By BRIDGET COOK
A NEW hot trend being taken up by yogis across the globe all started in Lynbrook’s very own bikram yoga studio.
The studio’s founder Darren Crompton started the ‘4 x 4 Challenge’ about a year ago and since then bikram studios around the world have been offering their clients the same thing.
The concept is simple – it challenges people to practice bikram yoga, which is done in a room heated to 40 degrees with m40 per cent humidity, four times a week for four weeks.
Mr Crompton said he was not a fan of the 30-Day Challenge that most studios offered, so came up with something different.
“I was not a big fan of 30-Day Challenges as I have seen students complete them and then not return for months after, some not even at all,” he said.
“Sure people like a challenge, a goal, but it makes no business sense to give them that and then have them walk away. So early last year, I came up with the idea of the 4 x 4 Challenge.
“Students have a personal challenge, maintain a consistent yoga practice and importantly they do not burn themselves out. I can proudly say that Lynbrook was the very first studio to do this and now the challenge has spread globally.
“It’s a real feather in our cap – to have studios across the globe pick up the idea and run with it.”
Mr Crompton started the Bikram Yoga Lynbrook in October 2012, after feeling there was nothing like it on offer for the South East community.
He only started bikram yoga about five years ago due to stress at work and was surprised at how much he enjoyed it and how challenging it could be.
“Like many, I had this view that yoga was quite sissy,” he said.
“I was surprised at how much of workout you get.
“It’s not people with flowers in their hair, holding hand and chanting like some people view it as.”
Mr Crompton has competed in the Hawaiian Ironman, run marathons, trekked around Australian deserts and was a private pilot.
After falling in love with bikram yoga, he went to Los Angeles to become a teacher before returning to Australia and opening his own studio.
He said he wanted to open it in Lynbrook as it was central to the Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong and Frankston areas.
“I chose to open in the outer eastern suburbs as these communities tend to be left behind when it comes to facilities like this,” he said.
“These are growing communities of young families – the ideal demographic for a bikram studio.
“Being away from the inner suburbs, our students tend to be more laid back, a country feel with a really friendly atmosphere, lots of chatting, laughing and sharing of experiences in the reception and bathroom areas.”
Mr Crompton said the studio has been a huge success in the local area and the 4 x 4 Challenge was just adding to that.
