Hot Yoga Gets Wringing Wet Endorsement From Enthusiasts

“The heat is on at Yoga Flow in Aspinwall, where a dozen men and women bend, balance and drip through a vinyasa flow class taught by owner Dominique Ponko. Not only is the furnace running, but two humidifiers are pumping moisture into the air. ‘Sweep your arms to the sky,’ she says. ‘Exhale, swan dive, inhale halfway, lift. Exhale, Chatturanga.’ This practice is known generically as hot yoga. In a new twist on the ancient Eastern discipline, hot yoga practitioners perform traditional poses in a room heated to 90 degrees or more. Hot yoga has been getting a wringing wet endorsement from enthusiasts who say that it relieves stress, drops pounds and increases flexibility, balance and strength. Having the room temperature approximate the body's own temperature warms muscles and helps prevent injury, advocates say. Ponko, who owns the studio with husband Mark, says her regulars include football players and an auto mechanic. Today's class comprises both men and women, from a woman in her 70s to a 12-year-old boy.”

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