The yoga boom

Yoga may have begun as a strictly spiritual practice, but the modern-day yoga industry is undergoing a very commercial boom.

According to an IBISWorld report, the Pilates and Yoga Studios industry reached the average annual revenue of $6.9 billion in 2012. Yoga participation grew from 4.3 million people in 2001 to an estimated 22.1 million in 2012, fueled in part by new consumer segments like men, and baby-boomers looking for low-impact forms of exercise. As a result of the demand, the report states that the number of studios offering classes has likewise multiplied at an average annual rate of 5.9% to an estimated 26,610.

The Central Coast is no exception to the bendy-trend; a growing number of studios are offering increased and diversified classes to fit every interest and energy-level. Below are a few examples of the region’s newest opportunities for locals to roll out the mat and strike a pose.
 

Namaste from North County

Offbeat Yoga, a spunky and fun new studio that opens May 1, 2013 in Atascadero, will offer newbies and seasoned stretchers of North County (and beyond) a warm and welcoming environment to call ‘Om.’ Down-to-earth Owner and 300-hour Certified Yoga Instructor Kacey Robinson will offer everything from soothing restorative classes to sweaty vinyasa classes, and hopes to share her enthusiasm for yoga with all levels of yogis. 8115 El Camino Real Unit B, Atascadero, CA 93422 (enter from the parking lot); (805) 464-7407; OffbeatYoga.com 

Dedicated to Wholeness

Be Well Center views spirit, mind and body as an integrated whole and believes that work done on any level - spiritual, mental-emotional or physical - will affect the totality of your being. The benefits of this holistic approach are reaching higher levels of wellness and happiness while helping to prevent and diminish illness and discomfort. Some of the classes they offer are Hot Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, The Five Tibetans, Meditation, and Inner Wisdom. 8810 Morro Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 460-9907: bewellliving.com

Aloha Asanas

Harmony House Yoga in Pismo Beach will extend its practice into the exotic by offering a yoga retreat in Maui led by owner Kelly Metcalf from April 26 – May 1, 2013. The tempting retreat includes two yoga classes a day, massage, organic food, deep relaxation, and time for deep personal work, all while staying at a luxurious tropical sanctuary. Of course, locals can experience something of the island-experience at Harmony House’s beach-side studio which offers a full slate of classes as well as workshops like “Mother’s Day Restorative Love,” featuring coffee, tea and treats after class. 991 Price St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449; (805) 773-0380; harmony-house-yoga.com

Sweat Salutations

Bikram Yoga SLO offers heat-lovers access to the franchised 26-posture hot-yoga series famously embraced by celebrities and a growing wave of athletes from all backgrounds. Not surprisingly, the studio is experiencing growing pains. It recently broke ground on an expansion that will provide much-appreciated showers and bathrooms for yogis to clean up after sweating through the 105-degree classes. 570 Higuera Street, Suite 195 (in The Creamery), San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; (805) 545-5951; bikramyogaslo.com

Hatha Reaches New Heights

SLO Op Climbing gym may not seem like the most likely place to offer yoga classes, but owner Kristin Horowitz says climbing and yoga are a natural combo. The gym recently started a yoga program, led by instructor Steph Fellows, which provides member climbers and the general public access to everything from hip-hop yoga to power or restorative classes, Monday through Thursday at 7PM – 8:30 PM. Classes are currently included in the gym membership fee, while non-members pay $10, which includes yoga and a day-pass for climbing. 289 Prado Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; (805) 748.1478; greendoghost.com/sloopclimbing

The Chakra Chef

Learn to eat like a yogi at Treetop Yoga’s upcoming Ayurveda workshop on May 3-5, 2013, with former Chopra Center Chef Aparna Khanolkar. The course aims to help people incorporate simple, yet profound Ayurvedic principles, which include proper nutrition, yoga and meditation, for balancing a hectic life. Treetop Yoga also offers a variety of yoga classes as well as a $30-for-30-days introductory offer. 2771 Santa Maria Way, Suite C, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (upstairs at the corner of Santa Maria Way and Miller); (805) 266.6391; treetopyoga.perfectmind.com

Yoga for Youth

The Yoga Center of Morro Bay, which just celebrated its one-year anniversary, offers a full arsenal of classes for adults at its studio, while also extending classes to the next generation of yogis with regular Kids’ Yoga Camps and classes. Additionally, the studio offers local schools the opportunity to team up to provide in-school and after-school yoga classes for children, stating, “We hope to play an active role in teaching students who are in elementary through high school about the philosophy and practice of yoga.” They also offer two weeks of unlimited yoga for $20, for newcomers. 335 Dunes Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442; (805) 268-2668; yogacentermb.com

Vinyasa Goes Viral

The Yoga Centre in San Luis Obispo recently launched an innovative website featuring a yogi social media network and streaming online yoga classes, which saw 250,000 views and 300 members in its first two weeks. Owner Travis Bobbit attributes the continued success to the fact that the site enables teachers to upload and profit from their online classes, while reaching out to a worldwide community of students. Additionally, the unique site allows timid beginners to get a feel for the yoga atmosphere before stepping into a physical class, and acts as a convenient supplement to a regular practitioner’s in-studio practice. To try out the social site or get a free trial of the online classes, log in at YogaCentre.com. 1880 Santa Barbara St. Suite 140, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; (805) 598-7100

Jamie Relth - local writer and photographer