Equinox Class Review: Vinyasa Yoga (& A Note on Good Instructors)

This post is part of my 2017 New Year’s Resolution to try every group fitness class offered at my gym, The Equinox in Chestnut Hill.

Good instructors

The more classes I take the more I appreciate high-quality instructors. I’ve only taken 9 unique classes as part of this project but I’ve also taken repeat classes with different instructors, done indoor cycling at SoulCycle and CycleBar, taken Barre Classes and B-Tone and… well… I’ve taken classes from over two dozen group fitness instructors in the past few years.

Most instructors are fabulous. After all, these are people who want to motivate others for a living! They’re a good group.

But some are exceptional. Be on the lookout for these qualities, and take classes from different people. You’ll learn different things and you may find someone truly amazing.

My favorite instructors:

• Give detailed instructions and form corrections for the class
• Occasionally explain the reason behind exercises or drop some fitness knowledge you can take home with you
• Are highly qualified in the field they’re teaching
• Ask if there are injuries and provide modifications for beginners
• Seek out new participants and keep an extra eye on them to offer corrections (don’t be embarrassed, it reduces your risk of injury and helps you get more out of class!)
• Mix up their workouts or music and keep things fresh
• Motivate / have good playlists / are friendly and approachable before or after class if you have a quick question

 

It sounds like a lot to ask, and it is, but there are great people out there nailing it. Find them and support their classes!

Now, onto my most recent class… which just so happens to have been with an exceptional instructor. 🙂

 

Vinyasa Yoga with Cheryl Bentsen

Class length: 1 hour

Description from the Equinox: A vigorous, more athletic approach to yoga characterized by flowing poses and sequences that are linked to the breath. Sequencing will vary with instructor philosophy.

What Class Was Like

Some flowing yoga and also some holding of balances or positions. Cheryl explained that the “flow” of vinyasa actually refers to the breath which should always be flowing in and out during yoga.  Even when you are holding a pose, it is still vinyasa because of the flow of the breath. There was a lot of flow from one position to the next also, but there was slightly more holding and balancing integrated than in Iain Lemiuex’s class (also fantastic) which I took before I started writing these reviews.

I love Cheryl’s classes because she gives great detailed instructions for each pose and in her classes I always learn something new about correct form or the intent behind an exercise.

She began class with some wrist exercises designed to increase mobility prior to all those Downward-Facing Dogs. We tested the mobility of our wrists by rotating them and observing which one was less mobile, and then after an exercise where we held onto our forearm tightly with one hand while rotating the wrist we tested again and many in the class had increased mobility. This loosened up something… which I can’t remember the name of. But more importantly, her class is filled with thoughtful and purposeful instruction like this.

Who would love it?

Anyone who likes yoga! Absolute beginners might prefer a more restorative yoga class or a private introduction since it can be hard to flow through poses without knowledge of those poses, even with Cheryl’s detailed guidance. Challenging class, but in a good way.

Know before you go

Yoga mats are provided. Don’t wear shoes into the yoga studio, leave them outside in the cubbies. Equinox cleans mats after use, look for a pile to add them to on the floor on your way out (don’t roll and return them). Water bottles welcome, but not a lot of time to drink between poses.