Our Story

We are the First and Only Original Hot Yoga School in Northern MI, we are The Source!  There is Only One Original!  When we opened 20 years ago, there were hardly any yoga classes available in the area, and there weren't any hot classes of any kind being offered, let alone The Original!   26/2 TOUGH!

We are also the sole "Original Hot Yoga Association" Certified, "Ghosh's Yoga College" Certified, & "Bikram Yoga College" Certified School in Northern MI.

OHYTC is 100% Locally Owned, Family Operated, & an Independent small business. We do not divert any funds to any franchising organization or individuals!

We opened our school in 2005 and have specialized in teaching pure, unadulterated Original Hot Yoga (aka Bikram Method) ever since. We are passionate about, and committed to, The Authentic Original Hot Yoga practice.

As the Pioneers of the Original Hot Yoga (aka Bikram Method) in the North & West of MI, we have never offered anything except the authentic 26/2 class.  As such we have always stood on our own 2 feet, and throughout our 2+ decades of continued success we never imitated a neighboring studio's class offerings or ideas to fill our classes and therby take an entrepreneurial shortcut, due to uncreative laziness.  Instead, we operate with integrity and honor.  By grace, our own path to success was forged! Be Original!

Original Hot Yoga Traverse City is not only operated by the local owners and teachers, but they also practice there. The founders parents are local highschool sweethearts and most of his large family also live here.

For over 26 years, more half of his life, the founder of this school has been regular student and teacher of The Original Hot Yoga and Meditation while continously studying with his Kriya Yoga Guru, and Hatha Yoga teachers.

After spending time as a monk in a Yoga Ashram, he later married a yogini, and then they had a beautiful son and daughter. His meditation lineage is the Dynastic Kriya Yoga Lineage of Lahiri Mahasaya and regular Kriya Meditation (Tapas) began in 1998. 

Per his Guru's advice, he has kept Meditation a priority over Hatha Yoga, while still maintating a regular Hatha Yoga Practice. Hatha Yoga practice without the Inner Journey results in becoming a "Hathi", (one who has a staunch and stubborn personality).  As Bishnu Ghosh always said: "My brother (Paramahansa Yogananda) is doing the REAL Yoga!"

His wife was initiated into the Dynastic Kriya Yoga Lineage in 2012, their family has kept regular company with their preceptor, the late Shibendu Lahiri, Great Grandson of Lahiri Mahasaya, and has been traveling the world with him for over 2 decades. He also holds a Black Belt in Kobiashi Shorin Ryu Karate, and Reiki Master Initiations.

The Missus began her 10 year massage therapy career in 2004 after Graduating from the "Michigan School of Myomassology" and has worked primarily with chiropractors and professional athletes focusing on medical and rehabilitation massage therapy.

After attending her first Original Hot Yoga class in 2007 she immediately knew she’d be practicing this yoga for the rest of her life.

The founder began teaching Hatha Yoga (Physical Fitness) early in 2000 and certifications from Bikram's Yoga College of India followed as early as 2002 for him, and hers in 2012 prior to their meeting.

Additionally, they both hold the distinction of belonging to the Dynastic Hatha Yoga Lineage of Bishnu Ghosh (Elder brother of Paramahansa Yogananda) via continuous study with his Granddaughter Muktamala Mitra nee Ghosh and several Certifications from "Ghosh's Yoga College" - Calcutta, India. Consequently, they are certified in offering Yoga Therapy and The Original Ghosh "Yoga Prescriptions" in the dynastic tradition. 

"Ghosh's Yoga College" is the oldest yoga school in the world, and is where this yoga originates.  (See Yoga Cure booklet by BC Ghosh)

He is also a coach for the International Yoga Federation and enjoys coaching the Traverse City Yoga Team annually to compete in the USA Yoga National Yoga Competition.  She has been an active athlete on the local team since 2024.

We are the place that originally introduced Yoga Shapeshifting to the TC community by hosting Mary Jarvis several times since 2009. The Founder continued teaching Shape Shifting after that for a couple years per her request. He prefers to focus on the Classic 26/2 Class for the full body workout, and Advanced Class.

For Decades they have attended and hosted countless seminars/workshops, offer apprenticeship for aspiring teachers, and continuously study and practice with the World's preeminent Hatha Yoga Teachers and Champions including: Muktamala Mitra nee Ghosh, Dr. Das, Bikram Choudhury, Rajashree Choudhury, Emmy Cleaves (RIP), Mary Jarvis, Tony Sanchez, Jimmy Barkan, Craig Villani, Esak Garcia, Kim Tang, Jim Kallet, Lynn Whitlow, Joseph Enicina, Alisa Mathews, Jason Winn (RIP), and more.  They also hosted the 2017 Asana Championships in Grand Rapids, MI. 

The energy compelling all of this is perhaps an inner expansiveness to serve the world as family and ceaselessly contribute to making it a heavenly place for all.  Like any healthy family, the members want the best mental/physical health, wisdom, and success for each other.  The founder has given his lifetime to search the world with the purpose of discovering the highest, most effective healing tools and secret ancient wisdom.  He traveled repeatedly to the far East to study with the source of Kriya Yoga & studies with the source of Bikram Yoga (Ghosh's Yoga College).

Our mission is to serve our community by reviving an ancient, and profound way of harmonious daily living.

Although our main focus is the Classic 26/2 sequence, additionally, we illuminate the entire gambit of yoga in all of it aspects for each student who is interested in more, in easy to understand terms. This includes: Hatha Yoga (Physical Fitness), Pranayama (Controlled Breathing Techniques), Healthy Eating, and Meditation (Real Enlightenment). One's Natural State of Freedom and Peace naturally follows, through adherence to this simple living and embarking on the inner journey. We also wish to preserve the integrity of the Original 26/2 sequence for generations to come and we want to reach anyone who wishes to restore youth, find lasting peace, live longer, and feel better!

It is absolutely satisfying to share the energy for over 2 decades, and the couple are incredibly grateful to be caretakers of this school!

We love to meet new people and not only teach them about yoga and meditation, but become life long friends too! We are all like family, and we want you to become part of our Yoga Community! Rest assured that at The Original Hot Yoga TC you are receiving the highest quality instruction available with over 26 years experience. So, come on in, lose your fears, transform your body, liberate, and get overwhelmed with the LOVE!