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. See the full list of reviews here.
Today’s Class: Power Yoga with Adena Muncey
Class length: 1 hour
Description from the Equinox: Our most athletic Vinyasa practice. A vigorous, dynamic, physically and spiritually energizing form of Yoga that sculpts, hones and tones every muscle in the body. Includes various elements of many different Yoga styles.
What Class Was Like
This is the first Equinox class I’ve taken that wasn’t “all levels welcome”. It’s listed as “intermediate”. Given that the very intense cardio class “Firestarter” and the weight heavy “Pure Strength” welcome all levels I was apprehensive about walking into anything intermediate.
But I’ve at least taken enough yoga to think of myself as a comfortable beginner, so I sneaked into the back of the class and did my best to follow along without being distracting. I would not recommend trying an intermediate yoga class without feeling quite comfortable in a beginner or “all levels” class first. It was challenging physically and familiarity with common yoga sequences and poses was essential.
Seeing Adena power herself up into a handstand with no support was pretty insane and inspiring. You can see some impressive yoga pose photos on Adena’s instagram.
Sample Exercises
Familiar yoga sequences like sun salutations and poses like warrior 1 and 2, downward dog, triangle moved more quickly than they might in a beginner class and with a little less explanation. More description was given for less familiar sequences, such as leg work from a plank position. There was a headstand in the class, though not everyone achieved the headstand and it was against a wall. There was also a crow pose and working on transitioning from crow pose gracefully back and up into warrior 1.
Who would love it?
Anyone who is really comfortable with beginner yoga and looking to expand their practice. If you’re very familiar with common yoga sequences and poses, it can be refreshing not to listen to an in-depth explanation of each step as you go, and know that the deeper more detailed commentary will come for the more advanced poses or sequences. Class was packed with people who knew what they were doing. Lots of heels down in that downward dog position.
Would I go back?
I don’t think I am ready for this class. I managed to complete the class without feeling like I was distracting anyone around me with modifications or failure, but it was hard, and there were times when I knew I might be better off doing well at a simpler sequence as opposed to barely hanging in there with questionable technique.
But I love that this class exists, I think it’s amazing that people have this opportunity to expand their practice with a more challenging class.
Know before you go
- Leave shoes outside the studio in available cubbies and take class barefoot (recommended) or in socks (could be slippery).
- If your mat is slippery, make sure the logo is facing up. There’s a right and wrong side.
- If you use one of the gym mats, don’t roll it and put it back. They clean them after every class, so pile them in the center of the floor.
- Take two blocks and use them to modify if you need them!