We all know we need to do certain things to live longer, healthier lives. We need to eat well, exercise, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep. But sometimes, you need to do a little bit more to feel your best.
Welcome to a whole new world of wellness in the north-east. These incredible small, local businesses have some innovative ways to help put a spring in your step and a sparkle in your eye. Why not test them for yourself?
Hotpod Yoga Newcastle
Just like yoga, but hotter!
If you’ve ever practised yoga, you probably know all about the physical and mental benefits that come from this form of controlled exercise. Hotpod Yoga adds an extra layer of intensity that can really boost those benefits.
Each class takes place inside a large pod, heated to around 37°c. There are different classes to choose from, including gentle beginner’s classes and more intense sessions for experienced yogis. Not only does the added warmth help you burn more calories, but it is also great for your heart, focus, and endorphin production. You’ll feel less stressed, more flexible, and build a greater tolerance to heat.
Hotpod Yoga launched in London in 2013 and has taken the world by storm! It came to Newcastle in 2017, led by Alex and Jules Hurley, physiotherapists turned yoga teachers. They know all about the restorative power of yoga and can help you bend and stretch in ways you never knew you could!
Prices start at £12 for a single session, and there are five or six classes every day, so there is sure to be one that fits into your life. For more information or to book your first session, visit https://hotpodyoga.com/studios/newcastle.
Steam & Salt
Sauna tents on the beach!
This beachside sauna experience is a wonderful retreat for sea swimmers, athletes, and anyone looking to boost their health through the power of detox. Set right on the coast by King Edwards Bay, there are two sauna tents with space for up to six people. Inside, customers will find essential oils, salt scrubs, and massage stones to enhance their enjoyment of the sauna.
Founder Maggie Guneyogullari created Steam & Salt when she lost her younger sister. Sea bathing became a form of meditative therapy for her, and when she discovered portable saunas, she was able to combine the two wellbeing practices to create a ritual that helped her both physically and mentally. She wanted to share this rejuvenating experience with the world.
The saunas work best as a heat therapy combined with a cold therapy – which is why it is great for sea swimmers. But you don’t have to jump in the sea if you don’t want to – there are watering cans filled with cold water next to the sauna, which give you that same energy if you pour the water over you.
As well as helping to relieve stress and tension, sauna therapy is great for your heart and joints while helping you to sweat out all the toxins. It can even aid your weight loss efforts. Cold water therapy is better for your immune, lymphatic, and digestive systems, and both are fantastic for the skin. You can absolutely enjoy one without the other, but they are more powerful combined.
Prices start at £10 for an hour session, and you can book easily online.
Yoga Therapies
Yoga x Life
This yoga studio in Ouseburn aims to deliver more than yoga classes to its clients. The mission is to help others weave the practice into their daily lives so they can experience a higher level of wellbeing in everything they do. This is offered through over 40 classes a week, yoga retreats, and treatments. They even train up new yoga teachers and are responsible for most of the teachers in the local area!
Chris and Debbie Jackson founded Yoga Therapies in 2013, with annual retreats to places such as Ibiza, Bali, Peru, and beyond since 2017. They moved to their newest studio in 2021, which they call their ‘forever home’. These premises have a café and two studios, allowing them to provide a jam-packed schedule and refreshments for afterwards.
Yoga is great for mental and physical health, helping with rehabilitation, stress relief, and strengthening the body. Through daily practice you’ll become more self-aware, flexible, and relaxed, but most people need a little helping hand to get started, which is why Yoga Therapies is so great.
You can enjoy a 30-day trial before selecting a full, flexible membership if you enjoy it. The tiered pricing system starts at £45 for five sessions per month. Additional services include massage, facials, and astrology, so you can really take your quest for wellness to the stars!
Springs Studios
Pilates with resistance!
The reformer machine allows you to practice Pilates with extra intensity, offering a changeable resistance that you can adapt to suit your needs. You don’t need any other special tools – your own body weight and muscles help you push and pull the carriage along the frame.
Each machine has a set of straps with loops for your hands and feet. Once adjusted to suit, you can perform a variety of exercises intended to strengthen, support, and rehabilitate the body. Everyone can use these reformer machines, no matter their fitness level or need.
Traditional Pilates is often viewed as a stretching exercise, but reformer Pilates is much more than this. While it does help with flexibility and alignment, it is also a full-body workout, helping to target those smaller muscles that often get overlooked in the gym. It is a great accompaniment to gym classes or running, but many people love the benefits that come from Pilates alone.
Springs has a packed timetable with nine reformer beds and accessories to help bring variety to the workouts. Each class is 45 minutes long and is instructor-led. You can pay-as-you-go or purchase one of the 28-day memberships on offer online. There is even a trial membership, offering three classes for £99.
If you are looking for something uplifting for your mental and physical health, any one of these local businesses might be able to help. Enjoy a little self-care in the hands of experienced guides who know their stuff!