When Chatham mom Lynn Somers first tried hot yoga, she left the first class unsure if she would return.
But the change she felt in her body drew her back for more. "Hot yoga at Powerflow keeps me supple and limber like I have never been before," said Somers, mother of a 3-year-old and 6-year-old.
Somers, who practiced yoga for years before starting with Powerflow when they opened opened in May 2008, said she always had pain and attributed it to her pregnancies. Since trying hot yoga, she has come to a different opinion.
"Hot yoga makes all the difference and I have been coming here since the studio's opening," Somers said.
Powerflow owner Jerry LePore says he opened the studio in response to a community need. The studio has become an oasis of sorts for Chatham moms since it opened in the town.
"We have had a phenomenal response in Chatham. It is a great escape for moms. When you walk through the door, you leave all your stress behind you. You can just let this time be for you," he said.
Yoga newbie Patrice Morgan says that it was a great workout and she will definitely be back for more classes at Powerflow. "I have never done yoga and it was easy to follow and I really enjoyed it," Morgan said.
Elizabeth Henne of Chatham attends classes every week because of how good it makes her feel. "I love it. It is a nice workout and is not stressful. I have met really nice people and it is not intimidating for beginners," she said.
For hot yoga beginners, LePore offers a few hints to make your piece more enjoyable:
- Drink a lot of water before class, for at least a day and not just a few hours before the class begins.
- Arrive early. Many students are in the studio twenty minutes before class is scheduled to start.
- Be prepared to sweat! The temperature of the room is usually somewhere around 97 degrees.
As Powerflow's practicing moms can attest, yoga has a many benefits. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, help shed weight and relieve stress. "The heat adds to the great workout you get with yoga. It is intense but rewarding," LePore said.
Powerflow Yoga offers a varierty of classes for yoga practicioners of every skill level. For more information, call the studio at (973) 507-9800 or drop by at 254 Main St. in Chatham.
