SOUTHAMPTON’S first dedicated hot yoga studio has opened in the city centre.

In Balance Hot Yoga is based in the Arena Business Centre, Threefield Road, and provides yoga classes in rooms up to 30°C.

It was officially opened by the Sherriff Consulate Barnes-Andrews from Southampton City Council at a recent event where he was shown around the studio.

The studio has been set up by Benedita Sousa and her partner Ian Boylin after becoming frustrated with the lack of opportunities to practice hot yoga in the area and wanting to encourage more people to take it up.

The studio has two practice rooms, which can hold up to 40 people, a changing area and an office.

Hot yoga sessions will take place in temperatures between 25°C and 30°C and warm yoga sessions will take place in temperatures between 20°C and 23°C.

Benedita said: “We have run hot yoga sessions in the city for some time but have only been able to accommodate a small number of people or put them on at certain times of the day.

“Hot yoga can be so beneficial for the body and mind. Not only are you working your body and improving your strength and mobility but you are also exercising your mind.

“It has been frustrating that there are limited opportunities to practice hot yoga in Southampton but we hope the new studio will enable and encourage more people to take it up.”

She added: “To see the studio open is really a dream come true and we’ve been thrilled with the response. We are so happy to be able to bring this very special activity to the people of Southampton, in a custom-made, dedicated space. It’s amazing to finally be open.”

The studio will also run men’s hot yoga, which will be tailored to the areas of the body that typically men have tightness in; shoulders, hips and hamstrings.

“Of course, men are more than welcome to come to all our sessions but we have found in the past that men will come to one or two sessions and not continue,” Benedita explained. “We wanted to provide a session that will focus on the tightness that typically men feel in the shoulders, hips and hamstrings, in the hope that it will encourage more men to take up yoga.”