Student Spotlight: July!

Luis Rodriguez

The man, the myth, the legend: Luis Rodriguez.

You've probably seen him around the Studio a time or two - he's here literally every day! Luis is a true Ambassador for Bikram Yoga Hazel Dell. 

Luis recently celebrated a HUGE anniversary here at BYHD so we just knew he had to be our Student Spotlight for July... he inspires us ALL to stick with it even when it gets tough!
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​Read more to learn about Luis's yoga story and his "WHY YOGA"!

Luis first experienced Hot Yoga in Florida in 2009/2010 during a work tip! A friend of his, who was a very heavy smoker, asked him to join him for a 3 PM YOGA class. The HOTTEST, most HUMID time of the day in Florida -- and said friend just happened to leave out that the yoga class was a HOT YOGA class (LOL! WHOOPS!).

This first class was... HARD. Luis said it's the competitive drive within him that kept him in the room for his entire first class, especially since he was unprepared for what to expect. That being said, Luis remembers feeling so energetic, his entire body just felt.... good. He had be struggling with arthritis and overall muscle tightness for years, walking around normally gave him pain. After class, he was able to just walk around and felt great doing it. He loved how he felt.

​Luis went on to pick up a regular practice in his home city of Raleigh, NC. He practiced for about a year consistently, and then overtime fell out of his practice. He stopped doing anything for his body for at least 5 years! We've all been there, life gets the best of us and sometimes we think it's just easier to be out of practice... we all know the truth, though.

Luis did, too. It took him a few years, but when he moved to Washington State and started a new job - he just knew that he had to get back in the Hot Room. Stress of the new job, the move - it all called him back. 

I knew i wasn't getting younger, and i knew yoga
​would improve my health and quality of life.

So -- he joined us at BYHD... and he hasn't looked back.

So that huge anniversary we mentioned... 

Luis celebrated his 4 YEAR Anniversary here at BYHD on 7/21/2019.

​In those 4 YEARS he has taken 815 CLASSES.

That is 1,136.50 HOURS in the Hot Room!!
Congratulations, Luis!

And still, Luis feels that Yoga "stops time"! It doesn't matter your age, fitness level, etc. - in the Hot Room, "we are all one!".

 Luis thinks that this Yoga is the best thing that you can do for your own health. It's a unique, calming practice - and he really loves how you learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It took him 3.5 years to feel comfortable in the Hot Room!

He loves the meditation he gets in class - being able to be with his own thoughts. He loves that there are no winners and no losers in Yoga. It's always about YOU and your own journey in the mirror. We are all honoring our own pace. We LOVE this!

These days you can catch Luis in the Hot Room for Bikram Hot Yoga, Inferno Hot Pilates OR Yin Yoga nearly ANY day of the week! Recently, he is LOVING IHP! He loves the intensity and how fantastic of a cardio workout it can be! Luis also gives credit to IHP for accelerating his weight-loss! He also noticed immediately that IHP improved his Yoga practice. It truly is the perfect compliment!

If Luis could give a New Student one piece of advice he'd say:

Do your best. It's not a competition.
yoga is a privilege.
if you are able to practice yoga, honor that - not everyone can.
this is the best thing i've ever done for my life!
​enjoy the journey, stick with it, and never give up!

If you see him around, give him a high-5! Thank him for all of the love he pours into our Studio, our Sanctuary! You can always join him for an IHP class - he'd love it!

Luis - from all of us at BYHD: You Inspire Us! Thank you for bringing such a positive, fun attitude with you everytime you're in. Thank you for being such an amazing Ambassador for the Studio! Looking forward to MANY more classes to come! Keep doing the work!

Namaste.