A new yoga studio in Ridgefield is turning up the temperature through exercises meant to strengthen one’s movement, recovery and self-care.
Located at 4403 S. Settler Drive, Suite 110, the studio opened Jan. 17 and is co-owned by Holley Crooks and her husband, Chris Politowski. The business arrives as Ridgefield continues to grow, offering residents a nearby option for hot yoga, a practice known for its structured sequence and heated environment.
Crooks, a local veterinarian by trade, said her path to opening the studio started more than a decade ago when she first stepped into a class with friends.
“I ended up in a hot yoga class with friends,” she said. “I kind of just tagged along, and it was a practice I just loved. I really enjoyed it. I had my ups and downs with it, but in 2024, I ended up going through teacher training, which I never thought was gonna be an option for me.”
That training eventually led to a bigger step. After moving to Ridgefield in 2021 and seeing the city expand over the years, Crooks and her husband considered opening their own studio.
“We've been here as things have been booming and taking off, and then Chris even was teasing me: ‘when are we gonna open up a studio in Ridgefield?’” she said. “We looked around and realized (it) made smart business sense as this would be a great business for Ridgefield. I'd love to be able to bring this yoga to more people.”
Politowski contributed significantly to the architectural work, as both he and Crooks dedicated time after their regular jobs to work on the project.
“When we did our architectural drawings, we must have redesigned the lobby a dozen times,” she recalled. “We’d get it and we’d realize, like, ‘If we keep all the plumbing on one side, we don’t have to dig up the floor, which is an extra expense …’ But working with the City of Ridgefield was easy as far as permitting and everything.”
Hot yoga, sometimes called 26+2, follows a consistent format of 26 postures and two breathing exercises performed in a heated room of about 103 to 104 degrees. The studio offers both 60-minute and 90-minute versions of the class, along with yin yoga, a slower, non-heated practice focused on stretching connective tissue.
Crooks said the appeal goes beyond fitness.
“I just love it because, one, I came to it looking for a cardiovascular workout … There are so many other benefits,” she said. “You go home and you feel great. You go home and your joints feel better. You go home and you sleep better.”
The heated environment plays a key role in those benefits, helping the body warm up while challenging participants to stay focused and calm.
“So basically (you’re) teaching yourself to stay calm when you're in a slightly stressful environment,” she said. “It's hot, it's humid, and we're actually asking you to do something that's challenging. And then we're asking you to stay calm.”
Crooks emphasizes that the practice is accessible, even for beginners who may feel intimidated by yoga or the heat.
“I want everybody to recognize that, especially for this yoga, this is a beginner-friendly series,” she said. “So, again, we don't want people to be intimidated by the words hot or yoga. We want everybody in here. This is for all ages. This is for all body types.”
That message appears to be resonating locally. Since opening, the studio has drawn a mix of experienced practitioners and newcomers curious about the format.
“The support from Ridgefield has been amazing,” Crooks said. “This was our attraction to building a studio here in Ridgefield, that we would be in our own community and that we would be working in a slightly smaller community that was excited to have us.”
The weekly schedule includes early morning, midday and evening classes, with popular 6 a.m. sessions held Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Ninety-minute classes run most mornings, while yin yoga, held at normal room temperature, is offered Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Crooks advises participants to arrive early to settle in before class begins. A full schedule with more details can be found at theyogaridge.com/studio-hours.
As a first-time business owner, Crooks said the process came with challenges, from construction decisions to learning how to build a client base, but she remains focused on long-term growth.
“We kind of recognized in our business plan when we got started that this would take time,” she said. “It takes time for the community to see where you're at. It takes time for the community to recognize that they want to make our class times fit into their lifestyle.”
Beyond the physical benefits, Crooks sees the studio as a space for mental resets, something she values in her own career as a veterinarian, a stressful profession.
“I think it's very important that I have the ability to come into this room to focus on myself, to practice self-care, (like) that old adage; putting my airplane mask on so that I can go out there and help other people,” she said.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand offerings and continue building a community centered on movement and well-being.
“I would just encourage people if they're thinking to themselves, 'I can't do yoga, I'm not flexible, I can't do it’; You can do it,” Crooks said. “We don't need you to know how to do everything and come in. We wanna be here to teach you and guide you and mentor you and see you grow.”
Currently, Crook’s next ambition is to train future would-be instructors in the ways of hot yoga once she has led sessions for about five years.
Readers can learn more about the studio at theyogaridge.com.
