Teacher Training
I was super excited to finally check out the CoreRestore class at CorePower Yoga tonight. It’s only offered at the Greenwood studio on Friday nights at 7:30. Up until now, I haven’t been able to fit it into my schedule. I brought my husband with me to class. In fact, we did a double dose of CorePower Yoga tonight. We took the Hot Power Fusion class with Jessica H at 5:30 and then stayed for CoreRestore at 7:30.
CoreRestore is CorePower’s take on Yin Yoga. It’s a 75-minute, beginner-friendly class that focuses on slow, exaggerated stretching and breathing while holding various postures anywhere from two to five minutes at a time. After doing an hour of Hot Power Fusion, my husband and I left our mats set up in the far back corner of the studio and prepared to unwind in CoreRestore. I figured this would be the perfect class to end a double dose of yoga with for the evening, especially because I love taking Yin Yoga classes right before bedtime. Apparently we weren’t the only ones who wanted to end the workweek with a little CoreRestore. It was a packed house in class tonight!
As we walked back into the studio before class started, we were instructed to grab three blocks. They would be used as props during class. I noticed piano/instrumental music playing softly in the background and battery powered candles set up all along the perimeters of the room. I could feel a change of temperature in the room from the Hot Power Fusion class before. The room was completely unheated. I was still a bit sweaty from the HPF class we had taken earlier. Even my mat was still wet. Without the heat in the room, I got a bit chilly. For the next CoreRestore class, I’ll make a point to shower in-between classes, change out my mat and bring a change of clothes.
Once class began, I waited to hear the instructor give people the chance to opt-out of hands-on assists. I guess in CoreRestore, there aren’t any hands-on assists. I’m not sure why. I’ll have to ask why in my next yoga teacher training group session because I’m curious.
Towards the beginning of class, I heard an incredibly familiar song. I recognized the song, but it was driving me crazy that I couldn’t guess which song it actually was. Finally towards the end of the posture we were holding, it dawned on me. It was the piano version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity, one of my all-time favorite David Bowie songs! I made a mental note to add the song to the playlist I was building for future yoga classes I’d teach.
During most of the hip opening postures, we used the three blocks to build mini forts and used them to place our forehead on. There was a lot of emphasis on opening up the hips in class tonight. I feel like I don’t get to stretch out this part of my body nearly as much as I’d like to so they felt really good to hold myself into for a while.
I didn’t recognize any of the posture names announced in class except for Savasana. The cues for each of the postures in class were easy enough to follow along to. The instructor spoke very slowly throughout class. The speed of her voice matched the mood and pace of the class – slow and relaxing. It must be a Yin Yoga style thing.
At about the half point in class, a group of homeless people gathered right outside of the studio window, right next to where my husband and I were set up for class. Even though their gathering was distracting, the instructor did a nice job of redirecting everyone’s focus back onto the postures in class. Two to three postures later, the homeless people had moved on and our class was completely relaxing again.
Distractions aside, I still left class feeling incredibly relaxed. Next time, I’ll set up farther away from the window. That way I can be sure class for me is distraction-free from homeless people and the bright lights outside in the parking lot.
Class #21, CoreRestore: Restorative Yoga (75 Minutes) with Jessica H at CorePower Yoga Greenwood (Other CPY Class-5)