Toni Riki, Owner and Director of the school and is a native of Michigan. She relocated to San Diego in 1984 and enjoyed a successful career as a Makeup Artist working on motion pictures such as "Titanic" and "Ever After" as well as the popular CBS series "Promised Land".

In the mid-1990's, after more than a decade of dealing with chronic back pain, depression, Graves disease, and a lifetime of weight issues Toni made the choice to begin her journey of self-healing. In early 2000 Toni took her first Bikram Yoga class. When leaving that class she noticed that she felt lighter (both physically and mentally) and had no back pain. It was obvious that there was something very special about this yoga. She attended class every day and after only 5 months decided to go to Bikrams' Teacher Training - not to be a teacher, but to continue with the incredible healing that was taking place within her body and mind. So impressed with Bikram and his yoga Toni made a life altering decision to go back to San Diego and teach Bikram Yoga. She has been teaching full-time since then and in September of 2002 she opened the Kearny Mesa school.

It is Toni's desire to show others that they can heal themselves and improve their lives through the regular practice of Bikram's Yoga. She is committed to continual education in order to expand her knowledge of yoga therapy and yoga philosophy. If she could say one thing to everyone it would be "Believe in yourself, you can do it!"

I began practicing Bikram Yoga in Burlington, Vermont in 2000 after developing a chlorine allergy that left me unable to continue my exercise of choice, competitive swimming. I came to yoga reluctantly, though it seemed to make sense. I was searching for a workout that might help me age gracefully with better posture and less pain. Two surgeries had left me with knee and shoulder pain, and I had carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. As a graphic designer, I had been sitting (slouching) at a computer for 10 years.

I was amazed by the profound changes that occurred in my life as a result of practicing Bikram Yoga. The pain went away and my posture improved. My attitude improved. I developed patience with myself after a lifetime of competitive sports and a "no pain, no gain" mentality. I learned to let go of the "ego" associated with competitive sports and really listen to my body, without comparing myself to others. I learned to breathe and stay calm even when things were scary, as the Camel and Fixed-Firm postures were when I first began practicing. My life transformed as a result of Bikram Yoga. In 2005 I sold my home and graphic design business in Vermont, attended the Bikram Teacher Training in 2006, and now I'm thrilled to be a Bikram Yoga instructor and resident of sunny San Diego. It is an honor and a pleasure to share this yoga, and I'm excited to witness the inevitable transformations that will occur as a result of the practice.

I grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and moved to the United States in 1999. Two years later, in 2001 I discovered Bikram yoga, fell in love with it and have been practicing ever since.

As I began practicing, I started noticing many positive changes. Bikram Yoga became not just a great workout for me, but a big part of my life. I became much more positive, I learned how to enjoy life more, I even learned how to breathe. It is just amazing how Bikram Yoga works for me on all levels: physical, spiritual and mental. I would like to help others to bring positive changes into their lives, so I became a yoga teacher in 2004, and I love it.

I look forward to seeing you in the yoga room!

Kim began her yoga practice at the age of 15. She learned a few postures from watching yoga on PBS in the late 1970s. It was about 10 years later that she took it more seriously after many years of back pain due to arthritis. And then finally 10 more years passed when she finally found Bikram's Yoga. The Bikram's Yoga has made a tremendous difference in her life. Mainly, the stiffness, pain and inflammation from arthritis in her ribs and hips have almost vanished! After the first 10 Bikram Yoga classes she was interested in attending teacher training, mostly to challenge herself. After attending the Fall 2005 Teacher Training, Kim decided to teach. Along with her full-time job as a Meeting & Incentive Planner, she teaches twice a week and practices yoga regularly.

Kim is originally from Bangladesh and has lived in San Diego for most of her life. She currently is trying to motivate her very large family to attend a Bikram Yoga class. Maybe some day you'll see them all in class!

Michael Lindsay is another "true believer" in Bikram yoga. Like so many others, he felt from the very first class the power of Bikram yoga to transform his life. That was 3 1/2 years ago and, with the combination of a regular yoga practice and the intensive 9-week teacher training in 2002, he has been steadily transforming his life. Some of the more obvious changes include greater energy and productivity, more confidence and optimism, a leaner, more tone and flexible body, improved immune system functioning, and more patience, humility, and compassion.

Michael's experience that a regular yoga practice leads to a better quality of life is now at the core of his approach to life.

For Michael, teaching Bikram yoga is not only a way for him to deepen his understanding of this ancient, life-enhancing tradition. It is also his humble way to help pass this gift on to others.

When Michael is not in the yoga room, he is practicing psychology, working as a therapist for individuals and couples.

"I started Bikram Yoga in 2006 after searching deeper for yoga and meditation. Initially the journey began after learning about Indian Philosophy and about Vedantic Meditation. After a couple of attempts at other types of meditation I found myself drawn somehow directly to the College of India. Right after my first class, I knew that this was something that both my body and mind needed. I am a dedicated cyclist, using it as my means of transportation, and at times motorists can be trying. The yoga helped to calm down and relax unwanted emotions such as stress and anger that came out poorly in certain situations. Bikram Yoga helped me to focus on the things that mattered to me and to help me weed out the things that did not. It helps me to listen to my body more and understand what it needs and when. It helps me deal with problems that arise in a more clear and cogent manne

I attended the first Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in Honolulu in April of 2007. This was the most challenging and rewarding of endeavors yet in my life. Teaching and learning more about the body has greatly improved my practice and understanding of the practice. I am glad to have found the yoga and know that I will be continuing to practice for the rest of my life. Each day, even if you slip sometimes, you have to get right back up and do what you know is right. The yoga is the perfect foundation for improving other aspects of life as well as helping to decrease periods of stagnation in other facets of work, life, and creativity."

Christen has always been a sports nut. She grew up playing field hockey, basketball, and running track. After graduating college, she kept up her fitness routine by taking long runs and lifting at the gym. However, this was not satisfying her. Instead of feeling good after the gym or the runs, she felt tight and her joints were very sore. A friend at work mentioned Bikram yoga when they were discussing this at lunch. The sound of the hot room really intrigued her, but she wasn't sure about the "yoga" part. The pre-conceived notion that yoga was a bunch of people getting together and stretching in a room didn't really appeal to her or even seem like a "real" workout, but she knew she had to try something. She quickly found out that she was completely wrong - this was the hardest, most challenging workout both physically and mentally. She left her first class knowing that she found something special.

After 1 year of practicing Bikram yoga, Christen decided to take a leave-of-absense from her engineering job and go to teacher training. She graduated in Spring 2007 with a new perspective and approach to life, fitness, and happiness that she loves to share every class she teaches!