Strike a pose: Yoga still a growing trend, both locally and nationally

Class participants hold a pose during a Hot Power Flow 45 class at Simply Power Yoga. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Arya Yoga Studio owner Anita Kozeska instructs an intermediate/advanced level Hot Vinyasa class.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Bloom Yoga & Wellness instructor Sharon Green (left) leads an Easeful Yoga class.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Yoga has become a popular practice that promotes health and wellness and Blair County offers a variety of styles, studios and classes.
The area’s third dedicated yoga studio opened in mid-January in Hollidaysburg. Arya Yoga Studio, owned by Anita Kozeska, is at 400 Allegheny Street. In Altoona, Simply Power Yoga, owned by Christine Tyndall, and Bloom Yoga and Wellness offer classes for different experience levels, intensities and types.
Kozeska previously instructed at Simply Power and held classes at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Altoona and Levity Brewing Co. in downtown Altoona.
Several other area residents are in good company and part of a growing national trend, where one out of six U.S. adults practice yoga, according to a survey done last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 80% are practicing to improve their health and some 30% are using it to treat and manage pain.
Yoga classes can also be found at several Altoona area gyms, such as Evolve Body & Mind Studio, ProCare at Roaring Spring Fitness and The Summit Tennis & Athletic Club. Just Breathe Salt Spa even offers a weekly restorative yoga class in the Himalayan salt room.
“We live in a society that has us in a go-go-go mode of action,” Tyndall said. “Through yoga, you learn to let go and release tension and rejuvenate your nervous system so it settles down and leaves you in a relaxed state.”
Mary Jo Fiore of Altoona attends yoga at Bloom Yoga and Wellness, where the emphasis is on mindful, gentle movement, where participants can modify poses and go at their own pace.
“It’s OK to do things slowly,” Fiore said. “I was always competitive (in other exercise classes) and felt I had to keep up. Here, it’s all about you. I appreciate going at my own pace and going slow.”
She has benefited with better balance and more awareness of her movements when gardening.
“It’s been a wonderful journey. This is my time for me,” Fiore said.
Two Blair County men, Justin Wiley and Bryan Caporuscio, take yoga classes as a way to improve their bodies and other physical pursuits.
Wiley of Altoona started taking yoga classes about four years ago. He’s lost 40 pounds, improved his functional strength, balance and flexibility.
“I was looking for a new exercise that checked a lot of boxes in one hour,” Wiley said. “It’s amazing how with yoga I was looking for a new exercise that checks a lot of boxes in one hour. It’s amazing how yoga has improved my other training. It has a ton of benefits beyond stress relief. It has improved my focus and flexibility and it’s fun.”
He’s taken classes at Simply Power and at Arya and likes the variety offered by having multiple studios in the area.The classes offered at Levity occur to live music and at SAMA, participants are surrounded by artwork, which makes it even more fun, he said.
At Simply Power, he takes “hot” yoga classes, where the room is warmed to a higher temperature to increase the intensity of the workout.
Sue Stevens of Hollidaysburg has been attending classes at Simply Power since it opened five years ago. Yoga helped her recover from a ski accident that damaged her knee.
“I went to a hot class and I loved it. The heat helps warm up your ligaments and joints and it increases my range and flexibility,” she said. “The heat makes everything loose and I can push myself a little more.”
Both Simply Power and Arya yoga studios offer heated yoga sessions.
“We have state-of-the-art overhead floating infrared heating panels,”
Kozeska said. “It heats surfaces and yoga subjects. It feels like the sun, warming your skin.”
Both Arya studios can be temperature controlled and heated without humidity. Participants can select from “warm” classes, where the room temperature, 70 to 80 degrees fahrenheit, to “hot” classes that range from 90 to
98 degrees.
“Infrared heat makes a big difference,” Kozeska said. “It increases the function of the immune system, decreases inflammation and detoxifies. It’s very powerful.”
At Simply Power, heated classes vary from “hot” classes where the room, heated to 100 degrees with 55 percent humidity.
“The humidity makes it easier to breathe,” Tyndall said. “The heat gets the heart rate up, too. Some people don’t like that much heat, so we offer a warm class at 85 degrees and we have classes with no added heat.”
Now 60, Stephens said she wishes she’d begun practicing yoga decades sooner. She especially likes the camaraderie of in-person classes at Simply Yoga.
“It’s a very positive community. The instructors give encouragement.I believe being part of the community helps make your connection with your body even stronger,” she said. “You’re not in competition with anyone else. You work on yourself. We talk about gratitude a lot and it helps me focus on the positive things in life. I feel healthier physically and mentally.”
Wiley estimates he’s seen a 15% increase in the number of men taking yoga locally.
Caporuscio of Hollidaysburg, a lifelong outdoorist who cycles, skis, runs and lifts. He started going to Simply Power Yoga for the benefits of “lengthening and loosening” his body.
“It allows you to be more flexible. I’ve learned to breathe and go inside my own mind and retreat. I’ve gotten so much more out of it that I initially intended,” Caporuscio said. “You get into your inner self and it’s a great way to relieve stress.”
At Bloom Yoga & Wellness, Green and teacher Cristal Lidwell offer yoga classes where the focus, on greater mobility and stability — physically, mentally and emotionally — through intentional movement, breath work and mindfulness.
At Bloom, Green teaches clients “how to relax and ease underlying anxiety” through practices that can be integrated into daily living situations. The emphasis, on care of the whole self through awareness, movement, breath, meditation and relaxation to create what Bloom calls “innercize.”
Classes at Bloom Yoga & Wellness are intentionally small to create a co-learning environment where the teacher adjusts to the participants’ special needs and participants share with each other.
“Each class has its own personality as I teach to the needs of the room,” Bloom explained. Classes for those with limited mobility through a chair yoga series and in “easeful yoga” the emphasis, on movements that are gentle and slower.
“People can massage themselves from the inside out,” Green said. Her goal since taking over from Bloom founder Andrea Young has been to create a safe, accessible space for people with health and mental health challenges, such as ADHD, bipolar or mobility issues.
Kathi Saller of Altoona has attended the easeful class for 10 years after being injured.
“I’ve come a long way. I have more strength and better function. Plus, it helps me focus and be serene.”
Mirror staff writer Patt Keith can be reached at 814-949-7030.