This week, we’re honored to share the story of our very own Traci Sprague and her journey into Bikram Yoga.
Serendipitously, today marks the 10-year anniversary of her very first Bikram Yoga class.
What began as a simple discovery exactly a decade ago became a life-changing practice that reshaped her health, mindset, and connection to herself—and we’re excited for you to read it.
Hi, my name is Traci Sprague.
I started practicing yoga back in 1997, when I was struggling with pregnancy challenges with my firstborn.
For the next 19 years, I practiced both yoga and Pilates on and off, but I could never quite maintain a consistent routine.
Then came January 9, 2016 — the day everything shifted. My child Juniper and I took our very first Bikram Yoga class together, just one day after opening a new show at Center Stage Conservatory, the creative venue that I was the artistic director at in Modesto.
At the time, I was stuck in a relentless cycle of producing show after show, trying to keep the theater alive — a place that valued artistry over profit.
Behind the scenes, I was silently battling years of suicidal ideation.
I know I wasn’t the easiest person to be around then — I was exhausted, disconnected, and desperate for something to change.
I had wanted to try hot yoga for a while. I love trying new things, but honestly, the heat intimidated me. My schedule was also a nightmare — every time my friend Kathleen sent out an invite, I was working. Finally, the stars aligned, and Juniper and I made it to a Saturday class.
During the warm-up, I remember locking eyes with my kid and thinking, WTF did we just get ourselves into? By the end of class, we were drenched, sitting on a bench with no change of clothes, completely wiped out. And yet, something deep inside me had shifted. I thought, I don’t know what that was… but I have to come back.
And so I did. Over and over again.
Bikram Yoga has a way of holding up a mirror — literally. I’m a front-row practitioner, so I couldn’t hide from myself.
At first, that was uncomfortable. But as I kept showing up, I noticed something remarkable happening: the way I spoke to myself in that mirror began to change. My inner dialogue softened. The self-criticism started to fade, replaced by curiosity and compassion.
That shift didn’t just happen in the hot room — it began to ripple through every part of my life.
To be continued…
WORDS OF WISDOM
Selected by Traci Sprague, this quote beautifully captures the quiet yet powerful transformation that happens when we step into something new.
“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension.”
For Traci, discovering Bikram Yoga wasn’t just about movement, it was an expansion of perspective, resilience, and self-belief.
Through consistent practice, she found that growth doesn’t always announce itself loudly; sometimes it unfolds breath by breath, leaving us forever changed in ways we never expected.