Michele Pernetta

From training as a massage therapist to judging at the International Bishnu Charan Ghosh Yoga Championships in L.A, there are few in the yoga world better qualified in working with and understanding…

From training as a massage therapist to judging at the International Bishnu Charan Ghosh Yoga Championships in L.A, there are few in the yoga world better qualified in working with and understanding the body than Michele.

After graduating as a fashion designer at Central St. Martins and working as a successful designer out in L.A, a knee injury obtained through martial arts (black belt FYI) caused Michele to turn to Bikram yoga to help ease the pain. After a few classes she realised that it was totally unlike any sport or physical exercise she had ever tried and with a few nudges from Bikram Choudhury himself decided to bring it back to the UK. At first it was just Michele and a few friends practising in her living room, but her classes soon took off and in 1999 she opened the first Bikram studio in the UK, Bikram North.

Not only is Michele the founding mother of hot yoga in the UK, her style and teaching environment is also markedly different from all others. In particular, Michele is known for creating a humorous, relaxed environment, with a no-nonsense approach to teaching and a love of working with people of all ages and body types. Basically she loves a good giggle and doesn’t push the holier-than-thou, super-skinny stereotype of yoga that people balk from. Say it with me, hallelujah!

Keen to try? Well you’re just in time as Michele launched her five class hot yoga programme, Fierce Grace, in 2013. Combining ancient yoga principles with the latest knowledge and poses, these classes will work every inch of your body and get you in tip-top shape in no time. Not to mention they cater to the yoga newbie as well as the bendiest of yoga goers out there!

Contact her on 0208 960 7445/9644