Barre fitness is a popular part of The Hot Yoga Spot’s class lineup, blending elements of ballet, Pilates, yoga, HIIT, and bootcamp for a powerful full-body workout. We’re excited to now offer barre at our Clifton Park location, alongside our studios in Latham, Glenmont, Albany, and East Greenbush. Whether you're deepening your yoga practice or exploring new ways to move, barre is an excellent way to build strength, flexibility, and balance.

Hot yoga has gained immense popularity, and for good reason. At The Hot Yoga Spot, our local yoga classes in Albany, Clifton Park, Glenmont, East Greenbush, Latham, and Saratoga Springs are designed to help you tap into these benefits and elevate your practice to new heights, whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner. So, let’s uncover the science behind the heat and discover how it can enhance your practice — get started today!

The Hot Yoga Spot has been invited to kickoff City of Albany’s TulipFest this year with a free yoga class on Mother’s Day morning. We will be hosting a yoga session at the Tulip Fest main stage on Sunday, May 11th at 9:00 a.m. We will also be leading kids yoga classes on the Kid Zone Stage at 1:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday. These sessions are appropriate for all levels and free to attend so sign up and save your spot.

Yoga is a journey, not a destination. Whether you're a beginner just stepping onto the mat or an experienced practitioner deepening your practice, adapting to your current level is key to growth and longevity. At The Hot Yoga Spot, we believe in meeting yourself where you are and embracing the flow of your yoga journey. With six convenient studios in the Capital Region, we’re here to support your practice, no matter your experience level.

The new year is here, and with it comes the opportunity to reset, refocus, and prioritize what matters most: your health, happiness, and well-being. At The Hot Yoga Spot, we’re here to help you make 2025 a year of transformation. With six convenient studios across the Capital Region, we’re ready to guide you toward achieving your New Year’s resolutions, whether that means enhancing your physical fitness, finding inner peace, or simply carving out time for yourself.

The Hot Yoga Spot was recently featured on News 10 and Fox 23 for the work we do with veterans through the Yoga With Vets program. This partnership was established between The Hot Yoga Spot and Albany County in 2022 to bring free yoga classes to veterans on a weekly basis. We now offer three yoga classes each week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays nights at our studios in Latham, East Greenbush and Albany NY. The classes are free to attend and perfect for veterans and their support people.

An excerpt from the article:

The program was started in 2022 by Leslie, who is the director of Veteran Services for Albany County. Thanks to the PFC Dwyer Peer to Peer grant secured by the county and the partnership with The Hot Yoga Spot, the classes are offered free of charge twice a week to veterans and their family or friends who are by their side supporting them.

“Yoga is a great way for any veteran or first responder to heal themselves. They can find peace on the mat,” Leslie said.

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also bring stress, overwhelm, and fatigue. Between gift shopping, family gatherings, and year-end responsibilities, it's easy to forget the importance of slowing down and reconnecting with yourself. This is where yoga and meditation come together to create the ultimate self-care practice—nurturing both your mind and body when you need it most. Check out our locations today and reserve your spot!

As the temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten, it can be tempting to hibernate indoors and let your health take a backseat. However, prioritizing your health during the colder months is crucial— not just for your physical well-being but also for your mental clarity. At The Hot Yoga Spot, we believe that with the right motivation, you can thrive this winter!

The Hot Yoga Spot is celebrating our anniversary on December 1 with out hottest deals of the year. December 1 will be the end of our 14th year in business and mark the beginning of year 15. We are celebrating this milestone with huge savings for our entire community.

This one day sale happens at all locations and online so you can stock up with goodies for yourself. Want to spread the holiday cheer? Buy packages for your friends and family members too so you can sweat with them all year long at our lowest rates.

The Hot Yoga Spot first rolled out our yoga mats in a small little studio in Guilderland, NY. Since then we have grown to six NY locations in Albany, Clifton Park, Latham, East Greenbush, Glenmont and Saratoga Springs. We see thousands of yogis each week and are honored to work alongside such a talented teaching team.

Save the date in your calendar now and be sure to visit us or hop on our website on December 1 to steal these great deals:

$150 off 1 Year Of Unlimited Classes (pay just $950 instead of $1100)

-$150 Savings (typically costs $1100) Buy It

When you hear the term "barre," your mind may immediately go to ballet, or to where to get your next beer! But here at The Hot Yoga Spot in New York, we take this term and create an exciting group fitness class designed around various barre workouts.

At The Hot Yoga Spot, we recognize that everyone's fitness journey is unique. Choosing the right class can significantly impact your wellness goals. Whether you’re new to our New York studios or a seasoned fitness enthusiast, understanding the differences between barre and yoga can help you make the best choice. Read on to learn more and sign up for a class today!

MVP Health Care's YogaPalooza happens Saturday, September 21, at 11:00 A.M.

At The Hot Yoga Spot, we believe in the transformative power of community and the positive impact it has on our practice. Yoga is not just about physical postures; it's also about building connections and fostering a supportive environment where individuals can grow and thrive together. Learn more about how yoga fosters a supportive environment and try our classes today!

As people who are deeply passionate about yoga, we understand the frustrations that can come with hitting plateaus during your practice. At The Hot Yoga Spot, we believe in the importance of continual growth and progress on your yoga journey. Here are some valuable tips to help you overcome plateaus and elevate your practice to new heights.

If you're a fan of yoga, you've probably tried various styles and classes in the comfort of a studio. But have you ever considered taking your practice outside? Outdoor yoga has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. From the beautiful scenery to the peaceful atmosphere, there are plenty of reasons why The Hot Yoga Spot’s outdoor yoga classes inAlbany, Saratoga and Rensselaer county could be perfect for you. If you want a more immersive experience, explore our outdoor women's wellness retreat, designed to rejuvenate both body and mind. Learn more about that here.

Join The Hot Yoga Spot and Complexions Spa for our outdoor yoga series.

These special classes are the perfect way to celebrate summer and enjoy the ultimate in relaxation and pampering from your favorite Saratoga wellness destinations. Each event will feature an all levels yoga class taught by talented teachers from The Hot Yoga Spot. When you sign up to participate in the event, you also get a day pass to enjoy the luxurious amenities at Complexions Spa for the ultimate in pampering.

All sessions take place outside at Complexions Spa in Saratoga Springs. The yoga happens on the quiet, outdoor terrace overlooking Congress Park.

Thursday - June 13 at 6:00pm

Sunday - June 23 at 10:00am

Thursday - July 11 at 6:00pm

Sunday - July 21 at 10:00am

Thursday - August 8 at 6:00pm

Sunday - August 18 at 10:00am

Class is included in all of our regular membership packages or can be purchased for just $15. Sign up through our website and then arrive and checkin at Complexions Spa on Broadway for class.

Looking to take your yoga practice to the next level? At The Hot Yoga Spot, we believe that advanced-level yoga can transform both your body and mind. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of pushing yourself with challenging yoga practices. With six convenient locations across New York, The Hot Yoga Spot is the perfect place for a refreshing yoga experience.

Thanks to our friends at Saratoga.com for shouting out The Hot Yoga Spot in their recent blog post about the best ways to stay active and fit in Saratoga county. The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park and Saratoga are two perfect options for anyone looking to workout and sweat it our North of the Twin Bridges. Our studio offers beginning and more challenging classes with options seven days a week and full locker rooms to get ready after class. We are honored to be mentioned in their post along with some other great Saratoga fitness centers and we hope to see you soon!

Click here to read more

Are you looking for a new way to enhance your mind, body, and soul? Look no further than The Hot Yoga Spot, where we offer a diverse range of yoga classes to help you find your flow. Whether you are a seasoned yogi or just starting your journey, our studio has something for everyone in New York.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding ways to improve mental health is essential. Fortunately, the practice of yoga offers a holistic approach that not only benefits the body but also nourishes the mind. At The Hot Yoga Spot we're dedicated to supporting your mental well-being through our yoga classes. Let’s explore four ways that yoga can help improve your mental health and enhance your overall well-being.

As we embrace the New Year, the path to a better you doesn't have to be daunting. The Hot Yoga Spot, with six New York locations, invites you to explore how yoga classes, can breathe life into your resolutions for 2024.

Our talented teacher, Paul, recently wrote an article that was featured in Om Yoga Journal. The article is about his journey from student to teacher and everything he learned along the way. It starts, "From Student to Teacher, A Humbling Journey of Self-Discovery and Service." We suggest giving it a read now to learn more about this amazing teacher at The Hot Yoga Spot as well as why our yoga teacher training program might be a terrific option for you!

Click here to read the whole article.

December 11 was National Stretching Day and Spectrum News came to The Hot Yoga Spot to learn more. In this video clip from the news, our talented yoga and barre teacher, Karli, shows Tamani Wooley some simple stretches that anyone can do at home and she explains how practicing yoga can help manage seasonal depression.

Watch the full video on Spectrum News

In today's fast-paced world, it's important to prioritize self-care and find ways to manage stress. One powerful tool for stress relief is yoga. At The Hot Yoga Spot, our yoga studios offers a variety of hot yoga classes that can help you relax, unwind, and find inner peace. In this blog, we'll explore some stress relief tips, with a special focus on the benefits of practicing yoga.

Our instructor, Paul, was recently featured in Om Yoga Journal for a store he wrote about Savasana. The article dives deep into the actual pose itself as well as why it is important what it can do for you and so much more.

A quick excerpt from reading it to give you a little sneak peek- "Savasana will typically be used to close your session and there is a purpose; as there is for every asana. Corpse pose will bring your body back to a state of homeostasis by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, releasing any remaining muscle tension, and allowing the mind and body to integrate as your blood is circulating to your fully activated systems and your heart rate begins to slow down. The posture is not just a place to rest but a place to rest in peace. Are you allowing your body to rest, relax and take in the benefits of your yoga practice? I must admit that until a year ago, I had taken too many Savasana for granted. "

We suggest clicking the link to read it now. Then, come flow with Paul as he teaches weekly classes at The Hot Yoga Spot in Latham and Stuyvesant Plaza.

Dealing with bloating can be a frustrating and uncomfortable experience. From feeling overly full to experiencing a distended belly, bloating can affect our daily lives. However, by incorporating a few simple yoga exercises into your routine, you can kiss bloating goodbye. Designed to stimulate the digestive system, improve circulation, and relieve discomfort, these exercises offer a natural and effective solution to tackle bloating head-on. Read on to learn more from the Hot Yoga Spot.

STREET SERENITY: YOGAPALOOZA INVITES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FREE PRACTICE ON PEARL STREET

ALBANY—Last September, right before the aptly named PearlPalooza launched into an afternoon of free music on Pearl Street in Albany, the asphalt was covered in yoga mats, and people of all ages moving together through a sun salutation. Breathing in unison, a few hundred participants moved from pose to pose, smiling in the bright sunshine as an eagle flew overhead.

I know because I was there, blissed out by the vibe of movement, breath, and presence with the large group of strangers. I’ve attended many yoga classes in studios and parks throughout my life, but I had never practiced in a street-wide event and was shocked at how the synergy of the large crowd lifted my heart with each breath.

Click To Read More.

Training for your first 5K, half marathon, or full marathon can be an overwhelming experience. The physical demands of long-distance running can take a toll on your body, making it essential to find ways to strengthen, stretch, and recover effectively. One practice that complements running exceptionally well is yoga. In this blog post from The Hot Yoga Spot, we will explore how you can incorporate yoga into your training routine to enhance your performance, prevent injuries, and find balance in your running journey.

Welcome to The Hot Yoga Spot's blog! In today's post, we will explore four powerful breathing exercises that can help you find inner peace. Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, incorporating these techniques into your practice will enhance your mind-body connection and allow you to experience a deeper sense of tranquility during your yoga classes at our New York yoga studios!

Are you looking for a way to revitalize your mind, body, and spirit? Look no further than hot yoga, a trend that’s here to stay and transforming the world of fitness! While some benefits of hot yoga are well known, there are also some surprising, hidden benefits you may not have considered. Today, the team at The Hot Yoga Spot in New York is sharing what those benefits are so you know what to get excited about when you sign up for a class!

Hot yoga has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Unlike other forms of yoga, hot yoga is practiced in a heated room, which helps to increase flexibility, improve circulation, and release toxins from the body. However, it’s important to be prepared before attending a hot yoga class, which is why the team at The Hot Yoga Spot in New York is here to discuss the four most important things you should bring!

Yoga inversions, such as headstands and handstands, can be both exciting and intimidating for many yoga practitioners. However, with proper guidance and a commitment to safety, anyone can learn how to master these challenging poses.

The Hot Yoga Spot is a popular yoga studio with five New York locations, including Albany, Clifton Park, East Greenbush, Latham, and Saratoga Springs, that offers a variety of yoga classes for students of all levels. Get started today!

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and it's no surprise that it's still popular today. With so many types of yoga available, it's easy to find one that suits your needs and preferences. However, if you're new to yoga or considering trying a new type of yoga, you may have some questions.

The Hot Yoga Spot is here to answer some questions you might have about yoga. We have six convenient New York locations. Find a location nearest to you and sign up for yoga classes today!

Our talented teacher, Doreen, was featured in a national magazine in an article called The Happiness Factor. Click the link below to read all about how joining The Hot Yoga Spot brought her happiness in a new career and inspired her to live her best life. She also shares some great advice and inspiration for others out there who may be nervous to go after the goals they want!

Read The Article Now!

Are you looking to get the most out of your evenings and ensure you get a restful sleep? Certainly, regular classes at one of The Hot Yoga Spot’s six locations would be an influential inclusion in your routine. However, we have compiled a list of other helpful options. Find a location in New York near you to experience the difference hot yoga can have on your sleep, and in the meantime, keep reading to discover ways to step up your evening routine for restful sleep.

March Madness is a great way to dedicate yourself to being present on your mat and in your life. Try new things and switch up your routine to create positive changes in your body and mind. Enjoy all of this while also earning great prizes.

The Hot Yoga Spot has been offering the March Madness competition for ten years and it is always fun for everyone. Each year, the enthusiasm and participation grows and we love to reward you for your commitment. Hopefully, you are already enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of yoga and barre classes at The Hot Yoga Spot. Compete this month and let us spoil you for all of your hard work and dedication.

Are you looking for a unique and challenging way to spice up your yoga practice? Hot yoga is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of yoga and with good reason. Regardless of whether you’re just beginning yoga or are looking for intermediate hot yoga or advanced yoga options, at The Hot Yoga Spot, our team of instructors has created over 200 weekly yoga sessions between all six of our locations across New York. Sign up today and keep reading to learn more about the differences between hot yoga and traditional yoga and why you should give hot yoga a try.

Welcome to The Hot Yoga Spot! If you are located in New York, we offer hot yoga classes at five different locations, and we are confident you will find a class here you love. Whether you are a beginner in yoga and fitness or a regular attendee, we offer a wide variety of classes, including beginner classes for our customer’s convenience. This blog explores a bit more into our Bikram and Baptiste yoga class offerings, and we encourage you to read below to discover more. Contact us today!

With a new year just around the corner, now is the time to start planning the healthy changes you want to make to your routine to start the new year right. However, with so many options that can help improve your well-being, it can be difficult to determine which are right for you. That’s why The Hot Yoga Spot in New York is here to provide you with ideas to help you make this year the best yet!

"The creative tactics small businesses are employing to gain and retain customers. When I took a class at The Hot Yoga Spot, it certainly worked on me."

Watch The Hot Yoga Spot founder on CBS6 discussing how she prioritizes connection with her community.

Click Here To Watch The Video

Are you looking for ways to improve your health and get exercise without spending time in a crowded, uncomfortable gym? One of the best ways to start a new fitness journey is to try yoga! But what are the benefits of yoga, exactly? At The Hot Yoga Spot, our team is passionate about helping people like you learn the joy of practicing yoga and moving your body in a way that feels great! Here are four of the major benefits you’ll experience when you begin your yoga practice.

The Hot Yoga Spot offers hot yoga classes at five convenient locations in New York. We offer affordable packages, as well as passes, which can be used at any of our yoga studio locations. Learn about four of our favorite hot yoga classes below, and begin today!

Mindful living has become more accepted than in years past. With the rush and craziness that life brings along with the pandemic, people have paused and reflected on what matters. Inner peace and being mindful is undoubtedly at the top as mental health has taken priority. However, this can take a lot of work to achieve while immersed in our day-to-day lives.

That’s why practicing it matters. Connecting with yourself through breathing and yoga can be the ultimate pathway forward to achieving the state of mindfulness. The journey can be frustrating without understanding the challenges that can occur with this.

Here we present common obstacles when working towards mindfulness.

Finding Time

Self-care is the pinnacle of treating our bodies and mind with respect. Have you ever been running around and suddenly forgot if you were breathing or not? One of the biggest challenges is finding time to practice mindfulness. We are taught to multi-task and think of the next task.

This puts our minds and bodies into a perpetual state of looking to the future without ever being in the present. The first step to correcting this behavior is understanding what mindfulness is. By Definition, Mindfulness: a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

In recognition of breast cancer awareness month a local yoga studio is starting a class for cancer patients and survivors. Watch this news clip to learn all about the special Oncology Yoga class happening this weekend for anyone with cancer, any survivors and their loved ones at The Hot Yoga Spot Clifton Park.

Click here to watch the news segment.

The Hot Yoga Spot Receives 2022 Best of Rensselaer Award

Rensselaer Award Program Honors the Achievement

RENSSELAER September 29, 2022 -- The Hot Yoga Spot has been selected for the 2022 Best of Rensselaer Award in the Yoga Studio category by the Rensselaer Award Program.

Each year, the Rensselaer Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Rensselaer area a great place to live, work and play.

Click here to read the press release.

Yoga keeps you moving and lets you get in touch with your breath while calming your mind. But, some of the movements can be pretty challenging, whether as a beginner or a pro.

So, having yoga props to help you move through the different yoga poses is essential. It will allow you to softly ease into an exercise as your body gets to adapt slowly. Here are some essential yoga props to invest in and how you can use them.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks come in handy in different poses to help you maintain balance and enhance your stability. In addition, these yoga blocks will help support you to ensure the poses are easier to hold.

Yoga blocks come in different types, some made from wood, bamboo, foam, and cork. They are designed to form a brick shape, allowing you to attain alignment in different yoga poses.

You can also use a stack of books in place of yoga blocks paying attention to the height that feels right for each movement.

How to Use Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks will provide excellent support in poses like the triangle pose and half forward fold. Also, if some poses make it challenging to reach the ground comfortably with your hands, help from your yoga blocks will come in handy.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

We are so excited that The Hot Yoga Spot was just listed as one of the 25 best Bikram yoga websites and blogs. The Hot Yoga Spot received the high honor of spot #6 because of all the great articles we share about the benefits of yoga, how to achieve a great work-life balance, how to incorporate yoga at home, and more. View the full list of winners and be sure to always catch our blog posts!

Click to see the full list.

When building a yoga studio at home, you may have conflicting thoughts. You want it to be peaceful and beautiful, but you may not know where to start! That is a-okay. At The Hot Yoga Spot in New York, we specialize in providing you with the resources you need to relax and recharge through yoga. From classes to teacher training, we’ve got you covered! Here are our tips for creating the perfect at-home yoga studio. Need some at-home routines to enjoy in your new studio? Check out our programs today!

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Reserve Your Spot Today!

The Hot Yoga Spot founder, Jessica Fuller, is named one of the Albany Business Review's Women Who Mean Business in 2021. Fuller received her award on October 1, 2021 and spoke on a panel at the award ceremony that day. Click here to read the interview online or click below to view the entire PDF.

Spring is upon us, and with the craziness that has come with COVID-19 over the last few years, it can be easy to feel lost and unsure of the future holds. That is why we decided to center today’s post on tips for creating a simple and effective 7-day wellness and yoga challenge that you can continue using for weeks afterward to further your practice, relax your body and mind, and feel better knowing that you are committing to a plan that is beneficial to your health during an unusually stressful time.

If you are in the Albany area and are looking to take your practice to the next level, give our yoga studio a call today to learn more about our current outdoor sessions.

Call Us Today!

Yoga has absolutely exploded in popularity and shows no sign of slowing down. Even recently, more people of all ages have caught the yoga bug and are loving the benefits it brings and how it makes them feel. It’s no wonder why, either. Did you know that yoga actually positively affects your brain? It’s true! Keep reading to learn more and enjoy the many benefits of yoga at The Hot Yoga Spot today!

Recovery After Yoga: What Your Body Needs + Why

Do you feel a little wrung out after yoga class? Are your muscles sore and achy? Maybe you’ve just gotten into yoga, maybe you’re a little out of practice, or maybe you’re simply amping up your routine with some new postures. Or maybe you’re learning a new style of practice that’s especially challenging.

A good yoga session can leave you feeling calm and energized at the same time. And getting a deep stretch in your muscles can feel amazing. It may seem like you use your muscles all the time but holding certain yoga postures will stretch them in ways they aren’t used to.

And if you’re challenging those muscles in new ways, they can become fatigued and sore after yoga, just like they would if you overdid a run or a strength training session. Muscle soreness that occurs 12 to 48 hours after a workout is very common. It’s called DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness.

Depending on the style and intensity of yoga you practice, the level of discomfort you feel after class can vary from quite mild to more severe. Your fitness level can also be a contributing factor, but the truth is, even the most experienced yoga can still deal with muscle fatigue and soreness after yoga sometimes.

Meet Jessica Fuller, Business Owner, and CEO at The Hot Yoga Spot, a premier hot yoga and barre fitness facility based in the state of New York.

Jessica Fuller founded The Hot Yoga Spot as a 22-year-old over a decade ago. She wanted to teach people yoga, help them, and do something for the community through her own business. Eleven years later, she is the owner of five studio locations in upstate NY, three juice bars, a CrossFit gym, and founding two franchises in the health and wellness industry. She is still working on projects, one of which is a new fitness gym with a concept that combines cardio and HIIT classes.

When asked about that one idea that worked for her, Jessica says, “Jump before you are ready. This is always how I have operated and made business decisions, and it basically means not to wait for the perfect time but to act when you have opportunities and then work hard to make dreams a reality”.

Click here to read the entire article.

Yoga is often misunderstood as being limited to various poses that provide physical benefits and help you relax. But we shouldn’t forget that yoga also offers immense benefits for uniting the mind, body, and breath. By harmonizing all three, you are creating a calmer, happier frame of mind and developing a stronger, more flexible body at the same time.

When yoga is utilized as a therapeutic practice, it can be incorporated into an integrative treatment plan for a variety of mental and physical health issues. While yoga generally aims to improve mental and physical health, yoga as a therapeutic practice involves the strategic use of specific poses to alleviate mental and physical symptoms.

Utilizing yoga as a therapeutic practice has become so mainstream that many doctors and healthcare institutions are now incorporating it into their treatment plans for a variety of mental and physical conditions. It is becoming widely recognized for its multidimensional benefits, and even professionals in the mental health field recommend yoga regularly as part of an integrative treatment plan.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at how yoga can be used as a therapeutic practice and how its benefits can be integrated into treatment protocols for many common health concerns.

We can all agree that there are many wonderful benefits to be gained from regular yoga practice, from gentle exercise to stress relief and improved mental health. It’s a wonderful way to increase self-awareness and boost your strength, balance, and flexibility.

However, using yoga for recovery when you’re sick may be a new concept for some. Let’s take a look at how yoga can make a difference in ailment recovery, and which poses may be especially beneficial when you’re feeling under the weather.

7 Ways Yoga Can Make a Difference in Ailment Recovery

• Increased Blood Flow

Moving from one position to another during a yoga flow requires stretching your muscles and body. This stretching improves blood flow throughout the body. Much like other types of exercise, yoga causes your body temperature to rise and your heart to beat faster, which also boosts blood flow.

By improving blood flow and circulation throughout your body, you’re also increasing oxygen to the brain, heart, lungs, and other organs. This is essential for improving cellular health and growing new cells, as well as combatting fatigue.

• A Stronger Immune System

Thanks to everyone who voted The Hot Yoga Spot as the #1 Best Yoga Studio in the Capital Region. We are honored and grateful to win the Bestie for another year and we thank you all for voting for us!

Click here to view all the winners.

Perhaps you’ve been practicing yoga for years, or maybe just a few months. Either way, there’s no doubt that you’re noticing all sorts of positive effects! You’re probably feeling more energized, grounded, stronger, and lighter.

Having experienced all these amazing benefits, it’s no wonder that you are interested in learning more about the yoga lifestyle. Outside of regular yoga practice, the yoga lifestyle can influence all aspects of how you live your life.

Ancient yoga texts teach about a true yoga lifestyle. One teaching is called yama, which describes the ethical treatment of other living things. Part of this teaching is ahimsa, or non-violence. One easy way to adopt this teaching into your daily life is to make the switch to a plant-based diet.

And the benefits of going plant-based go far beyond the ethical treatment of animals. A plant-based diet is better for your health and may increase your longevity. And it’s a more sustainable way of eating that’s much better for the environment too.

Here’s why you should consider making the switch to a plant-based lifestyle and how the transition can be a smooth one.

How a Plant-Based Lifestyle and Yoga Go Hand in Hand

Read an interview with owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, Jessica Fuller, about how COVID-19 has impacted her businesses and others. Click here to read the article online or below to download the PDF.

However, small businesses that could not get help from the federal programs for COVID relief were able to get help from a county grant program.

The owner of a yoga studio says the aid helped her recoup costs of buying new air filters, PPE and other needs.

Watch the owner of The Hot Yoga Spot discuss this grant program here.

The Hot Yoga Spot Founder, Jessica Fuller, was featured in UAlbany Alumni Magazine as a former student who has done great things in the community.

"Jessica (Lustig) Fuller probably never foresaw that her decision to enroll at UAlbany would impact just about every facet of her life, from where she lives to the purple-painted walls of her business, The Hot Yoga Spot. But it has.

A practitioner of yoga since her teens, Fuller began working out in local studios and, at age 23, hit upon the idea of starting her own, close to UAlbany. She established The Hot Yoga Spot in late 2010 at the intersection of Western Avenue and Fuller Road, teaching all of the classes herself. Pleased at the studio’s early success, she relocated it a few months later to a 2,700-square-foot site at Stuyvesant Plaza, nearly quadrupling the space available to accommodate an eager influx of new clients.

Within a few years, Fuller established four additional studios in East Greenbush, Latham, Clifton Park, and Saratoga. More than 40 instructors welcome hundreds of students daily; “we have members who come all the time or once a week,” says Fuller."

Read the full article below:

As many of us still work from home and the world is ever-changing, some of us feel like there’s no escape from home. You might be looking for a way to relieve some stress with some peace and serenity in your home. The answer could be as simple as finding the perfect place in your house for a yoga space.

Whether you live in a studio apartment in Seattle, WA or a large home in Dallas, TX, all you need is a little space and some calming decor for the perfect at home yoga space. Founder of The Hot Yoga Spot, Jessica Fuller, was included in a panel of yoga experts from across the country for their easiest and most serene tips to designing the perfect at home yoga space for your practice.

Read all the tips here.

Our sessions at The Hot Yoga Spot are designed to help you look and feel your best. We offer gift cards in any amount so this is the perfect gift to fit any budget. For your convenience, gift cards can be purchased in three easy ways and can be enjoyed at all of our locations.

In addition to our customized certificates that can be purchased in any amount, you can also take advantage of these limited time holiday offers:

• Pay $150 for a gift card worth $165 ($15 value)
• Pay $250 for a gift card worth $280 ($30 value)
• Pay $350 for a gift card worth $400 ($50 value)

Do you make a New Year's Resolution every year and find that you have given up or forgotten it before you've had a chance to see any results? Chances are it is the same part of your life that needs improvement every time so you set the same goal year after year.

The Hot Yoga Spot has put together a list of ways you can stay on track and live your best life. Most of these tips can be employed to help you reach any goal, whether it is losing weight, creating more time for exercise, finding a job you enjoy, spending more time being mindful, enjoying more adventures, or anything else you desire. Make this the year when your resolution becomes your reality by following these helpful hints:

• Be vocal about your goals. Sharing what you want with those you know is a great way to create accountability and stay motivated. Sharing your resolution can be something as simple as talking with your family, posting something on social media, or chatting with your coworkers at lunch. Letting others know what you are working on will make you more likely to keep working on it (especially with constant encouragement from those who know what you are up to).

• Write your plan. If you want to be successful at something, you need a clear plan of action. If your goal is to lose weight, start tracking your meals in advance and make sure you are prepared each day with healthy snacks and recipes to stay on track. If your goal is to exercise more, start your week by scheduling time for physical activity. Put something on your calendar each day, just like you would any important meeting, and then show up to those exercise appointments. Most phones and computers come with downloadable apps and calendars that will make it easy to make your fitness and nutrition an easy to follow priority.

Albany County officials and community partners create $500,000 grant program for small businesses.

Watch The Hot Yoga Spot Founder, Jessica Fuller, speak about what this means for small business and how it inspires hope for better things to come in 2021.

Watch Now

It’s time to talk about morning routines.

We know how easy it can be to hit that snooze button, roll out of bed at the last minute, and head to work without taking much time to take care of yourself before starting your day. While it may be a way for you to get a few more minutes of sleep, it is also an easy way to add more stress to your day.

Today, we will be going over a few healthy habits to incorporate into your morning routine for a fresher, happier start to your day. And, if you are in the Albany area and interested in incorporating outdoor yoga sessions into your week, contact our yoga studio — The Hot Yoga Spot — today! Our yoga studio is taking these extra measures in order to keep our staff and fellow yogis safe and healthy during this time.

When it comes to finding an exercise that is simple to do and only requires a quality pair of shoes, running is the perfect solution. Not only is it a great way to get fit, but it also gets a great, feel-good boost of endorphins flowing and allows you to form new relationships with other runners. Oftentimes, the most difficult part of running is figuring out where to begin — which is what we will be covering in today’s post.

Read on to learn more about how to start (and stick with) a running regime, and to complement that regime, contact us or stop by The Hot Yoga Spot in Albany today to take a hot yoga class!

Contact Us

The Hot Yoga Spot owner was featured in Times Union Women At Work section about how she stayed connected and enhanced business during quarantine.

"As I write this, The Hot Yoga Spot has been closed for almost two months. We have been open for almost a decade and words can't describe how much we've missed the sweaty hugs, the powerful classes, the laughs and the tears that we usually get to share across our five Capital Region locations. Although we are devastated to be closed and are missing everyone dearly, we are focusing on the silver lining of this situation and we are excited to enhance our business model and reopen better than ever when the time is right..."

Read the full essay here.

Taking care of yourself is always important, but with the world having to completely change the way it operates with the outbreak of COVID-19, it is crucial that we take the time out of our days to take care of ourselves and listen to our bodies and minds.

For many of us, this abrupt pandemic also caused us to lose the place where we would go to treat our bodies and minds with love and respect — the yoga studio. One day we were doing Tadasanas and the next we were stuck at home looking at our mats wondering how we move forward with our usual yoga routines. This has made many feel uncertain, lost, and unmotivated, and has caused many practices to come to a halt.

This is why we wanted to focus today’s post on providing guidance and tips for jumping back into your yoga practice and maintaining it until your yoga studio reopens its doors to you and your fellow yogis to flow together once again. If you have any other questions about cultivating your home yoga practice, please don’t hesitate to contact our yoga studio, The Hot Yoga Spot in Albany and across the Capitol Region, today.

Contact Us Today!

Celebrate Mother's Day with The Hot Yoga Spot. Join us with your loved ones for virtual classes, take advantage of amazing gift card specials and more.

Have you ever taken a moment to think about how your breath and body feel when you are relaxed as opposed to when you are stressed and tense? Next time you feel calm and relaxed, take note of how your body is feeling. Do you notice that your breath is slower and deeper? Without you even realizing it, those deeper breaths are sending signals to your brain to calm down and relax. In today’s post, we are going to be discussing a few excellent breathing exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine or whenever you are feeling stressed in order to bring your body and mind back to a state of peace. If you have any further questions or are interested in learning more about the power of breath, contact our yoga studio, The Hot Yoga Spot, today!

Contact Our Yoga Studio Today

Good sleeping habits play an important part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Quality sleep can improve memory, promote emotional stability, and plays an essential role in many of the body's healing and metabolic functions.

However, many people struggle with falling asleep and staying asleep. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to promote more restful sleep. For example, yoga poses that help with sleep can be a great way to unwind and de-stress before bed. In addition to the flexibility and relaxation benefits of yoga, just having a nightly pre-bedtime routine can be a powerful tool for ensuring higher-quality sleep. Read on to see some yoga poses that can help you get the restful sleep your body needs.

About Yoga Poses for Sleep

To be as effective as possible, a nighttime yoga routine should be tailored to meet the needs of each individual. Skill level, sleep habits and chronic problems like restless legs or ongoing back pain should all be taken into account when planning a routine. Most importantly, a nighttime yoga routine shouldn't be strenuous - the key is to relax and get in tune with your body. A more challenging routine may send the wrong message to the brain or body, signaling them that now is the time to be awake, alert and active. Ideal poses that can aid in stress relief and help to promote better sleep include:

Stress levels around New York State have spiked in the last week and the Capital Region has not been immune. As the number of local diagnoses of COVID-19 rises and as officials encourage people to stay home, The Gazette spoke with a few local experts about how exercising at home is helping people cope with the stress of the constantly-shifting situation.

One of the most common at-home exercises that can help with stress-management is yoga, and, despite having to close earlier this week, The Hot Yoga Spot hasn’t stopped offering classes; they’ve just shifted to virtual ones.

“We’re going to be putting up a bunch of classes for free on our website,” said owner Jessica Fuller.

Read the full virtual article here.

Jessica Fuller, CEO and Owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, says "As long as you're not sick... keep going to the gym, going to a yoga studio, getting your sweat on... being a healthy person is the best way to continue being a healthy person."

Fuller tells CBS6’s Lynsey Smith that it's about reassuring her customers that steps are being taken to ensure cleanliness in her studios.

See the interview here

The Hot Yoga Spot founder and C.E.O. was quoted in Livestrong about the importance of inclusivity in yoga and fitness.

"When Jessica Fuller decided to start teaching yoga in upstate New York, she was frustrated by the limited options for students who had chronic pain, arthritis or who were elderly or overweight.

So, she started her own studio, The Hot Yoga Spot, which now has nearly 50 instructors and offers a variety of hot yoga classes that are open to all, thanks to her emphasis on teacher training..."

Read the article.

As the new year comes around, many people are setting aside time to think about their goals for the upcoming year. These resolutions can come in many forms - whether you want to score a new job, make more time for yourself, start a new hobby, lose weight, or get stronger, a commitment to yoga can help you to reach all the other goals on your resolution list.

Yoga offers both immediate and long-term benefits for your body and mind. Not only does yoga contribute to your well-being, but it can also help you to realize your intentions and achieve your objectives. Starting a yoga practice can build a physical and mental core that affects all aspects of your life.

If you have already embraced the benefits of yoga, making a resolution to maintain (or even enhance) your practice can take your physical and mental wellness to a new level. Yoga guides you to a centered space and offers you a compass with which to navigate the challenges of life. Read on to see how your yoga practice can help you to visualize and achieve the other resolutions on your New Year’s list.

Physical Benefits

Yoga offers a restorative way to reduce tension and focus on your body’s stability and balance. It can help you to loosen up areas of tightness and strengthen areas of weakness, enhancing physical ability and harmony. If you have physical or health goals this upcoming year, Yoga can play an important role in achieving those goals.

Hot yoga has been growing in popularity in recent years. These classes are different than your typical yoga class because the temperature of the room ranges from 90 to 100 degrees or more. Research has shown that there are great benefits of hot yoga, including improved flexibility, balance and strength.

With any form of exercise, there are some risks associated with practice. However, they are easily avoidable if you know the right way to prepare! Hot yoga can make you feel and look your best, but you should avoid making the following common mistakes to practice as safely as possible. It is also a good idea to discuss your interest in practicing with a doctor prior to taking a class, particularly if you have low blood pressure or heart issues.

Mistake #1: Not Drinking Water

The intense heat of a hot yoga class combined with performing physical exercises will cause you to sweat (a lot). You need to be prepared by drinking water before, during if possible, and especially after the class. Make an effort to drink a healthy amount of water before and after class, and take breaks to drink during class should you need to.

Mistake #2: Pushing Yourself Too Hard

The holidays are often about what we can do for others and that’s great. At the end of the day, nothing will make you feel better and more fulfilled than doing for others, promoting kindness and spreading cheer. That’s why we’ve been posting daily tips on ways to make others happier this holiday season with our December Kindness Calendar. Be sure to check it out and follow along with us daily to be your best self this month.

That being said, you can’t fill from an empty cup. The holidays are a special time of year but they can also be very draining and difficult. Financial obligations, personal commitments, end of year deadlines at work and more can lead to a very challenging time. For this reason, we put together a list of five things you can buy and do for yourself at The Hot Yoga Spot this month to change your life and improve your practice. These ideas range in price to fit any budget and include everything from enjoying a relaxing workshop to adventuring on the vacation of your life.

1- Yoga Workshops

A yoga workshop is a great way to explore your practice in a new way and pamper yourself when you need it. Workshop prices start as low as $25 and do a world of good for you and the way you feel. At The Hot Yoga Spot, we offer workshops and special events across the Capital Region to help you feel your best. This Saturday we have two great options to choose from. Enjoy a Holiday Self Care workshop with Mary Beth at The Hot Yoga Spot Clifton Park or a Restorative Aerial experience with Elissa at The Hot Yoga Spot Stuyvesant Plaza. Both of these are designed to help you relax, release and recharge this holiday season. You can come alone or sign up with a friend and make a say out of treating yourself right and connecting with yourself and each other. Click here to learn about our special offerings this month.

As we look forward to our tenth year together, we will be celebrating with our unending attitude of gratitude. In honor of Giving Tuesday, we ask that you join us in following our Calendar of Kindness for the remainder of 2019. From now through the end of the year, we’ll post a simple, easy to perform task on our Instagram that promotes peace and harmony this holiday season. We'll eve provide tips and ideas to implement the kindness calendar and help brighten the season for those you care about (and yourself)!

To learn more and participate in the spirit of giving and helping others, be sure to follow us on Instagram. If you aren't on social media, save save the calendar on this blog post and follow along each day!

‘Tis the season for presents, Black Friday crowds, family time...and yoga? It may not be your first thought, but the holiday season is actually the perfect time to incorporate yoga into your routine. There are many ways hot yoga and barre fitness can help you feel like your best self as the holiday season approaches.

Beat Holiday Stress

We all know how stressful the holidays can be. There are gifts to buy, families to entertain, homes to clean and lots of decorations to be hung. Yoga is the perfect solution to help you stay calm during the hectic holiday season.

Yoga incorporates practices such as meditation, deep breathing and stretching that are great for helping you to reduce stress. A yoga practice also provides time for you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and instead focus on yourself and your needs. Consider attending a class between holiday parties or shopping trips to get some much needed relaxation.

Ward Off Cold & Flu Season

With the fun of the holidays also comes the much-dreaded cold and flu season. Make sure you don’t end up in bed with a nasty virus this year by taking proactive steps to strengthen your immune system. Yoga is a form of exercise and relieves stress, both of which makes it a great immune-boosting practice.

Jessica Fuller, Founder & C.E.O. of The Hot Yoga Spot was featured on Livestrong.com for her advice on how to practice hot yoga at home.

"Jessica Fuller, instructor, and founder of The Hot Yoga Spot suggests painting the walls a soothing color, add a few paintings, a little waterfall, a plant, meditation pillows, candles or a statue to enhance the space. She also recommends designating a focal point in the room upon which to center your drishti or yogic gaze."

Read the article.

Yoga and barre are both great ways to become more centered, to slim down, and to build your strength and endurance. This is especially true for our bootcamp style classes which we offer across our six studio locations. Read on to see how to prepare for these challenging classes, and what to expect when you get on your mat.

What To Expect

If you've attended a hot yoga class or one of our other heated class options before, you'll know that our heated yoga classes are, well, hot! However, we turn the heat down a bit for our bootcamp style classes. Barre Bootcamp is conducted at a temperature range of 80 degrees to 90 degrees, our YOD class is set at 90-95 degrees, and our Ignite classes are unheated. While the temperature is a bit lower than in some of the other classes, these classes combine an intense workout with a mix of barre, yoga, ballet, and sports conditioning. When you attend any of these classes, you should expect to get a thorough workout and sweat!

How To Prepare For Your Class

As with any tough workout, it's essential for you to properly prepare for your class to get the most out of your session. If you will be attending a morning session, you may want to eat a light but nutritious snack about 30 minutes before it such as a banana or yogurt with some berries. You should also drink 8 ounces of water 30 minutes before a morning session. If your session will occur in the evening, drink about half of your weight in ounces of water throughout the day. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, try to drink 70 fluid ounces of water during the day before your session. Staying well-hydrated before you attend a bootcamp class is important, as you'll lose fluid throughout the sweaty class.

Recently I had the gift of a weekend at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, with world renowned teachers Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee. The theme of the weekend’s workshop was The Full Scope of Yoga, exploring asana, pranayama and meditation.

The Hot Yoga Spot has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association for our annual summer solstice yoga fundraiser, “The Longest Day” for the past 3 years, and this year the Alzheimer’s Association had a fundraising contest for yoga studios. We were not aware of this when we registered for this year’s event, and were excited to learn we had the highest fundraising of all yoga studios in New York State. This demonstrates the power of our community to come together in service and for good. As the winning studio, I represented The Hot Yoga Spot at Omega. It truly felt like a full circle moment when Rodney and Colleen walked in the room Friday night, as I used to enjoy yoga with Rodney’s DVDs in the early years of my practice when there were not many classes available, and now I was attending their program as a teacher.

When Rodney and Colleen walked in the practice room Friday night, I will admit I felt a little starstruck. However, they greeted everyone like we were old friends and they engaged with the group and each participant of the class throughout the weekend. They are warm, funny and unassuming, but their knowledge and teaching is deep and powerful. As the workshop title promised, we delved into the full scope of yoga, and equal time was spent on philosophy, asana, pranayama and meditation.

Join your favorite yoga studio on December 21 at 7:30 for our 8th annual holiday party. Enjoy food, drinks and fun with our community at Ships Pub.

Click here to RSVP.

With so many New Yorkers now interested in yoga, the demand for trainers is at an all-time high. If you have a passion for teaching others and are looking to take your yoga experience to the next level, now's the time to consider becoming a yoga instructor. Read on to learn more about the yoga teacher certification process.

Getting Started

The first step is to register in a yoga teacher training course. Although you must pay for the cost of tuition, it’s more affordable than you may think. Some studios like The Hot Yoga Spot even offer payment plans so you can pay for your program over time. Or, you can further reduce your cost of tuition by applying for a meal/trade scholarship.

As you know, there are different forms of yoga, so consider what style you enjoy the most and look for programs that focus on those teachings. Classes are typically held on Saturdays and Sundays, so it's best to sign up for a program when you know you're weekends will be free. Also keep in mind that before receiving your certification, you'll need around 200 hours of training.

What Can I Expect During the Training Classes?

A Yoga certification class involves more than just hands-on training. There’s also some reading required. These books are designed to give you greater knowledge about the subject of yoga, and you’ll learn about the various poses and anatomy.

Yoga impacts your body, mind and spirit in a range of different ways. If you are trying to limit the signs of aging, this ancient practice can help. Through your yoga practice, you can limit the effects of aging on the body, relive common symptoms, and age more gracefully by improving common physical symptoms of getting older.

Alleviate Osteoporosis

Unfortunately, one out of three women and one out of five men will suffer from osteoporosis. This disease causes your bone density to weaken, which makes you more susceptible to bone fractures. Yoga naturally prevents this from happening because it is a weight-bearing exercise. It helps to increase your bone density and strengthen your skeleton. For example, weight-bearing lunges like Warrior I, Side-Angle Pose and Warrior II can help build leg and hip strength.

Get Better Sleep

Insomnia is a common problem as people age. One of the best anti-aging benefits of yoga is for helping with sleep problems. Yoga's slow, intentional breathing helps to induce a sense of calmness. By doing yoga before bed, people can fall asleep faster and enjoy a longer, deeper rest. In addition, yoga increases the amount of melatonin in the body, which can also help with sleep problems.

Yoga has been shown to have many positive benefits on people’s health and well-being. The consistent practice of yoga can help calm stress and anxiety, ease muscle pain and soreness, and yoga can even cure insomnia.

If you’re looking for a calming addition to your bedtime routine, yoga may be the solution for you. We’ll talk you through these four benefits to practicing yoga before bed, and by the time we’re done, you’ll be convinced that this is something you should try out.

1. You Will Silence Your Monkey Mind

Monkey mind is something almost all of us experience. At the end of a long day, it’s sometimes nearly impossible to turn your brain off. Our thoughts endlessly spin in our head and no matter how hard we try, we can’t simply quiet it to have a peace of mind.

Practicing yoga can help you clear your mind and finally silence all the chaos. Through deep breathing and stretching, you will be able to focus on the here-and-now and simply be instead of do.

"Ask any world weary traveler and they’ll tell you: Jet lag is probably the worst part of taking a long haul flight.

And if you’re the type of traveler who loves to globetrot, you’ve probably taken several long-haul flights in your lifetime and had countless experiences feeling exhausted, sore, and cranky afterwards. Not only can jet lag be a big downer for your mood, it can also be a big time suck when you finally land in your destination.

Jessica Fuller, owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, which has locations in northern New York including Albany, Saratoga, and Clifton Park, agrees that hot yoga is perfect for any tired traveler. Travel + Leisure spoke to Fuller about how to use this practice for your travel self-care routine..."

Read the article in Travel & Leisure.

Read the article on Yahoo Lifestyle.

A hot yoga class is a strenuous activity that requires a fuel strategy. Whether you're taking one of our heated Barkan yoga classes, a Bikram class, or one of our high-intensity interval training classes, it's important to properly fuel up before stepping on your mat. Properly preparing for your class can give you the energy to do that last rep, or sustain that challenging pose. If you're heading to our hot yoga studio any time soon, it's important to consider how to eat and drink for fuel and recovery.

Before Your Yoga Class

Some people prefer not to eat before exercising, especially if they exercise early in the morning. But if you tend to feel like you lose energy throughout your workout, consider eating a snack about 1-2 hours beforehand. Whole and/or light options, such as a banana or 2-3 rice cakes, are best. If that doesn't feel like enough, add a small spread of protein. Peanut butter, almond butter, or avocado are all great options. It's also important to avoid simple sugars that could lead to a crash later on.

Additionally, make sure to hydrate before class. Without proper hydration, you might feel fatigued or overly thirsty as the class progresses. You may also experience dizziness or headaches. Remember that the room will be very hot, so drink water like you would on a late summer day.

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin yoga is a slower moving yoga practice during which you will hold postures for a longer duration of time. Each pose may be held anywhere from 2-10 minutes. The style of Yin Yoga we offer at The Hot Yoga Spot comes from the teaching lineage of Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers.

Why is it called Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga gets its name from the Chinese concept of yin and yang. Yin refers to things that are passive, negative, dark, earthy, watery, cloudy, cool, delicate and soft. Yang refers to things that are active, bright, sunny, hot, hard, dry, and rigid. Both qualities reside in everything however most things tend to be either more yin or more yang.

Why should I practice Yin Yoga?

Yin yoga is a lovely compliment for both the body and mind for those who tend to practice more yang (active) styles of yoga such as Vinyasa or Bikram. Our bodies need a balance of both yin and yang. Yin yoga specifically works to target the connective tissues (Fascia, ligaments, tendons) of the body to help increase circulation to the joints as well as increase flexibility. Holding each posture with only a moderate amount of sensation does this. Most people who practice yin yoga once or twice a week experience less stress in their body and are able to excel more efficiently during their other practices or workouts.

The capital region's only free mass yoga event happens just ahead of the PearlPalooza music festival in downtown Albany on September 14, 2019. See owner of The Hot Yoga Spot and owner of The Hollow on WNYT talking about what makes this event so special.

Watch the video.

Interested in taking a New York Power Yoga class?. Traditionally known as Vinyasa yoga, this form of yoga was created to promote a classical Indian style form. It typically involves a hot environment, controlled breathing, and other factors designed to build a person up. What's interesting about this form is that it has proven to be one of the most effective activities on both the physical and mental side of things. Not only does it have immediate beneficial effects, but it also promotes a happy and healthy lifestyle that will keep you coming back for more classes. In other words, there are always new things to look forward to in a yoga class. That said, for beginners, there are a few things to expect from a power yoga class that will prepare you to receive the full benefits of a class. With this in mind, let's go over four things to expect at a your first class:

#1: A Mental Challenge

Most yoga beginners believe that a yoga class will offer more of a physical challenge than anything else. Because of this, some beginners who are in good shape from other physical activities feel that they can go breeze through any yoga class. However, many are taken by surprise to see how much of a mental challenge comes out if it. While most yoga positions aren't that difficult to do, it is the combination of smaller factors such as a hot environment that make it a mental battle.

1-Harrison, my adorable two-and-a-half-year-old son, wears prescription glasses.

2- I’m an only child and both of my parents moved here from Long Island when I decided to officially relocate after college.

3- I opened my first The Hot Yoga Spot on the corner of Western Ave. and Fuller Road in 2010 when I was 23 years old. Thanks to so many amazing, supportive yogis, we relocated just a few months later to Stuyvesant Plaza to create more space for more mats.

Click here to read all 20 facts featured in the Times Union.

July 2019, Edible Capital District Magazine; In 2010, she opened the Hot Yoga Spot in Albany and was the only instructor; now there are five studios in the Capital District, with 45 teachers. In 2018, she opened BARE, a vegetarian eatery offering bowls, smoothies and juices in Guilderland.

She’s onto something: According to a National Health Interview Survey released in November of 2018, three times more U.S. adults are turning to yoga and meditation now, compared to numbers five years ago. Eating sustainably produced, healthful foods is also on the rise. Now, 60% of consumers are concerned about sustainability, an increase from 50% the previous year, according to a study conducted by Food Insight.

Read the full interview here.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Most of us are used to seeing yoga practiced on a mat, but at The Hot Yoga Spot in Albany, they’re taking yoga off the ground and into the air. It’s not just an excuse to look and feel like a superhero, though that’s definitely a perk. Aerial yoga has specific benefits for your body and brain.

Instructors at The Hot Yoga Spot in Albany tell News10 that practicing on the silks releases tension in the spine. And from a sensory perspective, linear swinging is calming and organizing for the brain.

Watch the video here.

"Some people come to The Hot Yoga Spot every day and don’t go to any other studios, and they feel great and it works well for them. Others come as a supplement for other workouts. If you are doing other programs, you still need the yoga to counteract what you're doing in those workouts. Our business complements other fitness brands instead of competing with them—we’ll team up with other places and do events. It gets new clients in our doors and shows them the benefits of hot yoga that their current workouts don’t cover."

Read the full interview here.

The Hot Yoga Spot founder, Jessica Fuller, was recently featured in Mindful Studio Magazine. "Yoga teaches us to push aside ego, learn from others, accept help and embrace guidance. The dream of opening a yoga studio is sometimes foolishly dismissed as unrealistic, but of course it is possible. With yoga, anything is. And it is possible to open a successful studio and for you to shape your future by exploring the franchise options available to you."

Learn more about her thoughts on how to open a yoga studio and how becoming part of a franchise can help

Click here to read the full article.

Looking for outdoor yoga classes outside of NYC? Look no further than The Hot Yoga Spot! We have a variety of outdoor events scheduled for this summer and can't wait to meet you on the mat. Read on to learn more about our next three outdoor yoga events:

Annual Yoga Fundraiser - June 21st

Celebrate international yoga day AND the first official day of summer at our annual yoga fundraiser! This event is free and open to the public, and all donations will be given to the Alzheimer's Association. This class will take place at Stuyvesant Plaza, on the grass at the Fuller Rd entrance. Get more details on the Facebook event page, and invite your friends and family for a day of community while giving back to a meaningful cause. When you make your reservation you also receive free gift cards from our friends at Athleta and The Body Spot. Click here to sign up.

There are a lot of myths about hot yoga that keep people from trying it out, even though most of them are completely untrue. In this post, we’re going to debunk the biggest myths about hot yoga and hopefully, entice more people to join our growing community.

Myth #1: I have to be flexible.

The biggest misconception about hot yoga — or, indeed, any type of yoga — is that you have to be flexible. But do note that the ability to bend and twist is not a prerequisite to any yoga practice; it’s actually something that you develop over time. There are modifications for all types of bodies and you won’t be forced to touch your toes or contort your body unnaturally if you’re not there yet.

If you’re still unconvinced, just look at several male athletes who are not naturally limber, like NBA’s Blake Griffin. He told Sports Illustrated that yoga helps him relieve tension in areas that have gotten stiff as a result of training, which also improves his flexibility. The heat actually works specifically for boosting blood flow, loosening tight muscles in the process.

Myth #2: It won’t help me lose weight.

Owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, Jessica Fuller, was interviewed for her opinion on best website platforms for franchises:

“I use SpaceCraft for my franchise website. They were a natural choice because I also use them for my other businesses and corporate-owned locations,” Jessica Fuller, founder and CEO of The Hot Yoga Spot, wrote in an email. “The platform is easy to use, provides plenty of customization options, integrates SEO and provides easy-to-understand analytics.”

Click here to read the article.

With the variety of yoga classes available at The Hot Yoga Spot, beginner students and those new to our studios may not know which class they should take first. If you find yourself in this situation, keep reading to learn a bit more about the classes we offer at our New York yoga studio.

1.) Beginner Sessions

Our beginner yoga classes are created for newbies in mind and have a slower flow and more detailed pose descriptions. These are perfect for those who haven't taken a yoga class in a while, or even seasoned yogis who want to slow it down. Beginner level classes include our Gentle Yoga, Yoga Flow, Flexibility Flow, Slow Flow and Yoga Detox

2.) Fast-Paced Flow

For those ready to pick up the pace, try our Power Yoga and Vinyasa Flow class, both of which have faster flows and more advanced movements than our beginner options. If you're feeling intimidated, don't - our experienced instructors are there to help you with the positions.

3.) Turn Up The Heat

If you've taken a heated yoga class before and love the sweaty vibes, you'll find yourself right at home in our studios. We offer Bikram yoga classes which are always at 105 degrees and feature a specific 26-posture sequence every time. Two other challenging sweaty options include our Baptiste Yoga classes, a blend of Bikram, Ashtanga and Iyengar in a fast-flowing format, and Barkan Yoga class, a series of familiar Bikram poses with a vinyasa flow flair.

Any serious runner understands the immense benefit that cross training has on the body and its performance. Whether it be biking, swimming or yoga, cross training possibilities are endless. One of the best complements to any running routine is hot yoga. Hot yoga incorporates the traditional yoga poses and breathing exercise but adds the element of heat. With a typical hot yoga class averaging approximately 90-100 degrees, this workout is destined to work up a sweat.

Incorporating hot yoga into your exercise routine boasts a myriad of benefits for runners:

BREATH REGULATION: More than any other type of physical activity, hot yoga relies on proper breath control to lead the movements and flow through class. Any runner understands the value of learning to focus on breathing, especially during those last few grueling miles on a long-distance run. Practicing hot yoga trains your body to rely on its breath for assistance in physical endurance activities which makes it an invaluable activity for runners.

FOOT STRENGTH: The balance exercises practiced in hot yoga classes help to strengthen feet. These yoga moves also make feet more stable and able to stand up to the pressure of taking the brunt of running.

The Hot Yoga Spot had the pleasure of appearing in an episode of Backyard Envy on Bravo alongside our good friends at June Farms. We hosted Goat Yoga for the hosts and had a lot of fun in the process.

Click here to watch our clip from the episode.

At the Hot Yoga Spot, we believe that a healthy community helps yoga practitioners amplify the physical and mental benefits of yoga. By creating connections both within our studio and throughout the surrounding community, we're able to give our yoga students a place to call home. Whether you're a new yogi looking for likeminded individuals, or simply looking to give back to your community, learn how we foster community in many different ways.

Posting Teacher Profiles and Student Testimonials Online

We always publish detailed profiles of our yoga teachers on our site so that potential members can find the right classes and yoga instructors with ease. We also publish student testimonials that allow current and future members to know what they can expect from a specific class or teacher beforehand, and help make the transition into our community easier.

Weekly Special Events

When you practice yoga at The Hot Yoga Spot, you won't be subjected to a monotonous workout regimen. We spice up the schedule with unique weekly workshops and events that introduce members to new people and techniques. The end result is a more educated and satisfied community of yoga lovers.

I work out once every year and it’s when we shoot these squad workout videos. After which it takes me one week to recover physically, 51 more to recover emotionally, and then I’m ready to pump iron again. For as long as my metabolism keeps up to the par it is at I will stick with this formula, and then I will probably cave to Taylor’s wish to join her at the gym. But for now, we tested out BarreFlow, a very popular workout group based in the Capital Region that combines barre and yoga.

John and I are fit for neither, but we made it through to tell the tale.

Click here to see our struggle and watch the fun.

In today's world and the rise of social media, many are tempted to measure themselves and their bodies against others. This can lead to fixating on a perceived flaw, causing anxiety, feelings of low self-worth, and even depression. The practice of yoga can help you to end the negative self-talk and focus on a more positive internal environment. By connecting your breath with your body's movements, yoga can help you slow down and pay attention to your body, the way you move, and the wisdom that you hold inside of yourself. Read on to see several ways that taking yoga classes can help to improve your self-esteem and body image.

Yoga helps you to separate yourself from unrealistic media images

In today's society, everyone is constantly bombarded with images in the media that portray people in an unrealistic light. You might see glossy photographs of women who appear to be impossibly thin and flawless and men who have perfect, buff bodies. These images are often airbrushed, edited, and photoshopped to remove the natural "flaws" that many have. When you practice yoga, you can get away from the need to attain perfection and simply learn to appreciate every movement and breath that your body has to offer to you. Yoga can help you to rid yourself of body image problems that have been encouraged by our culture.

The Hot Yoga Spot is so excited to help CoreLife Eatery host their annual YogaFeast this year in Clifton Park.

Join us for a beautiful day of yoga, nourishing food, warming teas, wellness vendors pop up shopping and much more.

• Southern Saratoga YMCA
• Sunday April 7 8:30-1:30

Click here to learn more and sign up.

Owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, Jessica Fuller, and yoga instructor Dr. Jen White join Jill to talk about how beneficial yoga is. Click here to see the video.

To celebrate the 20th year of The Albany Business Review's 40 Under 40 program, they highlighted some of the most influential past winners across different industries. Included in this list was owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, Jessica Fuller, as one of 12 Creative Economy Influencers in the Capital Region

Read the article and learn more about the influencers.

Thanks to our friends at Spectrum News for joining us live from The Hot Yoga Spot to celebrate our grand re-opening at Stuyvesant Plaza.

As we enter into the New Year, many people feel invigorated and ready to take on their health and fitness resolutions. For many people, losing weight is high up on their goals for 2019. If getting fit and losing some pounds is on your to-do list, we encourage you to try a yoga class with us and take advantage of the mental, physical, and emotional benefits that yoga can provide. Read on to learn about these benefits of Yoga, and how they can help you reach your weight loss goals this year.

Yoga Promotes Mental, Physical and Emotional Health

While many people focus on yoga's physical benefits such as it’s calorie burning and strength building power, yoga classes can also help your mental and emotional health as well. It helps to heal your body, mind and soul. During your class, you get to live in the present moment and practice mindfulness. A regular yoga practice can reduce anxiety, decrease stress, improve your quality of life, and improve sleep quality, all of which ca improve your overall quality of live. By promoting mindfulness, yoga can also help you make healthier eating choices, which is arguably the most important part of losing weight.

Lower Stress

Thanks to our friends at Girlnetic for posting about The Hot Yoga Spot's recent franchise launch. We are so excited to be the first female owned fitness franchise from the Capital Region. Click here to read more.

Albany, NY – The Hot Yoga Spot (THYS), the area’s premier yoga and fitness facility with five local studios, has again expanded its Albany location, which will serve as headquarters and training center for the newly created The Hot Yoga Spot franchise. For the past year, owner Jessica Fuller has worked with a franchise development team to expand THYS brand. THYS is the first woman-owned, fitness franchise to be founded in Albany.

What was once a simple, single yoga studio located in Stuyvesant Plaza, is now the site of four. The newly opened Sky studio joins Sun, Moon and Stars, while increasing the overall space to 7,500 square feet. Fuller has twice renovated this site since 2011, less than a year after THYS opened. With this third and most recent expansion, the fourth studio at THYS will hold anti-gravity, aerial yoga sessions. With 16 hammocks secured to the ceiling, the aptly named Sky studio will allow students to experience a gentle practice while floating above their mat. Unlike the other studios, which are typically warmed between 90-105 degrees, Sky will not be heated and Fuller intends to use the room for special events, seminars, workshops, non-hot yoga classes and training for franchisees. With the aerial classes now on the schedule, the weekly class offerings at Stuyvesant Plaza has increased to 75, bumping the number of opportunities to practice across all locations to more than 200. THYS’s robust schedule includes Bikram, Baptiste, traditional vinyasa, yin, meditation and barre.

Want to achieve your best body yet this winter? Then follow the advice of our pals over at Girlnetic and try barre fitness classes at The Hot Yoga Spot. Click the link to read this article and learn four reasons why these classes are the perfect way to beat the winter blues and feel your best all year.

We are so excited about the New Year and all of the new opportunities that 2019 brings for growth in our community and personal development. This is also a perfect chance to reflect on last year and the transformation we experienced as a community in 2018. In addition to our ever growing assortment of classes and offerings, we also accomplished some amazing things together with exciting workshops, powerful fundraisers, new yoga styles and more.

We want to acknowledge all of the great accomplishments of our community in 2018 and say how excited we are for even more change, challenge, improvement and discovery this year. It's pretty amazing to see what people can do when you come together to feel good and do good.

125,957 visits to one of our 5 Capital Region studio locations

6,424 new students tried their first class at The Hot Yoga Spot

Raised more than $10,000 with yoga fundraisers

1721 students in 110 yoga workshops

Approximately 600 yogis celebrated summer with us at two epic outdoor yoga events

Practicing yoga has long been considered one of the best ways to stay fit and release stress. While traditional yoga is great for the mind and body, Aerial yoga has a few additional benefits. We’ve recently rolled out new Aerial yoga classes at our Albany studio, and we encourage both newbies and longtime yogis to try this exciting new offering. Read on to learn more about what to expect at an Aerial yoga class, and the benefits that Aerial yoga can provide.

What is Aerial Yoga?

Aerial yoga, also referred to as anti-gravity yoga, shares a lot similarities with traditional yoga. However, there’s a big difference. When participating in aerial yoga classes, the weight of your body will be supported by a hammock. This means you’ll be suspended in the air! It’s a great option for beginners and experienced yoga performers.

What Are the Benefits of Aerial Yoga?

1. Great for Back Sufferers

While everyone can benefit from aerial yoga classes, they’re especially great for people experiencing back pain. Because of the hammock’s support, far less pressure is placed upon your joints. Aerial yoga also doesn’t strain the spine, which is a huge advantage for back pain sufferers. You’ll be able to obtain a full body workout without any discomfort.

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of celebration. Unfortunately, it often becomes a source of anxiety for many people. Whether you’re preparing a Thanksgiving feast or shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts, the extra load can make the holidays seem more like a job opposed to a celebration. Yoga is among the best activities to put your mind at ease. Here’s how yoga classes can help with holiday stress.

Gives You Some Extra “Me” Time

During the holidays, family and friends may demand a lot of your attention. While there’s nothing wrong with catering to your loved ones, you still need some “me” time. You can't pour from an empty glass so don’t be ashamed to put yourself first sometimes. Participating in just 60 minutes of yoga will help you to get away from it all and will help you feel renewed and ready for the next task.

Triggers the Release of Serotonin

Don’t allow the demanding holiday season to prevent you from working out. Exercising is one of the key aspects of good health. Staying active also helps reduce tension. You should definitely consider the benefits of yoga for stress. Unlike running, yoga is considered a low-impact activity. This means you’re able to exercise without putting any unnecessary pressure on your joints. When performing yoga poses, the brain produces an extra amount of serotonin. This “feel good” hormone can dramatically improve your mood and have you enjoying the holiday spirit in even more abundance.

Barre has become one of today's hottest forms of cross-training, and for good reason. It can take your fitness to the next level by enhancing strength and improving flexibility, all during a fun, music-driven class. If you're a runner, you should definitely consider taking barre classes. Let's take a look at the key benefits.

Low-Impact Exercises

Running is an excellent way to maintain your cardiovascular fitness. However, the constant pounding against the ground can put extra wear and tear on your joints. This means you're at a far greater risk of sustaining an injury. Everyone needs to take a break from time to time. Instead of making running your only form of exercise, consider participating in barre classes. Barre blasts away calories and tones without putting any extra stress on your body.

Strengthens Your Feet

As a runner, it's especially important to have powerful foot muscles. A strong pair of feet will allow you to maintain balance and give you energy for longer runs. A barre workout will definitely help you to build a stronger lower body. Over time, you'll notice that your feet are far less fatigued after a long-distance run.

Thanks to Time Union for featuring our upcoming Yoga-Tequila brunch. The fun happens this weekend and includes yoga with our talented teacher Jaime, tequila tasting, free food and a charitable donation for each participant to Code Blue.

Click here to read more about the event in the Times Union.

Click here to read about the event in The Saratogian.

Join us Saturday, December 8, from 2:00-5:00 pm at The Hot Yoga Spot in Saratoga Springs for our third annual holiday bazaar. This event is a perfect opportunity to support local artists and Saratoga businesses while receiving great discounts on all of your holiday shopping needs. Purchase unique gifts for loved ones (or yourself) while enjoying complimentary refreshments and mingling with the members of our Saratoga community.

Learn More and RSVP.

Whether you want to open your own studio or are simply looking to go deeper into your personal practice, a yoga teacher training program can provide the foundation you need to live a life that's all about yoga. Choosing the right training program for your needs is an essential first step on this new journey. Of course, picking a program can be tough. Here are four key factors that you should weigh when you evaluate a teacher training program.

A Comprehensive Curriculum

If you're looking for your first yoga teacher training class, it's important to look for one that offers a comprehensive curriculum covering different facets of the yoga experience. A well-planned program will offer training on anatomy and physiology, the safe practice of a wide range of asanas, meditation, assisting students, creative asana sequencing and professional ethics.

A Focus on Anatomy

A strong understanding of anatomy and physiology is essential for yoga teachers. Education in anatomy will allow you to lead students in a safe and meaningful yoga practice. It will also help you understand how different bones and joints are involved in a movement. Unfortunately, some teacher training programs omit in-depth anatomy training. Reputable teacher programs, such as the Styles Yoga program at The Hot Yoga Spot, assign students an anatomy manual and provide hands-on instruction in anatomy as well.

The Hot Yoga Spot is excited to host Africa Yoga Project's Handstand, Hugs and Happiness tour for its second annual trip to the Capital Region! This year we will be hosting AYP instructors, Millie and Lizie, as they make their way around the country sharing their energy, love of yoga and mission of empowering change.

I first learned about Africa Yoga Project (AYP) in 2014 after attending Baptiste Level Two, led by AYP founder Paige Elenson. This was also when I met Millie and heard her story - how she discovered AYP, what its has meant to her and how committed she is to sharing it with her community in Kenya and across the world. I knew at that moment that I wanted to get involved with AYP.

The Hot Yoga Spot was a stop on the Fall 2017 HHH tour and was an amazing experience for me, my family and our community. I was so moved and lit up by the end of the weekend. As a community, we raised more than $5000 for AYP and my family got to spend time learning about a different culture and the impact yoga has beyond what I’ve shared. Yoga training has given hundreds of young people living in Africa the ability to provide for their families as certified instructors. They are sharing the practice and the tools with children, elders and people in their communities across Kenya and Africa and our efforts to support AYP makes a big difference. I will make my way back to Africa, but in the meantime, I can do my part here and am thrilled to be bringing AYP back to the area.

On September 15, 2018, more than 400 people lined the streets of downtown Albany with yoga mats for the second annual YogaPalooza ("YP"). This massive yoga event joins people of all ages and backgrounds and encourages connection and community. It was a beautiful, sunny day and you could feel the energy on the streets in anticipation of a one-hour all levels yoga class led by Jess P.

This was my second year on the YP team, which includes endless hours of planning and preparation, meetings, and event promotion behind the scenes. My role on the team also means that on the day of the event I help to welcome students, check people in and assist with strategic mat placement, as well as providing hands on assists to those participating in the class. Assisting is an opportunity for those on their mat to transform their practice by getting deeper into a pose and discovering something new in a posture while experiencing a physical connection. The power of touch is essential for human connection and a simple touch, hug, or brush of skin can mean so much to another being.

The experience of assisting a group this size was a game changer for me and immediately brought me back to Baptiste Level 2, a program I apprenticed in 2016. Being of SERVICE. Giving with NO expectation of receiving. CONNECTION. CONTRIBUTION. I gained the deep understanding of what it actually means to “be of service” and be a stand for others. Above all, the immense gratitude I feel for being part of a movement to make the world a brighter place through sharing yoga is truly life changing and continues to fuel a fire deep within me.

Fit to Lead is a year long training program through the Baptiste Institute. Participants meet quarterly in person and stay connected via monthly video calls. The purpose of the program is to become a natural leader and educator of the Baptiste methodology and have it become a natural expression of who you are. We will have the ability to powerfully and naturally alter what is possible in our classes and in all areas of our lives.

Last week was the second gathering in Park City UT where we spent the week amongst a community of Baptiste leaders from around the world. There are currently 73 participants in this year’s program and it was the first week we were there together. I attended the week one gathering and Jess joined for week two, participating in her 2nd Fit to Lead program. It was our first time sharing the experience together.

Although we traveled together, slept in the same bed and ate many meals together, we were there to be with our wider Baptiste community. We teach together and are two of the three certified Baptiste instructors at The Hot Yoga Spot and co-creators of the Compass Mentorship Program along with Sheryl, who graduated from the Fit to Lead program in 2018.

The Times Union was at our event this past Saturday to photograph everyone enjoying themselves at YogaPalooza and PearlPalooza.

Click this link to find out if you were 'seen?'

Join us at The Hot Yoga Spot in Binghamton, NY for our fall open house. This weekend includes free yoga classes, specials on packages and discounts on our yoga teacher training and apparel. Enjoy free juice, meet our new instructors and mingle with our community. This event is the perfect opportunity to see why The Hot Yoga Spot is the coolest way to get hot.

SEPTEMBER 22 & 23, 2018

• free classes on 9/22
• raffle drawings
• package discounts
• juice samples
• savings on teacher training
• discounted apparel

Our talented instructor, Kayla, was recently featured in a Girlnetic post about how she inspires people in the Capital Region to live healthiest and most active life. Click the link to read the article and learn more about how she became part of The Hot Yoga Spot community as well as owner and head coach at Crossfit For The People.

Choosing a yoga teacher training program can often be a difficult decision. Five years ago there were limited options and you often had to travel to complete a 200-hour program. Now that yoga has become increasingly more popular, there are many local options. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before signing up.

Do you resonate with the instructor?

It’s important to get a feel for the instructor's personality and teaching style. Make sure that what they have to offer is what you are looking for. We suggest taking at least a few of their classes prior to signing up for training. Ask to speak with them about the training if you have any questions.

Are you getting what you pay for?

Most foundational yoga teacher training programs are advertised as 200-hour programs. Do the math and determine how many hours you will be studying directly with an instructor. You will learn the most during these hours and it’s important that you don’t just choose the shortest program for convenience. The more hours you spend in training – the more experienced and knowledgeable you will be as an instructor.

Is the instructor using his or her own materials?

Bikram yoga classes provide opportunities to take part in a challenging and rewarding type of yoga. The experiences result in a number of mental benefits.

Increased Ability to Focus

When people initially enter a Bikram yoga class they can have a non-stop stream of thoughts that may not always be positive. However, they quickly realize that continuing to engage in non-stop thinking can prove near-impossible in that type of environment. This is because the heat and humidity in the room forces the focus to be turned toward the act of breathing and existing in the moment. The positive ramifications of this not only include improved focus during class, but also an improved ability to focus during day to day life. Many also report that if they start off comparing themselves with others in the room, that quickly transitions to solely focusing on themselves as the class progresses, turning their attention inwards.

Reduced Cortisol and Reduced Stress

Bikram yoga has been shown to reduce the amount of cortisol that gets released, which, in most cases, results in reduced stress levels for practitioners. While cortisol is helpful when dealing with stressful situations, too much cortisol is not healthy on a daily basis. It can do things like impair your ability to learn and memorize, reduce the body's immune function, increase blood pressure and cholesterol, result in weight gain and increase the chance of depression. Managing your stress through Bikram yoga can reduce these negative effects of cortisol and help you focus more energy on other healthy habits.

The Hot Yoga Spot offers the Styles Yoga 200 hour and 500 hour teacher training at our Latham and Albany locations. This program is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the tools, knowledge and confidence to teach others. It is also a perfect opportunity for those who love yoga and just want to participate in a training to learn more about it and enhance their lives. Learn more about what our students and teachers feel about their experience doing the Styles Yoga teacher training.

The Baptiste #Unstoppable program took place in Guilderland, NY this week and taught 60 educators the tools to incorporate yoga and meditation into their classrooms. This program was created by Baptiste certified instructor, Melissa Leach, at The Hot Yoga Spot in Stuyvesant Plaza.

Click here to watch the story and learn more about this amazing program.

When you visit our yoga studio, you get to experience all of yoga’s benefits that shape your mind and body. For some students, it’s easy to let your health take a back seat to other things in life. Between a lack of sleep, demanding hours, and poor diet, your body may not be at its best physical and mental state. Practicing hot yoga can result in positive changes that not only make you feel better physically but also emotionally. Read on to learn just some of the benefits of hot yoga for students.

Decrease Stress

If you’re a student, it is not uncommon to feel stressed and anxious. From upcoming tests, presentations, and the stress of being away from home, there are many things that can make you less relaxed than usual. When you experience chronic stress, the endocrine system may release excess cortisol. This hormone can reduce endurance, affect the production of various hormones, influence your mood and impact the functionality of the thyroid. Numerous reports have suggested that yoga can decrease the production of cortisol, and according to certain surveys, just one yoga class may significantly reduce stress for more than two weeks.

Get Rid of Environmental Toxins

• The Hot Yoga Spot Binghamton, NY.
• July 29, 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Join our talented yoga instructor, Jackie, to explore the seven main energy systems of the body known as the Chakra System. Learn where each Chakra is located, take a quiz to assess which of your own Chakras need balancing, and learn the colors, crystals, yoga poses, and activities to balance each one.

The Hot Yoga Spot has partnered with Bellini's Counter to be their fit partner for the month of June. We have created a BC menu item that is delicious, healthy and the perfect way to fuel up after your hot yoga or barre fitness session. Stop by any Bellini's Counter location in the month of June and order our signature item!

The Hot Yoga Spot Namas-Tasty Bowl:

• whole wheat pasta
• greens and beans
• onions and peppers, tomato, artichoke
• shaved parmesan cheese
• marinara sauce and spicy garlic topping

Make sure you grab our partnership punch card when you are THYS in June. This punch card enables you to get your 5th meal free when you eat at Bellini's Counter this summer.

And be sure to join us at Stuyvesant Plaza on June 21. We will be hosting an outdoor yoga fundraiser on the summer solstice to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. This special event will be led by talented teachers from The Hot Yoga Spot and all money raised will be donated. When you stop by Bellini's Counter that day and mention our fundraiser, they are joining in the fundraising fun and donating to the cause.

An inspirational testimonial from our dedicated yogi, Kathleen, on her 65th birthday:

-Today I turn 65. As birthdays go, it’s not an easy one. At 65, most of us have experienced a lot... some good.. some bad... some truly insignificant. And, let’s face it, we’re not young anymore. Our bodies are aging and life is changing. But I feel great!

At 58 I started yoga. Not any yoga but Bikram Yoga. I weighed at least 20 pounds more than what I do today, I had every menopausal symptom there is (hot flashes, sleeplessness, moodiness, you name it). I had back problems (bulging discs, Facets disease, sciatica), knee problems, high blood pressure, a malfunctioning thyroid, pvd in one leg and I was generally miserable. My doctors would say encouraging things like, “your knees are old, give them a break." Or, "why don’t we try this medication next?” Then I went to a Bikram class simply because someone dared to say it would probably be too hard for me. Damn if I’d let that one go! And it was hard. My belly got in the way with most positions. I had no balance. I could barely arch my back and have learned that I have been standing wrong most of my life!

But I continued to go and little by little, things improved. It’s still hard. Some days I don’t feel like being there but when I’m done it’s truly remarkable. I have much more energy than I did 10 years ago, I’m stronger and I’m more mentally alert. I know there are plenty of people my age who do yoga but it was life changing for me and I can now embrace getting older.... kind of! I encourage everyone to try it. The only obstacle is yourself.

Join The Hot Yoga Spot as we lead a yoga class on the field at

Joe Bruno stadium before the Tri-City ValleyCats game. This special event is a night of fun and we can't wait to spend it with our yoga community.

Details for the evening:

Saturday, June 16 at 6:00pm

-Yoga led by Jess P. & Kayla on the field.

-Class starts at 6:00pm so plan on arriving around 5:30.

-After class, stay and watch the game in the designated area for The Hot Yoga Spot community.

-The cost for this event covers the yoga session and a loaded game ticket that includes a $15 credit to use for food, drinks and souvenirs.

80 Vandenburg Ave. Troy, NY 12180

Space for this event is limited so reserve your spot now to have fun with us on June 16. Click here to sign up.

This week's #TeacherFeature is our talented instructor, Stacy. Stacy has been part of our community since she started practicing at The Hot Yoga Spot in early 2015. She developed a deep passion for Bikram yoga in 2017 and participated in the first Hot 26 Revolution training we did last year. She realized during training that she loved the practice so much that she wanted to share it with others so she completed our 200 hour foundational program. She is dedicated to her practice so you can find her on her mat at our different locations 7 times a week. She is a kind and helpful person who is always there when you need her and we are so glad to have her in our community. If you want to see what makes her so special, check out her Bikram yoga classes throughout the week at our various locations.

Are you interested in taking your love for yoga to the next level by becoming a certified yoga teacher? By enrolling in a yoga teacher training program at The Hot Yoga Spot, you'll not only learn how to effectively lead yoga students, but you'll also learn about the physiology of yoga, meditation techniques, and how to market yourself as a yoga teacher. There are foundation training courses as well as advanced programs that allow the student to get certified in specific modalities and techniques. Read on to learn more about what to expect when you enroll in yoga teacher training.

About Yoga Teacher Training

Instruction takes place at different levels of intensity, and includes the option for 60 hour immersions, 200 hours or 300 hours of training. Each training modality maintains the traditional approach to yoga, which requires the teacher to understand the philosophical basis of the practice as well as yoga postures and creating sequences. Students can expect to learn how to sequence a class and teach with confidence. Required readings and recommended work are part of each course. As future hot yoga teachers, each student will also be presented with tools and techniques for assisting a classroom in overcoming the most common problems that happen during a hot yoga session.

This week's #TeacherFeature is the newest addition to our teaching team, Sean. Although Sean just started leading classes at The Hot Yoga Spot, he has been a valued part of our community for years. Sean started taking our yoga classes in early 2016 and quickly became a regular fixture at our various studios. He completed our Styles Yoga 200 hour training and is already almost finished with his 500 hour certification. In addition to foundational programs, Sean has studied with Baron Baptiste and is certified in YOD, Kids Yoga and more. He is a dedicated student and a natural teacher who bring his love for yoga and expansive experience to every class he leads. Come see what makes Sean so terrific on Thursdays at 4:30 at The Hot Yoga Spot Latham.

We care deeply about the health and wellness of our community and know many students enjoy running outside during these warmer months. That is why we have collaborated with local fitness businesses to create a run program for the spring and summer.

Details on the next event:

• Saturday, July 21 at 8:30am at The Crossings - South Pavilion: 580 Albany Shaker Rd, Loudonville.

• Join us for a walk/run led by Mary Beth from The Hot Yoga Spot.

• After the 45 minute run, stay and enjoy a half hour yoga class. The yoga is perfect for all levels and will happen outside in the beautiful park.
• This event is free to attend and open to everyone.

Save the date for future events:

• Wednesday, August 1-Hosted by lululemon
• Saturday, August 18- Hosted by The Revolution

This week’s #teacherfeature is our talented instructor, Leslie. Leslie has been part of our community since we first rolled out our yoga mats in Saratoga. She is as dedicated to her personal yoga practice as she is to teaching awesome classes. When not at the studio, you can find her out in nature with her pups or spending quality time with her husband. Come enjoy Leslie’s power class every Saturday at 4:00 at The Hot Yoga Spot in Saratoga.

The Hot Yoga Spot Binghamton is excited to expand its class schedule and is in need of experienced, dedicated, certified instructors to guide students through an assortment of yoga sessions and styles. Class temperatures range from 85-105 degrees and our offerings include both Bikram yoga and vinyasa flows. If you are interested in teaching classes at The Hot Yoga Spot in Binghamton, email us at BinghamtonHotYoga@gmail.com.

This week's #TeacherFeature is our talented instructor, Sharyn. Sharyn is a warm and caring person who has been part of our community for years. She first joined our team to teach yoga for active older adults and quickly started leading other sessions like yin yoga, yinyasa and more. When she isn't teaching a class, you can find Sharyn enjoying one of our Bikram sessions, writing, doing massage or spending time with family. If you haven't had a chance to enjoy one of Sharyn's classes, stop by our Saratoga studio this Thursday night and enjoy a yin class with Reiki and candlelight led by her and Jen W.

With work, school, social plans, and the stresses and responsibilities of everyday life, finding time for a yoga may seem like an impossible task. However, finding time to visit your local studio can offer many benefits, especially when you're experiencing stress. Regular participation in yoga classes will help relieve stress, and give you the energy and positive mindset to tackle your busiest days. Read on to see how yoga classes can offer powerful stress relief, and sign up for a yoga class at your nearest The Hot Yoga Spot location!

The Power of Mind and Body Connection

Yoga is a practice that involves both the mind and the body. By combining physical movement with meditation and controlled breathing, you achieve a more natural and relaxed state of being. Yoga brings your focus and awareness back to the present moment, and gives your mind a break from worrying about distant problems and stresses.

Another benefit of yoga is the effect it has on the body itself. When practiced properly, different poses can have an effect similar to receiving a massage. The tensing and releasing of certain muscles helps to relax them, and twisting and bending your body can encourage detoxification of the circulatory, digestive, and lymphatic systems.

This week's #teacherfeature is our talented instructor, Julia. Julia has been part of our community since 2013 when she started taking our yoga and barre classes. She quickly fell in love with our community and after completing our training program, she joined our team in 2014. In addition to teaching every week at our Albany location, Julia loves to spend her time hanging out at home with her husband and pets. She is an animal lover who works full time as the manager of a pet store and owns a dog sitting business. Julia is a kind and hard working person who delivers a barre experience that is both tough and fun. We know you will love sweating with her on Thursday nights when you come to her class!

We're doing something fun and it wouldn't be the same without you. Check out the details below! Click here to learn more and register for the fun.

The Hot Yoga Spot- 75 Woodlawn Ave. Saratoga springs.

April 20th from 8:00a-11:00am

This week’s #TeacherFeature is our talented talented, Jennie. Jennie has been leading Bikram sessions for years and is a knowledgable and terrific instructor. She is as passionate about practicing as she is about teaching and makes sure to take class regularly. Jennie works full time as a dietician in addition to teaching multiple classes each week at our studio in Saratoga Springs. When not at The Hot Yoga Spot, you can find Jennie enjoying time outdoors hiking with her husband and pup or at the lake with her family. If you want to see what makes Jennie such a great teacher, join her this Thursday night or Saturday morning at The Hot Yoga Spot Saratoga. #thehotyogaspot #saratoga #bikramyoga #thysteam #thyscommunity #saratogasprings #bikram #26and2 #hotyoga #latham #albany #cliftonpark #eastgreenbush #binghamton

The weather has been less than ideal so far this spring for baseball teams looking to practice and play outside. The Garnet Raiders are using Hot Yoga to help stay loose and prepare for the season. Enjoy some great footage of the high school boys team from Colonie taking their first hot yoga class at The Hot Yoga Spot to build strength and focus for the upcoming season.

Click here to see more.

This week’s #teacherfeature is our immensely talented, Vicki. Vicki was the first instructor to join our team when we opened The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park almost 5 years ago. In addition to teaching weekly sessions at our studios in Clifton Park and Albany, she also owns the allergen-free bakery, Alexander’s Bakery. Vicki is an immensely kind person who always makes time for her family and friends. She has a warm heart and her compassion radiates out to students in her classes. If you haven’t had the pleasure of practicing with Vicki, stop by Clifton Park this evening or Stuyvesant Plaza on Wednesday morning and see for yourself why she is a special part of our team. #thehotyogaspot #thysteam #thyscommunity #yogafam #yogafun #albany #cliftonpark #latham #saratoga #eastgreenbush #alexandersbakery

Are you looking for a fitness class that can give you the results you want? Barre classes are a great way to get moving and they can help you reach your weight loss and fitness goals. Set to upbeat music, Barre pulls inspiration from a variety of exercises from ballet to cardio, and is a fun, joint-friendly way to get in shape. Read on to learn more about Barre classes, and try one at The Hot Yoga Spot today by taking advantage of our new client special!

What can I expect in a Barre Class?

So, what’s a Barre class, anyway? It’s an intense workout that pulls inspiration from several different types of exercises including:

• Yoga
• Pilates
• Ballet
• Cardio intervals
• Sports conditioning

When you step into the room you'll see small weights, mats, balls, and the barre itself. These props are incorporated into the class, and each one plays an important part. Typically, the class is broken up into 4 sections: arm work, leg work, barre work, and core work. Cardio intervals and stretching are also incorporated throughout the class.

Instructors demonstrate the movements, and help adjust your form so you get the most out of each exercise. The movements themselves are small and repetitive, and while some of them may not look like much, they engage your muscles more than you expect and will probably leave you walking funny for a few days!

This week’s #teacherfeature is our fabulous instructor, Kristina. Kristina has been part of our community since she started taking classes with us more than three years ago. She quickly fell in love with The Hot Yoga Spot and did our Styles Yoga training program in late 2016. She has been part of our teaching team for more than a year and teaches an assortment of classes across our Capital Region locations. She has developed a deep passion for Baptiste yoga and is excited to go off to Level 1 training in a few months. Kristina was raised just minuted from our studio in Clifton Park and loves being part of our special community. Check out her classes this week in Albany, Clifton Park and Latham and see why we are so happy to have her on our team! #thehotyogaspot#thysteam #thyscommunity #stylesyoga#baptiste #albany #latham #cliftonpark#whybaptisteyoga #stuyvesantplaza#saratoga #eastgreenbush #community

The Hot Yoga Spot is, well, hot with our readers, especially because of the friendly knowledgeable instructors and for the facilities. Newcomers report that they are quickly at ease and clients of all levels say that their stress melts away.

View all the winners for 2018.

This week’s #TeacherFeature is our amazing instructor, Kayla. Kayla has been part of our community since she started practicing with us in early 2012. A year later she did her teacher training at The Hot Yoga Spot and quickly joined our teaching team. Kayla is a passionate person and constantly strives to improve her life and the lives of those around her. She is a lover of all things fitness and wellness and inspires our community to get stronger and live happier. Kayla teaches a hot yoga or barre session every day so you have plenty of opportunities to see what makes her such a special person and talented instructor. #thehotyogaspot #hotyoga #barre#yogafam #stuyvesantplaza #albany#eastgreenbush #latham #cliftonpark#saratoga #thyscommunity #thysteam#yogaforcrossfit

This week’s #teacherfeature is our talented instructor, Clover. Clover lives in Saratoga and has been part of our team since that studio opened. She loves living in Saratoga Springs and enjoys the culture and close connections in her community. When not taking or teaching classes, you can find her out and about in town working as a full time nurse or enjoying an assortment of activities. She loves summer and escapes to the West coast to spend time with her sons whenever her schedule allows. If you haven’t tried class with Clover, she teaches every Thursday at 5:30pm and would love to see you there! #thehotyogaspot#saratoga #saratogasprings#thyscommunity #thysteam#Ilovethysstudio #capitalregion #hotyoga#yogafam #cliftonpark #latham #albany#eastgreenbush

MENANDS -- Yoga isn’t just for people: goats, dogs and now cats are joining in.

Each month, the Mohawk Humane Society in Menands hosts a Meowmaste Yoga with Cats class.

“It fills up within a day [of being announced] or sometimes less,” said Vicki Brignati.

She works full time as a yoga instructor at The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park but wanted to do something to help out the Humane Society.

Brignati reached out to the Society about starting cat yoga and, according to Marguerite Pearson, the marketing and communications manager, the Society was just starting to look into making cat yoga feasible.

Brignati teaches an all-levels class, so it’s not intimidating even for beginners.

Click here to read the full article.

Are you ready to get sweaty for a good cause? We are so excited to announce a 5 week series happening at The Hot Yoga Spot in Stuyvesant Plaza.

• Sundays at 3:00pm
• March 11-April 8

Join us every Sunday for a donation based community class. Each session will be led by a different teacher with donations supporting a different local organization. The first sessions will be lovingly instructed by our talented teacher Kristina with funds raised going to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter.

Click here to visit the Albany Schedule page of our website to sign up online or donate at the door!

This week’s #teacherfeature is all about or barre superstar, Pam. Pam has been part of our community forever (in fact, her first yoga class ever was in Clifton Park 5 years ago with our talented instructor, Vicki). Pam is just about the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet. When she isn’t teaching at The Hot Yoga Spot you can probably find her spending time with her family at the lake, watching her daughters dance or cheering on her son at a football game. She holds certifications in barre as well as plyoga and barreflow so you know you are getting all the latest and greatest workout moves when you take her class. She teaches a few times each week at The Hot Yoga Spot and would love for you to meet her at the barre soon! #thehotyogaspot #cliftonpark #thysteam #thyscommunity #meetusatthebarre

At The Hot Yoga Spot, we strive to have a consistent and reliable class schedule. When it is cold and snowy outside, we are a warm and cozy retreat. We try our best to stay open during inclement weather and to modify our schedule instead of closing entirely.

The best way to find out which classes are taking place during snow storms is to click here and visit the schedule page of our website. If a class is cancelled, we always make sure it is taken off our online schedule at least one hour prior to that class start time.

If you visit the schedule an hour before class and see it is still listed online, that class is definitely taking place. If the class has been removed from our schedule page, that class is no longer happening. Getting hot during cold weather is as simple as that!

What if we grew up in a world where we were told it was alright to fail? Oh the possibilities and life lessons that would arise. We would be a society of adventurers and optimists never worrying about what others thought or being embarrassed.

I ventured to Lynn’s Baptiste class at noon today. Sorry I cut off your face, Lynn, but I want to get the message out that this is a class to attend. After working all morning, I wanted movement, and Lynn’s class was just what I needed.

The messages that flow from yoga can be life-changing if we let them in. Today in tree pose, Lynn basically gave us permission to fail. She wanted us to flow, rise, and bend enough in this pose so that we fell over. This threw me off a bit, and at first I had a hard time getting into the pose. But then I reached down to form my foundation and lifted up stretching my tree toward the ceiling. It felt good, so I reached back further and then a little more, surprised by how far back I was able to go. I kept reaching. Then I fell over.

I went back into it, but just couldn’t get my balance. It didn’t feel like failure, because Lynn was there. She said it was alright to fall over. It happens to everyone, but what happens internally is what gets us. We become self-conscious, angry with ourselves, and often don’t try again. Who wants to embarrass themselves in front of everyone else by falling?

The Hot Yoga Spot, the region's biggest independent, has 45 teachers and 200 classes a week.

"It's definitely a more competitive climate now," Fuller said. "When I first opened, there were maybe only two hot yoga studios in the Capital Region and no other barre facility. In the last three or four years, there's just been a ton of hot yoga and barre studios opening."

But Fuller doesn't believe she is competing with franchises. "A lot of times people can find something really nice from both."

Quite a few of her clients come for yoga or barre but also go to a Big Box gym for weights or cardio equipment. "I see us all working together to help people in the Capital Region feel as healthy as possible. Smaller, independent businesses offer something different than the franchises," Fuller said.

Click here to read the full article.

This week’s #teacherfeature is all about Sheryl. Sheryl has been part of our Baptiste Yoga dream team since she joined The Hot Yoga Spot years ago. In addition to being in the Baptiste Institute’s FIT to Lead program, she is YOD certified and helping to create a leadership and mentorship program through our studio. She teaches 4x a week in Clifton Park and loves being part of this sweaty community. If you haven’t taken class with Sheryl yet, head to The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park tomorrow night at 5:45 or 7:00 for two awesome opportunities! #thehotyogaspot #cliftonpark#baptisteyoga #whybaptisteyoga #baptiste #fittolead #yod #thysteam #thyscommunity #latham #saratoga #albany #eastgreenbush

Interested in learning more about arm balances? Click here to watch a fun video with Aaron to learn more about how to build strength and skills for arm balances. This video is a good idea of what you can expect to enjoy with his upcoming workshop.

Want to sign up for the workshop? Visit the Special Events page of our website!

This week’s #teacherfeature is our amazing instructor, Anna. Anna has been a familiar face at The Hot Yoga Spot since she started taking classes with us in 2012. After competing our yoga training program she officially joined the team in 2015 when we opened in East Greenbush. She teaches a super sweaty power class every Tuesday at 9:30a (you can see for yourself tomorrow morning). She also teaches Bikram yoga on Saturday’s in Albany since she completed her Hot 26 Revolution training last year. When not at the studio, you can find her teaching dance or spending time with her son. Anna is a sweet and kind individual and we are so happy to have as part of our yoga family! #thehotyogaspot#thyscommunity #thysteam #yogafam#eastgreenbush #albany #stuyvesantplaza#capitalregion #latham #cliftonpark #saratoga

This morning, I attended Jessica Padula’s 90-minute Hot Baptiste Beats yoga class at Clifton Park’s Hot Yoga Spot. I wish I had taken a photo of us together after today’s class, because even though this one symbolizes our connectedness, today’s would have displayed our emotional strength.

Class started with a reading about spinning your wheels and getting stuck where you don’t want to be. Sometimes we have to dig in and kick hard enough to get where we really need to be. We don’t get there by waving a magic wand. We get there through determination, self-inquiry, and doing the work.

But how do we know where we are going? How do we build the necessary muscles to make such an important journey? How do we know what to pack?

The power in yoga is breaking down to break through and build ourselves up when we are stuck in that deep rut. This rut can be caused by a countless number of things. Grief, loss, depression, low self-esteem, abuse, addiction, the world around us, and the list can go on and on.

Jess compared building our emotional strength to lifting weights. When we lift, we actually cause mini-tears in our muscles that then connect back together to become stronger and bigger. But there has to be a balance. If we keep lifting a large amount every single day, then our muscles never heal. We will cause damage and be in pain.

This week’s #TeacherFeature is all about Jenn M. Jenn has been part of our community since we rolled out our mats in Saratoga 2.5 years ago and her class is a favorite among yoga teachers and students. She lives in Saratoga and when she’s not at the studio instructing or taking class, you can find her spending time with family or working as an ELA teacher. See for yourself how great she is at The Hot Yoga Spot every Tuesday night at 6:00p (and again this week on Thursday when she subs at 5:30pm). #thehotyogaspot #thysteam#thyscommunity #saratoga#saratogasprings #yogalove #community#capitalregion #latham #cliftonpark#albany #eastgreenbush

I’ve been asked many questions about the yoga teacher training program I offer in Albany, NY. One of the most popular questions I receive from potential students is “Do you think I’m ready?”. I always give the same reply: Of course! You don’t need to have an advanced practice in order to benefit from or even participate in a 200-hour yoga training. A 200-hour training gives you a foundation from which to build.

There are a number of reasons to sign up for a yoga teacher training course. Let’s go over just a few of them!

1. Enhance Your Asana Practice

Some people embark on a yoga teacher training program with the intention to teach while some people are simply looking to enhance their own personal practice. During training you gain a much deeper understanding of how and why to do certain yoga postures. You learn to refine your alignment to suit your unique anatomical structure.

When I completed my 200-hour training I was amazed to see how many different ways postures could be modified. I was asked to choose three different postures that I wanted to work on refining or advancing into. It was really motivating to see how much improvement I made just during the course of the training.

This week’s #TeacherFeature is our insanely talented instructor and an immensely genuine and kind person, Amy A. Not only has she been part of our team for almost 5 years but she has been teaching her same weekly sessions since she joined The Hot Yoga Spot in 2013. In addition to leading yoga classes, Amy is also a dancer and a massage therapist (and the anatomist for our Styles Yoga training program). She has a deep understanding of the human body and combines this with her dance background to create classes that are intelligently and beautifully sequenced. Her classes at our studios in Albany, Latham and Clifton Park will leave you feeling blissful and recharged. Stop by to join her for a session this week or sign up now for her Thai partner yoga workshop happening Valentine’s Day weekend! #thysevents#thyscommunity #THYSteam #albany#latham #cliftonpark #yogafam#stylesyoga #thaiyoga #partneryoga#workshop #valentinesdayworkshop#saratoga #eastgreenbush

Alexander‘s Bakery & The Hot Yoga Spot are partnering to help with your Valentine’s Day gift giving.

Stop by The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park on Monday, February 12, for the opportunity to buy boxes of allergy friendly, gluten free & vegan cookies, available by the dozen. We will be there for 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after our classes happening from 9:30-10:30am and 5:45-6:45pm.

The Hot Yoga Spot will have gift certificates, clothing and yoga accessories available for purchase at the same time so you can pick up yoga goodies and sweets in one convenient trip. Cookies are available on a first come basis or you can reserve yours in advance by emailing AlexandersBakeryNY@outlook.com

This week’s #TeacherFeature is the amazing ray of sunshine from Saratoga Springs, Jaime! She has been part of The Hot Yoga Spot team since 2014 and has taught at all 5 of our Capital Regions studios. Jaime is a girl who always follows her arrow and lives her life to the fullest with every second. Jaime makes her emotional and physical health a priority while also packing each and every day with as much joy and laughter as possible. In addition to working as an elementary school counselor, she teaches 3x a week at our Saratoga studio. Stop by to practice with her today at 4:30p, tomorrow at 7:30p or bright and early Friday morning! #THEHOTYOGASPOT#THYSteam #thyscommunity #saratoga#saratogasprings #yogafam #capitalregion#followyourarrow #latham #eastgreenbush#cliftonpark #albany #community

Yoga with a dancing bear? A giant roller coaster of kid yogis? Welcome to Yogapalooza! Based on the TV show created and hosted by Bari Koral, Yogapalooza is an interactive concert packed with yoga poses, songs, dance and play. We’ll take a trip to the moon, learn yoga with a gingerbread man, pop like popcorn, hang upside like bats and lots more as we stretch, play and rock out to Bari’s award-winning songs. Unroll your mat, put on your adventure caps and off we go! The most fun you’ve ever had doing yoga guaranteed! Beginners welcome.

Click to learn more and get your tickets!

Our weekly #TEACHERFEATURE posts took a break for the holidays and New Year but now they're back for 2018. Today we're celebrating the co-owner of the Clifton Park and East Greenbush locations, Andrea D. Andrea attended her first class at The Hot Yoga Spot on the night it opened in 2010 and quickly became a regular face as both a student and an instructor. She is a talented teacher who works hard to make everyone in her classes feel safe and nurtured. She's also an incredible friend who is there if you need something and willing to do anything for the people she cares about. If you haven't taken a class with her yet, stop by East Greenbush tonight or Clifton Park tomorrow morning and see for yourself what makes her so special. #THEHOTYOGASPOT #thyscommunity#THYSteam #capitalregion #cliftonpark#eastgreenbush #hotyoga #yogafam#albany #latham #saratoga

The Experience:

40 Days to Personal Revolution is a 6 week program designed to empower each participant with the training and insight that is needed to achieve breakthroughs. Develop strength, vitality, power, and freedom through meditation, Asana (the physical practice) and inquiry. Whether you are brand new to yoga or are a seasoned practitioner, the 40 Days program will leave you up to something bigger in your practice and in your life.

Life Changing Impact as told by THYS instructor, 40 Days co-facilitator and former 40 days student, Tanya:

I registered for my first 40 Days not knowing what the program actually entailed. I had been practicing yoga for less than a year, but was coming to my mat almost daily. Prior to finding Baptiste Yoga and committing to my first 40 Days, I had been so stuck in my need to be right, my need to be as miserable as possible because I left my family, friends and career to move to the area and I didn’t want to be here. By about week three, I really felt and saw a personal shift. I realized that I had a choice. To accept my life and my situation exactly as it was and be happy with it or I could continue doing the same things and expecting different results. It was that easy and hard. Through the daily yoga practice, meditation and inquiry, I started on a path of personal transformation and growth. It was also a major factor in my decision to become a yoga instructor. I wanted to share Baptiste Yoga with as many people as possible, in hopes that maybe it would impact their life the way it did mine.

We are so excited about the new year and all of the new opportunities that 2018 brings for growth in our community and personal development. However, this is a perfect chance to reflect on last year and on how special our community was in 2017. We accomplished some amazing things like two massive outdoor yoga events, almost $20,000 in funds raised, and hundreds of yogis enriching their lives through our workshops. We wanted to acknowledge all of the great accomplishments of our community in 2017 and say how excited we are for even more growth, challenge, improvement and discovery in this new year. It's pretty amazing to see what people can do when you come together to feel good and do good.

117,331 visits to one of our 5 Capital Region studio locations

6,389 new students tried their first class at The Hot Yoga Spot

$18,570 raised for our community with 16 yoga fundraisers

956 Students in 67 yoga workshops

94 participants in six HIIT programs and 34 participants in two 40 Days Programs

Approximately 400 yogis celebrated summer with us at two epic outdoor yoga events

41 graduates of foundational and advanced teacher training with Styles Yoga

The Hot Yoga Spot's HIIT is a 6 week program that challenges and pushes you every day:

Designed for all fitness levels, this high intensity training program is a great way to kick start the New Year! Classes work in peak cardio zones and are designed to help you push your limits and change your body while having fun.

In a one hour session you'll go through an emotional rollercoaster of loving your decision to wake up and be fit, followed by doubt as to whether or not you’ll survive, culminating with an epic feeling of kick-butt victory and excitement to head out and seize the day! Expect to laugh, sweat, take a few fun photos, and most importantly, have fun. Because if you don't have fun, what is the point? And if you don't enjoy a workout, you aren't likely to do it again. And the only workout that actually works is the one you do consistently.

HIIT Testimonials:

"As a long-time runner, strength often took a back seat to miles. Kayla’s HIIT program at The Hot Yoga Spot is the best of both worlds—a serious cardio workout combined with body-strength exercises that have vastly improved my overall fitness and helped me overcome overuse injuries, so I’m running happily and pain free for the first time in years. Best of all, HIIT is empowering—you will feel stronger, fitter and more powerful in every aspect of your life." -Sally D.

The Hot Yoga Spot hosted our 6th annual Holiday Party at Ships Pub this past Saturday and it was our biggest one yet. We were joined by over 100 yogis from all 5 of our locations as well as friends and their family members. This special night was full of laughter and a lot of fun.

We had such a great time celebrating the holidays with our community and enjoying drinks, food and plenty of dancing. We are so grateful for the chance to share yoga and barre classes at our 5 locations across the Capital Region and always look forward to showing our appreciation during this special time of year.

Click here to see the pictures and relive the fun!

Jeannine is one of the newest additions to The Hot Yoga Spot team and is also this week’s #TeacherFeature. She has been loving yoga forever, teaching it in New Paltz for years and has been part of our Capital Region community since early summer. Jeannine is our only instructor who currently teaches at least once a week at all 5 studio locations so literally everyone in the Capital Region has the opportunity to see how talented and passionate she is! In addition to her yoga trainings and experience, she is also a certified personal trainer and a recent BarreFlow graduate who is excited about everything related to fitness and movement. When not on her yoga mat, you can find her enjoying nature with her dog or creating amazing holiday candles. If you haven’t met Jeannine yet, head to any location of The Hot Yoga Spot for a class with her this week! #THEHOTYOGASPOT #thyscommunity#THYSteam #albany #cliftonpark #latham#eastgreenbush #saratoga #yogafam#yogateachers #barreflow

Do you dream of saluting the sun and performing the perfect warrior pose on a soft sand beach? How about attending mindfulness workshops, delving into meditation or finally mastering that bakasana with the sounds of the rainforest in the background? A yoga retreat might be just what you need.

One of the best ways to bring serenity, relaxation and new techniques to your life is by participating in a yoga retreat. You will be able to concentrate on your practice, meet new friends, perfect current skills and master new poses in unique destinations around the world.

Four Reasons to Plan Your Yoga Retreat Now

1.) Start 2018 off on the right foot with a resolution you will actually keep.

If your New Year’s resolution has anything to do with fitness, taking better care of yourself or developing more mindfulness in your life, a retreat will set the tone for the entire year. Yoga retreats typically offer several classes a day, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice and learn from highly skilled instructors, speakers and meditation experts.

2.) Give yourself the gift of an experience you’ll remember instead of a box you’ll misplace.

Practice.

Things in life, as in yoga, are often awkward and shaky before they become fluid and elegant. Practice is the key to moving through that transition. Life is practice. Very few moments in life are a performance. And even those are practice!

Things change. Something that is usually easy & natural for you may challenge you today. Something usually difficult may come with ease the next time you try. Don’t attach yourself to the outcome, but explore it with curiosity.

Be Present.

Be present with your discomfort. Breathe into it. Make friends with it. Find out what it has to teach you. Be present with joy as well. Surprisingly, this also takes practice.

Notice when your mind pulls you away from whatever this moment offers. Pay attention to the kind of stories it tells you. And gently bring your mind back to your mat, to this moment, to this breath.

Let Go.

Let go of your expectations. Listen carefully. Life does not unfold the way you anticipate. Go with the flow.

Let go of your need for comfort and ease in life. Move into fear. You can do amazing things if you try. But you will never know what you can do if you are not willing to fall.

The Hot Yoga Spot and Alexander‘s Bakery are partnering to help with your last-minute holiday shopping. Stop by The Hot Yoga Spot the weekend before Christmas for your opportunity to buy gift certificates, clothing and yoga accessories. You can also purchase allergy friendly baked goods from Alexander’s Bakery, the only bakery in the Capital District that is gluten free, vegan and free-from the top 8 allergens. Alexander’s Bakery will be at The Hot Yoga Spot with assorted Christmas Cookie Boxes. Cookies are available on a first come basis or you can reserve yours in advance by emailing AlexandersBakeryNY@outlook.com or visiting their website.

Stuyvesant Plaza 12/23/17 from 9:00am-2:00pm

Clifton Park 12/24/17 from 9:00am-12:00pm

This week’s #TeacherFeature is someone who has been at The Hot Yoga Spot for more than three years and is an important part of our special community. Mary Beth completed one of her two foundational trainings with us in 2014 and has since obtained her 500 hour certification as well as trainings with BarreFlow, Om Yoga’s Restorative Teacher Training, and more. When not at the studio, you can find Mary Beth working at her Alma Mater, Siena, or running, hiking and enjoying outdoor activities with family. In addition to teaching classes every week at Clifton Park and Stuyvesant Plaza, Mary Beth often leads workshops like meditation & mindfulness, yoga for runners, and more. You can even get in the holiday spirit and catch a free class with her tomorrow night at Colonie Center! Mary Beth is a generous and kind person who works hard and cares deeply about others. She is such a joy to be around and we know you will agree when you visit her for class! #thehotyogaspot #thyscommunity #THYSteam #stuyvesantplaza #cliftonpark #albany #latham #saratoga #eastgreenbush

It is with my greatest pleasure to share Jessica Fuller's responses to my five WCW questions! Jessica is the owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, 5 yoga studios in the Capital Region of New York! There is so much I could share about her, but she is the definition of BOSSLADY, leadership, community and ABUNDANCE. I had the great privilege of working for her and her team and I am SO grateful for it. A former UAlbany Alum and a Long Island gal like myself, this woman has created more in 30 years than any other woman I know, not to mention the CUTEST little boy too! Take the time to read what she shares because she is someone to listen to! Inspired by you always, thank you, Queen!!

What line of work are you currently in?

I own The Hot Yoga Spot, five hot yoga and barre fitness studios in upstate NY. Find us at www.thehotyogaspot.com.

What's your best piece of health advice for women?

I think the most important thing women need to do is make time for themselves. Women often put themselves last, making their significant others and children the priority. Although it is great to care for others and be selfless, you can’t pour from an empty glass. Taking an hour a day for your favorite yoga class, for a walk outside with the dog, for a bubble bath to quiet your mind, etc. will make you a better mother, lover, self. Stop feeling guilty about being good to yourself and start feeling good about making your health, wellness and life a positive experience and a positive example for others.

We are so excited to announce that these four ladies competed their BarreFlow certification this weekend. Pam & Amy S have both been teaching barre classes in Clifton Park for years and were so excited for this training so they could continue their education and be even better instructors. Jeannine has been teaching hot yoga at all of our locations since the summer and is a lover of everything related to fitness. When this training came along, she couldn't miss the opportunity to learn all about Barre and start teaching classes. And you might not know Amber yet, but she is a regular student at The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park and a teacher in the North Colonie School District. She has a strong dance background and has been teaching ballet for years. She also loves our barre classes and was so excited for the opportunity to take this training and be able to teach barre herself. You can look forward to getting sweaty and enjoying a lot of barre classes with these ladies!

This week’s #TeacherFeature is our amazing instructor, Bethany! Bethany has been with us since 2012 and is the one who first introduced Bikram Yoga to The Hot Yoga Spot. Bethany loves teaching Bikram so much that she did it up until one week of giving birth, three separate times, when she was pregnant with all of her children! Not only is Bethany a dedicated and talented instructor, she is also an amazing wife and mom and a diehard Springsteen fan who happens to bake the most delicious sweets in the entire world. She is an honest and caring person who is always helping people in need and putting others first. She is the founder and lead instructor for our Hot 26 Revolution training program and she also orchestrated the talented Bikram instructor, Audrey Blaisdell, joining us this Saturday to lead a master class and workshop in Latham (if you haven’t signed up yet, visit the Special Events page of our site to save your spot). You can check out Bethany’s classes tonight at Stuyvesant Plaza for the opportunity to see what makes her such a special person and teacher.

#thehotyogaspot #THYSteam #thyscommunity#albany #latham #saratoga #cliftonpark#eastgreenbush #capitalregion #yogafam

You are invited to our sixth annual holiday party!

Join us for great drinks, delicious food and lots of fun with your favorite yoga community. We love celebrating the holiday season with you and this is our way of thanking our amazing students and teachers for being part of our yoga family.

The Hot Yoga Spot Holiday Party

12/2/16 from 7:00-10:00pm

Ships Pub - 360 Northern Blvd. Albany.

Click Here to RSVP.

I know I shouldn't have favorites when it comes to WCW, BUTTTTTTT Jaime is my spirit animal. We were lucky enough to cross paths in Upstate NY, doing yoga, obviously! Jaime is also connected to me literally!! When I was in the process of leaving my career as a counselor to teach yoga full time she continually said, "follow your arrow!!" And so, one day, down here in Florida, when i opened my eyes to realize that I had followed my arrow, I got a tattoo, of an arrow! I love her so much!!! She and her whole family, even Dolly her dog are some of my favorite people and I am so thankful she took time out of her schedule to answer these questions. You may remember her from last Holiday season. She and I created a Self Care Christmas Advent, and we're doing it again this year so GET READY! It starts mid December, stay tuned! For now, check out this AMAZING woman and her advice on this week's #WCW.

What line of work are you currently in?

I work as a high school guidance counselor in Saratoga Springs, NY. The same high school I graduated from in 2008! I am also a certified vinyasa yoga instructor, and teach yoga at The Hot Yoga Spot.

What is your best piece of health advice for women?

This 20 minute journey tells the incredible story of our student, Stacy. Diagnosed with RA in 2003, Stacy declined to a state where she was bed-ridden and in a wheel chair by 2016. With the help of this program (and daily Bikram Yoga classes at The Hot Yoga Spot) she has completely transformed her life and her health. This video shares details of how her health declined, the medicines and modalities she used to treat RA and the side effects associated, and how she was ultimately able to pull herself back into good health. Pay extra close attention at minutes 4:40 and 18:55 when she discusses her journey into Bikram Yoga and how it has significantly impacted her life and her ability to relieve symptoms associated with her disease.

Watch the interview.

The week’s #TeacherFeature is the talented, Amy S. Born and raised in Clifton Park, Amy first became a part of The Hot Yoga Spot community when she began taking sessions with us 4 years ago. Amy is the queen of early mornings (because with a husband and 4 young kids, sometimes early morning is the only time you get to yourself). You can catch a hot yoga or barre session with her at The Hot Yoga Spot 5 times a week before the sun is up. In addition to being part of our Clifton Park community, Amy works with young athletes across the Capital Region and teaches yoga to competitive swimmers and divers. She is a hard working individual who loves to help others and is a total team player. She is always up to try something new that helps her grow as a person and a teacher. She recently graduated from her 500 hour yoga teacher training and is completing a new barre certification this weekend. So set your clock extra early and head to Clifton Park for a sweat session with Amy S! #thehotyogaspot #thyscommunity#THYSteam #cliftonpark #saratoga#latham #albany #eastgreenbush#ilovethysstudio #stuyvesantplaza

Emotions pour out of me like a pot boiling over as my backside melts into my yoga mat for final Savasana, the closing Bikram pose of total relaxation. My eyes fill up and a couple of hot tears effortlessly drain out and roll down over my temples. Every single pore in my body is open and empty. The tension continues to seep out with my salty sweat and tears, long after I stop moving.

My mindset has shifted, my body has loosened and the intense release that I now feel is otherworldly. And in that moment, after 90 minutes of breathing through the struggle, I suddenly feel weightless, proud, cleansed and energized. The thoughts that were previously whirling around in my head with reckless abandon have now abandoned me, rendering me fully present.

But then I'm reminded that this feeling of ease would never have come without the effort. My teacher's soothing words resound within me, even after leaving the studio:

"Bikram yoga is the balance between strength and flexibility, between effort and ease."

What a beautiful sentiment! Living a happy life means finding balance somewhere in between the extremes; giving and receiving, working and playing, holding on and letting go. We must be flexible when faced with change, while remaining strong and standing our ground. Effort is required to fulfill our visions and dreams, but when we over-exert ourselves we feel burnt out, uninspired and discouraged.

This week’s #TeacherFeature is all about Jess P. Jess is a Tier 2/500 hour Baptiste certified instructor who is currently working towards a second 500 hour certification through Styles Yoga as well as participating in the Baptiste FIT to Lead program. She is fiercely dedicated to community and constantly cultivates an environment where students and teachers can grow and improve together. If you don’t know what we mean, check out Church on Saturdays at 9:30am at THYS in Clifton Park. She is an open and honest person who puts herself out there and enjoys that the connections she fosters on her yoga mat lead to real friendships off the mat. When not at the studio practicing, teaching, leading awesome events (like a DJ HyFi class coming up this Friday night) or participating in teacher training, you can probably find her out jogging around Schenectady, spending time with her daughters or planning the next great thing for the Baptiste community here in the Capital Region. #thehotyogaspot#THYSteam #thyscommunity #whybaptisteyoga #baptiste #fittolead#capitalregion #albany #cliftonpark #saratoga #latham#eastgreenbush #stuyvesantplaza

This week's #TeacherFeature comes to us from lovely Saratoga Springs. Jen W is a talented instructor who teaches at The Hot Yoga Spot 6 days a week. When she's not on her yoga mat, you can find her spending quality time with her dog, Stella, or traveling with her husband and living it up in her favorite city, Las Vegas. She's living proof that great things come in tiny packages and the only thing more fierce than her fabulous hair is her Bikram practice. Not only is she a great instructor but she is also a fun loving, hard working, and terrific person who is always there to help out someone in need. Jen W is such an important part of THYS community & we love having her on the team. #thehotyogaspot #thyscommunity#THYSteam #saratoga #saratogasprings#albany #stuyvesantplaza #cliftonpark#latham #eastgreenbush

Many people today have a desire to improve their level of physical fitness or to lose weight successfully. Of course, various forms of exercise can be extremely helpful for losing weight, becoming more fit, and improving existing health conditions. Hot yoga has become increasingly popular for assisting with weight loss in a low-impact, healthy way. So, what is hot yoga and how can it help you lose weight more effectively? We’ll address these questions in more detail below.

What is Hot Yoga?

Hot Yoga encompasses a variety of yoga types, including including hot vinyasa, Bikram, Barkan, and Babtiste yoga, which are all practiced at The Hot Yoga Spot. A hot yoga class is practiced in a heated room, anywhere from warm (90-95 degrees) to hot (95 -105 degrees). You can find both slower-paced hot yoga such as a hatha style, and faster paced powerful flows like vinyasa. While there are a variety of hot yoga offerings to try, each type can promote powerful weight loss benefits.

How Can Hot Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

While Hot Yoga provides a high calorie burn, the weight loss benefits it provides can be seen off the matt as well. Some of the most common benefits people can experience from hot yoga are listed below.

We are so excited to start showcasing a new #TeacherFeature every Monday so you can learn more about the talented instructors who make our community such a special place. To kick off our first teacher post, here's one of our very first students and very first instructors, Aaron. He became a regular client at our first location 7 years ago and quickly signed up for yoga training. Eager to teach, he messaged the studio applying for a job months before his training even began. We told him to wait and get back to us once it was completed so he did and the rest is history. Not only is he an insanely talented teacher but he is also the creator of Styles Yoga and leads trainings and workshops all over the Capital Region. He a great friend who loves to have a good time but he is also constantly working hard, focusing on his goals and living a life of honesty and integrity. We couldn’t love him more or be more proud to work alongside him and have him on the team. If you haven’t taken Aaron’s class yet, get to The Hot Yoga Spot and take his class! #thehotyogaspot #THYSteam#thyscommunity #albany #cliftonpark#latham #eastgreenbush #saratoga#stuyvesantplaza #capitalregion

Taking your first class at The Hot Yoga Spot may seem a little intimidating, especially if you don't know what to expect. While our yoga instructors are trained to help beginners through their first yoga class, preparing for your class ahead of time can help you make the most out of the experience. Read on to see how to get ready for your first class at The Hot Yoga Spot, and sign up for our new client special today!

Plan Your Outfit

It's no surprise that during a hot yoga class, the temperatures will soar. Wearing too much clothing, even if the pieces are loose, can make you feel heavy and uncomfortable. A tank top or sports bra with a pair of shorts or light-weight capris is a good choice for women, while men should wear moisture-wicking shorts and tanks. A headband to wick away sweat from your face is a good choice as well. Pick out your clothes before your class so that you won't have to rush through your closet at the last moment. You also don't need any special socks or shoes for a yoga class because all of the sessions at The Hot Yoga Spot are done barefoot and using a yoga mat.

Drink Plenty of Water

The Africa Yoga Project HHH (Handstand, Hugs and Happiness) tour brings AYP to the U.S. twice a year. Instructors from Africa tour the country and lead community classes with the goal of sharing their energy and their mission of empowering change and hope. The fundraising effort enables AYP to continue sharing yoga and an enlightened way of life with their communities back in Kenya, across Africa and in the rest of the world.

I first learned about Africa Yoga Project in 2014 when I started practicing Baptiste Yoga. In 2015, I was fortunate enough to attend a class led by two AYP instructors at Yoga Reaches Out in Albany, NY. I was drawn to their energy and love of life. I started following them on social media, attending US based AYP events and attended Baptiste Level Two training led by AYP founder, Paige Elenson. It was during that week that I knew I wanted to get back to Africa and work with AYP. My goal is to assist teacher training in Kenya and bring my family on a Seva trip. I am optimistic and confident that I will turn that goal into a reality. When I saw the Handstand, Hugs & Happiness announcement, I knew I wanted The Hot Yoga Spot to be a stop on the tour. AYP is changing lives and making a big impact by training young people to be yoga instructors and leaders in their communities. This helps them provide income to support themselves and their families, bring hope to their communities, the blind and the disabled. Their impact reaches across 13 countries in Africa and the work they are doing is changing lives in a big way. This tour is the definition of "being up to something bigger than yourself." I’ve been so inspired by all of the instructors, leaders and staff from Africa Yoga Project. I can’t wait to get to Kenya, but in the meantime, I’m thrilled to bring AYP to the Capital Region!

As yoga continues to grow in popularity, there are still a number of people that wonder if yoga is something that is right for them. Any yoga teacher would tell you, “you don’t have to be flexible to do yoga; you have to do yoga to be flexible.” Still, the thought of needing to touch one’s toes or hold an inverted position seems too intimidating for some. The truth is, there are many different types of yoga and there is a style suitable for anyone willing to try.

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The Hot Yoga Spot is all about community and we are committed to making the Capital Region a better and healthier place. That is why the month of September is all about you, your friends and your family members.

So many of our students have seen positive changes with their bodies and minds since becoming members at The Hot Yoga Spot. We appreciate that you always share your love of the studio with those you know. Now we will be thanking you for those referrals with studio credit and discounts. When you refer new clients during September, enjoy account credit for anything you purchase online or at the studio. This is our way of spreading the yoga love and thanking you for helping to grow our community.

ALBANY, NY – #YogaPalooza, the Capital Region’s first street-wide mass yoga event, will kick off Pearlpalooza on Saturday, September 16. The annual downtown Albany music festival will begin on a quieter note this year: before the alternative rock gets rolling, #YogaPalooza will offer a free 60-minute, all levels yoga session on N. Pearl Street in front of Pearlpalooza’s Remarkable Liquids Main Stage from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. #YogaPalooza is presented by Remarkable Liquids, The Hot Yoga Spot, Warehouse Wellness, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen, WEQX and the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID).

A team of instructors from The Hot Yoga Spot will assist attendees while Baptiste certified yoga teacher, Jessica P, facilitates the #YogaPalooza session from the stage. Registration is free; check-in begins at 10:30 AM in front of The Hollow at 79 N. Pearl Street, and includes entry for free giveaways.

“Pearlpalooza is much more than a music festival. It’s grown into a true community gathering over the years, bringing together local businesses, residents and visitors for a full day of fun in the heart of Downtown,” said Downtown Albany BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens. “Through #YogaPalooza and other new additions to this year’s event, we are thrilled to expand the reach of this popular festival and re-envision what Pearlpalooza can be.”

The Hot Yoga Spot is excited to host our second annual Downward Dog Days of Summer contest. The rules are simple and the rewards are sweet.

Take 55 classes during the months of July & August to receive 10 free sessions to be used in September and a limited edition tank top. We host this annual contest every summer because it is the perfect way to stay motivated and fit during the warmer months.

You can attend class and participate at all five locations. There is no need to register in advance or fill out any forms. Simply send us an email once you have taken your 55th class in August. We will review your account and reward you with your prize.

Each month, thousands of newly trained yoga instructors register with the Yoga Alliance Registry.

According to the Alliance, the largest nonprofit association to represent the yoga community, for every yoga teacher, there are two students interested in teaching yoga...

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first outdoor yoga fundraiser to #EndAlz. This special session took place on the lawn at Stuyvesant Plaza and was a celebration of international yoga day and the summer solstice. We had over 145 participants and raised over $3,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Hot Yoga Spot loved hosting this fundraiser and coming together as a community for such a special event.

We want to extend a big thank you to our instructors for the evening, Amy, Kayla, Mary Beth, Melissa and Sheryl. We also want thank our partners; Alexander’s Bakery, Athleta, Blaze, Bellini’s Counter, lulu lemon, Plexus, Starbucks and Latham Beverage Center. These businesses donated goods for participants, brought fun items to purchase before class and helped raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Lastly, we want to thank all of our students for being such an important part of The Hot Yoga Spot community.

See the photos.

Thanks to the readers of Saratoga Today for voting The Hot Yoga Spot as the best yoga studio in Saratoga. We are honored to win this award and be listed among such terrific Saratoga businesses. Thank you for your votes!

View the winners.

Where else around the Capital Region can you try this out? The Hot Yoga Spot studios frequently host these events. Their locations include Clifton Park, Saratoga, Latham, Albany and East Greenbush.

In February, they will have Yoga Brunch, which will be a two-hour gentle yoga session followed by mimosas and Bloody Marys. The studios are also starting a YogaLove class which will feature a live ukulele performance and a wine and chocolate, following a class…

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Thanks to everyone who joined in on the fun at our fifth annual holiday party. The festivities took place at Ships Pub and we loved hosting this party for our amazing teachers and students. The night was complete with open bar, delicious food and a lot of laughs.

Click here for the photos.

The Hot Yoga Spot is pleased to offer it’s second annual daytime retreat. This special event happens at The Lodge in Berne, NY on October 9. Space is limited and we would love to have you join us for yoga, meditation, hiking, healthy happy hour and more.

Join some of your favorite instructors from The Hot Yoga Spot Saratoga, along with Lululemon and Marley Beverage Co. for summer yoga in the park. We are teaming up to bring you a series of fun afternoons that will be hosted at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs from 12-2 on Sunday July 10, 17, 24 and 31. The Hot Yoga Spot will be leading a free yoga class each Sunday from 12:30-1:30. Arrive at 12:00 to enjoy a lulu lemon trunk show with giveaways and free beverages and swag provided by Marley Beverage Co. Everyone is welcome to attend this event, so bring family and friends and enjoy some fun in the sun!

Thanks to the readers of Capital Region Living for voting The Hot Yoga Spot as one of the best studios in the Capital Region. We are so honored to be on this list for the fourth year in a row and we thank you for your votes.

Read about the winners.

Calling all yoga enthusiasts — get ready to namaste your way to good health and goodwill.

That's the idea behind a Yoga Reaches Out-inspired yogathon from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at Siena College's Marcelle Athletic Complex, 515 Loudon Road.

The event will feature all things yoga in an effort to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, as well as the Baptiste Foundation and the Africa Yoga Project.

"We're trying to bring the yoga and wellness communities together to create unity," said event organizer Melissa, a 500-hour certified Baptiste yoga instructor at The Hot Yoga Spot in Latham. "The fitness industry can be competitive, but we want everyone to come together under one roof to practice seva, or selfless work."

The Hot Yoga Spot founder, Jessica Lustig, was listed among female business owners in the Capital Region. Click here to view the 40 women featured and learn more about them.

MENANDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Ready for a stretch? The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society is hosting its first “Yoga with Cats” class.

Certified Yoga Instructor, Vicki Brignati contacted the shelter after hearing about a yoga with cats class. She is a yoga instructor and certified Reiki 1 practitioner. She has been teaching for seven years and teaches at The Hot Yoga Spot. She loves animals and is donating her time to teach this and future Meow-maste classes.

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The Hot Yoga Spot is pleased to be offering March Madness for our fifth consecutive year. The contest is easy and the prizes are worth the effort. Select from the levels below and decide what you are competing for. Complete the classes in your chosen level each week (Sunday-Saturday). You are welcome to take more than one class each day, as long as you complete the correct number of classes each week. Pick up your official March Madness form at your next visit to The Hot Yoga Spot which has all guidelines for participants.

Level 1: ‘Ready to Get Sweaty’ – 3 Sessions Each Week

-1 Flow, 1 Bikram/Barkan/Baptiste, 1 Power

-$15 account credit

Level 2: ‘Hot Mess’ – 5 Sessions Each Week

-1 Flow, 1 Bikram/Barkan/Baptiste, 1 Power, 1 Vinyasa, 1 Barre

-$35 account credit

Level 3: ‘Sweaty Superstar” – 7 Sessions Each Week

– 2 Flow, 2 Bikram/Barkan/Baptiste, 1 Power, 1 Vinyasa, 1 Barre

-$80 account credit

Jessica & Andrea of The Hot Yoga Spot on WNYT News at Noon to discuss the benefits of yoga and the upcoming Yoga Reaches Out Yogathon.

Watch the clip.

Every winter, I make it my fitness goal to have my BEST BODY YET! just in time for summer. Really, it’s my way to avoid becoming a slouch on the couch, something that is really easy to do when it’s brutally cold outside and you’d prefer to be in front of a TV under layers.

But since I discovered The Hot Yoga Spot five years ago, I’ve been successful at achieving this goal every year. Although I am at my strongest ever, I continue to make this studio chain my yoga and barre spot in the Capital Region.

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Vicki, of The Hot Yoga Spot, teaches a Flexibility Flow class during a yoga marathon at Shenendehowa High School on Saturday, September 26, 2015 as part of Bmoved, a worldwide Baptiste Yoga event.

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From inventors and scientists to entrepreneurs and TV stars, the Capital Region has graduated many remarkable local, national and world talents. Here are some local college alumni that have made their mark and made us proud.

Jessica Lustig- University at Albany, class of 2009 & 2010 B.A., History & M.S., Social Studies Education.

At the age of 22, Lustig opened her own yoga studio in Stuyvesant Plaza soon after graduating college in late 2010. Today, The Hot Yoga Spot has three locations in the Capital Region and is a local favorite. It has been voted Best Yoga for 2013 and 2014 in Metroland’s Readers’ Poll.

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The Hot Yoga Spot in Latham, NY held a fundraiser on June 27, 2015 to raise money for three different charitable organizations. Over 50 yogis came together for a two hour experience and The Hot Yoga Spot matched all donations.

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Thank you to the readers of Metroland for voting The Hot Yoga Spot as one of the best yoga studios in 2015.

View the winners.

“It just got to the point where I felt like it was chaos all the time,” Durkin says of her old life, which involved a full-time job in pharmaceutical sales while co-owning The Hot Yoga Spot in Clifton Park and teaching yoga classes. “I felt like I was never able to just be present, and you wake up and you’re thinking about things constantly and planning the next things … and I was just getting stressed out with it. … I really wanted to be able to focus more on one thing and do the thing I really enjoyed, which was running a business and teaching yoga.”

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It has been Barre Fitness that has gotten me all excited about working out during this brutal Upstate New York winter. I have to give much credit to The Hot Yoga Spot in Stuyvesant Plaza and their awesome instructors: the studio is hot, the class is bootcamp-style, the instructors are fun and energetic, all of which are elements that make up the perfect winter class to get the summer body. When I was asked to appear on the fitness section of 518Life Magazine‘s March issue, I didn’t have to think twice about what I would talk about: Barre Fitness (and Barre Bootcamp at The Hot Yoga Spot) is what I would recommend to anyone looking to get a head-to-toe workout.

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Bili, Lord and Cer will get the vests in about three weeks. The vests will be embroidered with the sentiments, “This gift of protection provided by the Cannata Family Foundation, Inc.”, and “This gift of protection provided by The Hot Yoga Spot.”

Watch the video.

ERIE, N.Y. (WKBW) – These K9 officers will be looking sleek – and safe – in their new bullet- and stab-proof vests.

The Cannata Family Foundation of Foxboro, MA and The Hot Yoga Spot of Latham, NY donated the funds needed to buy vests for Bili, Lord and Cer of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

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For those who don’t work at a yoga studio, Andrea from The Hot Yoga Spot shares some stretches that can be done in an office chair.

Watch the video.

Latham, NY – The Hot Spot, the area’s premier yoga and fitness facility, is pleased to announce its newly acquired third Capital Region location. Owner Jessica Lustig recently purchased Hot Yoga Saratoga in Latham from its former owner.

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The Hot Yoga Spot in Latham held the first Baptiste yoga class in 95 degree heat Tuesday morning at the newest and largest class space yet for the yoga and fitness company. “For now, we’re making Latham as strong as it can be and then seeing what area calls to us,” Lustig says.

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Jessica Lustig, owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, is opening her third yoga studio in the Albany, New York area, about three and a half months after expanding the Stuyvesant Plaza studio.

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The Hot Yoga Spot is pleased to announce that we have been asked to partner with Athleta to promote their Store Opening Party at Crossgates Mall on September 15. Join Jessica, Andrea and Vicki from The Hot Yoga Spot for this special celebration as we welcome Athleta to the Capital Region. This two hour event will include live yoga demonstrations courtesy of our talented instructors, giveaways, prizes and of course, the latest in Athleta’s fitness fashion. The Hot Yoga Spot is overwhelmed to have been chosen to co-host the Athleta Store Opening Party and we hope to see all of our amazing yogis there! Athleta is located on the upper level of Crossgates Mall near Lord & Taylor and Forever 21.

Owner of The Hot Yoga Spot, Jessica Lustig and Instructor, Melissa Leach on WNYT News.

Watch the video.

Located in Stuyvesant Plaza, The Hot Yoga Spot has two huge studios that are sound proof and insulated to give you a peaceful and uninterrupted yoga practice. They offer a wide array of classes at various times during the day, so you can be sure to find a class that suits your schedule.

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The Hot Yoga Spot continues to grow with an expansion at Stuyvesant Plaza in suburban Albany, New York. The yoga and fitness center expanded its front studio by 700 square feet, doubled the size of its locker and changing area and made other improvements, said Jessica Lustig, owner. The business now fills 3,300-square-feet at the upscale, outdoor shopping center in Guilderland.

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Clifton Park - The Hot Yoga Spot, a yoga and fitness facility with two Capital Region locations, has created a hot yoga intramural program for more than 50 Shen High School student athletes. The weekly classes are free and designed to increase flexibility and strength..

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Janet Kaplan sees the sales reports for the retailers at Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland, NY, and knows firsthand how challenging it can be for them. “It’s been up and down,” said Kaplan, who has been in charge of leasing for more than 15 years at the upscale, outdoor shopping plaza…

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Jessica Lustig came to the Capital Region for the education and stayed to start her own business.

Lustig, 25, left Long Island after graduating from high school to attend the state University at Albany. She has a bachelor’s degree in European History and a master’s in education.

“I originally came to the area to attend college and I never left,” she says. “I love the relationships I have formed, the community I am a part of and the business I have created.”

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Your hamstrings aren’t happy with you. You’ve been at odds with them for a while. Isn’t that what running is about, pushing on when you think you have nothing left? Your mind and body spent the last 5 miles of that marathon scrapping it out, and those hamstrings, screaming though they were…

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Jessica Lustig, The Hot Yoga Spot’s owner, was named to the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 for 2013. “I decided to take my passion for teaching and my love of hot yoga to create my own business and start my future,” Jessica says. Giving up her classroom ambitions was the toughest decision she has ever made. She says it was also her best.”

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“When you have that heat going, you’re sweating a ton,” says Jessica Lustig, owner of The Hot Yoga Spot. “People look like they just went swimming. They’re dripping sweat.” Doing yoga in a warm room makes good sense, Lustig says. It’s easier and safer to stretch the body when it’s warm and it enables people to get deeper into the poses. Heat also raises the heart rate, which increases the cardiovascular benefits of the exercise. But no matter how you exercise, Lustig says, “everybody equates sweating with a good workout..

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The much anticipated announcement is here. The Business Review is proud to introduce this year’s 40 Under Forty. The class of 2013 is the latest group of young, ambitious professionals to be honored in a Capital Region tradition that dates back 14 years. A Business Review advisory board picked the latest 40 from more than 500 nominations.

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The Hot Yoga Spot, which offers yoga classes at temperatures up to 95 degrees, plans to open at Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland, New York. The business will nearly quadruple in size when it moves in September from Fuller Road to the outdoor shopping plaza. Jessica Lustig opened the business in December and quickly outgrew the space. The new location will expand the size to 2,707 square feet.

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The Hot Yoga Spot, a Capital Region-based yoga center that offers a variety of yoga classes at temperatures up to 95 degrees, will take over the space previously occupied by Tynan’s Center for Dance in Stuyvesant Plaza this fall.

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It starts off at 90. It gets hotter. “Every single part of your body is strong,” the yoga instructor intoned it in a soothing voice. What a lovely thought. But by the fifteenth downward facing dog it sure didn’t feel true. Everyone looking backwards between their own legs could see me on my haunches, sitting this one out. Still, there’s something nice about a good sweat. I could feel it beading and rolling down the side of my face. It felt clean, somehow. Okay, water bottle down. Back into pose…

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