Vicki Aguirre Cox

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I will be 50 years young this year and will be about halfway to my life on earth. I love to read, write, teach, jog and of course do yoga.

Family is everything to me! I will even miss a yoga class for my granddaughters – Sofia and Stella, occasionally for Ernie and Gabe and even sometimes for my love of life Ernest. That is why I love yoga because we are familia!

I own a business –Victoria’s INK, educational and life coaching and I have taught people of all ages from birth to 102 from all walks of life and abilities. My educational background included elementary, special and leadership. I have published a children’s book and have about 5 more books started just need more time; I want to clone myself.

What brought you to the Bikram yoga practice?

When my Ernie (my oldest son) and Liz shared with us that we were going to be abuelitos (grandparents) I took a good look at myself to see if that was what I wanted my grandbaby to SEE. I have always tried to balance my life spirit, mind and body, so working out has been a part of my life forever! My honey (Ernest) shared with me the pleasures of margaritas, which is probably my greatest vice, but I love them! Those empty calories are hard to work off. Anyway when I saw myself I said “uh-oh”. So I decided to start a journey of TOTAL fitness for my life, for I have always known that by 50 (which will be this year, December 6th!) I wanted to establish a lifetime balance. So two years ago I started learning about eating better – rice, beans and enchiladas are delicious just not as nutritious; and jogging. Running has always been a passion of mine. I lost 50 pounds and was eating better within 6 months. I was worried though that jogging may not be the best way to stay fit and I did not know if my body could take all the pounding until 102, because I intend to live that long ! So I came to Bikram…my first class with LIZ was amazing! I knew at that moment that Bikram yoga was going to be a part of my life FOREVER. I found a practice which I knew would always be challenging and for which there is no mastery, instead a lifetime journey, which is how I approach all of my life. Since that first day it has only gotten better. I love all the instructors, Lisa and Steve have created that utopia, a place where everyone is welcomed and loved. My youngest Gabe says I belong to a cult; he calls me a “drugless hippie” for I believe in love, peace and harmony!!! Yes yoga completes me!

How often do you practice?

I like to practice every day, sometimes 6 classes in one day, ha-ha!!! I try to balance so I am trying to make myself practice 5 times a week, jog three times and bike one day a week. I truly have to make myself take a break because I love my yoga.

What was your exercise background before Bikram?

I have done many types of fitness …jogging always, martial arts (I am a 2nd Degree Black Belt), cardio-kickboxing, step, aerobics- floor and step, played volleyball in school and Pilates. I have done machines but could not figure out how to make them people…I am a “people person” and really enjoy group practices, competition drives me, sometimes…

What specific physical issues, if any, did you have before taking your first class?

None that I was aware, I discovered recently that I have a tear in my shoulder which will require surgery. I will be doing one- armed yoga during my recovery. And hope to do so during Spring Break so I can be ready for the Olympics.

What are the greatest benefits of your practice?

The balance it helps me maintain in my life. Yoga addresses all three – spirit, mind and body. Like jogging yoga is a time I can think about who I am and where I am going; where my mind is totally engaged and I have to completely use my body. When I jog I feel totally free, with yoga I feel totally connected to my own spirituality. Jogging I try to solve all the issues in my life, when I do yoga I let them all go and my mind is free. While jogging my body gets the benefits but sometimes I can feel the pounding as well; while with yoga although can be tortuous (especially with Lisa) my body gets a total benefit “inside and out”. Thus the greatest benefit all aspects are good for you!

How has this practice changed your health and life?

Yoga is a safe haven for me. I pretty much have control of my life. My health is good especially considering my history. At 14 years old, two weeks before my 15th birthday (Dec. 6th), I had a diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia and my parents were told to plan for my funeral that would most likely occur before Christmas. I decided to fight the disease and underwent 4 years of chemotherapy, at that time VERY EXPERIMENTAL and only about a 20% chance of survival. Sadly with this particular blood cancer things are not much better. So given that history, no relapses, two children and two granddaughters later I am doing well. I wish I had learned about nutrition sooner in my life but I am trying to learn it now. The impact to my life with the disease has been a stronger mind, vivacious spirit and my body well I have some scars externally and internally. The greatest of these is that often I feel locked in my body, my mind wants to do more but somehow I cannot, i.e. my running is jogging now, maybe that is why I cannot do eagle…ha-ha I am trying to find an explanation. Yoga is my escape into the world I believe, love, peace, harmony in a HOT room.

Any emotional or other benefits?

Emotional benefits absolutely, yoga is a reflection of my beliefs about humanity – the dialogue, the people and the atmosphere. I feel connected, I feel real and I feel stronger!

I can I survive without it absolutely but I am a better person with it!

Steve’s 90 minutes of comedy also allow me to release endorphins, even though I need a sweater for his class…who needs drug therapy when we have him!?

What is your favorite part of Bikram?

The message…we are worthy, we all have a place…as Lisa always says “leave your ego outside of the room”…I like that all people are welcome and we all have a fit. The LOVE, I guess my Gabe is right I am a hippie!

Anything else you would like to add?

I hope that my presence in the yoga room/family is perceived as I want it to be; I want to be a positive force in the lives of people that surround me. I realize we are all human and life can take a toll on us but it is so precious, believe me once you have experienced death, as I have the appreciation for living is so great.