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I Really Don’t Like Hot Yoga (Said a Hot Yoga Studio Owner)

nicole9843

Updated: Jan 29

Welp, that owner was me.


Life works in mysterious ways. Five years ago, I became the owner of a hot yoga studio. The studio itself had been around for 20 years, and its roots were in Bikram Yoga. When the pandemic hit, the original owner was ready to retire.


That’s when I stepped in. Though I was still early in my yoga career, I had seven years of studio ownership experience under my belt and felt an undeniable pull to take on the challenge. So, I bought the studio.


Here’s the kicker: I’ve never liked hot yoga.


You’re probably thinking, “Why on earth would you buy a hot yoga studio if you don’t even like hot yoga?” Valid question. At the time, I was focused on the community, the opportunity, and the potential to evolve the space into something even more meaningful. But over the years, as I’ve taught and occasionally taken hot yoga classes, I’ve become curious about my resistance to them.


Yes, I’ll admit the heat makes my body feel amazing—looser, more open. But I hate how sweaty and gross I get. And that’s where my epiphany comes in.


A few days ago, I was teaching a hot yoga class, and mid-Tadasana, it hit me. I paused and said to my students, “Wait, you guys, I think I know why I resist hot yoga!” They stared at me, confused. Here I was, the studio owner and their teacher, confessing my disdain for the very practice they’d come to love.


“Hot yoga is messy,” I said. “All the dripping sweat, the puddles on your mat—it’s just so messy. And I don’t like to feel messy.”


That’s when the real epiphany hit: it’s not just hot yoga. I don’t like to feel messy in my life, either. I don’t like feeling out of control or vulnerable. But here’s the thing about messiness: the only way out is through it.


In a hot yoga class, the messiness doesn’t last forever. Eventually, the class ends. You take a shower, and the mess subsides. Similarly, in life, when things feel chaotic or overwhelming, the only way to find resolution is to move through the discomfort. Avoiding it doesn’t work. You have to show up, do the work, and trust that there’s another side waiting for you.


When I reflect on the times I’ve embraced the messy—in yoga and in life—I’ve always come out stronger. After a hot yoga class, I feel absolutely amazing. My body is lighter, my mind clearer, and I’m so glad I didn’t let the discomfort stop me. The same is true for life’s messy seasons. Moving through them doesn’t just lead to relief; it often leads to growth.


So here I am, someone who once avoided hot yoga at all costs, finding myself leaning into it more. Not because it’s gotten easier, but because I’ve learned to appreciate the messiness for what it is: temporary and transformative.


If there’s one thing I’ve learned as both a yoga teacher and a human being, it’s this: the messy moments are where the magic happens. They teach us resilience, patience, and how to embrace the parts of ourselves that we’d rather hide away. Whether you’re sweating through a hot yoga class or navigating a challenging season of life, remember this: the only way out is through. And when you reach the other side, you’ll be glad you did.


xoxo, Nicole


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