Westchester County’s Hottest Yoga Studio Is Right Here in Yorktown

In the realm of fitness, Bikram yoga has emerged as one of today’s hottest health and fitness trends with perfectly sculpted celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Madonna touting the transformative effects of the training regimen.

Jane Kartsch, owner of  has first hand experience with the transformative effects of Bikram yoga. Eight years ago, Kartsch – a lifelong running enthusiast – was set to have knee surgery when her son suggested that she try Bikram yoga before proceeding with the surgery. 

“I began Bikram and I never had the surgery," she said. "I never needed it.”

Just three years later, Kartsch opened her studio in the Triangle Shopping Center. 

Bikram yoga, a form of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury, consists of a specific sequence of 26 postures practiced at exactly 105 degrees Fahrenheit.  Each 90 minute class is a high calorie burning metabolism boost, a deeply calming and meditative exercise, and a therapeutic experience all at once.

Unlike the ubiqitous yoga studios scattered all over Westchester County, Bikram studios are hard to find because Bikram yoga can only be taught by Bikram certified instructors in a Bikram certified studio. In fact, there are only two Bikram practices located in Westchester County.     

We sat down with Jane Kartsch to find out exactly what makes her Bikram Yoga Yorktown Heights so special.

How many clients do you serve?

JK:  Since we opened five years ago, about 5,000 students have come through our studio. We teach about 400 students per week.

Bikram yoga is wildly popular, but there are still so few studios in the area. How far does your client base reach?

JK:  We pull from all over. Our students come from all over Westchester County, from way up in Putnam and Dutchess Counties, and from Connecticut.

How many calories does the average person burn while in one of your classes?

JK:  You can burn from 600 to 1,200 calories during one class depending on how hard you work yourself. Like any form of Yoga, your results will depend on how much effort you put into your practice.

What are the benefits of practicing Bikram yoga?

JK:  Most of my students are interested in weight loss and stress reduction. You can burn up to 1,200 calories per class and with respect to stress reduction – the entire 90 minute class is focused on meditation. 

But Bikram Yoga also helps with chronic illness and chronic pain. I’ve had a patient recovering from post operative breast cancer who said that my classes helped reduce her swelling and I’ve had a patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)  who went into remission. These testimonials are on my website - take a look. 

The sequencing of the postures is the magic. Each movement was designed to provide a health benefit.

With 105 degree heat and a promise of up to 1,200 calories per hour, do you recommend that your clients have a basic level of fitness before taking a class at your studio?

JK:  According to Bikram, “You are never too old or too sick to practice Bikram Yoga.” A surgeon I know once asked me how many people have died while taking Bikram Yoga. I laughed because people die all the time, but I started asking other teachers and other studio owners if they ever had a student become sick during class. I have found none.

Should your students have a basic familiarity with Yoga before they start their Bikram practice?

JK:  No, it is better if they have had no yoga before, because Bikram postures are really different from more traditional Yoga. It is actually much easier for students who have not already learned postures from another yoga teacher.