Classpass Los Angeles: Yoga

I used to despise yoga. I thought it was boring, way too long, and a bad workout because I wouldn't sweat. Then I started training for half marathons and realized I needed yoga to heal my body from those long runs. Since that realization, I've started going to Yoga every week. It's helped me manage my stress and I think it helped me run better! I didn't train for my second half marathon nearly as much as my first, but I started adding yoga to the mix. I PR'd on my second half AND it was way more hilly than the first. I'm crediting yoga.

Since I started Classpass, I've tried out a few Yoga studios here and there in LA, and so I thought I would share! 

Sweat Hot Yoga (Santa Monica): My fav hot yoga studio I've been to. The room is hot, the music is loud, and the instructors are great. It's a one hour class and they go over various vinyasas, but then they turn the music up and let you do your own flow for a few minutes. It's almost like a dance class. They have time for inversions and handstands (if that is what you're into) but you can also tailor it to a beginner level. This was the first hot yoga class I ever did, so my expectations are very high now! The amenities are also really nice - they have 3 showers, a large area to get ready, and lockers. Free parking at the library right across the street! 

YAS: Yoga for Athletes (Venice): I went to YAS fitness mainly for the spin classes, but they have an awesome class where you do 30 minutes of spin and 30 minutes of yoga. The studio is located right on Abbot Kinney, but it's easy to find parking in the surrounding streets. The spin classes are great and the yoga classes are focused on athletes, which was cool. It was the perfect way to cool down after 30 minutes of intense cardio. They have showers, but no locker rooms. 

Red Diamond Yoga (Palms): My favorite yoga studio (see my previous post here). They have 3 studios, they burn incense and put essential oils on your hands after each class. Everyone is SO nice. They have a billion different classes every day so you can always find one to fit your schedule. 

Set and Flow Yoga (Hollywood): The studio is brand new and they do more than just yoga (TRX, barre, etc.) It was beautiful - the locker rooms are so nice, they have a kambucha bar, there is free parking underneath in the garage. The hot yoga class I went to was hard - but my only complaint was that there was no music the entire time! I don't like silent yoga! I think I would go back and try to TRX classes. 

The thing I love about yoga is that the practice is ever-changing. There is always room for improvement. I always leave yoga feeling much better than when I started.

See you later - going to work on my handstands now :) 

-A

PS. $20 off classpass --> http://class.ps/dr1cB

Classpass Favorites in Los Angeles: Spin, Yoga & Strength

Hi all!

I've been using Classpass for about 2 months now. Before I joined, I worked out regularly but just lacked motivation a lot of the time. I got so bored with going to the gym all the time, so I trained for a half marathon. But by the time I ran that, I was bored with running. I needed someone to push me. That's where classpass came in! I love it because it motivates me to get to class. You're charged a $20 fee if you cancel/don't show up 12 hours before the class starts. This gives me the motivation to actually attend classes.  Since joining, I've lost a few pounds and gotten a lot stronger. I really like spinning, strength training, and yoga. Since I've tried out a TON of new studios in the Los Angeles area, I thought I would start doing some reviews  of the ones I have tried.

Today, I'll share my top class for each of my favorite workouts:

Spinning = House of Fitness with Aldo [Culver City] or FlyWheel [West Hollywood]
I love House of Fitness in general - for both their spin classes AND their strength training classes. Aldo's spin class is amazing because he works you out HARD on the bike, but also adds in some strength training during the class (usually abs or arms). You get off the bike for 5-10 minutes to do these exercises. It breaks up the class nicely and it goes by fast. FlyWheel is another great workout. I like that they have the board that tells you how hard you are working in comparison to the rest of the class. It motivates me to not slack off (which can be easy to do in a spin class by simply taking the resistance off). FlyWheel has the best music by far and the atmosphere there is great. Also, they both offer free parking!

Yoga = Red Diamond Yoga [Palms]
Red Diamond is the best kept secret in Palms. Don't be fooled by the outside strip mall, the studio is so cute and relaxing. It always smells so good and they provide you with refreshing eucalyptus towels after each workout. They have so many classes and times to choose from - from beginner to yin yoga with massage (yes, you read that correctly). The environment is super welcoming as well. They have a free parking lot.

Strength Training/Circuit = Burn 60 [Brentwood]
This workout is my favorite! You alternate between circuit training on the floor and then running/sprinting on the treadmill. I feel like I get a really good workout in every time I go to Burn 60. If you park in the giant lot across the street, you get free parking. I wish they had showers, but that is my only complaint about the studio.

If you aren't a classpass member and want $20 off your first month, try this link :) --> http://class.ps/dr1cB

Surf City, Baby!

I signed up for my very first half marathon last week! I'm running the Surf City Half on February 1st, 2015 in Huntington Beach, CA. Running a half marathon is something that has been on my bucket list for a long time, but I was always too scared to sign up. I finally bit the bullet (and paid too much money) last weekend. I'm a little nervous...

I have been a swimmer my whole life, so I've always had the mindset that I am better in the water than on land. I also despised running for my first 18 years of life. However, once I moved away to college and found that a) the pool was super far away from my sorority house where I was living and b) it was cold, especially in the winter/rainy months in Seattle, to swim and then walk back to my sorority soaking wet, I started running for exercise.

Since then, I'm a pretty consistent weekly runner, but my mileage never goes over 5 miles. I usually stay in the 3-4 mile range, one to three times a week. Obviously running 13.1 miles terrifies me.

I come from a family of runners, so it should be in my blood, right? Probably wrong, but I'm going to to keep telling myself that. My little brother was an awesome cross-country runner in high school. My mom is a Ironman Triathlete and has done her fair share of marathons (even qualifying for the Boston marathon DURING an Ironman... so after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112). Thus, I decided to suck it up and stop freaking out.

I will keep my blog updated on my training efforts and schedules (my mom is helping me put together a training schedule that is very gradual) but right now, I decided to post about how I choose the Huntington Beach 1/2 Marathon, as opposed to any of the other million marathons Los Angeles has to offer.

Why did I choose the Huntington Beach 1/2 Marathon? 

1) It's in February, which gives me approximately 5 months to prepare. Most training schedules start at 12 weeks before, so I'm totally giving myself extra time which makes me feel a lot better!

2) It's in February, thus the weather down here in Southern California (hopefully) won't be too hot! And it gives me perfect weather to train during (except this week, when temps are supposed to be 99 until Tuesday and when I go back to Seattle for Christmas...that's going to be cold and wet).

3) It's in Huntington Beach, which means the course is flat! And next to the water, so the views will  give me some extra motivation.

4) It's only an hour away from my apartment, so I won't have to splurge on a hotel the night before (I am a poor law student, remember)

5) The medals they give to finishers are apparently very coveted, so at least I am getting something cool for my $100 entry fee

6) There is a beer garden at the end. Self-explanatory, right?