Bikram Yoga Decatur

Anand Nair
Very few people can pronounce his first name correctly so feel free to just call him "Boss." Of all our instructor's classes, Anand's are the most reminiscent of classes led by Bikram Choudhury. It's not just the accent and similar appearance to a young Bikram but also his emphatic exhortations to "lock-the-knee-lock-the-knee-lock-the-knee!" while simultaneously making you smile.

---

Deb Croswell
Included on a list of the things Deb loves is "rolling around outside." And "bugs." With a background in dance, fine art photography, production design and skeet shooting, Deb's got some pearl's of wisdom for anyone who walks in the hot room. She encourages a compassionate, vibrant, creative exploration of the self while emphasizing a solid understanding of the importance of alignment and breath. Her experience teaching children helps her reinforce the playful elements of yoga with adults. Most importantly, she reminds us to not take it so seriously -- it's just yoga. And she likes bugs.

Pre-Class Playlist: Calexico, Portland Cello Project, Lucinda Williams, Marvin Gaye, Andrew Bird, Mercury Re, Shelby Lynn

---

Eric Jennings
You never know who's gonna show up when Eric is on the schedule. He's the moody one of the bunch and the least predictable. Some days he sounds like a used car salesman with the bargain of the decade to sell you while on others he'll try to make you laugh with off-color stories of his dysfunctional childhood in what he calls "the armpit of Massachusetts." His brother-in-law once called him a "tattooed yoga nerd."

Pre-Class Playlist: With 17,820 songs in 110 genres on his iPod, Eric just clicks Shuffle and doesn't think about it.

---

Randy Smith
Brains and brawn in a single package. You know how people sometimes equate Bikram Yoga Instructors with Drill Sergeants? With 30 years in the military, Randy is the real deal. When he says, "Feet together, toes in line!" you better believe everybody puts their toes in line. Be careful what you say when you're leaving the studio after class -- if you say, "see you later," he's going to ask which of tomorrow's classes he can expect to see you in. Randy's passion for practicing and teaching Bikram Yoga is only eclipsed by his desire to share it with you and to help you be the best that you can be.

---

Rebecca Hurlburt aka "H"
In order to avoid confusion, Rebecca allows us to refer to her simply as "H, as in Hah," or simply "H." Her teaching style is akin to reading a good Russian novel -- filled with a plethora of unpronounceable names and innumerable details and by the time you're finished you're a hot, sweaty mess and you're not quite sure where you are any more. Meditation? Medication? Exercise? Weight Loss? Mind control? Stress relief? Pain relief? Spousal relief? Self help? Self loathing? Self love? That's for you to decide.

Pre-Class Playlist: Wilco, Sigur Ros, My Morning Jacket, Jerry Douglas

---

Rebecca Rumpf
Rebecca Rumpf is our rock. She doesn't need a funny bio or clever playlists to convey her sense of self. She just strives to be a good instructor. Some say she's the hard one, that she inspires us to try a little more. Others say she gives the longest rests and is the one most likely to emphasize the stillness in the postures. Everyone agrees she's the serious one. Really.

---

Susie Fryer-Cohen
Everything Susie says is true. When she informs you that putting your forehead to your knee is required for "the magic to happen" you just believe her and want to do it. You've heard of Mother Earth? Well Susie is Mother Sky, a plainspoken evangelist of the light of love, a preternatural poet and painter and an intuitive seer of all things. The minute you walk into one of Susie's classes she's got your number and she'll tell you what it is. More than once in case you weren't listening the first time.

Pre-Class Playlist: Reggae (all and any), Broken Social Scene, Feist, Lauren Veirs, Brett Dennon, Astrud Gilberto