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Community Corner

Yoga 101: Wow, That's HOT!

Heated yoga is not new to the yoga world. Let's be real, modern yoga's roots are in South India, which is HOT.

The trend of heating the yoga room began in the U.S. in the early 1970s with Bikram Choudhury, who  put together 26 postures using ancient hatha yoga postures as his guide. 

He created a specific sequence and duly named it Bikram yoga. Since he trademarked this sequence, you will find some studios using his trademark and others using an alternative, such as hot yoga or yoga caliente, so they don’t have to pay royalties to Mr. Choudhury. 

Bikram or Hot Yoga will always be the set sequence of 26 postures and pranayama taught in an ideally heated room of about 105 degrees to create space, stability and strength in the body.

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There are no or fluid movements in a Bikram style classes. It is described as a beginner’s class, but be mindful of pre-existing health conditions and make sure you hydrate before and after class and bring at least 2 towels.

Want something warm but not hot? 

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Ashtanga and Forrest yoga are usually done in a warm room (80-85 degrees).  Check out White Orchid for traditional Ashtanga, which utilizes set sequences and a challenging vinyasa style. 

Forrest Yoga ™, uses core exercises, bandhas and pranayama, and tough arm balances but it is accessible for all levels of students. As described on the web site, “Forrest Yoga is renowned as an intensely physical and internally focused practice that emphasizes how to carry a transformative experience off the mat and into daily life.” It’s offered at Yogani, Yoga Downtown Tampa, & The Facility.

Like to move in the heat? Music is often played in these heated powerful flows, which gives you another tool to help keep the mind focused. Embracing the  nner fluid self to the music while sweating out all the junk.  

Hot Power, hot vinyasa flow, or Hot Flow, classes are usually 60, 75 or 90
minute classes and are heated at 85-100 degrees. These styles of yoga incorporate syncing breath and fluid movements to match the internal heat and the external heat, so you will sweat like never before!

Confused ? Don’t worry, I have complied a list to make life a little easier for you to find your next heated yoga class in Tampa Bay. If you have questions, use the links and learn a bit more straight from the source.

Hot Yoga 85-105’

Tampa

Yogani brought Bikram to South Tampa over 12 years ago. They have a multitude of classic Bikram classes and Hot Flow that are 90 min and even 60 minute hot lunch flows  thoughout the week.

Evolation has Hot Yoga daily in both of its locations in Palma Cia and Carrollwood, they are soon to open a third location in May 2012 in Clearwater. Every day they offer 90 minute Hot classes honoring the 26 postures of the Bikram series, and they offer a 60 minute classes at 90 degrees, they call Warm yoga class. They also offer a heated 75 min Flow classes every day at both studios.

Lifestyles Family Fitness:
Hyde Park: A Tampa exclusive, the Hyde Park location is now offering Hot Vinyasa Flow, 7 days a week. Members pay in addition to their membership fee, but how can you go wrong for unlimited monthly hot vinyasa yoga for $29 bucks, that is one of the best deals around. The club is also open to non-members, $18 a class, with no extra daily gym fee and free childcare! They also offer a non-member 10 pack of classes for $150.00, that’s about $15 a class, again a  great deal  for  hot yoga.

Yoga Downtown Tampa: Forrest Yoga™ and coming soon Hot Flow.

Namaste Yoga Studio: Hot Basics and Hot Flow

Bella Prana: Hot Flow 2, Warm Power and Warm Flow 1

Clearwater

Heat Yoga and Fitness: Hot Yoga,Hot Power Yoga, Hot Ballet Yoga, just to name a few!

Yoga Village: All levels Hot Yoga 7 days a week. They have 30 days of UNLIMITED classes for just $45 for new students to the studio!

Hot Fitness Yoga: Hot Yoga only, various levels.
 

Tarpon Springs

Yoga Shakti: Thursday nights 6:30-8:00pm. Unlimited yoga for a month for $65, that’s a great deal!

St. Petersburg

Yoga Energy studio  Hot Fit, Hot Core, Hot Yin Hot Yang

Yoga Blu studio: Hot Yoga, Hot Power, they have a “Pay What You Can” Hot Power on Sundays from 5-6:30!

Brandon

Asana Yoga:  Hot flow Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Just with any other kind of yoga, you must try a few teachers till you find the right one that fits with you and your body. I highly recommend you drink plenty of water before and after any yoga class, especially the hot ones.

This Weeks Yoga
Happenings: 

Tuesday night from 6-9pm April 23rd, you can dive into a special engagement at Yogani of yoga, kirtan and ecstatic dance into a 2.5 hour class/jam session with Breath of Life Tribe (BOLT) from Los Angeles and one of my teachers, Ashley Halley. Cost is $35 in advanced, $40 at the door.

Yoga Downtown Tampa is hosting 3 Intro to Swing Yoga classes, Friday 6:15-7:45, Saturday 10:30-12:00, Sunday 11:00-12:30. These 90 minute workshops are an affordable price $15 per class. You must register online to reserve a spot, these fill up FAST!

Sunday April 29th, my husband, Eric J. Wheeler, will be teaching the Yoga @ Dali class for Inspire Yoga from 12:00-1:30. Cost: $10 members and students, $15 non-members. Non-members, visit the galleries on the same day for an additional $6. Tickets available at Admissions. Bring a copy of your Admissions receipt and this signed waiver to class. Enter through the Cafe Gala doors (Eastside Garden entrance) starting at 11:30.

Have a great week and weekend!

Namaste!

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