Bikram Yoga Turns the Heat Up in Downtown Northville

studio owners and Northville residents, Ernie and Melissa Curnett describe the practice, of the same name, as “life changing” for them both.

It is not just a relatively new studio in downtown Northville, but a way of life, experienced by millions all over the world. The Bikram style was created by yoga guru, Bikram Choudhury. His series of 26 specific poses, practiced in a room temperature of 105 degrees, claims to have the ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.

“I did teacher training with Bikram in Los Angeles in 1997,” Melissa said. “I didn’t know if I was going to teach yoga for sure when I went. I just wanted to go more for myself. Once I did the teacher training, I couldn’t imagine doing anything but to continue to do yoga. I came back to Michigan and began to teach classes.”

Husband, Ernie (then-boyfriend), a cement mason by trade, felt the pains of hard labor. He was convinced by Melissa to try a few poses.

“I had a lot of back issues and Melissa suggested I try doing yoga. I really liked it and eventually I ended up doing teacher training,” Ernie said.

They opened their first studio in Plymouth. After the birth of their two sons and a successful business, they found themselves outgrowing their original space.

“We looked around - all over - for quite a while to find the right space, but we just kept coming back to this place here,” Ernie said. “The more we looked at it, the more it looked to be the right move for us. To be here, right in downtown Northville. It’s a great location.”

Sharon Bajwa, a Providence Emergency Room Physician in Novi who practices Bikram at the Curnett’s studio regularly loves how the intense heat combined with the Bikram poses help her feel healthier and more energetic.

“When I don’t do it, I feel grumpy,” Sharon says with a laugh. “I love it. The heat just facilitates better stretching and also acts as a trigger for the body to relax, for the muscles to become more plastic so I feel I can do this practice. They’ve done a marvelous job.”

Melissa added, “It’s really neat, the mental process that you go through as a student to become really comfortable in your own self just by bending your body."

As for the heat, the Curnetts understand that some are hesitant to try Bikram, but suggest it’s not as bad as it may sound to some.

“It’s a dry heat. It’s not a sauna heat,” Melissa said. “There’s air circulating all the time which evaporates sweat from the skin. Sweat is your body’s natural cooling system. That’s what keeps us from overheating. I practiced with both my babies until I delivered.”

Ernie added, “It’s so good for you to sweat on a regular basis. When you sweat, you’re burning calories. The heat allows you to stretch further. The detoxifying process that happens in the class is very cleansing.”

Having a business that stems from your lifestyle provides a passion and knowledge that others can benefit from. That’s one thing the Curnetts cherish. Teaching others something you believe in for a living makes going to work a lot easier.

“The inner peace that comes from yoga is something that if you don’t experience that for yourself, it’s hard to understand,” Melissa said.

Bikram Yoga celebrates its one year anniversary in Northville this October while Bikram Choudhury himself will be at the on October 15^th for a lecture and book singing. For more information, visit bikramyogadetroit.com.