Student of the Month…

…will be back in September. But check out this amazing and motivating transformation. This is JD Doctah Oobah. Read his incredible story and hopefully he’ll stop by our studio one of these days to visit and teach.

“It’s said that we all have a story behind our passion for yoga. I certainly have a long story behind mine!
So, For those of you that haven’t met JD at the studio yet, here he is and this is his story…
I first started doing Bikram Yoga in August of 2006 after a friend from childhood relentlessly pestered and finally guilted me into the Hot Room. I hated him for every second of it, but I was hooked, and after my first class I instantly started a 30 day challenge which ended 70 days later! I had lost around 50 pounds, felt great and was sure I was finally on my way to a healthy life! So happy was I that it was only natural for me and the boys to go out and celebrate! Fast forward about 10 years to July 4th 2016, and that celebration came to a grinding halt. I was over 350 pounds, hopelessly alcoholic, depressed, dangerously diabetic and suffered 3rd degree burns on the bottoms of both of my feet. Because of my uncontrolled diabetes and resulting poor physical condition and circulation, initially I wasn’t a candidate for skin grafts and amputation was discussed. When the first round of grafting didn’t take, amputation was a real possibility, so after a second and successful round of skin grafts took, and 28 nights spent recouping in the burn ward at Massachusetts General Hospital, I knew instantly that a huge life change would be necessary if I were to repair and keep my feet. On August 16th, 2016, when I finally got the okay for physical therapy, I went back to Bikram Yoga. I couldn’t even stand – so Diane Ducharme Gardner at Yoga for You in Dedham, Massachusetts started me off doing the standing series in a chair! I started a regular 5 a week practice and saw results almost every day! In the months that followed I continued to see huge improvements in my strength, balance and overall physical and mental health. I stayed sober, got my diabetes under control and continually lost weight. Eventually I was able to come off all of my diabetes and high blood pressure medications, was able to walk without the use of canes, continued to stay sober, and had lost over 150 pounds (10.7 Stones/68 kg)!
Almost 3 years later I attended the Spring 2019 Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Course in Murcia, Spain. The 9 week intensive course was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. Despite the injuries to my feet, hip-back-Knee injuries and a reconstructed shoulder, (all the result of a misspent lifetime of Football injuries, car and motorcycle accidents, bar-fights and drunken tumbles) I not only graduated, but was also presented with the “English Bulldog Determination Award!”
My favorite Bikram quote is:”Never too old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch once again.” And that is what I want to share with the World. If this fat, old, drunk and broken biker can find healing in the hot room, surely anyone else can too. This yoga will help you. This yoga will heal you. This yoga changed my life and makes me happy and it will do the same for you. Ask me why!”