We teach yoga because it dramatically changed and healed our own bodies and minds, and we want to share its magic.
Ralph
Barb
Alex
Bridget
Siobhan
Leilanibikram yoga teachers are well-trained, dedicated, and compassionate
Certified Bikram yoga teachers are among the most rigorously trained yoga teachers in the world. There is only one way to become a certified Bikram teacher and that requires graduating from Bikram’s nine-week, 500-hour training program, which includes yoga therapy, anatomy, physiology, and two daily yoga classes taught by Bikram and members of his senior teaching staff. One of the benefits of Bikram’s intensive teacher training program is that teachers work through the same challenges as their students. We love to practice what we teach and we’ll be sweating right alongside you in class! A minimum six-months practice and written recommendation from a studio director are required to apply to Bikram’s Teacher Training. A minimum six-months teaching internship is required before certified teachers can apply to open a Bikram affiliated studio. All of our teachers have graduated from Bikram’s Teacher Training, and maintain their good standing with his Yoga College of India by completing recertification requirements every three years. We maintain a connection to Bikram, his training staff of senior teachers, and our global community of teachers and studios. Come to your teachers with your questions. If we don’t have the answer, we will go to the source to get it. Bikram yoga teachers are a passionate, hardworking group of people from all walks of life. We teach yoga because it dramatically changed and healed our own bodies and minds, and we want to share its magic.
Ralph Newman, M.D.
Owner
Ralph’s determination and strength show us how yoga gives the physical health and mental power to overcome life's difficulties. Ralph began his journey towards Bikram yoga as an overweight teen channeling body mass into bodybuilding and powerlifting. He became an avid runner and cyclist, completing seven marathons. Twenty-six years of lifting and pounding gave Ralph degenerative disc disease, four herniations, and spinal stenosis. Ralph survived a devastating physical attack which burned 9% of his body and left his skin scarred and hypersensitive. Enter Bikram yoga. Ralph credits the yoga for restoring the elasticity of his skin and mobility of his spine. Never giving less than 110%, after four years of dedicated practice, Ralph attended and graduated from Bikram’s teacher training in fall 2008. After training, Ralph was involved in a motorcycle accident that should have been fatal, if not for the yoga having increased his lung strength and capacity. Within two weeks, Ralph was back in the yoga room. Ralph has Bachelor’s degrees in biology and art history from Washington University, St. Louis. He attended medical school at Rush Medical College in Chicago and served as Chief Psychiatric Resident at Long-Island Jewish Hospital. He completed a Psychopharmacology Fellowship at the University of Illinois, followed by two years of private practice. For the past 16 years Ralph has been a prominent forensic psychiatrist.
Barb Hurlburt, Teacher
Barb is a Fall 2007 Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Graduate. After training, Barb mentored with Senior Teacher, Elizabeth Marshall in Kansas. Barb has taught throughout North Carolina. Barb’s sweet, helpful nature always shines through and students feel her dedication to yoga. Barb says, “I will be forever grateful to my Bikram teachers, and Bikram himself, for bringing this yoga into my life. Bikram’s 26 postures in the hot room keep me sane and healthy. The first class had me wiped out and addicted. You can read about this yoga, you can talk about this yoga, but doing the yoga is everything. I love the ethic, the humor, the humanity, the vitality & that it doesn’t have to end. There’s always another class. Looking forward to seeing you soon in the hot room!”
Alex Umstead, Teacher
The physical stress of high impact cross-training and running coupled with the emotional toll of life as a social worker brought Alex to the hot room. Bikram yoga offered Alex the mental quietude she badly needed. Increased strength and flexibility were extra benefits. Alex soon found herself practicing every day. Her 30-day challenge became 60, which became 90, which became an entire year. Between 2009-2010 Alex completed 365 days of consecutive Bikram yoga classes. The healing was powerful and in fall 2010, she took a leave of absence to spend nine grueling and fantastic weeks at Bikram’s Teacher Training in San Diego, CA. Alex has a BA in biochemistry from Smith College and a Masters in social work from UNCG/NCA&TSU. She is a clinical social worker and part-time lecturer in the Social Work Department at UNCG. Her new Bikram teaching career is an opportunity to serve in a new way. Alex considers every class she teaches a privilege and inspiration.
Bridget Hall, Teacher
Over the past 5 years of my life, my Bikram Yoga practice has keep me grounded throughout every other aspect of life. It has really changed my life, how I think about myself and how I live in the world. I started my practice with Bikram Yoga 5 years ago. At first, it was only an addition to my every day life, my career, and other forms of exercise. I always loved running and yoga was just an addition to my workout as I completed 5 marathons. As I graduated with a B.S. in Spanish and went on to get a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology, I became more and more aware how my yoga practice has been my foundation to live my life how I want to. I knew I always wanted to become a certified Bikram instructor. Finally, after 5 years, with the help and support of my husband I attended Bikram's 9-week 500 hour intensive teacher training in Los Angeles, CA. Since my husband is military, leaving for 9 weeks was a sacrifice for us both. I would not have been able to complete the training without his love and support.
I am beyond excited to share what I have learned from my training and continue to broaden my personal yoga practice with the support of Bikram Yoga Durham. I feel honored to be a part of this community!
Siobhan Sancho, Teacher
Namaste! My name is Siobhan and I moved here from San Antonio. I love Bikram yoga for SO many reasons! Mostly I love how it makes me feel. I have endured a lifelong battle with asthma and ADHD, allergies, back pain, headaches, and fatigue due to the asthma. It wasn't until I discovered Bikram that I found a cure. It was only after a few classes that I knew Bikram was something I was going to do for the rest of my life. It wasn't long after a year of consistent practice; I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I realized it was a dream of mine and attended my Teacher Training in Las Vegas. I also learned that Elvis has nothing on Bikram!
In addition to Yoga, my other loves are photography and music. I am a professional freelance photographer. I play the guitar but I am a lover of all music and movement.
More than anything I love to travel and experience new things. Bikram fits in beautifully with the rest of my life, music, movement. More than anything, I love sharing this yoga. I have seen the healing that it does and I believe in the benefits.
Leilani Dibble, Teacher
My name is Leilani and I am your yoga teacher. I was born and raised in San Francisco. A lot like my mother I have always lived with my heart and may lead what some might call an unconventional, normal life. But what is normal anyway? I've lived in California, Hawaii, Boston, Florida, Vegas and now North Carolina. I studied dance and chemistry in school with hopes to be a scientist one day. Crazy right. In 2003 I got hired to perform in the show STOMP, anyone heard of it? I toured with the company for 8 years before deciding to get off the road and hop on the yoga train. The first Bikram class I ever took was ten years ago, but it has only been in the past 5 years that I have found a consistent practice. I knew I would go to training one day and in the fall of 2010 the moons aligned and I attended Bikram YogaTeacher Training in sunny San Diego. I am trilled to be here at BYD and I am excited to share this practice with you. Thank you all for being here, if you were not here I would not be here. Thank you Ralph and Andrea for taking me on as a member of the team, and as always, I gotta give a shout out to my Mom. Who has always supported me through all my inspirations. Love you Mom. Peace and Namaste.