YogaWorks--Center For Yoga: Vinyasa Flow 2/3

9/7/2010

Have you noticed that when you talk to people who have done yoga for a while in LA, everyone’s always all giddy about the Larchmont location of YogaWorks? You hear some of the most emphatic statements you’ll ever hear about any studio from yoga-doers giving their review of the place. I’ve heard such articulate accolades as:

“Oh man, it’s awesome. It’s like, so Zen.”
“I live in Long Beach and I’d drive there for a class. I mean, I don’t, but I would. It’s that good.”

And I always thought, “but it’s YogaWorks.” Not that the enterprise hasn’t played a significant role in my yogic development, but it’s just...you know, so...corporate. I mean that in a nice way--it’s like Target on a microscopic scale. I like it; I think it’s a good company (except for that recent high-profile donation to that anti-gay political campaign--WTF, Target?!). But I go there because it’s easy to get to, certainly has something I’m interested in spending money on, and can always fit into my schedule. It’s not a bastion of the artisanal; it’s not where I seek out any off-the-beaten-path type of product. But person after person insisted that if I like a cozy space (yep) and if I gravitate toward Anusara (heavily, thank you), then I’d like this place.

I am ever-distrusting of an Angeleno trying to sell me on any product--physical or intellectual. I’ve been in one too many dressing rooms where some 19-year-old circles around, beholding me in a $400 frock that gives me the look of a tree stump dressing for a Justin Bieber concert, and exclaims, “I feel like, I dunno, that like, looks reeeeally good on yooooou!” But I had a free pass from this awesome book my husband got me, so my first excursion for La Brea and East Month was to the Center for Yoga.


I’ll just say it; I loved the place. I’m beginning to think that LA yogis know something about me. My trip to CFY was nothing short of delightful. I chose the 8:30 AM level 2/3 class with Carolina Goldberg because her bio cited training with several of my faves (Shiva Rea! Erich Schiffman! Saul Raye!), and her classes were described as “sweaty and physical” (um...yes, please). I had a brief disappointment when I was informed upon arrival that “Marlize will be subbing,” but I emphasize that it was brief. The shiny, glowy being that was Marlize instructed us through a series of poses that seriously challenged my yoga mojo, including one particular sequence of ardha chandrasana and virabhadrasana 3 linked by various other one-legged balances that blew my mind, not to mention my sartorius, vastus lateralis, and tensor fasciae latae. The poses were intelligently linked, built upon a theme, with instruction that was ever-conscious of coaxing the student to the edge, but never over the cliff.

The studio maintained a bohemian feel in spite of its YogaWorks parentage. It was housed in the second story of a brick building with a palpable old-soulfulness; this is a studio where it feels organic to take off your shoes when you enter. The large classroom (was this once a basketball court?) that hosted my class was graced with scads of natural light, courtesy of the panel of skylights spanning its width. Props of all kinds were plentiful, and though we didn’t use them in this particular session, I was glad to see that the posterior wall was outfitted with ropes, meaning that somebody here offers an incarnation of that anti-gravity class where you get those super-juicy stretches into muscles you didn’t even know you had. The front desk staff was attentive and helpful (shock!), the boutique was respectable in its offerings, and the signature YogaWorks offering of hot tea was, of course, in place. Even for a YW location, the schedule is impressive in its scope of both regular classes and workshops, and goes as late as 10 PM a couple of nights per week. The studio has captured my attention and can be guaranteed a return visit from me--perhaps next week at the same time, when I can count on either the intended class from Carolina, or another equally-satisfactory happy accident.