While physical injury attracts many to Bikram Yoga, Misha got her start after a friend purchased a package and didn't enjoy the class. "The studio let me take over her package and the rest is history," Misha says. The former smoker decided this would help her kick the tobacco habit. "It worked perfectly."

"It was probably within eight months that I knew I was going to be an instructor," Misha says, noting that she got serious about her yoga. "I switched studios, started practicing every day and started taking the necessary steps to get myself to Los Angeles for Bikram instructor training."

While a native of New Jersey, Misha grew up in Omaha, NE and has lived in 12 different cities. This "Gypsy blood" has kept her moving and teaching at different studios, including Bikram Yoga Houston, Bikram Yoga Dallas, Bikram Yoga The Woodlands, Bikram Yoga Sugarland, Bikram Yoga Scottsdale, The Yoga Institute, Bikram Yoga Phoenix, Bikram Yoga Avondale and now Bikram Yoga Paradise Valley, where she teaches and serves as studio manager.

The Standing Bow Pulling Pose is Misha's favorite. "It challenges me because there are so many facets to this posture — the kicking, the stretching — keeping the shoulders in one line, the chin to the shoulder, the feet in one line Ð the kicking, the stretching," she quips.

"The posture is beautiful. It makes me feel strong and yet at the same time makes me feel very delicate and graceful," she says. "The tip I would give students is to kick and stretch simultaneously. This really is the key, to remember you are kicking your leg back and up!!!"

Misha's devotion to Bikram Yoga is obvious in her enthusiasm and approach to teaching. But there's more to her success story.

"Mentally, Bikram Yoga has given me my life back!" Misha says. "There are two extremely important things in my life — my sobriety and my yoga practice. I don't get one or the other; they go hand in hand. Doing the yoga helps to keep me sober and staying sober enables me to keep doing the yoga. Thanks Boss!!!!"