Kaarin Starr, left, and Erika Spellman outside their new yoga studio in Twisp.
Agni Yoga Studio recently opened in a remodeled space in the center of Twisp, offering heated yoga classes in different styles.
The new studio at 114 S. Glover Street is the creation of Kaarin Starr and Erika Spellman, who between them have taught yoga in the Methow Valley for several years. They are joined by four other yoga teachers to offer about 15 different classes each week.
Starr said she and Spellman are happy to expand yoga opportunities in the valley, which has seen a growing number of classes and instructors in recent years. “It our way of creating that community here. I love what other teachers in the valley do. We are all on the same path,” Starr said.
The new owners remodeled the space to create a studio that holds up to about 20 students, a front room with yoga items — such as clothes and mats — for sale, and a space with cubicles at the back for students to store belongings during class. “It has a very soft feel, but a little industrial,” Starr said.
Agni means “fire” in Sanskrit, and reflects the new studio’s emphasis on holding classes in temperatures that range from 75-100 degrees. “What sets us apart is we do heated yoga classes,” Starr said.
Infrared heaters were a major part of the remodel for the new studio, Starr said. “There are many healing benefits of infrared heat,” she said. It creates a penetrating form of heat that detoxifies the body and expels toxins and pollutants, she said.
Classes are inspired by different yoga styles and traditions, such as hatha, yin and vinyasa, Starr said. They range from slow-paced classes suitable for beginners to more physically demanding classes suited to people with yoga experience. The studio also offers fitness classes including a “yoga sculpt” workout done to music, and a “barre fusion” class inspired by ballet, yoga and Pilates.
In addition to Spellman and Starr, instructors at Agni include Maureen Collins, Lisa Shifler, Matt Draggoo and Crystal Elliot Perez.
Drop-in class rates are $15, with options for passes and memberships. Information is available at agniyogastudio.com.
