University City: Bikram Yoga Brings the Heat

Owners and instructors Bob Casey (left) and Kyle Ferguson (right) showed prospective students two poses.

In a room with temperatures over 104 degrees and humidity topping 40 percent, men and women contort their bodies into 26 poses for 90 minutes.

This is unique form of yoga offered at the Bikram Yoga University City, a new studio located at 4215 Chestnut St.

Bob Casey, along with Schuyler and Kyle Ferguson, are owners and instructors of this facility that opened on Aug. 29.

As an opening promotion Bikram Yoga UCP offered free classes to anyone interested from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3.

“We felt that Philadelphia was very underserved in terms of Bikram yoga. Bikram is a lot bigger in other metropolitan areas. In Philadelphia there’s pretty much only one studio in Center City and a few in the suburbs,” Kyle Ferguson said. “The idea was just to spread the message to a few more people who may or may not have been able to try Bikram yoga.”

Bikram yoga was founded by Indian yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, who immigrated to the United States in 1970. Bikram is a type of hatha yoga that combines stretches and breathing exercises while in a hot room to help reduce injuries while deepening stretching.

Bikram yoga provides a great workout, Kyle Ferguson said.

“It’s good for your heart [and] every system in the body. What dragged me into it is that it calmed down my brain. A lot of people are running around with a lot of stress, a lot of negativity and it allows you to kind of stand back and take a breath,” Ferguson said.

To learn more about Bikram Yoga UCP’s schedule and pricing, visit bikramyogaucp.com.

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