Hot Yoga RB Says Namaste to 15 Years!
By Katie McFadden
Breathe, sweat, smile, repeat is the mantra you’ll see on the back of wet t-shirts at Hot Yoga Rockaway Beach (HYRB). And on January 8, 2025, they’ll celebrate 15 years of doing just that.
On January 8, 2010, Anita Ruderman took a chance on bringing an unconventional way of doing yoga to Rockaway. She turned up the heat and introduced the peninsula to hot yoga, a practice she accidentally stumbled, or stretched, right into during a trip to Florida. “I was visiting my mother-in-law, and I went to the yellow pages to look up yoga and I found the Yoga College of India in Fort Lauderdale,” Ruderman recalled, not knowing the heat would be turned up for this class. “I called, they never said anything about it being hot. I scheduled it, showed up in long sleeves and pants as I figured the AC would be on in Florida and I didn’t want to be cold,” she said. “There were nine electric heaters plugged into the yoga room. The guy behind the desk was wearing a speedo. Women were in their bathing suits. I asked the teacher for scissors and cut my pants and sleeves off. It was 90 minutes. I thought I was gonna die. The teacher showed me my face in the mirror. My face was purple. I looked like I just had a stroke. But it was incredible.” Ruderman will never forget her first hot yoga class. But it was so unforgettable, that Ruderman, a yoga teacher since 1991, decided to make it her whole focus.
And when folks step into the second-floor studio at 181 Beach 116th Street, they know, or at least, have an idea of what they’re getting into, with “Hot Yoga Rockaway Beach” on the door. The most common class, the Hot26, uses the same 26 yoga poses, repeated twice, along with two breathing exercises during each 60-minute class, but vinyasa, fusion, yogalates and other classes, taught by different instructors including Anita, Bella, Christina, Di, Dana, Krystle, Erin and Libby, change the practice up. However, when you step into the studio, know the heat is on as high as 100 degrees with 40% humidity.
Why hot yoga? Ruderman says there are many benefits. “The heat warms your muscles, so you stretch further into poses without injury. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and when you sweat, it gets all the toxins out through your skin, so it’s a good detox,” Ruderman said. It has been found to aid in weight loss, injury recovery and pain management. Many say the discipline of working through the heat also helps with mental health. Plus, Ruderman says if you come back, as it’s encouraged, your body learns to handle the heat. “It only takes a few classes until you get used to the heat, and it feels really good,” she said.
And many have seen the results. Since she started in 2010, Ruderman says 3,000 students have passed through Hot Yoga RB’s doors, ranging from age 6 to mid-80s, and she averages about 900 students a month. The testimonials on the HYRB website and even in the all five-star reviews on Google speak for themselves.
“I started hot yoga in February of 2023. Since then, I have stuck to a weekly practice, I’ve lost 40 lbs. putting me at 162 lbs. and I no longer need medication to keep my blood pressure down. I no longer struggle with gout and yoga helps me manage the bursitis in my elbows and gives me peace of mind,” Onel Mulet said in a review last year. Many others mention not only the benefits of the practice itself, but the atmosphere of the classes, being a judgment-free zone that gives a sense of community, and often, a laugh with Ruderman’s sense of humor.
Many feel that sense of community especially when they become a familiar face, taking on the 30-day challenge, one class every day for 30 days in a row, an accomplishment that’s awarded with a special certificate and even a balloon. Local resident Sean Tubridy is one of those recent recipients. “Participating in the HYRB 30 Classes/30 Days Challenge was a transformative experience for me,” Tubridy said in a testimonial. “The heat intensity allowed for deeper stretches, but more than that, the consistency of daily practice instilled a profound sense of discipline and dedication, fostering a stronger connection between my body and mind. Physically, I experienced increased flexibility, strength, and endurance. Beyond the physical benefits, this challenge brought about mental clarity and emotional resilience.”
Perhaps some of the best reviews come from Ruderman’s husband, Ricky, who helps with the business and often takes her classes. “What happens here is really dynamic. You tell people to come and try yoga and the first thing you hear is ‘I’m not really flexible.’ We don’t come here being flexible. You become flexible by doing this. The way you feel after makes this so different than any exercise. It’s mind-blowing, life changing. When I started this, I couldn’t get down on my knees and by the time I put blankets down to help, everyone was coming out of pose, but I felt this was the right thing for my body and now I can do everything,” her husband of more than 40 years said.
With such rave reviews, Ruderman has plenty to celebrate on Wednesday, when HYRB turns 15. On being open for 15 years, Ruderman says, “It’s pretty incredible, very humbling and it brings a tear to your eyes. It went really fast. I can’t believe it’s 15 years.” So on January 8, HYRB will be celebrating with discounted classes at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with proceeds for classes going to local organization Rockaway WISH. And those who take a class that day will be entered for a chance to win a month of yoga, five one week passes, t-shirts, tote bags, eye pillows, and more. Plus, there will be snacks after class.
So whether on Wednesday, or any day as we enter the new year, as HYRB offers classes seven days a week, give it a try. “There’s no pressure. It’s for everybody. Don’t be afraid, 60 minutes will change your life, and we love absolute beginners,” Ruderman said.
Hot Yoga Rockaway Beach is on the second floor of 181 Beach 116th Street. For questions, call 718-945-YOGA (9642). For the schedule and more info, see: www.hotyogarockawaybeach.com
