Hotpod Yoga in Cape Town Modern Yoga Designed for Real Life

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WORDS Rebecca Hugo-Saraceno

Today’s lifestyle is fast-paced and demanding. We’re pulled in multiple directions and rush from one task to the next with little time factored in for our mind and body. The two things we neglect are the very things we can’t function without.

Bring in Hotpod Yoga. This isn’t just yoga, and this isn’t just hot yoga. It is something quite unique – it’s yoga designed for the modern world, ‘working the body, calming the mind’.

Hotpod Yoga classes take place in heated, inflatable pods making yoga accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Photo: courtesy of Hotpod Yoga

Founded in the UK by Max Henderson and Nick Higgins, the premise was simple: make the benefits of yoga accessible to everyone and in as many places as possible. Hence the inflatable pod was born. This cocoon-like pod can be assembled and inflated anywhere and it fits 20 people into a class.

The classes themselves stick to a tried-and-tested formula. Heat the pod to 37 degrees, scent the space with aromatherapy oils to mellow the mind, add some blissful beats to accompany the series of Vinyasa flow moments and you’ve got the perfect antidote for a busy day.

‘Hotpod Yoga aims to keep it simple and include everyone,’ says Andre Hugo, founder of Hotpod Yoga Cape Town. ‘We focus on strength, flexibility and me-time and we combine this in an environment which is nurturing and unique.’

‘Hotpod Yoga aims to keep it simple and include everyone,’ says Andre Hugo, founder of Hotpod Yoga Cape Town. ‘We focus on strength, flexibility and me-time and we combine this in an environment which is nurturing and unique.’

The Hotpod Yoga experience focuses on working the body and calming the mind. Photo: Andre Hugo

Growing up doing gymnastics, Andre competed at a high level until the age of 16. Since giving up gymnastics he’s continued to pursue activities to keep mobile but he admits he lost flexibility. Then, two years ago, he came across yoga and immediately saw the benefits. One thing led to another and now he’s brought the Hotpod Yoga franchise to Cape Town.

‘With the wonders of technology, we’ve managed to overcome the challenges setting up a franchise geographically so far away from the London HQ,’ says Andre. ‘And the UK team have been an enormous support every step of the way.’

There are five yoga instructors in the Hotpod family so far, each selected for their own style and passion. Yazmine Horowitz, the operations manager and teacher, explains that every instructor brings a refreshing approach to yoga and they welcome participants of all levels from beginner to advanced.

‘The pod is immersive, private and friendly,’ says Yazmine. ‘The studio doesn’t have intimidating mirrors reflecting sexier, younger, stretchy people, the pod is dimly lit so clients have a go-to safe space to discover their yoga practice.’

‘The pod is immersive, private and friendly,’ says Yazmine. ‘The studio doesn’t have intimidating mirrors reflecting sexier, younger, stretchy people, the pod is dimly lit so clients have a go-to safe space to discover their yoga practice.’

The pod is distinctively appealing – both to newbies and old-timers, men as well as women. It’s a playful, interesting, space-age environment. ‘I can see little pods opening up all over the place,’ says Yazmine. ‘This really is a gateway to yoga and we want as many people to enjoy it as possible.’

The inflatable pods are heated to 37 degrees and you can find them in 40 locations around the world as well as in South Africa. Photo: courtesty of Hotpod Yoga.

In fact, it feels exceptionally easy to enjoy the Hotpod experience. The heated space means your muscles can stretch better; the essential oils permeating the pod help instantly calm the mind; and the purple cocoon pod means you can completely escape from the outside world.

There’s no denying yoga has benefits for everyone and Hotpod Yoga aims to include everyone. There’s room to have more than one pod in Cape Town, so you can expect to see more pods inflating around the Mother City.

‘In today’s world, people don’t have time to focus on themselves enough. The pod creates an environment where you can come, spend an hour, lose yourself within yourself and that can only be a good thing,’ says Andre.

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