When it comes to fitness, it seems people can't get enough of the "yoga glow" that comes after a Hot Yoga Class. That's 45 minutes, 75 minutes or 90 minutes of yoga in a 99 degree room.
Leading that Hot Yoga charge here in Wichita is Nickki Head, yoga instructor and owner of Firelfy Yoga Studio, located in the Shops at Tallgrass on the northeast corner of 21st and Rock Road.
Nickki's booming business and the swarms of sweaty women and men leaving Firefly Yoga Studio hourly is a testament to one fact; Wichitans like their yoga hot.
Firefly Yoga Studio opened in May 2011. Since then, Nickki says that business continues to grow daily.
Why have Hot Yoga Classes become so popular in Wichita?
We are primarily a Hot Yoga Studio because there is such huge demand for those classes. When the muscles are warmed up, there is less risk of injury. Also, the high temperature allows a detox process to take place within the body, allowing you to leave classes feeling renewed and cleansed. People love the energy, the detox, the flow of the class, and especially how amazing it makes them feel. I think that Wichita didn't know what it was missing until it experienced Hot Yoga. Now that it has, I'm quite sure that Wichita isn't letting go any time soon.
How did you get started in yoga?
I got hooked on yoga while living in Denver, CO. I was just out of college and the way it made me feel was incredible. As soon as I started training, I realized that I wanted to share my love for yoga with anyone who would listen. Since then, I have received a national certification through Yoga Alliance and have furthered my training through programs in Denver, Boulder, California, Mexico and India.
At Firefly Yoga Studio, the first class is free. After that, new students can get two weeks of unlimited classes for only $20. This rate is offered so that students can take a variety of classes, taught by different instructors, and at different times. Nickki says the key is finding the class that works best for you.
If you don't have your own, mat and towel rentals are available at the studio for a small fee. Cold bottles of water can also be purchased.
What made you want to open your own Hot Yoga Studio?
Once I moved back to Wichita, I started teaching at a small local studio. I began to realize that Wichita's yoga community needed to grow. In Denver, there was a Hot Yoga Studio on every corner, but none in Wichita. I started a Hot Yoga Class at that studio and began to see how much people were really loving it. I knew the east side of town didn't have anything like that, so I decided to start my own studio. We have been open for over a year now and business continues to grow daily.
"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."
First of all, I try to eat very clean. Aside from yoga, I also run with our Firefly Training Group three times a week. The group runs in most of the local races to support the Wichita community. This way we can combine our love for yoga with our love for running and our community.
Where does the name "Firefly" come from?
Firefly is a very challenging yoga pose for me personally. It is an arm pose that requires not only arm strength but also a great deal of core strength and flexible hamstrings. The name Firefly Yoga is a constant reminder that we are always growing in our practice, regardless of whether we are the teacher or the student.
What do you find to be the greatest challenge in owning your own business?
Trying to please everyone can definitely be a challenge. Some like it hot, some like it warm, some like short classes, some like longer classes. We are trying to find a happy middle ground where most people can be pleased. That's why we offer the new student rate of $20 for two weeks of unlimited classes. That way, students can try everything and find what they like best.
Each month, Nickki features the work of different local artists in the studio.
"Yoga has changed people's lives, mentally as well as physically."
What is your favorite thing about owning your own business?
The amazing testimonials that I hear on a daily basis about how yoga has changed people's lives. Yoga is of course facilitating the amazing transformations within their bodies, but that's not all. Yoga not only effects our students physically but also mentally. Our studio has given them a place to feel 100% comfortable with where their body wants to be on that particular day. My favorite moment is when a student gets a pose they have been working on. They'll come out of the pose with a look that says "did anyone just see that?"
Locker rooms and showers are also available at the studio.
As a yoga instructor, what is your fitness and health routine?
Any tips for those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, but don't know where to start?
We offer a beginners class called Foundations Yoga on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. This is where students can learn the proper techniques, basic poses, and things like that. We also offer private lessons on most days of the week. 
The studio also has a small boutique offering yoga gear and handmade accessories.
What is your vision for the future of Firefly Yoga Studio?
I would like to see another location in the Wichita area, maybe the west side of town. I would love to spread the yoga love as far as I can.
At the end of a class, yoga instructors and students bring their hands together and to their chests', bow their heads, and say "namaste." This means "I bow to you."
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