N-n-namaste
Yoga/Zero trend to hit Nashville
The trendy 12 South neighborhood will soon have one more trendy establishment to go with its trendy clothing stores, coffee shops and the Islamic Center: Nashville’s first Yoga/Zero franchise location. As one predictable press release touted, “Yoga/Zero is so cold it’s hot!”
A brief history of the yoga-temperature axis: for most of its centuries of practice, yoga was done outdoors or at room temperature. Next came “hot yoga,” which married the practice of yoga with super-heated rooms for a heightened experience and alleged exercise benefits.
Yoga/Zero began in Point Reyes, Calif., as a reaction against hot yoga. While not literally at a temperature of zero, the studios all feature a large refrigerator compartment that is used as an exercise room.
“The cooler is just like what supermarkets use to store meat or florists use for fresh flowers, only we make them attractive and fun,” says local Yoga/Zero franchise holder Sunshine Caldwell.
Caldwell says that Yoga/Zero students typically wear large goose-down coats and pants and perform their yoga positions on heated mats. “There are some who insist on wearing typical exercise wear,” she adds, “just like some people insist on running outdoors in freezing temperatures in T-shirts and shorts. But we don’t recommend it.”
Yoga/Zero has several locations in California and also has opened studios in Santa Fe, Seattle and Boston. Nashville is the chain’s first foray into the South, although Caldwell says Miami and New Orleans expansions are planned.
“The health effects of Yoga/Zero are mainly psychological,” she says. “If you can achieve yoga positions in freezing cold while dressed like the Michelin Man, almost anything seems easier. Our regular participants have a real sense of personal achievement and self-worth that is priceless.”
Well, not quite priceless. The cost of running the oversize cooler rooms makes Yoga/Zero far pricier than old-fashioned room-temperature yoga, with classes starting at $250 per hour.
“It’s not the least expensive exercise option in town, but it is unique!” Caldwell enthuses, adding, “You burn a lot of calories when your teeth are chattering.”
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