New Openings: Bikram Yoga University City and DIG Yoga

Yoga studios are popping up all over our area lately. In July we told you about Manayunk’s new Bikram studio, and now we’ve got two new studio openings to share: Bikram Yoga University City in West Philly and DIG Yoga in Queen Village.

Bikram Yoga University City opened its doors at 42nd and Chestnut at the end of August. In addition to the yoga studio, the 5,000-square-foot space includes room for a planned juice bar and organic food store, Westphillylocal.com reports.

“We felt that Philadelphia was very underserved in terms of Bikram Yoga,” co-owner Kyle Ferguson told Temple’s Philadelphia Neighborhoods blog. “The idea was just to spread the message to a few more people who may or may not have been able to try Bikram yoga.”

If you’re new to Bikram, here’s what you need to know: The 90-minute, 26-pose yoga practice will get you sweaty—like, seriously sweaty—thanks to a 105-degree room and swamp-like 40 percent humidity. Students should come to class fully equipped with an open mind, a bottle of water (or three), yoga mat and towel (unless, of course, you prefer your yoga on a Slip ‘n Slide).

A tad cash-strapped? (Ahem, UPenn students.) BYUC is offering a work-study program, in which participants spend 3 to 3½ hours per week doing studio upkeep (washing floors and mirrors, steam-cleaning, etc) in exchange for free yoga classes. Bikram Yoga University City offers classes seven days a week, with morning, afternoon and evening options. Check out the studio website for more.

Over in Queen Village, DIG Yoga opened its first Philadelphia location last weekend, a sister site to its Lambertville studio across the bridge. The new studio is open and bright, thanks to large glass windows and loads of space. Class offerings range from beginner yoga to AcroYoga, a partner class that incorporates acrobatics.

To celebrate the new studio, DIG will be hosting a grand opening party on the Fall Equinox (September 22nd), complete with live music, free food and drinks, and free yoga. DIG Yoga offers a wide array of classes seven days a week. For more information on scheduling and pricing, check out the studio website.