Hot Series Reimagined
Join us for a special two-part workshop dedicated to the Hot Series!
A practice rooted in the original “Bikram” format but reimagined here at Swell through the lens of compassion, safety, and inclusivity.
Part 1 | June 7th
Part 2 | July 12th
1:30pm-4:30pm
with Natalie Hanson
OVERVIEW
Originally known as “Bikram Yoga”, the Hot Series is a sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, designed in a set order with each shape building on the last. This practice creates a full-body experience of strength, focus, and stillness.
At Swell, we approach this practice with fresh eyes. We’re redefining what it means to engage with heat, challenge, and structure. Our Hot Series emphasizes restraint, compassion, and intuition over rigidity and intensity. This unique take creates space for all bodies, all levels, and all of nervous system experiences to appreciate the nuance of these 26 postures. Whether you’re brand new or have been practicing for years, this workshop will help you find your footing in the sequence in a way that feels grounded, safe, and transformative.
Together, we’ll be working at a warm temperature where the goal isn’t to push through heat, but instead to feel the shapes. With more energy and space to breathe, you’ll have the endurance to dive deep and the opportunity to notice what’s happening in your body, not just manage temperature.
Led by longtime teacher and chiropractor Natalie, this is a space to deconstruct the series slowly, thoughtfully, and together. It’s a chance to learn out loud, ask questions, and build confidence in your own practice.
All bodies and all levels welcome. Come curious!
WHAT TO EXPECT
This workshop is split into two separate sessions, each devoted to one half of the Hot Series. Enjoy a rare chance to slow it down and learn to meet each shape with presence instead of performance.
In each session we’ll explore:
- How to move into and out of postures with clarity and support
- What each pose is designed to do (and what it doesn’t need to do)
- Break down of alignment cues and intention
- How to modify postures to reduce meet your body where it’s at
- Explore common misconceptions and ways to avoid force or strain
- Practice and reflect as a group in real time
Expect a welcoming, collaborative space where questions are encouraged and personal exploration is the goal. You’ll leave not just with knowledge, but with a clearer, more connected sense of how this sequence can support your practice in a sustainable, empowering way.
Each part stands alone, and taken together, they offer a complete and empowering reintroduction to the Hot Series.
Part 1 | Standing Series
In our first session, we’ll start with a short introduction to the sequence: what the Hot Series is, where it came from, and how Swell’s version reshapes it into a more inclusive, sustainable, and body-wise practice.
From there, we’ll dive into the opening breathing exercise and the first 13 poses. These standing postures are where the foundation is built: strength, stability, balance, and focus.
Part 2 | Floor Series
In the second session, we’ll focus on the floor portion of the series, the easily-overlooked but deeply powerful second-half of the practice. Postures shift toward mobility, spinal strength, hip opening, and deeper breath awareness.
We’ll close with an exploration into the final breathing exercise, and how it serves as both a closing ritual and a reset for the nervous system.
Your Host
Natalie Hanson
Natalie fell in love with yoga back in 2001 when it lit up her science brain and introduced her to the potential of subtle realms. She’s been teaching since 2003, blending playful sequencing with deep respect for alignment, nervous system wisdom, and the magic of subtle shifts.
The Hot Series has always spoken to her, but the way it’s traditionally taught? Not so much. For years, she dreamed of offering a version that felt safe, inclusive, and grounded, but the chance didn’t come until she joined a studio with a similar perspective. With 20+ years of experience and a knack for making hard things feel doable, she invites students into challenge without pressure, and transformation without force.
Born and raised on the California Coast, she holds a degree in Neurobiology from UC Davis and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life West. She currently serves her community as a Network Spinal Chiropractor at Shakti Center for WellBeing in El Granada.
Read more here.