When you think of ‘red’, you think of ‘hot’, and when you put both of these things together, you get ‘firefighter’. 2025 marks the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service’s 75th anniversary, and it only seems right to do something to celebrate this incredible milestone. In a previous issue of Gallery, we ran a feature with the firemen, asking them to rank an assortment of local curries. It follows that if we were to give them a call again, it needed to be for something equally as fiery.
In a collab that embodies ‘sweating under pressure’, we brought firefighters and Hotpod Yoga instructors together for a steamy session that put their stamina to the test. Focus, flexibility and strength was assessed as our local firefighters tried their hand at warrior poses and perfecting their downwards dog. Muscles softened, tensions melted, and Paul found parts of his body he didn’t know existed.
To return the favour, the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service opened their doors to the Hotpod Team, offering them a chance to train as a firefighter for the day. Whilst breath work and focus are second nature to them in the pod, a different environment brought all sorts of challenges. There was plenty of head butting and wiggling through small spaces, during exercises that required mental focus “even the most experiences of Yogis could struggle with”. From ladder lifts, to casualty evacuations, to carrying equipment, to navigating a breathing chamber blindfolded, the physical assessments to become an on-call firefighter are nothing short of demanding. The service are always looking for on-call firefighters who can assist full time firefighters when the need arises. You don’t need previous experience as they provide a comprehensive training programme. What is important is that you are enthusiastic and have a range of personal skills such as understanding, reliability, flexibility, and the ability to work within a team.
Overleaf are each team’s reflections after stepping into the other’s boots (or pod) for the day. The reviews will have you asking whether yogis and firefighters share more in common than you’d initially thought.
Firemen on yoga…
Evan Laframboise
On-call Firefighter / Associate Director at Altum Group
“A warm and friendly welcome from Megan quickly turned into a flow of movements we didn’t know we were capable of. It was a rare chance to switch off the brain from the hectic daily schedule and just focus on our breath, movement, and not falling flat on our faces.”
Favourite pose: Cactus, or if I’m being honest, the super relaxing stretching at the end!
Phil Falle
Watch Commander in the Fire Safety Department
“I hadn’t done yoga for years, so when the opportunity came up to try Hotpod Yoga, I jumped at it. Sadly, I only managed the first ten minutes as my pager went off. Those ten minutes however reminded me how good stretching out an old body in warm conditions makes you feel physically and mentally.”
Favourite pose: Camel
Chris Smith
Watch Commander in the Fire Safety Department
“As the session began, the heat wrapped around me, making each stretch feel deeper and more intense. I could feel my muscles soften, and the tension melt away. The combination of the exercises, movement, sweat, and stillness left me both challenged and grounded. By the end, I felt lighter, calmer, and more connected to my body.”
Favourite pose: Warrior I
Bryn Coleman
Deputy Chief Fire Officer
“I used to be a competitive swimmer, and still keep fit. I expected Hotpod Yoga to involve a little bit of stretching in a warm environment – I was wrong. I had to control my core body strength and try to breathe in a controlled way, which was very difficult. My body ached for days.”
Favourite pose: Warrior I
Paul McGrath
Station Commander in Service Improvement
“It is a physical challenge, and it is great to take the time to concentrate on parts of the body I didn’t know existed! It was a small group, which made it easier for us newbies to pick up the instructions. All of the moves were physically demonstrated to ensure we understood what to try to attempt.”
Favourite pose: Warrior II
See the newly launched jerseyfire.je to learn more about becoming an on-demand firefighter.
Yogis on firefighting…
Megan Whittaker
Owner & Lead Teacher, Hotpod Yoga Jersey
“I found the whole experience pretty challenging to say the least. It was interesting that managing the heat, your breath and staying calm and focused are all essentials and ‘second nature’ for us in the pod, but in a different environment, it was difficult to remember to breath and stay calm. I was most nervous about the task where we had to find our way in and out of some kind of maize / labyrinth / chamber whilst blindfolded and wearing all the masks and gear. This was a real mental challenge to trust that you will get out eventually, and to not panic. The idea was that you use one hand to follow your way around safely, but I spent most of this task head butting my way around, making quite a racket. Eventually I got out within 8 minutes, which was a good effort, but an expected fail nonetheless. I most enjoyed any aspects that involved climbing and where being nimble was an advantage, but it’s all a lot harder in a fire suit. I don’t think I’ll be getting called up anytime soon to help, which is quite alright by me! Fair play to them!”
Laura Bechelet
Yoga Teacher
“Wow, I can really appreciate the diversity of skills required to be a firefighter, such as assembling random tools under pressure, lifting and shifting heavy objects, navigating in complete darkness with full gear on, all whilst under high stress. I can see how a hot yoga practice would be advantageous for a firefighter in training, especially for wiggling your way through the small spaces and using your breath to remain calm and find your focus. All of the tasks require a level of mental strength and mindfulness that even the most experienced of Yogis could struggle with. I’m glad we got to give it a go, it was a fun and challenging afternoon!”
See hotpodyoga.com/studios/jersey/ to book a session in the pod.
