When I first tried regular yoga styles back in the 90s, I was less than impressed because it all…read moreseemed like a bit of stretching while trying not to fart, followed by a bit of lying there, all to really bad music and the stink of incense. I always walked out of there feeling a little more stressed out than when I walked in. When I heard about hot yoga styles many years later, I was quite torn - I wanted to be in a nice warm room and find something that stretched out my back and gym-worn muscles but did I want to do yoga? I finally tried bikram with a friend and fucking loved it. I loved the heat and the repetition and the fact that the instructors kind of yelled at you like zenned out drill sergeants and the pleasantly exhausted feeling after a session. Sure, Bikram the man is a total douche, but I liked his product. Sadly, there is no bikram in Toowoomba. There is, however, hot yoga at Zama Yoga. As a bikram enthusiast, I was a bit wary of having to make the shift to hot yoga out of necessity. Bikram, after all, works with the same 26 poses every class so you know what you're in for - that kind of certainty is part of what helps you through the heat. The first time I went to Zama Yoga, I must admit I was a little bit disappointed - the room is heated largely by little space heaters rather than the large systems used in bikram studios so it is more of a warm room than a hot room, from my experience. I was also a little late in claiming a spot, so ended up near the door where it was actually a bit cool and draughty. I did, however, like the class itself and that old familiar achy stretched out feeling the next day - even with the draught, I knew I had gotten a good workout. Zama have a great intro deal - $25 for two weeks for first-time students. Determined to get my money's worth and also interested to see what the other styles offered (Zama do power and vinyasa; my first class was a power class), I went for a vinyasa class later in the week. Holy handstands, Batman! My shoulders ache pleasantly as I write this the next day. This time, I made sure to get a spot deeper in the room, away from draughts. While the room is never going to hit bikram-like heat, this gave me a little more of what I was looking for, plus the class is INTENSE. Zama Yoga's hot classes may not offer the heat factor that I would like, but what they lack in heat they more than make up with really challenging (but accessible) sequences.