I have been a very active athlete for most of my life, but it was only since I started college that I started taking yoga more seriously. I have now maintained a consistent practice for almost a year! One of the fun things about yoga is that each class, each instructor, and each yoga studio are all a little different. You never quite know exactly what your practice will have in store for you that day.
A few weeks ago, while ordering yoga clothes online from Alo Yoga, I stumbled upon a section of their website for yoga studios. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Alo Yoga has their own fully-equipped yoga studios in their Beverly Hills, Grove, and SoHo locations, and they host meditation at their Santa Monica store. Although I am a consistent yogi at two particular yoga studios, I thought it might be fun to check out a class at the Alo Yoga studio.
Living in Westwood, I decided that I would attend a class at the Beverly Hills location, for it is the closest location from where I live. Only two blocks from Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hills store is located in one of the most iconic areas of Los Angeles.
After parking around the corner, I made my way into the store and was directed up the stairs in the back toward the yoga studio. Located on the roof of the Alo Yoga store, lies a little yoga sanctuary. The small studio’s white walls feature large windows to let in natural light with a patio just past the instructor’s mat. It’s an absolutely gorgeous space in the middle of a bustling city. One thing that I was surprised to learn was that your first class at Alo Yoga is free! All you have to do is give them your name and email address, and you are good to go. Having done that, I laid out my mat and prepped myself for class. It is also worth noting that Alo Yoga provides you with a mat and a towel for free, however I’m so attached to the feel of my own mat that I chose to use my own.
I decided to attend an all-levels class instead of a specialized one for beginners or advanced yogis so that I could truly get the feel of the studio. However, I was not expecting the class to be so small because there were only four people there for class! I had never been to a yoga class so small before, and I was honestly a little nervous. I typically take large classes where I can be in the back in case I’m having an off day or my wrist hurts, so there isn’t the pressure of staying on my A-game. However, once we began our practice, I did not feel that same kind of pressure anymore, for the instructor and everyone in attendance were genuinely kind and welcoming.
Although this was one of the easier yoga classes I’ve taken recently, it was a nice mental reset after a hectic week of moving and starting classes. This was my first week back in Los Angeles for the first time in two months, and the energy within the room was a nice pick-me-up to conclude the week and get myself ready for the weekend. I would definitely suggest that anyone interested in trying out a class at Alo Yoga give it a shot! I had a wonderful morning there, and can thank them for helping me set up for the week to come.
xx
Emily
