CorePower Yoga Sculpt Heated Power Yoga with Weights - Lots of things happening with Lucy(April 18, 2015)

I am not sure if you remember me mentioning Lucy from my previous post, but it turns out that Lucy does Classpass, so when we ended up at the same brunch the following Sunday, I picked her brain regarding her Classpass experience.  

Lucy raved about one particular class - CorePower. Heated Yoga Sculpt with Weights.  I know what you're thinking, and yes, it did sound like there were a shitload of things going on in the class. CorePower is at least technically the name of the studio, and not an additional element of the workout. However, Lucy said it was her favorite, and I was intrigued.  When Lucy mentioned she would be taking it the following Saturday, I decided to join her.

I stepped into the class and the first element hit me like a ton of bricks - heat.  This was not just heated yoga, this was some Bikram heat.  It had to be 105 degrees.  It seemed a bit amiss if there was going to be some sculpting involved, but oh well.  I decided to quell my fears by focusing on the instructions.  We were told to get two sets of free weights and a yoga block. Class started.   

The instructor opened by explaining how to modify certain yoga moves when we had the weights in our hands. Fantastic. I'm awful at yoga, and I'm now going to have to navigate the class in sweltering heat with weights. What was I thinking?  

The instructor asked us to set our intentions.  From what I have gathered, this is a big thing in yoga.  The instructor tells you to set an intention (I guess it is a goal) to focus on throughout the class.  My goal in yoga is generally not to hurt myself or make an ass out of myself.  Otherwise, I actually don't like to think about anything while working out.  Exercise is actually my time not to think, but that is just me.  The lights are dim, and we start with few of the traditional downward dogs, sun salutations, etc., to warm up.  That was pretty much the end of what I would consider yoga, or at least traditional yoga. 

The lights came back on and Kesha started blaring. We picked up the free weights and started doing yoga moves with the free weights in our hands.  For example, chair pose with overhead press.  Again, please do not forget that it is like a sauna.  People are tearing off their clothes like it is a strip club.  I had never removed an article of clothing during a workout class...until this adventure.  We moved on to various warrior poses with our arms extended out with the free weights in our hands.  Okay, this was technically yoga, but yoga with heat and weights, so I guess the title fit…

Then, the instructor had us put down our weights and told us to start doing jumping jacks.  What?  You want me to do jumping jacks in the sauna?  Also, at is point, an obscure Ludacris song is blasting in the studio.  I love Luda, but who can focus on their "intention" when they are doing jumping jacks in 100 degree heat listening to a hook about the ATL?  No one.  Also,I am pretty sure that jumping jacks are the opposite of yoga, as were the high knees and the football runs we proceeded to do. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer cardio work to yoga, but nothing in the title Heated Power Yoga with Weights prepared me for jumping up and down. Oh, and those yoga blocks.  We placed the block between our legs and squeezed it while we performed squats.  It did not provide me the safe comfort and assistance as yoga blocks had in the past.   

I must have walked out of the class 3 times to the water fountain. Next time, I will bring a bottle of water.  By the way, the lounge at CorePower is fantastic.  Very relaxing and tranquil.  The opposite of doing jumping jacks in 100 degree heat. 

I will say that the impression that I got from Lucy and others in the class was that the classroom was exceptionally hot that day. The class is heated, but not stifling, which makes sense because you can’t have people doing cardio work in a room that hit for safety purposes.  I will say that I have taken the class a few more times since then, and the heat varies.  Regardless, people are always ripping off their clothes like they are on fire.  I have never sweat so much in a class.  It felt
great.

Despite how the description may sound, I loved the class. The instructor was very nice and encouraging.  A lot of "you can do it," being yelled, save for the moment she went on a tangent about her new bird, but whatever.  It was a phenomenal workout.  If I am going to do yoga, this is the kind of "yoga" that I want to be doing.  I was not prepared for what I was walking into the first time, but now that I know what the class entails, I am more prepared (aka - I bring water). 

CorePower is also a fantastic facility (just look at the tranquil lobby - above).  I can see how it is spreading around the country like wildfire.  As mentioned above, I have now gone to this class a few times at a few different facilities, and I am particularly partial to the Georgetown location.  The woman who teaches the class on Friday nights is probably one of the best instructors I have had of anything.  More importantly, the studio is located across from my favorite bakery, Baked and Wired.  See the picture of the massive cupcakes to the right.  The only problem with the Georgetown location is all the clinking of the David Yurman bracelets the Georgetown undergrads find it necessary to wear when they are working out.  Lululemon should just make yoga pants that says "Trust Fund Baby" on the ass, so these poor girls can leave their bangle collection at home.

Thanks, Lucy!  I really enjoyed your suggestion!  I look forward to suggestions from anyone else trying Classpass.