A former Bristol IT worker-turned-yoga teacher has opened a hi-tech, purpose-built hot yoga studio powered by 100% sustainable energy.
Called Yogafurie, the centre has been opened by Ed Wood just four years after he became a teacher of the practice. 
It boasts the most advanced heating and air filtration system on the market, as well as only using eco-friendly energy sources.
Ed, pictured, who worked in IT for 22 years, trained in traditional yoga techniques and originally set up a portable hot yoga practice in 2011, operating mostly around the Gloucester Road area.
Sustained growth in demand for places has given him the opportunity to combine his love of hot yoga and technology together in the new custom-made studio in Ashley Down.
The studio has installed the only system specially created for hot yoga studios as well as underfloor heating and is believed to be first of its kind west of the London commuter belt.
The reported health benefits of hot yoga have led to it being taken up by the likes of tennis superstar Andy Murray as well as celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna.
People who practice it say it can help them detox, lose excess weight and often also report increased immunity along with an overall ‘feel good’ factor.
Ed said: “It’s been an amazing journey – I certainly didn’t expect the class sizes to grow at the rate they did and we had waiting lists fairly soon for most of our hot yoga sessions.
“I wanted to create a safe yet dynamic practice rooted in the deep traditions of yoga, but also grounded in the norms and expectations of a modern, progressive society.
“Our students often have busy lives and want to get the most out of their experiences and so hot yoga really combines all the right elements for them.
“The final piece of the puzzle was creating a strong base using the latest plumbing and heating systems with which to develop the hot yoga offer and the new studio is the perfect place to do this.”
Ed has also integrated an advanced online and mobile booking system so students can book or reschedule easily from anywhere.
The business is almost completely family run, with his son Owen delivering business support and daughter Sinead joining him as a yoga teacher.
Ed’s ambitions include creating Bristol’s first genuinely fully inclusive Centre of Yoga Excellence and reaching larger sections of the population through an expansion programme.
Ed added: “My first ambition as a young man was to become a PE teacher but I went on to have a successful IT career and I think a lot of the business mentoring and insight I received through this time has helped me in growing and opening the business around something I love.
“Hopefully we will continue to expand as our goal is to open more studios so, hopefully, we’ll see more converts to hot yoga and people feeling fitter and more in control of their wellbeing as a result.”
