CorePower: Yoga for the Not-That-Into-Yoga

The 411

For someone like me who has been practicing yoga of all kinds for a long time, particularly some of the more traditional types (i.e. years of the hyper-strict ashtanga), CorePower requires a mental shift. I’m not if sure the yoga guru’s of Mysore, India would get behind it, but if this means nothing to you, then rest assured you will get an awesome sweat on and leave with well-worked muscles. One consistent feature of CorePower Yoga is heat. If you like a hot room when you workout, read on. Now, how about “yoga” with weights? If that strikes you as too massive a departure from your idea of yoga, click next page.

CorePower offers a few different classes, but the Sculpt practice with weights is the most unique. Calling it yoga seems generous. But it can accurately be called lively, interesting and hard as hell. Yes, you will do a few basic postures you might recognize from your vinyasa class and you may even hear some fleeting Sanskrit. But all of a sudden you will be doing mountain climbers a mile a minute or wide legged jump squats and you’re in another zone entirely.

It seems like it would be easy to get hooked on the CorePower Yoga Sculpt class, especially as a fun diversion from a more traditional practice. Most classes are only an hour and no matter what, you leave with your clothes drenched and your body worked out. I could absolutely see attending a weekly class. I may just leave out the word “yoga” when I tell my husband where I’m headed.

Class

I took two Sculpt classes as well as a C2 class (CorePower Yoga level 2). The CorePower Yoga class reminded me a lot of Baptiste Power Yoga, but shorter and hotter. Even though it was level 2, it was absolutely accessible to anyone, as long as you can tolerate the heat. I am accustomed to 90-minute yoga classes, packed with vinyasa sequences. From this vantage point, the class felt a bit bare. Although the heat results in major sweating, the practice itself wasn’t particularly extensive. It seemed like a basics class.

The Sculpt class was more of a dynamic experience. I have never attempted yoga with free weights before and it’s pretty much as you might expect. Picture holding the half-chair pose while doing triceps extensions or warrior 2 while doing shoulder presses. With that said, there were some unexpected aspects as well. For example, super fast mountain climbers while in high plank and 2 minutes of straight cardio exercises including jump squats and jumping jacks.

For all CorePower classes, the music is pumping and in sync with how your body is moving. And have I mentioned the heat?

Vibe

I visited both the Wilshire and Westwood studios. The whole vibe is a little bit glorified college, albeit with a kombucha hangover. (To be fair, the Westwood studio is basically on UCLA’s campus so most attendees actually ARE college students). At the Wilshire studio, the front desk staff called everyone “love”. Perky. Extra perky.

Space

Both studio spaces feel new and well kept, though the Westwood studio was surprisingly humid and sweat-stinky upon entering. And I’m talking about the lobby itself. All yoga rooms are mirrored, with extra special flooring – not soft, not hard, just right. Lockers with free keys/locks abound and no personal stuff is allowed in the yoga spaces, which is really nice. Both locations have a good retail collection, with lululemon, alo and more. Both also have towels and showers, which are 100% necessary if you can’t go straight home after class.

Instructors

Missy Faul (@missblissyoga) taught my first Sculpt class, Alexandria Geringer (@yogizg) taught my C2 class and Thomas I. taught my 2nd Sculpt class. Missy was the most charismatic. Alexandria G. has a nice way about her; she was mellow and articulate. Thomas got the job done. None came across as specialists in the manner of a studio like Yogaworks, but they all had a handle on the broad range of CorePower moves. I’m not sure the teachers I experienced will be the ones mentoring you on your life’s journey...but they will guide you through a good workout, which appears to be the only reason people are there anyway. Including me, so I’m not knocking it.

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FIRST WEEK IS FREE. This is an amazing perk. DO IT NOW. Drop-in classes are $25 and class packages include: 5 for $114, 10 for $209 and 20 for $379. They also have a “black tag membership” option for $155/month, which includes unlimited classes, retail deals, special workshops and 20% off teacher training and boot camp. All packages are transferrable to the 160+ studios nationwide.