New hot yoga business has Bunbury hooked

Young Bunbury entrepreneur Natalie Le Provst-Shepherd opened a hot yoga studio late last year and has been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of the new venture. 

The 25-year-old began practising Bikram yoga – yoga in a heated room – as an 18-year-old in Auckland, New Zealand before relocating to WA. 

For the last four years she has been working towards bringing a studio to Bunbury, as she was driving to Perth every month for a hot yoga class. 

Mrs Provst-Shepherd said hot yoga was a challenge not only physically, but mentally. 

The practice suits a wide range of ages and fitness levels as there is no impact on the body. 

In a world obsessed with liquid diets and juice fads, Mrs Provst-Shepherd said hot yoga was the best possible detox as the skin is the largest elimination organ. 

“Working in a heated room elevates the heart rate, which makes the body work harder,” she explained. 

“It’s great for people who want a more intense workout without the impact — those who want to develop strength, flexibility and tone along with a cardiovascular workout.” 

She said the practice also helped the body relax, improved breathing and mental concentration and promoted healthy sleep patterns. 

People who think they are “not flexible or fit enough” can rest assured that hot yoga can be taken at your own pace. 

“If you feel uncomfortable at any point, then you take a break and join back in when you are ready,” Mrs Provst-Shepherd. 

“There’s no ego in yoga, so you just do what you’re capable of.”

There are already plans in place to branch out into Vinyasa-style yoga by the end of the year, where each move flows into the next and it is practiced in a warm, not hot room. 

For more information search for Hot Yoga Bunbury on Facebook. 

To read about Bunbury Mail editor Shanelle Miller’s first hot yoga experience, click here.