HEATED get-togethers are the recipe for a happy family — just ask the Tai-Herron clan.

Sweaty yoga sessions have become a weekly ritual for three generations of this family who practice Bikram “hot” yoga together at a Preston studio.

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The family tradition started two years ago when Tzu-Chun “TC” Tai, 34, opened the studio, in High St.

Big sister Julie, a long time Bikram practitioner, was the first to come along and soon recruited her husband Paul Herron and their 10-year-old son Nicholas.

Not to be left out of the fun, Ms Tai’s parents Richard, 70, and Christiana, 69, were soon competing for the best “tree” and “cobra” pose.

Every Saturday morning the family can be spotted bending, stretching and emulating pretzels during the 90-minute sessions.

Bikram yoga involves a series of yoga postures and breathing practices carried out in a heated room.

And they all report positive results.

For Christiana Tai it has meant better sleep, lower blood pressure and a reduction in the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Mr Herron says he feels stronger and more flexible, while his son appears more calm and focused.

But there are other benefits too — the weekly workouts have brought the family closer together.

“Normally after we do yoga we go and have lunch together in Preston, we often go for Chinese food or a cafe,” Mr Herron said.

“Having that regular event to get together as a family makes a difference.”

Ms Tai said she had enjoyed introducing the family to yoga.

“Everybody is quite passionate about it and it’s nice to have a common thing we can all share together,” Ms Tai said.

“It’s not very common for a whole family to have the same hobby.”

It’s also been fun to watch her parents engage in a little friendly competition.

“In a class the students can take a break whenever they want, and sometimes dad might take a break but if he sees mum going strong he picks himself up off the floor.

“They egg each other on.”