Amy Searcy
Amy has been practicing Bikram Yoga since 1996. She was certified as a Bikram instructor in the fall of 2001. Amy is currently working for the Phoenix Art Group as a Production Coordinator and teaches yoga in her spare time. Amy's real passion is acting; she's acted in six independent movies and works with several local production companies in the Phoenix area.

Bikram Yoga has helped Amy on many levels. Physically, the yoga has helped alleviate her asthma and has helped repair damage done to her knees through rollerblading accidents. Mentally and emotionally yoga helps Amy feel relaxed and strong. After taking a Bikram Yoga class Amy says "I feel like I could accomplish anything!"

Helena Whitney
Helena has been practicing Bikram Yoga since 1999. She was certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor in the fall of 2002. Helena is currently working for the Democratic Caucus in the Arizona Legislature as the Health and Human Services Policy Advisor and teaches yoga in her spare time. Helena found Bikram Yoga when looking for a way to manage the daily stress associated with her work.

Bikram Yoga has helped Helena both physically and mentally - but the greatest gift is the clarity of mind and the ability to feel calm and centered. Helena has become so interested in the effects the mind has over the body that she recently obtained her hypnotherapy certification from the Southwest Institute for the Healing Arts and is a participant in their yoga teacher training.

Elissa Zeltzer
Elissa Zeltzer began practicing Bikram Yoga about five years ago. Having graduated from ASU with a degree that equipped her to teach biology and having studied dance professionally for years, teaching yoga seemed like the next logical step in Elissa's life path. Her enthusiasm for teaching Bikram has led her to enroll in the Southwest Institute for the Healing Arts to continue learning other types of yoga practices and philosophies.

Jennifer (Jen) Alley
Jen has been practicing Bikram Yoga since 2003 and became certified as a Bikram yoga instructor in the summer of 2004. Jen is currently working in finance and accounts receivables for a major healthcare provider and is lucky enough to be able to teach yoga in her spare time. Jen found Bikram Yoga after years of searching for an outlet to balance the stress of daily life while providing her with a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind. Bikram yoga does just that! Jen says “at then end of a class as I relax, sinking deeper into Savasana, I always feel so calm and peaceful - I am proud to be in the room.”

Emily (MLE) Blanche
Emily began teaching Bikram Yoga in March 2004 and has been practicing Bikram yoga for over four years. Emily has been practicing other forms of yoga for 12 years. During her first class she could barely stand, she was amazed to learn that the body could work in a completely different way. Emily was hooked and began to practice regularly. Two years later she began the process of becoming a teacher. Emily says that teaching yoga "has changed my life." Currently Emily is teaching yoga full time and designing clothes by night.

Michelle Clancy - Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
Michelle is currently working with Hyatt Gainey Ranch Sonwai Spa and taking clients in her private practice.

She is originally from Rochester, NY, and has lived in Phoenix for over four years. Michelle graduated from Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College (PTMC) after studying anatomy, physiology, and bodywork. Her skill set includes many modalities such as deep tissue, swedish, sports, lymphatic drainage, reflexology, geriatric, baby, and maternity massage.

After graduating from PTMC in March of 2002, Michelle began work as a home healthcare aide for a geriatric client with Parkinson's disease. After six months, the client was unable to continue living independently and was placed in a full time care facility. At this time, Michelle began the process of starting her own practice in the Viad Corporate Center on Central Avenue. By August of 2002, she secured her establishment license and began building a private clientele.

To gain additional experience with different pathologies, Michelle began working as an independent contractor for multiple chiropractors. In January of 2003, Michelle started working with Hyatt Gainey Ranch Sonwai Spa as an on-call therapist. By June of 2003, her private practice became so strong she reduced her work with the chiropractors to make more time in her schedule. In March 2004, she moved her private practice from the Viad Corporate Tower to Bikram Yoga College of India in the Uptown Plaza for more space.

Michelle takes private clients by appointment only Tuesday-Thursday from 7am-8pm.

Reba J Casselman
Reba was born in Illinois and moved to Arizona 1984. She graduated from ASU with a degree in Fine Arts specializing in Theatre Arts. Reba began practicing a little bit of yoga in her 20's but she didn't feel the spark until she began practicing Bikram in 2001.

Reba had just quit smoking after 12 long years and decided that she needed a new habit. Reba stated that "Bikram yoga gave me a place to go when things got tough either physically or mentally. Being the mother of two growing boys takes patience and understanding - yoga opened the doors to learning those traits. Because of all the positive changes yoga brought to me I realized that I wanted to share the same gift with others so I went to teacher training in January 2004."

"Teacher training was an experience like no other. Not only did I leave my children and family, but I left behind my life. The training program pushed my edges - I was challenged in many ways but I truly believe that it makes me the compassionate teacher that I am today."