Why I Love CorePower Yoga
I’ve mentioned CorePower Yoga on numerous occasions on this blog, and thought it might be time to write a dedicated post about my studio (in Allston, MA), my favorite class (Sculpt), and what CorePower has meant for my fitness routine.
I first tried out CorePower when my friend Kat visited me from CT and said she wanted to do a good workout the morning after a mini restaurant tour. I definitely agreed and suggested CorePower since we could both go for free (first week is free at CorePower Yoga studios, which is nice because you have a week to try out the different classes they offer). We woke up at a time that worked to try the Sculpt class, so that’s what we set off to do. I thought it’d be an average yoga class that just focused a bit extra on strengthening poses such as chair or boat, but instead the class ended up being so much more. I felt so satisfied by the workout, which combined yoga poses and flow, light weights, barre-style moves, and cardio bursts, that I couldn’t wait to go back.
The beginning of the class starts with un-weighted sun salutations, and then we add weights. This is crescent pose.
And go back I did, and then I purchased an unlimited month on Groupon, and now I am currently working my way through a 10-class pack. One reason I enjoy CorePower Yoga Sculpt classes is because they are only an hour long, versus the traditional one and a half hour yoga class. I like workouts that are effective in a shorter period of time, and an hour is plenty long enough with Yoga Sculpt! I also love Sculpt’s variety. A typical class structure (usually) looks like this:
- Child’s pose to cat/cow stretches
- Plank series
- Sun salutations A to B, and then addition of weights to B
- Biceps/push-ups
- Squats/other legs
- Cardio
- Sculpt series – sun salutation B using weights, with sculpting moves sprinkled throughout
- Core
- Stretch to savasana
All of the switching helps break the class up into more manageable, smaller chunks. When I am dying through a squat series I just tell myself it’s only a few minutes long and that helps me get through it! I have also loved seeing my strength grow from class to class. The benefit of doing a workout consistently is being able to see results and improvements each week. I’ve moved up from sets of 3 and 5 pound weights to 5 and 8 pounds, and am able to do harder modifications. I also love that the class is heated. Sweating just makes me feel awesome and also makes the workout all the more challenging. It is rare that I find a class that I am guaranteed to walk out of feeling satisfied…like I put in 100% effort. But CorePower has done that for me. I have never once left a Sculpt class and questioned if I worked “hard enough”. For someone like me, that is a huge mental victory.
Crescent pose (weighted) from the front. Yes asking someone to take these photos was as awkward as you can imagine. I also felt that this photo looked very “yay, victory!”
Finally, the facilities at CorePower Yoga are gorgeous and the instructors are awesome. I have never once encountered a lobby area, locker room, or studio that is anything but pristine. All the equipment is clean and students don’t have to clean it after each class – woo! I have taken classes from six different instructors at this point, and almost every one of them I have really enjoyed. Most have focused on messages that aren’t about using burning off “bad foods” as motivation for being in class. They encourage students to find their “edge”, but also listen to their bodies and stay safe. I love when a teacher reminds the class to congratulate themselves on making the time to even just show up. That’s something I often need to be reminded to do!
When doing warrior two with weights, instructors remind students to keep elbows bent for safety reasons.
I’m so thankful I tried out that first free week at CorePower (f you have a studio near you, I encourage you to do the same!) and fell in love with a class that makes me feel strong, motivated, and proud of myself. It’s definitely added some pep to my fitness routine, which I need to find every so often. I can’t wait to keep attending classes. And I never thought I’d hear myself say this but…I think it’s time to spend the money and upgrade to a nicer yoga mat. Anyone got any suggestions for me?
Have you tried CorePower Yoga or a similar-sounding yoga sculpt class?
What kind of workout makes you feel most strong and motivated?
How do you know when it’s time to invest a bit more in your workout equipment?
