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

Hello blogging world :)

Good Morning! I'm Alex...

I am so new to this. I don't even know where to begin. So I guess I'll start with a little bit about myself... 

Age: 23

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

Born and Raised: Edmonds, WA [about 20 minutes away from Seattle]

Occupation: Current 2nd year law student, hoping to become some sort of litigator one day. 

How I spend my free time: exploring los angeles, going on runs, swimming, reading, watching way too much crappy reality television, trying new places to eat, attempting to cook, taking pictures, trying to plan new adventures in other parts of the world that I don't have time/money to go to. 

Law School: UCLA School of Law

College: University of Washington 

Major: Political Science & International Studies

Football Team: Seattle Seahawks!!!!! 

Current Goals: To finish 2L year stronger than last, to run a 1/2 marathon without stopping on February 1st, to find a job, to read more in my free time, and to create this blog!

Recently, my morning ritual has changed from watching TV while I get ready for my day to drinking coffee and reading blogs. I decided that it was time to start my own! I have no idea what I am doing, how to make this blog look prettier without spending money, or how to even see if people read/care about what I write. But if anything, I will be able to look back and get a glimpse of what my life was like at age 23. 

I choose the name "searching for sunshine" because that is one of the reasons I moved to California. However, I've realized that I actually miss the rain and that sunshine just means being happy. I hope to write about my experiences in law school and college, how to stay sane when you are surrounded by stress and craziness, how I attempt to stay healthy, how I am going to train for my first 1/2 marathon, what life is like in los angeles (or what it's like moving to any big city where you don't know many people), why I am obsessed with Seattle, how I stay happy, and everything in between. 

I can't wait to get started & thanks for following along :)