HEAT Yoga & Wellness @The Vogue, Louisville

From ancient Greece to modern India, the healing power of heat has been recognized throughout the world by such medically conscious minds as Hippocrates and Bikram Choudhury. A good sweat releases tension, increases flexibility, and purifies the body of toxins. Combine healthy perspiration with stretches that activate certain joints or compress particular organs, and the result can spur the body’s natural healing processes and increase strength. Such is the philosophy behind Bikram yoga and the many other varieties of hot yoga taught at Heat Yoga & Wellness.

The studio’s bendy instructors teach nine varieties of yoga. Their Bikram classes follow the traditional format of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, all practiced in a studio heated to more than 100 degrees. They mix up the standard routine with classes that incorporate hip-opener exercises, which improve lower-body mobility and make it easier to limbo under a closing garage door. Hot Vinyasa classes begin with a series of sun salutations before moving to more intense cardio and weight-bearing asana postures. The expert yogis also stretch outside the bounds of traditional yoga for exercise ins