“People need a space where they can just let go … whether they know it or not. You need a place that allows you to just be—and discover who you are.”
Sage advice, especially in our post-covid, often-over-scheduled, get-it-all-done world. Advice, not surprisingly, from Chelsea Gleason, co-owner of Sage Yoga Hot in Harper’s Point. A summertime addition to that retail row—but one that’s already working its magic on this community. And me.
I know what you’re thinking. Another yoga studio? Hear me out. This one’s different. From the moment you walk in—you can feel it. That welcoming, energetic vibe. The plants, the pictures, the healing, the heat.
Don’t pump the brakes just yet—this isn’t that 125-degree sweatbox or gurus-only workout space I know you’re picturing. It’s the total opposite.
“Our difference?” Jessica Starr muses, coffee in hand, walking with me after my first class. “The inclusiveness. This is for everyone. Anyone. No matter what you look like or where you are in your life.”
Jess is co-owner and founder of Sage, with two more studios in Newport and OTR. She’s energetic. She’s direct. Vibrant. Real. I liked her immediately. And her and Chelsea’s newest studio.
“We call this location our Garden Witch,” Chelsea smiles. Again, I can see why—just one visit, and I’m already enchanted, ensorcelled. Maybe it’s the “vibe” photos that line the walls. Or the Reiki, healing touch and wellness space. Possibly the reformer room and pilates offerings? Or the fact that everything is sustainable and eco-friendly, from towels to mats and more—that’s both impressive and important to me.
No, I think what fully ensnared me was the yoga room itself. It’s dark. And hot. And that’s the magic of it all.
“We use infrared heat, which is gradual, not like forced-air heating,” Chelsea explains. “It warms you slowly—not dramatic sweating, more like condensation. It’s really good for your skin, your organs, your body.” She’s right—the room hovered just under 100 degrees. After class, I felt refreshed, not depleted. Sweaty, but not soaked.
The biggest surprise—the darkness. Illuminated only by a single, small candle in front of everyone’s mat. With no mirrors, only a dim view of those around me, I had nowhere to focus except on Jess’s voice. Her guidance. Her flow. Her occasional expletive—which was refreshing and real on a level all its own.
“We’re around lights all the time,” Chelsea explains. “We’ve created this really amazing style—the dark makes it accessible, offers a distraction. Yoga is about freedom. And finding union with your body. This space can hold and be whatever you need it to be.”
Again, sage advice. Mine? Give this unique, down-to-earth, darkly warm style a try. Your body—and mind—will thank you.
SageYogaHot.com/montgomery | 11344 Montgomery Rd, Montgomery | 513.704.6934
"I think there are people out there who want to come to a place where they can sweat and swear and hear an unusual playlist. They want community. It’s all here." - Jessica