A yoga studio is giving men the opportunity to release stress and become more flexible in sport.

The Mill Studios based in Halliwell opened six weeks before the 2020 pandemic began, making it only a year since they officially reopened.

And while their classes remain popular, owner Madeleine Diaz-Meiners says she has seen an increasing number of men attend her classes, prompting her to cater a hot yoga class just for them.

The reason, she says, is due to the slight stigma of men taking up yoga and the ways in which it can help reduce stress and aid sports activities.

Madeleine said: “One of the reasons I decided to start hot yoga for men is because sometimes men and women don’t want to mix for example Bolton has a big Muslim population and the girls don’t want to come to the classes with men in and vice versa.

“It may intimidate them, so I got the idea to run separate classes.

“We’re trying to get men into yoga as it helps mental health to have an outlet and know where to go.”

Madeleine says the hot yoga is often taken up by athletes such as boxers and runners who will find the improved flexibility after doing hot yoga helps prevent injuries as well as relax the muscles.

She said: “The heat is good for the muscles so they relax and stretch better so if you’re trying to say fix your back it will speed up the process of healing.

“It makes you sweat which gets rid of toxins.

“We have quite a big following of men now, but it’s taken us a while for them to get here and feel comfortable.”

The studio has 40pc men taking up classes as the demand grows and even has a male yoga teacher.

Madeleine said: “I’ve even had a guy come up to me and tell me his partner said he’s a lot nicer and less stressed since starting yoga.

“He asked me if yoga makes you a better person and I believe it does, because it slows down your responses so that you’re not doing or saying things in the heat of the moment.”

To find out more about men’s hot yoga, go their Instagram @themillstudiobolton