Bikram Yoga Studio Coming To Wynnewood

A new hot yoga studio is coming to Wynnewood, with an opening date set for Nov. 1.

Bikram Yoga, located in the Wynnewood West Shopping Center near Whole Foods, is the first business venture of owner Diane Roberts, a 35-year Radnor native.

Roberts, who worked for years in the pharmaceutical industry, took up yoga when she was laid off from her job several years ago.

"It helped me to relax and de-stress, and then I decided, maybe I could make a career of it," she said.

Her new yoga studio in Wynnewood West Shopping Center will feature a large hot room that will be sealed and heated to 105 degrees.

Bikram yoga, as with other forms of hot yoga, uses heat to help increase flexibility and range of motion in the joints.  The exercise also works to open capillaries and helps eliminate toxins, Roberts said.

While the heat may be intimidating to some people, it's a good challenge—and with the humidity set at 40 percent, it doesn't feel like 105 degrees in the room, Roberts explained.

Plus, the heat helps the body to stretch in ways that could surprise you.

"When you come in the room, you may only be able to lift your arms so far, but as you get acclimated to the heat, as you breath and stretch, you can bend your body in ways you can't normally," Roberts said. "Within the first class, your muscles just start to melt."

Every class is 90 minutes long, and consists of the same 26 poses and two breathing exercises. It's the same class every time, 36 times a week.

"People love the consistency," Roberts said. "You can go anywhere, to any country, not speak the language and still take a Bikram class, and have it be the same. People of any age, any skill level can do it."

The studio, at 333 E Lancaster Ave. in the Wynnewood West Shopping Center, is still under construction.  Eventually, it will house six changing stalls and three unisex bathrooms with locks. The studio will also rent and sell yoga mats and towels, and Smartwater and VitaCoco will be available for purchase. 

Roberts, who became a certified Bikram instructor in spring, will teach classes along with six or seven other instructors. The studio is open seven days a week, with classes running from 6 a.m. through 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

Pre-opening, yoga enthusiasts can sign up at a special pre-opening price: $59 for one month of unlimited classes, or $149 for two months of unlimited classes. View the full list of rates here.

For more information, visit the Bikram Yoga website, Twitter and Facebook page.