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Warm to hot yoga

Jenna Rosene has returned to her Red Deer roots, and she’s brought a bit of Indian culture with her.
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ikram Hot Yoga owner and instructor Jenna Rosene strikes a triangle pose in her new studio in Red Deer on Wednesday. Bikram Yoga opens for business Friday of this week.

Jenna Rosene has returned to her Red Deer roots, and she’s brought a bit of Indian culture with her.

Rosene and her husband Josh Biro plan to open Bikram Yoga Red Deer this Friday. There, they will conduct classes in Bikram hot yoga — a form of hatha yoga practised in a 42C room with 40 per cent humidity.

“It’s the original hot yoga,” said Rosene.

“It mimics the conditions in India and it also helps to warm us Westerners up, who aren’t so used to doing stretching postures.”

Bikram hot yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury, who was born in Calcutta, India, and won the National India Yoga Championship when he was 13. It consists of 26 postures and two breathing exercises that works all the muscles and cleanses every gland, said Rosene.

“You get a total body workout every time,” she said, adding that the heat allows for deeper stretching and a reduced risk of injury. Perspiration during the 90-minute sessions also help detoxify the body.

Rosene said Bikram hot yoga is suitable for beginners or advanced yogis.

“You always find something that challenges you,” she said.

Inexperienced students can skip postures if they tire, and increase their level of participation over time.

“The heat can be a little bit intense for the first few classes.”

Born and raised in Red Deer, Rosene discovered Bikram hot yoga while attending university in Ontario. She and Biro — who is from British Columbia — both completed nine-week training courses under Choudhury, and have since taught in Ontario and B.C., as well as in Calgary and Edmonton.

The lack of a Bikram hot yoga studio in Red Deer convinced them to open their own training centre here.

“We wanted to bring the yoga to a place where it would be new and exciting and really appreciated,” said Rosene.

Their premises at No. 3, 4940 54th Ave. consist of 4,400 square feet, including a 1,500-square-foot hot room with space for 50 to 60 students. There are changing rooms and showers, as well as an area for people to relax.

Products like tea and coconut milk, as well as yoga mats, clothing and other accessories are available for sale.

Classes will be offered several times each day on weekdays, and also on weekends. Participants are not required to register in advance, and can pay a single drop-in rate or buy passes or memberships.

Additional information about Bikram Yoga Red Deer can be found online at www.bikramyogareddeer.com.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com