yogaworks

i never wash my car. i know i should want to do it, but for some reason, i hate it. until, of course, i'm driving around in a clean car. as soon as i get in and look through the spotless windshield and see the freshly vacuumed carpet underneath my feet, i think "why don't i do this more often?" and then i think "i'm turning over a new leaf. i'm going to wash my car once a week!" two months go by and i am once again rolling around in my dirt-caked bmw with water bottles and cookie crumbs rolling around at my feet. i am the same way about yoga. as soon as i bow my head, say "namaste," and walk out of the warm room, i think "why don't i do this more often?" but then a few days go by and the thought of committing to an hour and a half class sounds like the worst thing in the world....so i wait another couple of months. that was true until i found yogaworks.

yogaworks has gotten me hooked. for the past two months i've been to yoga at least two to three times a week and i've noticed that my flexibility and my strength have increased significantly. i've also noticed a difference in my running. the tight hamstrings and hips that used to ache after long runs now feel more at ease. every class is completely different and each teacher has his/her own style so you never get bored and you're always being challenged.

yogaworks has studios all over, but my favorite is the one on main street in santa monica. it's a block away from urth cafe and across the street from the sunday farmer's market so it's easy to fit a class into your packed agenda.

if you're still not sold, you don't have to commit quite yet. yogaworks offers a two week trial pass for $30 (usually classes are $22 each) and you can attend as many classes as you want during that two week period. if you don't have a mat, you can rent one for $2 and parking is a cinch: there is metered parking right outside on main street and additional parking around the corner on strand.

give it a try. if you're anything like me, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

yoga co with alex

third street promenade is definitely not my idea of relaxation.  with all the tourists and street performers, i often find myself ducking into stores not because i want to browse for a new pair of shoes, but simply because i need to get away from the endless commotion.  that's why when i saw yoga co right next to anthropologie on the promenade a few weeks ago, i was immediately skeptical.  how could it possibly be the calming safe haven it claimed to be when it is in the middle of all of this chaos!? well, although i am the worst offender of this rule of thumb, never judge a book by its cover.  i went to a class at yoga co the very same day that i discovered it and boy was i wrong.  not only is the studio immaculate, but it is also very cozy and relaxing (you can't hear a peep from the promenade). yoga co survives off of donations alone ($14 recommended per class) and they charge $2 for mat rentals (so bring your own mat if you have one!)

[earth room]

they have three rooms in the studio - the water room, the earth room and the sky room.  i've only been in the earth room and i loved it.  they have tons of "all levels" classes and also some beginner and advanced classes.  they are located on the third floor at 1408 3rd street promenade and you can park in the parking structure on santa monica and 2nd street. here is a link to their schedule.