Finding focus in a practice she once wanted to leave behind.
Rosemarie remembers the carpet in her first Bikram yoga class in Amsterdam. With everyone sweating in the heated room, the smell was hard to ignore. The teacher’s strict approach added to an experience she found deeply unpleasant. Afterwards, she left Bikram behind and continued with her other yoga activities.
Then she noticed a sign announcing that Bikram yoga would be coming to Yoga Moves. Her first reaction was unease, but the sign kept catching her eye. Eventually, she began to wonder: had it really been as bad as she remembered? She decided to give it another try.
This time, she found something in the intensity of the practice that held her attention. Working in the heat required focus, and the discomfort brought her attention to one thing at a time. There was less room to think about a thousand other things.
Today, Rosemarie teaches Original Hot Yoga at Yoga Moves’ Studio HOT Central. Her own experience of entering a hot yoga class informs what matters to her as a teacher: making the practice accessible and giving people support as they try something challenging. She wants students to leave class feeling good about the experience.
Having started at Yoga Moves 24 years ago, Rosemarie has also noticed a change in how people approach yoga. She feels that beginners often want their first class to be a great experience straight away. If it isn’t, they may move on to something else.
For her, yoga takes time to understand. Her own relationship with hot yoga developed through returning to a practice she had initially disliked. That second attempt gave her a chance to discover the focus it could offer, an experience that remains part of the way she teaches today.
What Moves You shares personal stories from the Yoga Moves community as we celebrate 25 years together. Discover more stories from our community.