Students practice the unique Bikram Yoga at the City Studio, on March 13, 2007 in London, England. The Bikram Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury and is done in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C), this helps stretching, prevents injury and makes the body sweat which aids detoxification. The class normally involves two breathing exercises and 26 postures in a 90 minute class.
Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
As tax day approaches (the death march that comes for us all), yoga studios throughout the five boroughs are increasingly being audited by the state. That’s because, until last summer, most thought they were exempt from the city’s 4.5 percent sales tax. They have since been classified as weight-control or health-salon businesses, a decision that could cost some studios as much as $100,000, depending on their size, and include back taxes for the last three years. Which means the city’s legions of mat-toting, Lululemon-sporting yoga afficionados may soon be paying more for their zen. [WSJ]
