Downward (hot) dog

Warm up your muscles — and everything else — in the steamy studios of East Lansing Hot Yoga

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Michigan may soon turn into a frozen tundra once again.But take one step inside Patricia Sutherland’s new hot yoga studio, andyou might soon forget there’s any such thing as winter. The 900-square-foot room heats to 105 degrees and 40percent humidity during classes. A full-length mirror covers one of thewalls.

“It’s helpful to be able to see yourself, so you canfocus on the poses and what’s going on with your body,” saidSutherland, a self-described hippie.

“I was driving 60 miles to do hot yoga in the Detroitarea a couple of times a week. It was on those trips that my businesspartner (Lansing accountant Tom Anton) and I talked about how crazy itis that there was no hot yoga studio in the Lansing area.”

Anton and Sutherland struggled to find an appropriateretail space, but finally found it in Trowbridge Plaza, next to Subway.East Lansing Hot Yoga opened on Sept. 28.

More than a million people practice hot yoga in 850 studios around the world.

Sutherland, 51, has been practicing yoga since she was inher teens, but first tried hot yoga about 12 years ago. It has alwaysbeen a family affair: She started taking her son and daughter with herwhen they were still in elementary school, and they still regularlypractice.

“Whenever we traveled, we would seek out the hot yogastudios,” she recalled. And before Sutherland’s noon class lastWednesday, that came full circle when a traveling yogi stopped in forclass as she was passing through town. 

The studio comfortably fits around 30. Evening classestend to have the biggest turnout, so beginners might have a moreworthwhile experience in the 6 or 9 a.m. classes, which typicallyattract 10 people or fewer.

“It’s almost like one-on-one training,” Sutherland said. “It’s the perfect way to start your day.”

Almost 30 classes are held per week, and a free class isoffered every Saturday. A $5 class is held Tuesdays at noon with lowerheat, so beginners can transition into full heat if they prefer.

“We don’t recommend (hot yoga) for preganant women,”  Sutherland said, but otherwise she encourages anyone who is interested to give it a try.

“It seems to help people with all kinds of conditions, solong as they listen to their bodies,” she said. “If a person has to sitdown, that’s OK — we encourage that.”

She advises  peoplenot to come to class with a full stomach — a light snack beforehand ispreferred — and to arrive well-hydrated. Students are encouraged towear light, comfortable clothing, (Teachers haven’t yet had anyone passout — and they’d like to keep it that way.)

About 60 percent of the turnout is typically collegestudents. The teachers say that hot yoga benefits anyone involved inintensive sports, because it increases flexibility that many athletesmay lack.

One of Sutherland’s regulars is a runner who underwent surgery and is now able to run four miles again without stopping.

“It’s 100 percent due to the hot yoga, because our focusis so much on the breathing,” she said. Unlike other sports, she says,yoga is nearly impossible to overdo.

“Your muscles are more tense in cooler weather,” said Laura Hagler, one of the studio’s primary teachers.

“Only after about half an hour of warming up are yourmuscles warm enough and supple enough to start doing the poses as youshould.”

A typical class begins with breathing exercises and a fewsets of standing poses. While all skill levels practice together, themore advanced people are often so focused that they don’t notice what’sgoing on around them. 

“Once you’ve tried it with heat, you don’t want to go back,” Sutherland said.

East Lansing Hot Yoga

924 Trowbridge Road, East Lansing

Offering 29 60- or 90-minute classes per week

For prices and times, visit www.eastlansinghotyoga.com

 (517) 337-0399

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