Joel Pier

A yoga practitioner for over 35 years, Joel has spent 14 years abroad strengthening his practice by studying different forms of yoga and martial arts in India and Asia. A naturally gifted yoga instructor, Joel has earned a reputation as one of the best teachers in the Philadelphia area, often being mentioned in editorial features on yoga. His endearing nature, teaching finesse, extreme patience, outward encouragement, and tendency to interject into class humorous metaphors from Eastern philosophy have created Joel's hallmark teaching style that attracts students from near and far.

Joel graduated from one of the first intensive Bikram's yoga teacher training programs offered by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram's Yoga College of India. As a certified teacher of Bikram's yoga, Joel decided to passionately pursue his dream of educating students in the advantages of Bikram's yoga and in the implicitly philosophical aspects of the exercise. Joel's dream became a reality when he opened the first Bikram's yoga studio in Center City Philadelphia. Since then, he has continued to use his expertise to teach Bikram's yoga and simultaneously improve the strength, stamina, and flexibility of a devoted student following.

Alexandra Sari Meer

Alexandra Sari Meer (nee Caplan) has been practicing Bikram Yoga since 2000, and became a Bikram certified teacher in the fall of 2002. Alexandra is still celebrating the birth of her son Luke, who was born in September 2005, which she says has changed and shaped her entire approach to yoga and to life.

"Before Luke was born, I was able to practice Bikram everyday and approached class during my practice more as a workout than as anything else. I was happy to be able to sweat and stretch and breathe for 90 minutes, and had a total appreciation for Bikram and the Bikram series. However, since the birth of my son, everything has changed. It is more difficult for me to get to class, and I'm also teaching less frequently than I was before he was born.

"While I totally miss my everyday practice, I approach class much differently now. It is no longer about having the best bow pose or the most flexible spine. Now, my practice is about finding the time to breathe. It is about knowing my limitations and being okay with them. It is about trying to be more gentle with myself and hoping that translates into my approach to motherhood.

"As far as teaching Bikram, I think my approach has changed as well. I have much more sympathy for students' limitations and understand that, for most, yoga is just one aspect of people's lives. I now truly believe that when you come to a Bikram class, you really just have to try your best, come with an open mind and open heart, and you will get all the benefits of the class. It never matters what the postures look like, it just matters that you work hard and strong to the best of your ability. That's what I love about Bikram yoga. It doesn't have to look pretty, you just have to do your best." (email: Alexandra Sari Meer).

Byron Joseph Franklin

Byron Joseph Franklin grew up in San Diego, CA. He left California at the age of 19, and moved to Philadelphia. He studied dance at the University of Arts in Philadelphia from the age of 20 to age of 21, when he quit due to the competitive nature of the business. He discovered yoga in New York City while traveling and visiting a friend who practiced Bikram. Byron enjoyed the anonymity of the yoga practice and was eager to study. Upon returning to Philadelphia, Byron began to study Bikram yoga with Joel Pier. What Byron likes most about yoga is the sense of accomplishment that occurs with the completion of each session. He began to notice immediate change with the practice and the instant alleviation of anxiety that had plagued him.

Byron was certified to teach Bikram yoga in the Spring of 2003 and has taught ever since. "You can meet me at center city Philadelphia" said Byron, "and learn that just like Bikram says, your 'Never too old, never too sick' as long as you have a heart beat, you are able to practice this yoga." Any questions you can email Byron at: CenterSiddhi@Yahoo.com.

Debbie Nessenthaler

I originally started taking Bikram yoga in 2002 as a way to relieve stress and gain mental clarity. I had no idea that it would be the most intense and rewarding workout I had ever done. As a woman it can sometimes feel very difficult to be comfortable with our bodies but through my practice I have learned that my body is an integrated system that must be respected and cared for. Through Bikram I have, in a sense, come home to my own body. The transitions that I have seen in my body and in my life are more than I ever expected when I first walked through the studio door five years ago. My decision to attend teacher training in the fall of 2005 was an easy one and it turned out to be a mind blowing experience of intense personal transformation. This series is always a challenge but the rewards are many. I truly believe that this yoga is the best thing you can do for your mind, body and spirit.

(email: debbie.nessenthaler@bikramphiladelphia.com).

Chris Fluck

Chris Fluck was raised in Bethlehem PA and spent 10 years scaling the frames of tall buildings as an ironworker and drumming for heavy metal bands before finding two of his true passions, acting and yoga.

Introduced to yoga in 1999 as part of training for vocal projection on the stage, Chris found the Bikram series in 2001. In addition to being an important vehicle toward personal transformation for Chris, Bikram was a style well-suited to help him overcome several persistent physical injuries. Chris attended Bikram training in the fall of 2002, where he won the award for Best Dialogue.

Outgoing, friendly and sincere, Chris is truly committed to sharing Bikram with others. His positive, energetic and hands-on approach to helping students achieve their full potential in class is both comforting and inspiring. "Dig one well, and dig it deep," says Chris about his practice.

Email Chris at: fluckster69@hotmail.com.

John DiGenova

I was an avid runner. I started practicing Bikram in early 2001 and felt the same satisfaction and runner’s high. I started practicing regularly and decided to attend teacher training. I completed the training in Fall 2002. I don’t teach full time, but have begun teaching the evening classes twice a week.

I find the challenge of always being able to do more very fun and exciting. While I use the yoga as a physical workout, I have definitely noticed how it changed the rest of my life-- which, I guess, is a result of the meditative part of it. I find myself to have more patience as well as being much more relaxed than before. I still enjoy practicing regularly and teaching when I can.

I kept my job as a mathematician, but still make yoga a regular part of my life. After practicing for 6 years, you start to understand that it is not about having a pretty practice or not falling out of a posture, but it is so much about the mental and physical challenges that come with just getting yourself through the class. And no matter how "bad" it feels like your class went or how tired you were before you started, you always fell better after you are finished... that is something that is just amazing to try to understand. (email: john.digenova@bikramphiladelphia.com).

James Pfeffer

James Pfeffer has been involved in Yoga and Tai Chi since finishing his BFA at The University of The Arts in 1995. After casting about for sometime trying different styles and approaches to the yoga, James tried his first Bikram class on March 27, 2003. After being blown away by the experience, he settled on a five-day-a-week practice. "The heat combined with the rigorous approach had an effect that is like nothing I've ever attempted and it saved my knees, which were not great to say the least."

After several personal life challenges James decided to attend the Teacher Training in the Spring of 2005 and has enjoyed the process immensely. He competed nationally in the 2008 Bishnu Gosh Cup, an annual yoga competition held in honor of Bikrams guru "Yogindra" Bishnu Gosh. James placed second at the state regionals.

Believing a truly regular practice of yoga can be life transforming, James recently completed a personal goal by doing Bikram yoga for 1,001 consecutive days. The streak began on Feb. 22, 2006 and was completed on Nov. 18, 2008. James took this very unusual approach to deepen his practice in preparation for the 2009 Bishnu Gosh Cup. (email: james.pfeffer@bikramphiladelphia.com).