Health / Sport
Ditching the rat race
A former commercial IT worker-turned-yoga-teacher has ditched the rat race to open a hi-tech, purpose-built hot yoga studio powered by 100% sustainable energy.
Called Yogafurie, the Ashley Down studio has the most advanced heating and air filtration system on the market, as well as only using eco-friendly energy sources. It is believed to be the facility of its kind west of the London commuter belt.
Owner Ed Wood worked in IT for 22 years before training in traditional yoga techniques four years ago. He originally set up a portable hot yoga practice in 2011 operating mostly around the Gloucester Road area of Bristol and has since expanded to employ his son and daughter in the fledgling family business.
is needed now More than ever
Hot yoga has boomed in recent years after Bikram gained popularity and a celebrity following, celebrated for detoxifying effects, increased immunity and a ‘feel good’ factor.
Ed said: “It’s been an amazing journey – I certainly didn’t expect the class sizes to grow at the rate they did.
“I wanted to create a safe yet dynamic practice rooted in the deep traditions of yoga, but also grounded in the norms and expectations of a modern, progressive society. Our students often have busy lives and want to get the most out of their experiences and so hot yoga really combines all the right elements for them.
“The final piece of the puzzle was creating a strong base using the latest plumbing and heating systems.”
Yogafurie sees Ed returning full-time to a long-held passion for fitness: “My first ambition as a young man was to become a PE teacher but I went on to have a successful IT career. I think a lot of the business mentoring and insight I received through this time has helped me in growing and opening the business around something I love.
“Hopefully we will continue to expand as our goal is to open more studios so, hopefully, we’ll see more converts to hot yoga.”
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