While at the Kilifi Wellness Festival Sarah Luddy met with Bikram Yoga teacher and life coach Nadine Faitas and heard about the profound effect yoga has had on her life.
For yoga teacher and life coach Nadine Faitas, Bikram Yoga has been a way of life for nearly two decades. As one of the best known yoga styles to make its way from India to the Western world in the early 1970s, Bikram’s unique approach to the ancient practice has resonated deeply with Nadine.
“It’s the only yoga I’ve ever known,” Nadine explains. “When people talk about yoga, they’re usually referring to styles like vinyasa or ashtanga. But Bikram is the one I’ve dedicated myself to.”
Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute series of 26 Hatha yoga postures, plus two breathing exercises, founded by Indian guru Bikram Choudhoury. Every class consists of the exact same postures practiced in a fixed sequence, with no variations allowed and is practiced in a room heated to 40 degrees celsius and 40 percent humidity. The combined heat and humidity increase muscle flexibility. Bikram Yoga is also said to be very detoxifying, releasing large numbers of toxins through the breath and through the skin through sweating.
Nadine describes Bikram as a “very physical, challenging practice” that leaves her feeling amazing both mentally and physically. Unlike other yoga styles that focus on linking breath to movement, Bikram emphasizes normal breathing throughout the sequence.
“The heat is what really sets Bikram apart,” says Nadine. “It systematically warms up your body, preparing you for the deeper backbends and postures. I find that I’m able to go deeper into the poses and really work my whole body in a way I’ve never experienced with other types of exercise.”
This holistic approach is what has kept Nadine coming back to her Bikram mat day after day, even when traveling or without access to a studio. “I just feel this sense of withdrawal if I don’t practice for a few days,” she admits. “It’s become such an integral part of my life.”
Nadine has also witnessed the transformative effects of Bikram on her students, many of whom see profound changes in their bodies and overall well-being after just 10 days of consistent practice. “It’s a bit of a love-hate relationship for some people at first,” she notes. “But once they get through that initial challenge, they start to feel the benefits and they’re hooked.”
Nadine didn’t initially seek out the practice for its mental and emotional benefits. Like many, she was drawn to it for the physical challenge. “I was 24 and quite healthy, practicing kickboxing, and the Bikram studio opened up above the gym,” she recalls. “I just tried it and was hooked.” What Nadine didn’t anticipate was the profound personal transformation that would unfold through her Bikram practice.
At that time in her life, Nadine was ostensibly happy – married, with a nice apartment, a cat, a car, a good job, and family around. But inside, she felt sad and disconnected. She decided to move, not only from her city but from her country, leaving her husband and hoping for change. Instead, she fell into a severe depression, feeling alone and purposeless.
Therapy didn’t help much, and Nadine didn’t want to take anti-depressants. So she investigated how to heal naturally and delved deeper into Bikram Yoga, discovering along the way that changing inside is key to long-term happiness.
Nadine’s goal is to help others find happiness, whether they’re dealing with depression, a breakup, or seeking more in life. “Yoga really saved my life,” she reflects. “The mental healing is so profound – you spend 90 minutes looking at yourself in the mirror, learning to accept yourself as you are.”
This sense of self-acceptance and inner growth is a key part of Nadine’s approach as a Bikram teacher. She sees her role not just as leading the physical practice, but as a guide and mentor. “I’m always learning from my students,” she says. “I can see so much about their minds and behaviors, even just in the way they move or how they are in savasana.”
Currently based in Portugal, Nadine is part of the close-knit global community of Bikram teachers, having completed the intensive 3-month teacher training program in Mexico with Bikram himself in 2017. This has allowed her to teach in over 30 countries. She believes this diversity of teachers is a strength, as each brings their own personality, expertise and life experiences to share.
“Some teachers may be able to offer more insight on injuries, while others can provide more support for mental wellbeing,” Nadine explains. “I try to be compassionate, as I know firsthand the struggles of the practice.”
Indeed, Nadine recalls the intense physical and mental challenges she faced during her own teacher training. “My body was destroyed – I was in so much pain. But I learned to trust the process, and now I see those same struggles in my students.”
As Nadine continues her own Bikram journey, she remains passionate about sharing this unique style of yoga with others. She became a yoga teacher and Life Coach to make a bigger impact. “It’s just such a complete practice,” she reflects. “I’ve never found anything else that makes me feel this good, both inside and out.”
While the Bikram method strictly adheres to the sequence of 26 postures, Nadine personalizes her teaching by incorporating philosophical reflections and guided relaxation. “I’ll share a poem or quote during savasana, or reflect on something that came up for me in my own practice,” she says.
This blending of the physical and the spiritual is also evident in Nadine’s yoga retreats, which she has organized in locations like Kenya, Portugal and Bali. “It’s amazing to see the mix of experienced practitioners and complete beginners practice side-by-side,” she says. “The sense of community and connection is so powerful.”, noting that as practitioners become more experienced they tend to move to the front of the class, so everyone is always learning from one another.
For Nadine, the true essence of yoga lies in this transformative potential – the ability to heal, grow, and find belonging.
I just hope to bring love and self-acceptance to my students,” she says, eyes shining. “For them to believe in themselves more, and trust the process.”
Nadine teaches at Bikram Yoga Nairobi and at the Kilifi Wellness Festival when she is in Kenya. She regularly hosts retreats in Portugal, Bali, Mexico and Kenya, with future retreats planned in Greece, Morocco and Antarctica!
You can find Nadine on Instagram or via her website happinessafari.com.
To try out Bikram Yoga yourself here iN Nairobi, head to Bikram Yoga Nairobi in Lavington.
Sarah Luddy travelled to the Kilifi Wellness Festival courtesy of Skyward Express who have regular flights to Malindi as well as other airports on the Coast, throughout Kenya and into Tanzania.