Yoga On Snow Launches At UK’s Longest Indoor Snow Slope
It's time to ditch your traditional yoga workout for one that will really make you chill out, as Chill Factore launches the UK’s first Snow-ga class.
Swapping sun for snow salutations Snow-ga is the yogi’s answer to combining cold temperatures with downward dog and warrior poses.
The indoor ski slope worked with yoga expert and former Hollyoaks star, Gemma Merna, to devise and launch this revolutionary inaugural class.
This latest incarnation of yoga is performed in sub-zero temperatures and is a new global trend, especially popular in New York.
Cold temperatures cause blood vessels in the skin’s surface and muscle tissues to constrict, forcing blood towards the core, where the body’s natural filtration system works to remove toxins. This reduces inflammation, eases pain, accelerates muscle recovery, boosts metabolism, increases circulation, and improves sleep.
Cooler temperatures also focus the mind through breathing and meditation, distracting from the chilly atmosphere.
Yoga instructor Gemma Merna, who is no stranger to cold temperatures having appeared on Channel 4’s The Jump, said: “Yoga offers so many benefits for your body, mind, and emotional state, and it only increases over time. Practicing cold yoga means you have to focus twice as hard on your body’s movements and breathing, establishing a deeper mind-body connection, and ultimately leading to a feeling of total wellbeing.”
The Snow-ga session was devised by Chill Factore to work on flexibility, balance, range of motion, agility and overall strength.
Morwenna Angove, CEO at Chill Factore, said: “We’re thrilled to have created a UK-first by holding a real Snow-ga class– it’s definitely made for an interesting and zen-like addition to our already extensive list of snow offerings.”
Players from elite UK netball team, Manchester Thunder, which currently sits top of the Superleague table, were also enlisted to test the new workout at Chill Factore.
The team was put through its Snow-ga paces as Gemma glided between ‘snow-side crow’ and ‘slope-ward facing dog’ against the snowy backdrop.
Liana Leota, Manchester Thunder elite athlete said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace practicing yoga in a colder environment. If you’re looking to optimise performance, it makes a whole lot of sense to hit cold temperatures for a yoga session. It was reassuring to know that class will help recover from hard training sessions, particularly as we’re nearing the end of the season.”
