In my training for triathlons and marathons, I do a lot of running, biking and swimming. It’s wonderful to be able to cross train, rather than simply run every day, which is what I had done in the past. Running is a heavy impact sport that can cause imbalances and puts a lot of stress on the joints, if one is not training properly. Multi-sport training helps with injury prevention, rehabilitating injuries, improving fitness and so much more. 

In the recent months, I have begun to include hot yoga into my training, and it is making a world of difference. My training and my yoga practice are making a great marriage of strength and flexibility. It is helping my muscles to restore, elongate and loosen up. I am using yoga to balance strength, increase my range of motion and train my body and mind to work together synergistically. My breathing has totally changed; I breath much deeper and steadier. All in all it is really working out for me.

There are countless yoga studios in this area, but not all provide heated rooms. Everyone looks for a place where they feel comfortable, and everyone is different. I have found my spot, though. Jersey Shore Hot Yoga in Avon is the place to be. From the moment I first walked in, I knew I had found my match. 

Owner and manager Ann Healy first opened JSHY in Rumson, NJ in 2004. She moved her studio to Avon in fall of 2007. Ann has been teaching yoga since 2002, and this absolutely shows in her classes and her technique. She is amazing; her practice is near perfect and her teaching style is wonderful, not to mention she plays awesome music. She allows each student to take any variation of each pose, depending on their level and encourages everyone to only do what they can that day. Each day is different with yoga, depending on your mood, the weather, everything, and she totally supports that. 

In fact, all the instructors do. I’ve taken classes there with four different instructors. All of them have deep yoga backgrounds and are trained in various forms of yoga. They all have unique teaching styles as well, keeping it fresh and new for the regular students.  

As stated on their website, at JSHY they are “committed to providing an ideal environment for the transformative practice of hot yoga that is equally suited to novices seeking to enter this exciting world and to more advanced practitioners seeking to take their yoga to a new level.”

This is absolutely true and you can feel this in each class. All instructors are thoroughly trained to teach and guide you through each pose properly.

Unlike some other studios, these instructors walk around in the class and help you perfect your perfect variation of each pose. Even though a class could be filled wall to wall with 5 inches between each mat, it feels like you’re the only one. I really like this aspect of each class.

People have asked me: “Why hot yoga?”

Well, first of all, I’m a person who does everything the enth degree, whether it’s running an extra mile or aiming for a deeper stretch in yoga class. The room at JSHY is intentionally heated with state of the art heating panels on the ceiling to warm your muscles, prevent injuries and allow for a deeper release in your body.

The room is temperature controlled by the instructor during class. Additionally, the more you sweat, the more toxins and poisons will flush from your body. It feels completely different that regular yoga, during and after class. With all the training I do, I can honestly say that I’ve never sweat more in one hour as I do in hot yoga. It’s amazing. I was shocked at the end of my first class. 

Not only is the room heated with panels, but also it has all-new bamboo flooring and is all-natural, hypo-allergenic, and eco-friendly. I feel amazing the minute I walk in to this establishment. I look forward to going and feel great afterwards. I feel energetic, fresh and motivated. What more could you ask for?

I truly recommend trying at least one class at this studio. You will not regret it.

For more information about Jersey Shore Hot Yoga, their schedule of classes and pricing list, you can visit their website at www.jerseyshorehotyoga.com.