Need a little namaste? Inhale serenity and exhale stress at Hot Yoga Escape, located at 812 Coshocton Ave. Building 2 Unit 1 & 2 in Mount Vernon.
Since September of 2020, Hot Yoga Escape (HYE) has been owned and operated by Terri Lewis, a longtime yogi herself. Contrary to its name, the business offers much more than just hot yoga: vinyasa (warm and unheated), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga barre infusion, restorative yoga and YIN yoga are all current additional offerings at HYE.
Hot yoga was the studio’s original specialty when it opened in 2016; this form of exercise is performed in a humid room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and is said to benefit the practitioner through more intense cardiovascular workouts. Other benefits include: decreased anxiety and depression, and many other healing properties including some related to injuries, autoimmune conditions and many others, Lewis said.
She added that hot yoga is “an intense class,” but good for the participant’s wellbeing, and can leave yogis feeling “healthy, good and exhilarated” all at the same time. The hot yoga classes follow the popular 26&2 yoga approach, where a sequence of 26 poses is started and ended with a breathing exercise.
“I have seen the benefits of hot yoga and what it’s capable of,” she continued. “At my first class I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I loved it. I loved how I felt, and so I got hooked from that point, and that was over 15 years ago. In the end, you just feel good.”
HYE offers classes seven days a week, 365 days a year, including early morning, lunchtime, evening and weekend classes. A total of 27 classes, all beginner level to advanced, are offered by HYE’s 11 instructors every week across the studio’s many practice types.
What sets HYE apart, Lewis said, is the studio’s sense of community. All practitioners, of all skill levels and all walks of life, are welcome.
“We really try to cater to anybody, whether they have no yoga experience or have been practicing for 20 years,” Lewis said. “Whether they’re looking for the full-body workout or just a relaxing class for meditation.”
HYE offers a “30 for $30” deal to newcomers, where prospective studio members can attend unlimited classes for 30 days, for a fee of $30. After that, monthly autopay and 10 class package options are available, and memberships can mix and match different class types. The studio hosts at least one free community event per month for interested yogis to check out the classes, instructors and space.
HYE also prioritizes having fun, and enjoying the community. Throughout the month, HYE offers community events, such as: beer yoga, yoga at the park, yoga under the stars and meditative sound bowls. With the COVID-19 pandemic still responsible for so much seclusion and mental health struggles in the community, Lewis hopes that the sense of togetherness at HYE benefits all who attend.
“We welcome everyone no matter who you are or where you come from,” she said. “We really value our community and how welcome and open they are to each other and others. We want everyone to feel comfortable when they walk through our doors and know they have a place to be.”
The studio can be followed on Facebook or at hotyogaescape.com.
