According to the Yoga Alliance, there has been a huge boom to the Yoga industry over the past four years. Today there are 36,7 million American practicing Yoga which is up 15% since 2012. Over $16 billion is spent on equipment, classes and clothing.
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| Gina Pasquariello |
Yoga is NO joke. I had my hesitations about Yoga and my boss somehow talked me into trying it with another co-worker and admittedly, it…… kicked……. my……. butt. I vividly remember walking in like I was Billy Badass and then remember leaving drenched in buckets of my own sweat and having people twice my age making me feel humbled. I was amazed at the ability of so many to do all sorts of different poses while I struggled immensely with a good portion of them. On my second visit, I went in with clear eyes and a better attitude but did much better.
One of the most popular places for Yoga in Wichita is Hot Asana Yoga Studio. Which just so happens to bring us our next guest in the Wichita By E.B. Q&A Series. I’d like to welcome Gina Pasquariello, owner of Hot Asana Yoga Studio.
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Eddy: Gina, thank you for participating in the Wichita By E.B. Q&A Series. Before you go into anything else, could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Gina: I love teaching and practicing yoga! I am a 500 hour Experienced Registered Yoga Instructor (E-RYT). My mom dragged me to my first yoga class 15 years ago. It’s funny how sometimes those things we are so against end up being the things that truly support us and our growth and expansion.
I have been teaching yoga for more than 10 years in Wichita. Part of what keeps me inspired in my yoga practice is that moment when the impossible becomes possible, finally hitting the pose or transition that seemed completely out of reach and absurd when I first laid eyes on it. That wide-eyed experience of the impossible becoming possible is what fuels my yoga practice. The idea that what I perceive to be true in one moment could be nothing more than a fiction is laid become more weekly in my yoga practice.
Eddy: You are the owner of Hot Asana Yoga Studio. Word is you’re getting ready to switch locations here in town. How is that going?
Gina: Yes, Cristy Anderson and I are business partners and own the studio. We have out grown our current location and need a larger space for our clients to practice. Our new location is one block away from our current location. 7348 W 21st N is where our studio will soon be located, 21st and Ridge in Reflection Ridge Shopping Center.
On May 28th we will have morning classes (8:30 and 10:30am) at our current location and then we will have a Grand Opening of Our New and Improved Location later that Day. The festivities will kick off with a lululemon athletica Trunk Show from 5pm-8pm, we will have a FREE all levels Hot Yoga Class starting at 6:00pm, followed by a reception and party! We invite everyone to come out, check out the space, take a free class, or just stop by and say hi.
Eddy: Many congratulations to both you and Cristy. I’m sure all the hard work and literal sweat will make the Grand Opening that much more meaningful for you.
It seems like in recent years, Hot Yoga has really picked up. As a complete newbie, I can certainly vouch for it. For those new to Hot Yoga or even just Yoga in general, why should they give it a try? What are the benefits to it? What exactly is involved in yoga?
Gina: I often hear people say that they can’t do yoga because they aren’t flexible, but the reality is that yoga is a lot more than touching your toes.Yoga cultivates a balance between strength and flexibility and it’s a lot of fun. My favorite pose is Handstand because it was so hard for me to learn and I never thought I would be able to do with it with confidence and grace. At the studio we challenge students to push themselves and to try new things. We love Hot Yoga, because of the cleansing benefits of sweating, and we sweat a lot.
Eddy: The sweating is NO LIE. I don’t think I’ve ever sweat so much in my life. I’m not even sure where all the sweat came from. And to break any gender barriers of what people think, this isn’t just for girls is it?
Gina: Yoga isnt just for the ladies we have lots of guys that practice at the studio.
Eddy: What made you start Hot Asana Yoga Studio and what’s the meaning behind the name?
Gina: Asana is sanskrit for posture. The name means Hot Posture. We opened the studio to make an impact on the community in a positive way and share our passion for yoga with Wichita.
Eddy: Where can people get more info on Hot Asana Yoga Studio and what advice would you give to people going there for their first time?
Gina: Visit our website, www.hotasanayogastudio.com. We have advice for first-timers on the website!
Eddy: And this is one question I ask everybody who participates in our Q&A Series, what are your three favorite restaurants in town. Go!
Gina: My 3 Favorite Restaurants in town are Public, Mikes Wine Dive, and Lotus Leaf
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| Thanks again to Gina Pasquariello |
Eddy: Well Gina, I would like to thank you again for participating in our Q&A Series.
To the readers out there, don’t be afraid to try this out for your first time. I probably had the exact same assumptions and misconceptions about yoga before stepping inside and finding out the truth for myself.
And don’t forget to stop by Hot Asana Yoga Studio’s Grand Opening on May 28th starting at 5 pm at 7348 W 21st St N in the Reflection Ridge Shopping Center.
If you know of anybody that would be great as a guest of the Wichita By E.B. Q&A Series, feel free to e-mail me at wichitabyeb@gmail.com. I’m looking for anybody who impacts Wichita in any sort of way. Thank you!
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