my upper spine. After my accident, the only recommendation my doctor offered was pain medication and physical therapy. I always made a conscious effort to manage my health and be an active member of my gym. My normal routine was forced to be altered after my accident. I was no longer able to be in the gym as much as I wanted, instead I was stuck doing physical therapy twice a week that seemed like an ineffective, slow recovery.

Two months after my accident I was starting to feel better then it hit me, another car accident(January 10th, 2010). It was exactly the same accident I experienced just a couple months ago. The side-by-side whiplash was more intense and my back, neck, and shoulders were bound and twisted into one painful knot. The facility where I was receiving my physical therapy literally told me that they had exhausted all treatment plans for me. I was depressed, sad, overweight and in constant pain.

One month had passed since my accident and I was not in any better shape. I was lying on my couch and had an epiphany. An acquaintance from a past employer once told me in passing the benefits of Bikram Yoga. He told me about BYT in 2007, everything about that conversation came to the forefront of my mind. I remembered that he told me the environment of the class was very hot and humid making it the ideal climate to stretch in. I did not waste any time and began my journey with Bikram in February 2010.

When I started Bikram, I was 198lbs. 35 to 40 pounds overweight for my size. I never expected to lose much weight. I just wanted to feel better and get back to my normal self again. Every class was a challenge and an overall improvement on my health. I felt better from the very first class I attended. I completed my 2 week trial and I was hooked! I committed to a one-year membership and thus my transformation began. I started my 30-day challenge, which turned into 60, which turned into 90! I made it to 104 classes in 104 days. It took a lot of effort on my part because of my work schedule. I made it a part of my life,sometimes taking two to three classes a day to keep up with the challenge. I went from 198lbs to a remarkable 160lbs! My neck, back, and shoulder problems were healed and I was very blessed.

From the tragedies of my accidents I was able to find the silver lining by experiencing the healing power of Bikram Yoga. The staff always welcomed me with a positive attitude and was able to encourage me to push myself and grow. Being that I had spent so much time at the facility, it has been such a professional and warm environment to promote a healthy living. I have been out of state for the last 9 months and extremely excited to be back so I may make more positive strides in my practice. Thank you Bikram Yoga Tempe!

Sincerely,

Bret Maverick  

We are so happy for you Bret!