Yoga in Lakewood

Within Asana Body Mind Hot Yoga’s cozy studio, overhead panels generate the heat that makes students sweat in temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius. Since each panel warms only the students and their mats—rather than the air itself—the heat can better penetrate their skin, encouraging healthy perspiration to oust bodily toxins.

Employing the skills he learned while studying in the Indian province of Kerala, studio director Jason Campbell leads yogis through series of poses during a variety of hot-yoga classes, helping them hone their internal rhythm and stretch their bodies while building peace of mind. Jason and the other instructors walk students through each pose and adjust their postures as needed as they bend and sway atop springy cork floors designed to minimize the impact on joints and keep students afloat on the sea of sweat. To encourage a sense of community within the studio, students are encouraged to socialize after class, and staffers serve shots of nutrient-rich wheatgrass juice upon request before and after each session.

Students gather amid the golden glow cast onto Marmalade at Smokebrush’s exposed brick walls by rectangular floor lamps, awaiting instruction from the studio’s capable staff under the decorative flock of origami whooping cranes swooping overhead. Instructors pull from previous experience as dancers, movement therapists, and artists as they guide students in fitness sessions, including Latin-inspired Zumba, a dance-fueled workout that enables students to torch calories while learning dance-floor-ready skills.

The studio’s yoga classes range from spinal-alignment-focused Iyengar yoga to dubstep yoga, which swaps normally serene background noise with thumping electronic beats. Aside from its yoga focus, Smokebrush’s expansive space also plays host to artwork exhibitions, environmentally focused workshops, and speed dating for ex-claustrophobics.

Bathed in sunlight and soft hues, Yoga Tree Colorado's calming studio hosts daily classes spanning a handful of yoga traditions. The space draws a stark contrast to the corporate world Lauren Lanford, the studio owner, spent six years working in before turning her energies toward creating her community-oriented yogatorium. Yogis of all abilities hone their strength with vigorous Vinyasa flows, steep their muscles in Hatha's deep, mindful stretches, and sculpt lean physiques in Pilates-inspired classes. A believer in taking a well-rounded approach to wellness, Lanford has curated a staff that includes massage therapists, a chiropractor, a psychotherapist, an acupuncturist, and a nutritionist—a regular holistic who's who from across the medical universe.

Before opening a yoga and cycling studio, owner Sarah Russell was hit by a car while biking, seriously injuring her back. Sarah credits the rejuvenating power of yoga with saving her spinal cord, and her life. Today, she inspires others to meet their wellness goals through a lineup of mind- and body-nurturing classes.

Sarah and her brigade of enthusiastic instructors lead handfuls of classes each day for students of all fitness levels. The heart-pumping and vigorous cycling classes help patrons to improve their endurance while building muscle and strength. Complementing these physically demanding workouts are yoga classes for different skill levels that challenge the body in different ways, testing patrons' physical and mental focus through empowering posture series and healing stretches.

No matter the weather, The Hot Room's temperature always hovers at or above 100 degrees. Although the heat might sound intimidating, the studio thoroughly readies practitioners with information for newcomers and ongoing encouragement throughout classes. Teachers guide students through postures with verbal or physical instruction, emphasizing alignment and balance. Hot yoga classes take customers through a variety of poses and sequences to target various muscles.

Led by owner Rebekah Cunningham, The Hot Room's certified yoga instructors share a passion for the heated yoga style. In addition to constantly deepening their own practice, the instructors strive to help students of all abilities achieve stronger bodies and clearer minds.

With a schedule of classes including Sunny Side Up and Not-So-Rushed-Hour, The Yoga Mat cultivates a welcoming, playful environment for yogis of all levels. Seasoned instructors link breath and movement in Vinyasa classes and focus on alignment and anatomy in classes influenced by Iyengar. Classes begin as early as 6:30 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturday afternoons, the studio's Made You a Mix-Tape class combines yoga with the energetic sounds of Arcade Fire, Michael Jackson, and golden retrievers.