Things to Do in Hazel Park

"Torture chambers"—that's how many students of Bikram Yoga would describe the studios where they practice their craft. It's an apropos name for places set at a blazing 105 degrees that feature students twisting their bodies into 26 yoga postures. However, these hatha-inspired positions heal rather than hurt; as students flow through the therapeutic positions, the simmering heat soothes away chronic aches, boosts flexibility, and encourages everything from increased circulation to healthier lymphatic flow.

BodyPure Studio owner Tina Boos, who’s accrued more than two decades of fitness-industry know-how, centers BodyPure Studio around a medley of Pilates, body-sculpting, and cardio classes. Earning her Pilates certification has enabled her to stock the studio with every available apparatus, ranging from mats to the Reformer, Wunda Chair, Cadillac, and Ladder Barrel—the latter of which should only be reserved by registered Donkey Kongs. As a barre instructor, Boos leads the studio's signature BodyPure class, a fluid workout for limbs and seats that also levels out tummies. Each of her fellow instructors upholds her fitness expertise, possessing at least one certification in Pilates, barre, or group fitness.

BodyPure's combination of professional tutelage and state-of-the-art equipment earned it a top-five spot among CityVoter finalists for Detroit's Best Pilates Studio of 2011. Its facility houses workout rooms for both group and private training sessions.

Jeff Warmuth and the talented artisans at Canterbury Stained Glass draw on their nearly 40 years of experience crafting commissioned artwork to fill their showroom and teach others the art of glass manipulation. More than 40 educational programs—divided into short workshops and longer, weeks-long pursuits—focus on beginner, intermediate, and expert glass techniques of all sorts. Students can assemble glass jewelry, fuse patterned glass into bowls, or use their glass-blowing skills to build a see-through glass dome around endangered penguins. A fully stocked shop sells books, glass cutters, and other useful tools for finishing glassmaking and fusing projects.

Throughout the year, the 91-acre Charles L. Bowers School Farm educates students of all ages about science, agriculture, and livestock. But as the season's change, so does the farm's lineup of family-friendly outdoor activities, welcoming guests of all ages for autumnal activities including corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and wagon rides. Like the 1958 Plymouth Fury, the farm's corn mazes come in both haunted and unhaunted varieties, challenging explorers of all ages with 2.5 miles of twisting, turning paths. Should they find their way out, guests can reacclimate to life on the outside by striking up conversation with the resident rabbits, sheep, and llamas. From there, they explore the pumpkin patch for a perfect pie or jack-o'-lantern candidate or ride one of the farm's ponies, which turn into pumpkins at midnight.

The instructors at G.Studio boast certification and extensive training in Pilates, so it's no surprise that core-strengthening and stabilizing movements make frequent appearances during their innovative workouts. Whether leading energetic cardio dance routines, high-intensity circuit-training drills, or energetic barre sessions, the trainers emphasize full-body Pilates exercises that strengthen muscles and boost endurance. Their spacious studio boasts a large hardwood floor, towering mirrors, and a booming sound system that make it an ideal location for hosting holiday dance parties or building life-size model-train sets.

For more than 15 years, seasoned yoga instructor and teacher trainer Katherine Austin has been educating others on how to incorporate yoga and its many benefits into their daily lives. She’s joined by a team of skilled instructors, who imbue their knowledge of Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Kundalini methods onto students of any age and ability. Daily classes range from gentle yoga for beginners and senior citizens to more advanced sessions that challenge students to go deeper into their postures. Prenatal classes also aim to lower stress and increase flexibility for moms-to-be, and the classes have been showcased on Fox 2 News. Along with teaching students the benefits of yoga, Karma Yoga's staff helps their community thrive by donating a percentage of each class rate to Detroit's Urban Farming.