5 classes yoga-tta try

In the past couple of years, Columbia’s yoga scene has been catching up from what used to be an amazing quality, but limited number of studio and class offerings. If you wanted to take your practice to a community setting, your options were City Yoga and Yoga Masala. And don’t get me wrong, both are wonderful + established studios with 200+ hour-trained teachers that offer a variety of classes, plus monthly workshops. (I, personally, am a City Yoga + Stacey Millner-Collins enthusiast. She’s so legit that she has her own SCETV yoga program, y’all – and PBS has decided to broadcast it on stations nationwide, including PBS in NYC.)

But one of my 2018 goals was to stretch my practice and take advantage of the new yoga offerings that are popping up all around our city. Over the past few weeks, I’ve downdogged five new(ish) + different yoga classes in town, and I think you should check them out, too:

Photo by @colatoday

Bend + Barre turnt up the Columbia yoga scene this year with their yoga + barre fusion pop-up classes (hosted upstairs in Five Points bar The Cotton Gin) that will most definitely make you sweat. Sam + I went to their inaugural Trap Yoga Flow class with B+B’s bubbly resident yoga instructor, Brooke McNally. Brooke teaches Baptiste Power Yoga and bumps Fetty + Cardi B, so if you’re searching for a class where you lie in restorative poses for an hour while listening to elevator music – Trap Yoga isn’t for you.

It was announced last week that Bend + Barre’s upcoming pop-up studio is moving to the developing Saluda Ave. stretch next to Speakeasy, starting tomorrow, March 1. We heard a rumor that they might even nama-stay there for good.

Photo by @colatoday

Photo by @thebookswarm

If the combination of beer + headstands sounds slightly dangerous to you, don’t worry, at
Conquest Brewery’s Sunday yoga classes, you do a 60 min. vinyasa flow – then drink a pint. I even convinced my boyfriend to tag along to this one with the promise of a Sacred Heart IPA waiting for him after savasana.

Photo by @colatoday

Last week, I dragged the COLAtoday interns Nicole + Lauren (pictured with me above in aerial tree pose) out of the office and accidentally strangled them with aerial silks. (J.K. – they both rocked the class.) Our instructor at Fit Columbia slowly guided us newbies through a flow that was accessible to aerial-first-timers – and we actually got into some pretty cool poses. In the last few minutes of class, we even dangled upside down (then got a little dizzy and promptly needed a ginger chew).

🕉 Yoga for runners | Tuesdays + Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. | Yoga with Mackenzie + Lesley at Strictly Running | 2515 Devine St. | free

Photo by @colatoday

The most namaste part about this class is that it is free, and offered twice weekly in the back of Strictly Running’s easily accessible Devine St. shop. Sam + I attended this vinyasa flow class last week, and it was packed. Our teacher Mackenzie did a great job at catering to both seasoned yogis + dedicated runners looking to switch up their workout. Afterwards, we overheard some of our classmates chatting about their next half marathon and then saw them jogging home through Shandon together – so if you’re looking for fellow runners in Soda City, this class is for you. However, I didn’t get the impression that you need to *be* a runner to enjoy it.

Photo by @colatoday

Wrap up your week with this all-levels, candlelit flow class, moving through postures to live, local music. March’s class will feature keyboardist Richard Wells of Cloud Repair – a.k.a. the most-zen soundtrack to your Friday flow possible. I left feeling weightless after my busy week and ready to kick off a relaxing weekend.

What local workout do I want to try next? Pole dancing fitness is coming to Fit Columbia in Five Points. On March 18, instructor Allyson Eidson will teach her class how to work their way around a pole with spins, climbing and some higher-level tricks. Sounds sexy – and if I can laugh at myself during a workout, I find it more enjoyable.

Want to unleash your inner (insert your dog’s name + the name of the street you grew up on to get your ~dancer~ name – mine’s Cody Kimbrough)? Reserve your spot here.

What other yoga classes are you getting into this year? Holler at your girl by replying to this email.

May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be free from suffering.

Namaste,

–Beth

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