HOT yoga is now available in Barnstaple following a collaboration between two North Devon businesses.

Pollyclinics Wellness Centre has started offering the classes after installing infrared heating panels supplied by Multiheat and Energy Systems of Parkham.

Polly Dowden, founder of Pollyclinics, said: "Yoga is now known throughout the world as a profound form of physical exercise that creates a flexible, toned body, teamed with breathing and meditation techniques that create a clear mind.

"Hot yoga is strong, dynamic and offers a perfect blend of stretching, strengthening and relaxing. This year is meant to be a year of transformative change. Still, we must find the courage within to rise to the occasion."

The infrared heating panels which make these exclusive classes possible have been provided by Multiheat and Energy Systems run by Kevin Woodward. Polly and Molly Robertson, Pollyclinics yoga studio manager and main instructor, have been keen to incorporate hot yoga sessions into their programme of classes since introducing a full weekly yoga schedule in the summer.

Polly could hardly believe her luck when Kevin approached her at a North Devon Business Alliance networking lunch to ask if she had heard of hot yoga.

Kevin and his team have already installed infrared heating panels into yoga studios across the country.

"We are excited because we know this is the perfect time of year where people can escape the cold and sweat out their stress," Polly said.

"Hot Yoga is the icing on the cake for us," added Molly.

Kevin Woodward said: "We have supplied infrared heating panels for hot yoga studios in Covent Garden and South Devon and it's good to find a client in the local area that is promoting this increasingly popular form of exercise."

In January 2012, Pollyclinics will be running seven hot yoga classes a week. It is also running a New Year, New You! challenge to practise yoga five days a week to re-align, re-energize and re-invigorate body, mind and soul in preparation for the year ahead.

For hot yoga details and schedule visit pollyclinics.com and for infrared heating panels visit multiheat-energy systems.co.uk