Rising Stars: Meet Bobby Javier of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Javier.

Hi Bobby, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my yoga journey in 2008 when a friend visiting from Manila dragged me into my first Hot Yoga class. The Intro Special back then was 5 consecutive days of yoga for $20. Because I was an avid runner (not a pro) for 2 years before my first class, I got through my first class with flying colors! That got me curious and I came back for the rest of the Intro (even if my friend only came back once). I strayed away from it for a couple of months due to cost. But when the opportunity came, in early 2009, I came back and began a once a week practice. That steadily grew to 2x then 3x weekly, and reluctantly, daily. I only say reluctantly because it wasn’t cheap. This was 2009 – when gym memberships were $10 a month! $110 for a monthly (non-recurring) membership to a yoga studio is everything but cheap! The more I went, the more curious I got. But i knew it wasn’t sustainable on my budget. That was when one of the teachers who has become familiar with me invited me to join the cleaning crew. I put my info on their list and crossed my fingers that I would get a phone call. And I did! after a few weeks, right when I signed up for a new month unlimited! I took cleaning crew! I was excited and cleaned the studio with gusto. That was when my practice became daily, then twice daily. I fell in love with the practice and watched and listened to my teachers with a lot of admiration and love! They are all amazing and fascinating! In 2012, with the support of all my teachers, I joined the Fall 2012 Bikram Yoga teacher training in Los Angeles. It was hard and grueling and tedious and a lot of fun! I relished every minute of the 9 weeks we spent in training. My roommate, who also went to the same studio (Bikram Silverlake) was a complete stranger but instantly, we took care of each other and leaned on each other and became life long friends and colleagues. Brian – Brian Blake was/is loving and caring and funny and very patient with me! We finished our training and it was time to audition for our home studio – Bikram Yoga silverlake – and this is where I failed! I failed my first audition!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It wasn’t a smooth road. The costs of practicing – if I wasn’t cleaning the studio for free yoga, I would not have made it. I loved the studio! I loved cleaning the studio! and I took pride in practicing at the studio and being part of it. The training was difficult! I almost quit! on the first week, Brian found me crouching between the bed and the wall, in tears, because I could not memorize the second set of poses in the series. In the series that I took daily for about 3 years before that! My new friends took care of me! There was Brian, Trista, Sandy and Ashley and Oleg and Jeff – they all looked after me and helped me go through it all. Sandy met me at the dais everyday at 5am to drill me before the first morning class. I worked hard, and played hard (wink) and made it through. I mentioned earlier that I failed my first audition at my home studio! I failed a second time. My boss, the owner of the studio, knows what she’s looking for in her teachers. She has great instincts and I do not at all blame her for my failures. I knew exactly where I failed – I needed to sharpen my tools! With a broken heart, I drove to San Francisco to teach one class for Bikram Yoga Mission. Juicy, the owner was kind and gave me a lot of feedback and support! Shortly after, I flew to Oahu to teach for a friend (to sharpen my tools). By the time I got back, I was broke. I auditioned at a studio in thousand oaks (about 50 minutes away from where I lived) and got it – once again – I sharpened my tools! After a couple months of that, I was asked to audition again (Thank you for all these chances which not a lot of people get), and this time, I made it! With conditions! I taught my first class for my home studio – Bikram Yoga Silverlake. It was on March 9 2013 – a Saturday 6am class. I was nervous, and excited and giddy throughout the class. It was the best thing to ever happen – ever! Despite all the trials, I made it!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am first and foremost a Yoga Teacher. I started my yoga teaching journey in 2012 when I joined the Bikram Teacher Training in the fall of that year. I then took a 200-hr course on Vinyasa yoga in 2014 and 300-hr course in 2017. By 2018, I was teaching both Bikram and Vinyasa yoga at my home studio. That studio – Bikram Yoga Silverlake aka Rise Hot Yoga, shut it’s doors permanently in 2020 during the pandemic. That was painful and confusing. The owner of DTLA, in 2021, asked me to join her teaching team at DTLA in 2021. I reluctantly joined. I was not sure if I still wanted to teach in-studio after the pain of losing my home of more than 10 years. In late 2021,

In 2021, Stephanie of DTLA offered me a stake in her business to manage her studios for her, including the newly opened studio at the old location of my former home. I relished it and enjoyed it. In the 3rd quarter of that same year, she told me that her heart was not in it anymore. she wanted to change her focus towards other things and had asked if I was interested in buying the studios from her. I told her i would think about it. But that same minute that I said that – I already knew what I wanted to do. I now own both the Silverlake location and the Hacienda Heights location.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Find someone that you trust to tell you the truth. sometimes even that can hurt, but who’s gonna let us know?

Pricing:

• Intro Special: $49 for 2 weeks Unlimited
• $159 Monthly Unlimited: Autopay
• $169 Monthly Unlimited: Non-Autopay
• $249: 10 Class Card: Valid for 6 months
• 15% off if you mention this article on all packages except on Intro Special & Single Classes

Contact Info:

• Website: https://firehotyoga.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestudiohotyogala?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==