Bikram Yoga Jax .com

Rob Manosca Owner / Director	I started practicing yoga at the college I worked for in 2004 in North Carolina. I wanted to implement yoga as conditioning for my mens volleyball program. While visiting my parents I discovered the Jacksonville Bikram studio. My first class was amazing. I did less than half the class yet I felt like I had completed the best workout, meditation and most relaxing massage all in one. I was hooked. The first three months I lost 30 lbs. and throughout that first year I lost a total of 50 lbs. My body totally transformed. I knew I wanted to teach. I attended the first Teacher Training in Hawaii, spring 2007. This was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, both mentally and physically, as well as the most rewarding experience. I love teaching this yoga. I never thought I'd own a studio. Thank you all for coming in, you are the ones that keep it going. Peace.
Krupa Alford	I started practicing Bikram yoga in 2001 in St. Augustine , FL under the instruction of Kate Mitchell. As I was starting my yoga practice, I was finishing my Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Saint Augustine . It was then that my eyes were opened to the benefits of yoga for various types of musculoskeletal dysfunctions. In 2005 I went to teacher training in Los Angeles , and shortly after finishing I took over management of the San Marco studio in Jacksonville . I no longer teach full time, as I am a full time therapist at Heekin Orthopedic Specialists. As I have grown in both my yoga practice and my physical therapy profession, I have become increasingly aware of how beautifully they compliment one another. I still practice Bikram Yoga regularly, and enjoy teaching whenever I have the opportunity.
Tiffany Cofer	I grew up on a small island off the coast of Georgia, Saint Simons. As a child I always remained active participating in horseback and cycling, enjoying nature's splendor. Also at the ripe age of 5, I began dance, which leads me further into my journey with yoga and excercise. Health and Fitness has become a lifestyle for me, not just any "phase" or "fad." After developing skills with cycling outdoors, I pursued a certification from Schwinn Indoor Cycling and began teaching Spinning. After a class one day, a friend introduced me to the idea of this Bikram Yoga, told me of the heat and sweating and I was instantly intrigued. And so there I was, hooked immediately after my first class. I was studying under Michael Gilbourne, Cindy Toda, and Lisa Franzino. After many sweaty, hot hours of their instruction, I was ready and without a doubt, inspired to take on the Teacher Training (spring 2007), along with Rob Manosca, now owner of Bikram Yoga Jacksonville. I am currently teaching yoga, hopefully inspiring others to dive into the wonderful healing power of Bikram Method Yoga, developing this as a lifetime dicipline. Namaste.
Lisa Franzino	Lisa is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. After working in the corporate world as a technical writer, she dropped out to go to Bikram training and then opened two Bikram schools in Jacksonville. As a third-time transplant to Portland, Lisa feels she is there to stay: for a while at least. Lisa started practicing yoga as a rehabilitative therapy after her battle with cancer. It has greatly helped her chronic back pain, lymphedema and post-traumatic stress, as well as helped eliminate the toxins from her cancer treatment. As someone who is herself continuing to heal, Lisa brings a compassion to her teaching that is both comforting and inspiring. In addition to teaching and practicing yoga, she works as a Web and graphic designer under her design company, CircleScapes.
Michael Gilbourne	I have been teaching at this studio since it opened and love the atmosphere and feel that the studio eminates. I love the connections that are created between the studio and the students. I'm not in Jacksonville full time anymore, but you can expect me to drop by every so often. For me teaching is everything! It's all about you and your growth. My goal is to do everything possible to make your class the best experience; helping you discover your greatest abilities while getting stronger all the way. To all the students that had me in the past … I thank you for being such an integral part of this living yoga community. I am thrilled that Rob Manosca has taken over the studio and feel that he will make it an even better place for all to pursue their own individual goals of health, strength, and union with the self. See you soon in class!
Akemi Hofmann	I started practicing yoga in early spring of 05 with Master Adam in Virginia Beach. At the same time I joined 200-hours intensive Hatha yoga course, I regularly practiced Hot yoga, which is very similar to Bikram yoga. In summer of '05 I and my husband returned to Japan, I found out that Bikram was planning to open studios in Japan, so I joined its preparatory training in Tokyo. With the help of wonderful mentors, Cynthia Wehr, Leslie Christhansen, I could go through TTC in spring of 06!! I taught Bikram yoga in Tokyo about one year until we came back to Jacksonville, my husband's hometown. Honestly, I was a total geek, never athletic, severe sociophobic. Who could imagine what I do now? Yoga transformed me! Life is filled with lots of surprises! I love practicing Bikram yoga at Jacksonville studio! Great people, friendly atmosphere! Peace! Hiza o shite (lock the knee)!
Sherry Liu	Sherry has always found fitness and physical activity a great source of rejuvenating energy. Even while holding a full time corporate job, Sherry taught fitness classes. In 1999, upon meeting her future husband - Rohit - at London Business School, she began to practice Bikram Yoga. Since completing her Bikram Yoga Teacher's Training in Los Angeles CA in 2002, she has been a guest instructor in Raleigh NC, Houston and Sugar Land TX. For two years, Sherry and Rohit owned and managed a Bikram Yoga studio in Jacksonville FL. Today, while she isn't helping people with their personal finance and tax questions, Sherry keeps in touch with herself through meditation, and the teaching and practicing of yoga.
Rohit Millstein	Rohit Millstein first met Bikram Choudhury in 1992 while a resident and yoga instructor at Kripalu Center, America’s largest yoga retreat. After only a summer of consistent Bikram practice healed his chronic knee problem, Rohit decided he wanted to teach Bikram yoga, but there was yet no teacher training. Instead, he went to Phoenix in 1993 to train with Cintra Brown in Phoenix, one of only three individuals then granted the right to open a Bikram Yoga College of India. When in 1994 Bikram decided to offer his first ever teacher training, Rohit attended and upon completion opened in Santa Fe what was among the first ten Bikram studios in the country. In 1998, Rohit moved to New York and taught at the first Bikram studio there and two years later, while attending business school in London, taught at the first Bikram studio in the UK. Rohit has also taught at Bikram’s “home school” in Los Angeles among many other locations around the country. Rohit brings years of Bikram practice to his teaching, as well as several years of Kripalu training and extensive experience in the Iyengar and Astanga lineages.
Cindy Toda	I started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2002 shortly after Michael and Lisa opened the Neptune Beach studio. I was at the end of a long soul-searching trip that started when I quit my rat-race job, and landed back in Jacksonville feeling a bit ugh. Not only did Bikram Yoga help me pull my head out of my butt, it gave me a new direction in life. I discovered a new sense of self discipline, self respect and self realization. Since graduating from teacher training, spring 2005, I've taught in Denver, Chile - both in Santiago and Ayacara (in spanish!), St. Augustine, Lawrence (KS) and South Kansas City. I've been teaching on-and-off here in Jacksonville whenever I visit family and friends and consider this my home studio. It's great to come back and see familiar faces as well as new aspiring yogis. See you in class!