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Yoga’s Hot in South Dakota

By Rebecca Johnson

South Dakota may not be the yoga mecca of the U.S., but there are classes galore at fitness centers and studios throughout the state. Yankton alone has at least seven yoga teachers, and two of them work right here at South Dakota Magazine. I personally teach a basic, flowing style of yoga — linking poses with the breath then ending class with a guided relaxation. And it’s not just an exercise class — yoga is a 4,000-year-old tradition originating in India that helps to strengthen the body, improve flexibility, and calm the mind. An added benefit for us in the Western world is that it helps to manage stress.

One thing South Dakota has lacked is a hot yoga studio. Hot yoga classes typically take place in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 30% humidity. I tried a workshop once at the Dharma Room in Sioux Falls. I expected it to be a vigorous, powerful class, but was surprised by the slowness and gentleness of the practice. The class consisted of 26 poses and two breathing exercises. The heat allowed me to feel more flexible in poses that normally would have been out of my reach. But, since it was a one-time workshop, I hadn’t been able to have a go at it again.

Now I am in luck. Two hot yoga studios have popped up in South Dakota in the last few months and both have events this weekend. Deena Rushton opened Yogaversity in November. It’s located in the new Old Market Galleria in downtown Brookings. The studio is hosting their first workshop tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the cost is only $20.

Also new to South Dakota is Santosha Hot Yoga at 5003 S. Bur Oak Place in Sioux Falls. Their grand opening is tomorrow with the first class starting at 10:00 am. According to instructor Jennifer Long’s blog, Saturday’s class has a waiting list, but you may still be able to get in on Sunday’s class at 4:30 p.m. I recommend calling 275-YOGA to sign up. All December classes are only $5.

Yoga in a 105 degree setting is not for you? Then try a different type of class in your community. It’s a fantastic way to improve your overall health and you will be glad that you did.

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Easy Summer Salad

By Katie Hunhoff

Today I ate lunch at the Open Door in Menno. It’s been years since I’ve visited the tiny, pretty town located near the James River. My dad told me that people used to come from miles around on Sundays to drink a cold beer in Menno’s very popular beer garden, which was more like a back alley than a garden.

These days people still gather on Sundays in Menno, but it’s for the brunch at the Open Door, not a beer party. The restaurant is run by Rita Hoff and is open seven days a week. Rita features German food on Tuesdays so today I tried some fleisch kuechle, knoefla and saurkraut. We’ll have a story on Rita’s German cooking in the September/October 2011 issue.

Besides making German dishes on Tuesdays and the large brunch on Sundays, Rita features homemade kuchen and donuts on Thursdays. All her food is made fresh daily, including the seven or eight salads she had featured when I stopped today. The pea salad was my favorite and I asked for the recipe (below). Rita said it was one of her easier recipes, and most popular.

Pea Salad

2 cups cooked macaroni
1 can peas, drained
Ω cup green sweet pickles
Ω shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup salad dressing
2 tablespoons sugar

Mix all ingredients and chill before serving.

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Spink: Open For Business

By Bernie Hunhoff

To insiders in southeast South Dakota, the tiny “map spot” called Spink is a diamond in the rough. Here at South Dakota Magazine, we became fans of the town in the summer of 1992 when we spent a day there with Myrtle Twedt, then the town matriarch.

Myrtle had painted more than 100 paintings by then, and most of them were of the town she lived in and loved. The family home (which is still owned by the Twedt family and stands just north of the Spink Store, is still in great condition. It was built by Johannes Larson, her grandfather, more than 135 years ago.

Myrtle and her husband once ran the store. In fact, they struck gold. They were there when the REA strung lines. “We sold Maytag washers by the carload,” she said. They also had a locker plant and a creamery. Where did all the entrepreneurs go?

Well, a few are still in Spink — including John and Diane Otten, who have been running an old-style restaurant in the Spink Store. We stopped by the other night, and there was a good crowd of local folks enjoying a spring evening at the store. The Ottens told me they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have evening specials. Saturday night prime rib is — no surprise here — the biggest “seller,” says John. But spaghetti Wednesdays are also good. They are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and ’till 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. They do quit on Sundays at 2 p.m. — such slackers in Union County.

A classic old Jeep is for sale across the street for $3,000.

After we featured Myrtle’s art in 1992, Ted Hustead of Wall Drug called and ordered one of the paintings we pictured. It still hangs in the main hallway of the world’s funnest pharmacy. Myrtle was thrilled, and so are we every time we see it hanging there.