Kelley: I love the name the Melting Spot. How did you come up with it?
Charlotte: Everything about my yoga journey I feel has been spiritually prescribed, even down to the name of the studio. For those that know the profound effects that yoga has on the body (not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually), they know just how special the very end of a yoga practice can be. We call that time savasana, meaning corpse pose. In this pose, the body comes to its final resting place, a place where the yogi lets go of the physical body and the conscious mind in order to connect to something deeper within. After a challenging or even meditative practice, the body is completely relaxed. The yogi stretches out flat on their backside on their mat, closes their eyes, and is just present in the space. It was during savasana in one of my favorite teacher's classes, that the name for my imagined studio came to me. My yoga teacher said, "Allow yourself to completely let go and just imagine melting into the earth below you." This concept of melting resonated with me. I thought about that phrase for quite some time, playing with different variations of the word. I knew that my studio would offer heated classes, and I also knew that it would be a place for mind, body, and soul unification. "The Melting Spot" as a name was the perfect description of exactly that vision.
Kelley: Why did you decide to open a hot yoga studio in Owasso?
Charlotte: Before becoming a yoga instructor, I spent many years as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and a figure competitor myself. I began incorporating yoga into my own cross training routine for many reasons, but mainly to gain more mobility for my weight training, to gain relief from the stresses of competing and training, and to help with back pain and alignment issues. The first time I tried yoga in a hot setting, I fell in love! I was so excited that I could take a yoga class to achieve all of these things and at the same time get a great workout and detox. I took hot yoga classes, specifically Power Vinyasa classes, in Tulsa for many months. They were far from easy. I couldn't believe that even as strong as I felt and as much as I could lift, holding myself up and balancing in these yoga poses was such a challenge. I decided very quickly to attend a 200 hour teacher training in Springfield for the next 9 months. I knew that my passion for fitness was beginning to shift from bootcamp and personal training to yoga. I couldn't believe that Owasso did not have a yoga studio that offered this type of workout. It was not long after that my husband was on board. He soon joined me in teacher training, and within a year we had sold our bootcamp and personal training studio in Owasso and opened up The Melting Spot. I was so excited to share this 5,000 year old method of movement, breath, and healing that I never once doubted that it would be received well in this area. Yoga is perfect for runners, cyclists, CrossFitters, and people of all kinds. There are hundreds of styles of yoga, and we try to offer something for everyone here at The Melting Spot.
Kelley: What type of training do your instructors have?
Charlotte: All of our instructors here at The Melting Spot are RYT200 or higher through The Yoga Alliance. The Yoga Alliance is the largest non-profit association of over 72,000 yoga teachers and yoga schools devoted to promoting the integrity and diversity of the teaching of yoga. What this means is that all of our teachers are Registered Yoga Teachers that have spent 200 or more hours training at a Yoga Alliance approved school. Since opening The Melting Spot and completing over 500 hours of study & over 800 hours spent teaching, I have designed our own Yoga Alliance approved training program and school right here at the studio. We offer up to two 200 & 300 hour trainings here a year. We currently have over 20 students that have either completed or are currently enrolled in the program. Our next training begins in March of 2016.
Kelley: Can you describe some of the classes you offer and benefits of a consistent yoga practice?
Charlotte: Our primary classes here at The Melting Spot are Power Vinyasa classes. Power Vinyasa Flow Yoga is a powerful, energetic form of yoga where students fluidly move from one pose to the next while connecting their breathing to their movements. This type of yoga is taught in a heated studio which makes it a vigorous and revitalizing form of physical fitness. It incorporates strength, flexibility, balance, cardio and physical and mental stamina in one session. Baron Baptiste, the founder of this form of yoga, describes this practice as "the perfect blend of sweat and serenity." We also offer non-heated classes including Gentle Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Slow Flow. Kundalini, Deep Stretch, and Ashtanga are a few other styles that we have regularly on the schedule. We also try to add beneficial in-depth workshops on yoga-related topics including Beginner's Yoga, Hynotherapy for Stress-Reduction, Foam Rolling/SMR training, Acro Yoga, Partner Yoga, Kids Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Prenatal Yoga. We have a yearly yoga Mindfulness Retreat as well at Crystal Bay Marina in Skiatook. Our next retreat is scheduled for April 1st-3rd, 2016.
Kelley: What is your favorite yoga pose and why?
Charlotte: Probably because of my intense personality and physical drive, I love the more challenging poses. Arm balances and inversions are my favorites! I have never been a coordinated or balanced person, so I enjoy challenging myself to become more coordinated and balanced. There is just something about being upside down that excites me. One of my favorite standing poses is exalted warrior, probably because it evokes a feeling of strength and humility all at the same time!
Kelley: If someone is new to yoga how should they prepare for a class at your studio?
Charlotte: For anyone wishing to try yoga for the first time, you do not need anything special to begin. If you can move and you can breathe, you can do yoga. To help you decide which class will be best for you to start, we have an introductory 2 weeks unlimited for $20 special. This allows new students to try out the different class types that we offer. If you are already active and you want to try out hot classes, our Fire Flow Class (mixed level vinyasa) is a great place to start. We offer many modifications for the postures and pay close attention to the breath. If you are currently inactive, but have a doctor's approval for physical activity, start with a gentle or restorative class. These are non-heated, so they will give you the opportunity to become familiar with the breathing and postures before you add in the heat and vigorous flow. When you feel ready, move on up to a Slow Flow or Fire Flow class. We offer a Foundations of Yoga class on Fridays at 4:30 pm if that time works for you. Bring a yoga mat, or borrow one from us. Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in. We do yoga barefoot, so no special shoes are required. We provide hand towels for the hot classes. Arrive about 10 minutes prior to your first class to get signed up. You can check the full class schedule and class descriptions through our online MindBody Scheduler or on our website:
Kelley: Do you offer childcare? Do you have any events for kids?
Charlotte: We do not offer childcare. We do, however, have class times all throughout the day (6 am, 9 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 5:15 pm, & 6:30 pm). So hopefully you can find some alone time in your day for you! As far as kids yoga events, we are kicking off the spring with a kids yoga workshop for parents, grandparents, teachers, sitters, and anyone who spends time regularly with children. The workshop is on Feb. 27th, 2016. Workshop is FREE! If you are interested in helping kids learn to move and relax in a fun way, this is workshop is for you. Sue Moore and Maria Ferreyra have put together a class that covers yoga poses, games, songs, stories and breathing exercises. Come and learn tips and techniques on how to incorporate yoga into childrens' daily lives. Before the workshop, we will be hosting a kid's yoga class. You are encouraged to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to observe and gain some of the knowledge. Please wear something comfortable that you will be able to move around in. 
Mini Me Class - 10:30 am -11:15 am Ages 2-7 Break - 11:15 am -12 pm Instruction Content - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
This workshop kicks off a 5 week Spring Yoga Session that will be hosted every Saturday from 10:30am -11:30am beginning March 5th- April 2nd.
Sign up on Mindbody Connect. Cost is $45 to pay in full and $15 a drop in.
We also have a donation-based kids clothing swap scheduled for Sunday 2/21/16 at 1 pm. Bring laundered, gently used clothing of any size for children. Clothing will be organized by sizes, and all people present get a chance to look through and pick things they need and love. Each piece will cost $1.00. We are donating all leftover items and proceeds to Pregnancy Resource Center of Owasso. There is also a free community yoga class after the swap that begins at 2pm. Feel free to attend!! For more information on the clothing swap or any of our events, call 918-609-6991.
www.facebook.com/TheMeltingSpotOwasso
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