Meet Our Expert Team

Diana, Studio Director

As a local native, Diana grew up in Arlington and has been living in Montgomery County for the last 20 years. Diana has been practicing various Hatha Yoga traditions including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Bikram Yoga for the last fifteen years.  Upon completing the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in 2001, Diana has taught at Bikram Studios in LA, NYC, and the DC Studio and realized the need for a Bikram Yoga studio in Montgomery County and opened BYR in 2003. It’s been a privilege meeting over 20,000 students who have entered through Bikram Yoga Rockville over the last 13 years.
When she is not teaching or practicing Bikram Yoga, she loves to pamper herself at local spas or taking other yoga classes as a “new” student and taking weekend trips to NYC to recharge. She loves meeting new people and traveling to other parts of the world. She also loves dogs and animals, and red wine!

Alyssa

An oasis, but also an intense form of exercise. Extremely challenging, but also an attainable goal. Weighty at the start, light as a feather at the finish. A Bikram yoga class encompasses a strange dichotomy of physical and mental changes within the ninety minute practice. The duality of the practice leaves a person with a tremendous sense of peace and accomplishment. Since becoming a Bikram Teacher in 2013, it has been my privilege to lead others through the practice of healing their bodies with each Pranayama deep breath. I am honored to be a part of this remarkable yoga community at BYR.

Ann, Front Desk Manager

Ann has been practicing yoga since 2006 and believes that the benefits of yoga are available to anyone who tries, regardless of how stiff or stressed they think they are. 
When she first joined the Bikram Yoga Rockville, she came sporadically to class, as her kids kept her really busy and making time for her yoga practice was difficult. A few years ago, after her kids got a little bit more independent, she joined the BYR Work Study Program which motivated her to come to class regularly and now, she is one of the Studio’s Front Desk Managers.
Bikram Yoga has helped Ann find balance and wholeness in her life. "I entered BYR so I could fit into my wedding dress. 10 years and two kids later, it has become my spiritual home."  Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) is her favorite pose with Supta Vajrasana (Fixed Firm Pose) come in a very close second!

Ashley, Front Desk Manager

Ashley was introduced to Bikram Yoga Rockville by a close friend in 2008 and has been connected with the studio ever since. First, she was just a regular student. Later, she became a Work-Exchange program fellow. Now, she is a front desk manager at the studio. "Bikram Yoga Rockville provides me a welcoming, relaxing and cheerful environment to practice and work. And I enjoy every minute I spend at the studio. I am not a physically active person, but practicing yoga gives me the perfect balance of being physical active and not being worn out to give up exercising." Besides watching movies, cooking and traveling, Ashley ranks yoga as one of the most effective ways to help her de-stress. 

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Barb

Barb began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2009.  Forty-nine years of dancing, hiking and living had taken its toll leading to chronic knee, hip and back pain.  She became immediately hooked as the pain disappeared, and the benefits of a regular practice were realized.  As a RN, Barb is a die-hard advocate of Bikram Yoga as a therapy for chronic disease and all health related issues. “If it was a pill, everyone would take it.” But it is the mental benefits of a regular practice she touts even more.  "I was a Type-A personality. Bikram Yoga has made me a Type-B and I have never been happier!  Trying to lock your knee in the hot room quiets the mind and has deep, far reaching benefits into everyday life.”  But be forewarned…..Bikram Yoga will change the trajectory of your life!  Over the last 3 years Barb has remarried, relocated, started a new career and embraced her natural hair color!  She credit/blames all of this on the yoga.  

In the Spring of 2012 Barb’s ¾ life crisis was in full swing as she left her job and family to head to LA for Bikram’s nine week teacher training.  Upon returning to DC she was very fortunate to find Bikram Yoga Rockville to mentor and support her as she began teaching.  “The BYR community is so INCREDIBLE.  The staff are wise and nurturing and the practioners are beyond compare.  I am overwhelmed by the love and support I have received from this studio.  It is amazing so many awesome people can be in one place.”

Carol

Carol graduated from Bikram Training in 2010, after being massage therapist for the last 10+ years. With her background in anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, she brings a unique depth of knowledge to her hot yoga classes and she currently teaches in MD, DC, and Virginia and loves all the students she gets to meet and help on a daily basis.

Debby

Debby has been teaching yoga in and around Washington, D.C. since 2003. She is trained in Bikram and Vinyasa styles of yoga, and is grateful for all the teachers she has studied under. Debby believes in yoga as therapy to heal the body from injury and chronic disease; and to heal the mind from stress and anxiety. She motivates students to find greater awareness, presence and a deeper acceptance of themselves on their mat, so they can find more joy and satisfaction off their mat. Debby is honored to be able to share the gift of yoga with so many people. 

Heidi

Heidi has been practicing Bikram Yoga for the last 15 years and she has been teaching hot yoga since 2004, which adds up to a whole lot of time in a hot sweaty room, “where you come out looking like you've spent a little too much time in the sun, with a very healthy glow and this feeling like there's not a thing you can't handle on the planet. There's literally nothing like it.”
There's no doubt Heidi truly loves the yoga, but she also loves a lot of other things. She became a licensed realtor in 2015 and she is ready to also help you with finding your new home in the future!

Lisbeth

Lisbeth started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2005. She has found that yoga strengthens not only her body but also her mind. Bikram Yoga has changed her everyday life and it has helped her in many positives ways.  In addition to body and mind improvements, the emphasis on breathing has helped her greatly with asthma.  She no longer has to use an inhaler, and she credits that to how yoga helps her maintain healthy lungs and teaches relaxed deep breathing.  “The best thing I have done in my life has been to become a Bikram Yoga instructor.  I am passionate about yoga and I love it,” says Lisbeth. Lisbeth is also a part-time Spanish teacher, and her favorite hobby is to dance in all forms of ballroom.

Spencer

Spencer started practicing in 2006 and attended Teacher Training in Spring 2008. When he's not in the hot room, he enjoys the human resources side of a local construction company in DC.
His favorite show growing up was The A-Team and he 'pities the fool' who hasn't discovered the benefits of Bikram Yoga. He loves teaching and meeting all the students at BYR Community.

Wesley

Wesley began to practice yoga in 2010, and was hooked from the beginning.  Growing up playing several sports left Wesley with several chronic skeletal issues and an uneven gait.  It was clear that there was tremendous healing potential in the yoga, so he began to practice daily.  About one year after his first class Wesley attended the Bikram Teacher Training, and has been sharing 26+2 ever since.  After teaching for two years he began to seek out other kinds of yoga, and eventually completed 200 hour RYS teacher training in Hot Flow, and Power Yoga.  As his practice continues to expand, so does his teaching.  Besides yoga, he will talk your ear off when it comes to juice, the Wizards, Redskins and a book he just read and sushi.

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