Meet Val Robinson
Founder of Hot Yoga Pasadena + The Original Hot Yoga Association
Val took her first OHY (Original Hot Yoga-previously known as Bikram Hot Yoga) in 1996 while visiting a friend's parents in Denver, Colorado.
Recently diagnosed with arthritis in her right hip from a break at 13, she was told she would need a hip replacement in 3-5 years, (she was 28 at the time) Val set out to learn more about this yoga and its healing potential to avoid both the 3 prescription drugs (including opioids) and surgery that was suggested.
Val returned to LA and began attending classes at Bikram Yoga World Headquarters. Once Val began practicing 3-5 times a week, she noticed her pain greatly reduced with regular practice, along with an overall feeling of strength, balance and ease, mentally and physically. She practiced with the series founder for a year and a half before deciding to quit her successful corporate shoe career to take the 6th BYTT with 38 others in the spring of 1998.
Val opened Hot Yoga Pasadena (originally Bikram Yoga Pasadena) in 1998. She has maintained, along with her experienced and dedicated team of teachers and staff, her passion for sharing the incredible physical, mental and overall healing benefits that come from regular practice. After 17 years of offering strictly 90 minute OHY (Original Hot Yoga-formerly referred to as Bikram Yoga),in 2017 Hot Yoga Pasadena evolved its name and its offerings to 60 minute classes, Hot Pilates, Yin and more. HYP students have been showing up for over 25 years because HYP continues to cultivate effective classes in a warm and welcoming environment so everyone can experience the highest form of transformation and healing.
Val also founded the Original Hot Yoga Association in 2016 to move our community of Original hot Yoga Studios forward away from the series founder. She turned it into a non profit organization (501 c (6) in 2018 and continues to run it as Executive Director. You can learn more about OHYA and how it supports OHY worldwide at: www.ohyassociation.com
Val is always looking to continue learning and growing and in 2024 took the FRC certification program. She is now a FRCms (Functional Range Conditioning mobility specialist) and is working on her Kinstretch Certification. She believes that FRC and Kinstretch bridge the gap we all need to for better strength in our mobility and range of motion.
Val also created YogiVal’s Preteen/Teen yoga for girls as an important series to teach kids from an early age to care about creating strength in their bodies and minds. By teaching kids that they possess the power to love themselves and build strong foundations for confidence and self esteem, Val believes that kids are better prepared to grow into confident and strong adults. She has shared her YouTube Video for Teens for over 8 years. (Your teen can check it out on the YogaVal Videos page).
Press
While Val has participated in both the 30 for 30 Podcast on Bikram Yoga and in the Netflix Documentary, Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, she was thrilled to chat about the positive ways OHYA and the OHY yoga community is moving forward.
Check out Val on the Working in Yoga Podcast
You can also read her Shoutout LA article with more history, stories and older photos of Val by clicking the button below.
Val’s Blog
