Jackie used to be a detective in Brooklyn (with Frank, her husband and co-owner).  She came to yoga one day out of sheer desperation – she had tried everything to calm her mind and was tired of doing so by killing a bottle of wine and then spending the next day woefully hungover.  From that first day, yoga changed her life.  Shortly thereafter, she quit drinking and started practicing yoga daily.  New doors opened once she adopted a different lifestyle:  she began teaching officer wellness at the police academy and truly found her calling.  During the summer of 2020, she resigned from her policing career, flew to Utah, and attended Brandy Lyn’s 350-hour 26&2 original hot yoga teacher training.  Since then, she has completed Integrated Hatha yoga training with the Ivy Standard Yoga Institute (an additional 200-hour in-person yoga training program in the Ghosh lineage), as well as a 50-hr immersive in-person yin yoga certification with Abigail Atkinson. Jackie holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.S. from NYU. Jackie regularly teaches on Saturday mornings.

Frank spent four years in the U.S. Army, twenty years in the NYPD as a detective in narcotics, and ten years in the Brooklyn DA’s office as a detective in the special investigations unit (which is where he met Jackie – they were partners on the job, and then they became partners in real life!)  Jackie somehow convinced Frank to come to a yoga class with her.  After one class with former BYLB owner Anne Hayes, he was absolutely hooked.  He loves the discipline of Bikram yoga and approaches it with a warrior attitude.  Even though he has five daughters, this yoga has taught him a special kind of patience that nothing else has.  He believes that with discipline, one finds freedom. Frank has certifications for 26&2 original hot yoga (350 hrs) and for yin yoga (50 hrs). Frank regularly teaches the early morning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Anne likes to recall that she would try yoga when there was nothing else she could do!  One morning in May 2003, while on her train commute to NYC, a New York Times article about Bikram yoga truly resonated with her.  Balancing family and work while maintaining an active lifestyle often left her mind, spirit, and body exhausted and overwhelmed.  Anne took a Bikram yoga class the next day:  it was “hard love at first sight.”  Six months of consistent practice healed fifteen years of sciatica pain, opened her up to the concept of creating possibilities, and enabled her to better balance her “self.”  Inspired by her mother’s drive to be of service, Anne attended Bikram’s rigorous 9-week teacher training in 2006 to further share the wisdom and healing benefits of the 26&2 hot yoga series with her community.  Anne opened the Long Beach studio in its first location in 2010 with Brooklyn-based teacher Colleen O’Rourke and relocated in 2015 under the management of her companion, Dougie LeVangie. In 2022, she and Dougie retired and passed the torch on to Jackie and Frank. Anne still regularly teaches Monday early mornings, Friday mid-mornings, and Sunday nights. Dougie happily works the desk when she teaches.

John is absolutely thrilled and excited to be teaching for BYLB!  He started his Bikram practice in the year 2000 and loved it so much that he went to the teacher training and was certified in June 2001.  As an actor and dancer for 40 years, John has incurred many injuries over time, and this practice has aided in healing him mentally and physically.  Over the years of practicing and teaching, John has witnessed people from every walk of life, from 5 to 80, grow, heal, and blossom through this practice.  It is a gift to him to watch the transformation of so many people.  “It’s so simple. Just show up and do the best you can without judgment, a light heart, and with lots of joy.  Everything will unfold from there. Precision, intensity, frequency.” John regularly teaches on Thursday nights.

For 20+ years, Claudia has taught yoga in NYC and worldwide, and has amassed multiple certifications – Functional Range Conditioning Movement Specialist (FRCms), CPT, Advanced Certified 800-hour Jivamukti, RMM Movement Practitioner (myofascial release), and Bio Energetic Synchronization facilitator. As an E-RYT 500 and YACEP, she has guided many on their journey to become teachers and to continue their education.

With a conscious, meticulous focus on using discipline to transcend dogma, students are guided to fortify the foundation of their potential. If the body holds the informational mapping of our experiences, then the relationship we have our bodies can help author the stories that will make life better for one another. What influences all aspects of her teaching style is her love of music and the creative arts. When not teaching, Claudia puts her performance background to work as a Foley artist. Claudia regularly teaches on Monday nights.

Adil Rida, a Paris native with Moroccan roots, is a practitioner and teacher of Bikram yoga and Ashtanga yoga in the tradition of Sri Pattabhi Jois.  An ex-martial arts competitor and former Circus Aerialist performer, Adil began practicing yoga in Los Angeles in 2002 at the suggestion of his acting coach in Los Angeles.  There, he apprenticed with such yoga luminaries as Emmy Cleaves, Craig Villani, and Bikram Choudhury himself. Aside from his Bikram certification, Adil has also studied Ashtanga yoga in Mysore, India. Adil regularly teaches on Tuesday nights.

Jon trained for nine years at London’s Royal Ballet and was (and occasionally still is, if persuaded,) a professional dancer in London and New York, appearing on Broadway and in ten shows on London’s West End stages.  Nowadays Jon concentrates on independent movies and has been teaching Bikram’s 26&2 original hot yoga since 2010.  Jon has taught Bikram in New York, Los Angeles, Rome, Las Vegas, and other places, but his main occupation is actor and photographer.  The selective practice of Bikram has helped Jon to safely maintain the physical benefits that dancing provided, minus the emotional trauma.  Jon believes that Bikram yoga is, above all, kind.  It is directed towards the long-term wellbeing of the practitioner – with the elements of heat and humidity, it is both physically and emotionally challenging. Jon is regularly teaches on Wednesday mid-mornings.

Charlotte’s Bikram yoga practice was born in 2005 out of curiosity for a “hot room” her mother had been raving about. She was a ballet dancer and a volleyball player, but she also suffered from severe asthma since childhood, and she tired easily from physical activity. Her first few classes were torturous and yet, something kept calling her back into the hot room. She continued her practice throughout college, where she found respite from the stress of exams and parties. The peaceful euphoria she felt after each class was the most magnificent feeling! Each year of practice found her stronger and more in control of her breath (her asthma virtually cured!) Today, the hot room is her place to reconnect, rebalance, and reimagine her life experience. She completed Bikram's Teacher Training in 2010 and has since enjoyed teaching at her home studio in Long Beach, as well as in California, Hawaii, and Mexico. When not teaching yoga, she teaches middle and high school French and Spanish. “Learn to bend and you won't break.” Charlotte regularly teaches on Sunday mornings and on Saturday nights.

Brian is a certified Bikram yoga teacher and strength and conditioning coach with over a decade of experience in treating movement dysfunctions and enhancing human performance.  He has a versatile movement background with a variety of certifications combining the word of therapy and fitness.  Brian is uniquely qualified to get the most out of his students’ bodies while allowing them to sustain optimal physical health and longevity.  Brian considers physical activity a vital process to being complete and is passionate about helping others maximize their movement potential. Brian regularly teaches on Wednesday nights.

Maura began practicing yoga after years of running competitively and playing soccer. Maura suffered from right hip injuries after running the NYC Marathon. She was looking for a solution to help her and luckily found yoga. She quickly became a dedicated yogi and continues to appreciate the physical, mental, and emotional benefits it provides. Maura has a strong desire to help others heal and discover the benefits from their yoga practice. Maura has experience with several different types of yoga and establishing the ability to connect with oneself to develop self-compassion. Maura completed Bikram Yoga College of India Teacher Training in 2012, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health training in 2018, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra training in 2018, Little Flower Yoga Teacher Training in 2019, and has her master's degree in social work. Maura receives inspiration from her students every class and is very excited to be teaching in Long Beach. Maura is an energetic teacher and looks forward to seeing you in class soon! Aside from teaching Bikram yoga, she also teaches yoga nidra here around the time of every month’s full moon. She is currently on leave until summer 2024.

A good friend concerned about her state of mind and body strongly suggested that Colleen try a Bikram yoga class.  She attended her first class kicking and screaming in March 2011.  Although Coleen did not understand what was happening at the time, she came back the next day, and the next, and so on.  She began to transform not only physically but also mentally and spiritually.  Coleen began to feel a wave of HOPE.  Wanting to share this therapeutic yoga, she attended Raja Yoga Academy original hot yoga teacher training with Craig Villani in the Fall of 2017.  She continued her yoga education and attained the Level 2 and Level 3 certifications with Raja Yoga Academy. In 2022, she completed Integrated Hatha training, an additional 200-hr in-person yoga certification with the Ivy Standard Yoga Institute in Utah. Coleen is registered with the Original Hot Yoga Association and has an 800-hour certificate in 26&2 Hatha Yoga.  She is also certified to teach yin yoga. She has learned that the Bikram series is a process that with practice, discipline, and consistency, she can live up to her greatest potential inside and outside of the hot room.  Coleen says, “I TEACH TO HEAL.  It happened to me, and it can happen to you.  All you have to do is show up to your mat.” Coleen regularly teaches on Monday mid-mornings and on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 AM.

Di is an experienced yoga practitioner with over 15 years of personal practice and five years experience in teaching. Born and raised in California, her interest in movement started at the early age of six through dance. After belonging to top ballet companies in the nation and working with leading choreographers, she transitioned into yoga after moving to Los Angeles, where she became submerged in the practice of hot yoga and was committed from day one. Upon moving to Rockaway Beach, NY she decided to start teaching not only to deepen her own journey through sadhana and study, but to share her passions with others. She finds deep interest in breath/body coherence, sequencing, and cueing that allows for expansion within your practice - physically, emotionally, and mentally. Di is dedicated to teaching and sharing the importance of yoga as a systematic way for making wellness a long-term commitment regardless of your starting point. Di is a 300-hr registered yoga teacher. She received her initial 200-hr training from Bodhi in 2018. In 2019, she completed her 50-hr intensive yin training (also from Bodhi). In 2022, she became certified in Meridian Yoga Therapy (MYT), Practitioner Level 1 - Science of Self (50 hrs). Di regularly teaches yin here on Sunday afternoons and on Monday nights.

Stephanie’s mother dragged her to her first Bikram yoga class in 2010. Reluctant and skeptical at first, she fell in love with the practice straightaway. She found the physical intensity of the class thrilling, but more importantly (and more enticing), she found the mental clarity she needed in her life. She took full advantage of her intro package and even practiced twice a day. As her practice matured, she started branching out into other forms of yoga (including yin, which became her favorite). She received her Buti yoga certification in February 2019 in New York City. She has since embraced both practices, which compliment each other tremendously -- one class perfectly prepares for the other. She loves all forms of yoga because it is truly a mind, body, and soul practice. Steph regularly teaches on Saturday afternoons and on Wednesday nights.

Georgia Balligian started her yoga practice with Bikram Choudhury in 1971.  She was able to maintain a daily 90-minute class with her teacher for two years.  (That was 90 minutes Indian time – about two hours!)  After attending teacher training in 1997, she began teaching full time in New York City.  The last twenty-five years of teaching have been a blessing hard to explain in words.  Georgia thanks her teacher every day for sharing his knowledge and wisdom.  She hopes to inspire you, the students, to keep this yoga as an important part of your life.  Georgia teaches at here at BYLB one Sunday a month in a special master class on Sunday afternoons. Check out our schedule for the next one!

Chris started practicing Bikram yoga in early 2007 after years of long-distance running left him with horrible back pain and “beaten up” knees.  Like most first-time students, he walked into that first class not knowing what to expect.  After the challenge and exhilaration of that very first class, Chris was hooked!  It didn’t take long for him to start enjoying the healing benefits of his Bikram practice as his pain and stress levels diminished.  His knees and back felt better, and he had found a new cardio workout to replace running. Inspired to share what he had discovered with others, he made the decision to become a teacher.  In the fall of 2008, he completed the Bikram teacher training program in Acapulco, Mexico and began teaching in studios all over Long Island, Queens, and Manhattan.  As his own practice grew, so did his desire to explore other styles of yoga.  Intrigued with the flowing style of vinyasa, Chris went on to complete a 200-hour vinyasa training in 2013 at LifePower Yoga in Syosset, NY.  He now teaches both styles with his distinct flair.  Chris loves nothing more than guiding his students through a challenging asana practice to build healthy and strong minds and bodies – helping them to lead stronger and healthier lives.  Chris owns his own studio in Massapequa now, but he will always be a part of our yoga family. Watch for a cameo from him!

David never thought that he would ever try yoga until he hurt his leg. His sister said that it might help his injury, so he decided to give it a try. That was back in 1995. If he didn’t practice yoga, he is convinced that he would be in a wheelchair today. He enjoys the challenge of a yoga class, which works his body, mind, and spirit.

As a teacher, he is inspired by all students, especially those who are older and/or dealing with severe injuries. When he was recovering from his last car accident, he often felt hopeless because it seemed like he wouldn’t get better. During those times, he would remind himself of the students who overcame great difficulties. They still worked hard and kept a positive attitude.

He knew that if they could do that, then he could do it too.

Today he continues to heal his injuries through yoga. He practices yoga because he feels better, and he’s happier when he invests in himself.

He believes that by helping others, he is also helping himself. He is truly grateful for this life because he knows it didn’t have to turn out as good as it has.

Note from Anna:

Hi, guys! My name is Anna, and I’m currently a senior in college majoring in screenwriting and minoring in film and psychology. I started practicing Bikram yoga two years ago, and I’m in love with it. I also have two Guinea pigs, Cartman and Butters!

Note from Cesca:

Hi everyone, I’m Francesca! I recently finished culinary school, and I am a full-time chef! With the stress of being in the kitchen, the 26&2 Bikram yoga series and hot yin are my essentials to make sure I de-stress. I help out at the desk once in a while, but usually you will catch me working at Blacksmith’s Breads on the west end.

Elvis is a fourteen-year-old rat terrier who is fond of Italian food, long walks on the beach, and naps. He aspires to go to training one day, but for now he has only mastered two postures: downward-dog and savasana. Though he loves the heat, he doesn’t have much endurance in it, so he takes most days off in the summer. When he is here, you can catch him sunning himself in the window, sleeping under the desk, or sometimes peering into class through the sliding doors. Pet him anytime you’d like. Despite his crazy looking fang, he won’t bite.

Spike is the newest desk staff member. He hails from Puerto Rico, where he was abandoned on the street. He is approximately two years old. He is still on desk probation (and probably will be for a long time), as Elvis is very slow at training him. You’ll see Spike more as he learns the ropes. He enjoys guarding the doors and windows, playing fetch, and watching Spanish cartoons. He may paw at you, but he’s one big love bug who just wants belly rubs.