One Month of Corepower Yoga

black and white photo of a woman in a yoga pose on the beach

 

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WHY I DID ONE MONTH OF CLASSES AT COREPOWER*

I first started working out in a group atmosphere in the middle of 2012 after having my fourth child. That workout journey is well described in the most-visited post on my site, “Pure Barre, Lululemon, and My Search for Sculpted Arms.” Since discovering barre, I’ve preferred classes to any other kind of exercise.

I did Pure Barre for about nine months then switched to Lifetime Fitness, which is a BIG gym. I loved the small studio feel of the barre classes, and I really loved the results. However, it’s hard to beat the amenities of Lifetime for the prices they offer. (It’s not cheap, but these little studios are pricey.) I’m willing to deal with the less than cozy feel, the painful parking lot, and the time suck that goes along with an enormous gym because it is truly that much easier on the checkbook.

Now that I’ve been at Lifetime for a year and a half, however, I’ve been feeling the need for a change of scenery again. By April 1st, I was a free agent again. I planned to walk outside because for cardio AND peace of mind, I’m all about getting in my 10,000 steps (I love the Fitbit Alta), but April was still freezing in Minneapolis.

Even if it was nice outside, I still wanted to keep up with the muscle work that I did during my classes at Lifetime. And since my favorite Lifetime class is my friend Heather’s warrior sculpt class, which is similar to a yoga sculpt class at Corepower, I took advantage of the introductory month price at Corepower, which is only a little more than I was paying at Lifetime.

THE TYPE OF CLASSES I DID AT COREPOWER YOGA 

I meant to try all the classes, but I ended up sticking to the sculpt classes, which are absolutely not “pure” yoga. I don’t have the patience or the time to do yoga for yoga’s sake. (And yes, I realize that makes me the kind of person who should.) I’m just glad I can get a workout in about 4 days in a week. Asking me to use one of the sessions to stretch and relax is asking too much. In sculpt classes there are yoga poses mixed in with some cardio as well as sequences that include (optional) use of weights. It’s hard, and it’s a great workout.

Let’s get down to the good and the bad.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT COREPOWER YOGA SCULPT CLASSES

#1. Holy SH$%^T it’s Hot!

Believe it or not, I liked the heat and humidity of the classes. This shocked me since one of my favorite things about barre was that it was not particularly sweaty, and I was able to do a class, work on the computer, get to the grocery store, and pick up my kids from school all while staying in the same clothes. “Gross,” you might say. But I say “efficient!” So even though a workout at Corepower meant I was a total sweat bucket and was forced to take a shower and even–this is the worst part–deal with my hair, I loved the way I felt after a class. The endorphins lasted all day.

#2. Great Locations and Times

There are classes all over the Twin Cities during the school day hours when I’m available. One weakness of Lifetime and of the barre studio I loved is the limited options for classes during the day. It was nice to have a month where I had tons of choices and different studios to try all 10-15 minutes from my house.

#3. The Instructors and Format are Great

I didn’t stay faithful to any particular teacher, which really goes to show how solid the staff is all around from studio to studio. There’s some variety from class to class, but you can always count on getting a great workout, which I really appreciated. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT COREPOWER YOGA 

#1. The Locker Rooms Were Designed Straight Out of My Nightmares

The locker rooms are extremely crowded. They’re clean, but it’s so tight in there that you can’t even turn around without bumping into someone. I will barely get undressed in front of my sisters, so this is not exactly my ideal set up. I did, however, manage to rise above my weirdness and squeamishness and just strip and shower. I’m always in a rush, and since I never had time to go home and shower, I just had to deal with the utter nakedness.

#2. The Studio Can Get Crowded

If you can’t tell, I’m not a big fan of physical closeness to strangers, and I’m still new to the world of workouts where sweat is dripping off of my body. Therefore, accidentally stepping in someone else’s puddle of sweat while returning my hand weights to the rack at the end of class is the polar opposite of my happy place. In the busier classes, you could be touching someone if you stretch out your arm. Students stagger on the mats to avoid this, but I’m giving you the visual so you know what I mean when I say you will be very close to the perspiring person next to you. The atmosphere is best described in a HILARIOUS post I once saw passed around on Facebook about hot yoga classes in general: “Yoga Mat for Sale. Used Once. $1.” 

#3. Confirmation of My Squareness

I may be the only person left without a tattoo. (Obviously a major exaggeration, but a month at Corepower would have one believe it is possible.) This is not really a case of “not liking.” More a point of observation.

SO . . . WHAT’S NEXT FOR MY LIFETIME BREAK

I’m enjoying the time away from the big gym so I’m keeping my membership on hold. The monthly price goes way up at Corepower after the intro month so I bought a package of classes that I’ll use here and there when I want to pop in. I really do like the workouts there and will miss going several times a week, but it won’t be my regular place to go simply because of the price. It was also a bit too much on my wrists doing sculpt classes and nothing else. 

I did love the feeling of the muscle work in the arms with small weights. I bought a pair of 2-pound, 3-pound, and 5-pound weights and I do some moves at home on a regular basis. 

*Note this is not a sponsored post. But if someone wants to pay me to take your yoga classes, great!


Affiliate links to Amazon or Bookshop.org could result in a small commission to me.


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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

38 Responses

  1. I loved this so much. I tried Corepower a few years back and I LOST it half way through the class because of the HEAT and the SWEAT and the PEOPLE SO CLOSE TO ME. So I walked out. It’s hard for me to do any type of organized exercise class because of the lack of a sitter – but I am looking for something when my littlest starts school in the Fall. But I know it won’t be hot yoga. In the meantime I’ll just keep running outside all year.
    tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Introducing Oprah Chai Tea – $250 TEAVANA Gift Card GiveawayMy Profile

  2. Any yoga class I do here in Malaysia always ends up with me being really gross, and my entire head sweaty (I’ve wrung sweat out of my ponytail before!).

    I’ve never done Corepower yoga before, sounds interesting! So how is your body after a month? What difference do you see?
    Alison recently posted..Good Enough? Good Enough.My Profile

    1. Well, I wasn’t eating so well so I’m probably about the same. I can definitely do more push ups though! (The 30clean month should get things back on track!) I’m not trying to lose weight–just to be healthy. You know what I mean?

      Hope you’re feeling good! No hot, sweaty classes for you right now!

  3. Nina,This is great! And thanks for the shout-out! It was so fun having you, my writer friend turned real friend, in class and I loved that you smiled through most of it. I am glad your overall experience at Core Power has been positive. I have found it to be a great community of people and a great place to work and work out (but I do hear ya on the locker room thing…you kinda get used to it…kinda). Hope you come in for another Wednesday morning sweat fest soon!
    Julie Burton recently posted..Moms, What Does Self-Care Mean to You? Answer for a Chance to Win a Self-Care Retreat!My Profile

  4. Ha! Love the part about the tattoo! I won’t be trying any kind of intentionally hot yoga classes myself since I feel faint above 75 degrees, so thank you for reaffirming THAT uncertainty for me too. 🙂 This post also reminds me I need to get jumping on my “to do” list which includes trying barre or gentle yoga this year. I remember you advising me in a comment once that barre is quite intense, and so I think that means I’ll be going the gentle yoga route, preferably in a walk-in refrigerator.
    Kristen recently posted..Giving Up the Window SeatMy Profile

    1. Hmmm . . . I don’t think of barre as too intense because you can always end an exercise early if it’s really too much. Or they can show you some adaptions if things bother your back. I think it’s worth a try!

  5. I don’t have a tattoo either, but have made the same observation you have about that making me (a) rare and (b) square. I go to Core Power once a week or so and I really like it… I agree it’s not really pure yoga but frankly more of a cardio/weights class (the sculpt class specifically). I’ve also been to the straight yoga classes and they are quite good. I’m all about 60 minutes!

  6. The super hot part made me laugh. I’d shy away from this class for that reason alone. Well, that and my exercise routine usually consists entirely of walking up and down the stairs at my apartment building. I have pretty good cardio system from living on the 5th floor of a walk-up building. 🙂
    Jackie Cangro recently posted..The One with the CarouselMy Profile

  7. My daughter had trouble with her wrists getting sore doing yoga too.
    Having your four small ones, and the limited time you probably have to get away to classes it’s no surprise you don’t feel you have time for the stretch and relax classes. Maybe later in life! 🙂

  8. Nina, love this post…so many laughable and recognisable lines, from the locker room of nightmares (myself not a fan of public nakedness) to stepping in pools of other’s sweat (ew, no thanks!) I can tell this exercise would have me in totally the “opposite of my happy place”. Best time I ever had in a gym was doing weights and treadmill at a large converted bluestone church. High ceilings, lots of space, no sweat = religious experience. After that, no gym compares.
    Alarna Rose Gray recently posted..Astral ProjectionMy Profile

    1. That’s exactly what I was thinking about today when we had somewhere in the range of three minutes to lay on our packs at the end of today’s sculpt class. 😉

  9. I always try different classes like this- you can track my exercise moods through the various courses I have signed up for. Let’s see, there was yoga, Pilates, STEP aerobics (back in the 90s), line dancing, belly dancing (yeah– that would make a great article), and even swimming(bathing suit? What was I thinking?).

    Bottom line, I’ve learned I’m a loner with my workouts. I’ll stick to hiking, biking, jogging, lifting, and my elliptical.

    GO YOU!

    1. I think there are for sure class people and those who can stay motivated alone. When I’m working out alone, I for sure do not push myself. I am starting to enjoy walking again with the combo of the fitbit numbers going up (that’s motivating) and listening to an audiobook if I’m not with the kids.

  10. Nina! Great review! I just LOVE the heat in these classes. But I also kind of like less crowded locker rooms 🙂 Please let me know how you like your FitBit. I am on the fence of getting one. Super happy you are a part of our Clean Community. Can’t wait to see how you feel at the end!! Love your website! Your “cutting my phone time in half” is genius. The one thing I am just floored on is… Are you really a Mom to 4????? You look fabulous!! Keep being an inspiration 🙂

    Peace,
    Heather

    1. Thanks so much for taking the time to chime in here, Heather. You have been such a great inspiration for the30clean. I can’t believe I made it through the weekend. That’s the biggest challenge. Now I feel like the rest is doable.

      Anyway, I love the fitbit because I’m much more into barre and yoga sculpt classes than cardio. The fitbit has shown me how FEW steps I take if I don’t fit in some walks here there–even 15 minutes at a time when I can. I have to imagine it’s good for me to walking more!

      And thanks for the reading the iPhone posts and for the wonderful compliment. Yup–there are for sure 4 kiddos running around here.

      Looking forward (oddly enough!) to the next three weeks with you guys!

      1. Nina – I agree with the movement. Since starting The 30 Clean I have started being on the computer a lot more. I am going to need to start getting my booty up a lot to make up for the lost movement time I was getting in from being a massage therapist. Movement, of any kind, even walking, is KEY! Glad the FitBit is helping you to see that. Happy walking – or moving in general.
        Oh, and glad you are enjoying The 30 Clean. Congrats on a successful weekend 🙂

  11. Nina, you and I are so much alike sometimes! What you said about yoga for yoga’s sake could have come straight from me. I just recently joined a small gym that includes classes, and I’ve gone once to the first yoga class I’ve ever been to that was an actual workout (not just balance and stretching and spirituality). I was sore the next day, which I didn’t expect. I loved it and can’t wait to go back this week!
    Annie Neugebauer recently posted..Getting Started on Twitter- at Writer UnboxedMy Profile

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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I send an email once or twice a month with the latest friendship letters, podcast episodes, book reviews, recipes, and more.

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