TAMPA — Men can enjoy yoga, including the most athletic ones. That is the message that the co-founder of Camp Tampa, a fitness studio located in South Tampa, wants to push after a few Tampa Bay Buccaneers players were shown practicing on HBO's television series Hard Knocks.
"They set a huge example of what Tampa Bay people like to do," Camp Tampa's Jamie Lanza said.
Camp Tampa and Pin Chasers bowling alley are a few of the local businesses featured so far in the weekly HBO documentary that follows the ups-and-downs of the Bucs training camp. Fresh Kitchen, which specialized in healthy, chef-inspired food bowls, and New Identities Hair Studio of Tampa may also be featured in future episodes.
Many of the business owners expressed a shared vision from the show's publicity. Marc Rockquemore, co-owner of New Identities, said he wants the show to "translate into new customers."
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Last week, the production crew followed linebacker Kwon Alexander as he dropped into New Identities in Tampa Palms for a touch-up on his fiery red, high-top Philly fade. This scene has not be included so far.
Lanza said she noticed the "hype" on social media when Camp Tampa was featured during the show's premiere on Aug. 8. A "few seconds" on television lives longer on social media, she said, expecting to continue to draw new customers.
The cameras capture Bucs players — Austin Johnson, Cameron Brate, Adam Humphries and Ryan Griffin — enjoying a hot yoga class at Camp Tampa as part of their offseason training regimen. The facility also offers a range of yoga classes, a circuit training studio and an indoor cycling studio.
Lanza said she also teaches private yoga classes to players including Kevin Pamphile.
Nelson Luis, the Bucs' director of communication, said it's "hard to know" which local businesses the show will feature since the scenes are organic and attempt to follow the players' normal schedule. The show doesn't go "out of their way" to highlight any local businesses. In fact, there were no notable shots of local businesses in this week's episode. He said he doesn't see Hard Knocks until it airs weekly.
New Identities, which has two locations in Tampa Bay, is accustomed to working with professional sports teams and national television stations, said Rockquemore. The hair studio has been featured on four other shows including TLC's A Wedding Story, Fox's Ambush Makeover, NFL Network's Making the Squad and MTV's True Life.
The studio has had a long-term relationship with the Bucs' cheerleading squad and started working with the Lightning Girls this year. In the past, the partnership included rookie makeovers, on-site service for photo shoots and community service events such as Cut for the Cure.
"It doesn't necessarily always involve writing a check," Rockquemore said. "We give our time and share our talents."
Contact Tierra Smith at tsmith@ tampabay.com or (414) 702-5006. Follow @bytierrasmith.