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 anatomy, 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.

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.

Bikram Yoga changed my life. Sounds pretty dramatic doesn't it? But it's true, it did just that - and even more incredible - it happened without me even knowing it. That's the beauty of this yoga. You know that something is happening but can't really explain it - or ever walk out of class with a quantifiable assessment - only the feeling of righting wrongs - physically & mentally.

But after 6 years - and many breakthroughs in and out of the room later - I can assess that I'm happier. And that's how it has changed me. When I thought I had all the answers and was on top of everything (my old definition of happiness) - it humbled me, then challenged me to do more. Challenged me to be a better brother, better son, better friend, better co-worker, better PERSON...and without even realizing it, it all happened slowly while I deconstructed the complexity of my past life and I stepped into the simplicity of uncompromised living.

I can't tell you anything about me to make you want to do this yoga more. But I can tell you, through my own experiences and those of our students, that the yoga rewards. The more you put into it, without judgment or expectations, the more you will get out of it. I've been teaching since 2007.

"I started doing Bikram Yoga because a friend told me about how much you would sweat during class. That's really what got my attention. I was doing running and biking; but I couldn't sweat at all. Because of this, I decided to try Bikram Yoga. If it did work as my friend told me, I would have a new hobby, and if it didn't, I lost nothing. Needless to say I now not only sweat but have also found a true passion of mine.

I used to constantly get sick. Now with the help of yoga, I am one of the healthiest, craziest people ever. Before becoming a teacher, I did yoga for seven years. My first two years I took things easy. I did class about three times a week. As my strength grew, I pushed myself even harder and began to take class seven times a week. Now, after completing training, I do class seven to ten times a week. While my friends and family think I am crazy for doing yoga so often, I know it is where I belong. Yoga keeps me happy; therefore my husband and children are happy (only because I am nice now).