Hot yoga studios are popping up in Centretown, with a new location in Little Italy adding to the list of places Ottawans can sweat and stretch. But, are there enough yogis in the area to keep these small businesses afloat?
The Beech Street location of Greco, a fitness studio chain in Ottawa, hosted a grand opening for its new hot yoga facility last week.
With this addition, there are four studios in Centretown offering a variety of hot yoga.
It is common to see people with yoga mats slung across their backs on Gladstone Avenue, Elgin, Preston and Beech Streets, where studios are located.
Regular yoga is practiced at room temperature whereas hot yoga is practiced at about 40 degrees celsius.
Availability of hot yoga studios in the neighbourhood is a common reason why the niche yoga market is growing in Centretown, says Michelina Teti, yoga enthusiast who has practiced at all the locations.
When Santosha Yoga moved from Catherine Street to Elgin Street in 2009, the studio saw more people coming in, says Dave Martin, senior manager of Santosha Yoga.
Moksha Yoga Ottawa on Preston Street focuses only on hot yoga. With Greco’s studio within walking distance, the steamy-studios could make Little Italy divided between where to find inner Zen.
Paula Romkey, owner of Moksha Yoga Ottawa, says Greco’s addition will not take away from her client membership. “If anything, it will just increase our business because they’re increasing the awareness of hot yoga.”
Even with more hot yoga studios opening in Centretown and suburban areas of Ottawa, Rama Lotus Yoga Centre on Gladstone Avenue continues to see growth in membership, says Owner Tara Cartland.
“Yoga is not just a physical activity. You’re actually working strongly on your mental balance as well as the spiritual connection for some people,” says Cartland.
Rama Lotus Yoga Centre, open since 1994, was the first to bring hot yoga to Ottawa and is one of the largest studios in North America.
While some hot yoga studios lean towards tradition, others reinvent the practice to suit their target market.
Tony Greco, founder and CEO of the Greco chain, says his studio teaches yoga infused with martial arts techniques and differs from other forms.
“We don’t get you to wrap your legs around your ears,” says Greco.
But Cartland says those who are looking for an authentic yoga experience will go to a yoga centre. “The atmosphere is very different than a gym.”
Hot yoga continues to grow because people need an outlet to let go of tension and stress, says Greco.
For some, the appeal of hot yoga is a result of Ottawa’s cold climate.
“When it’s cold and your body’s aching from the cold, it’s a really great hour of relaxation where you get to warm up,” says Teti, who switches from regular to hot yoga with the changing seasons.
Many people practice hot yoga to detoxify, improve flexibility and meditate. Some just want a warm escape from winter.
“I go to yoga all year round, but I don’t usually love going to hot yoga in the middle of summer.”