Fit and Bendy

Intro to Contortion was a brand new class at a brand new studio recommended to me via ClassPass.
Note: Pretty easy to find if you use Waze/​GPS and it tells you «ARRIVED” – but it’s a dark street and there’s no big, bright sign to identify the studio front, so I’d doubt my sense of direction on it’s own.
When I walked in I did not immediately realize the class was already happening in the adjacent room… but that’s where it is! So it shares the space with Pilates and Arts studio.
I was about 3 minutes late so I missed part of the warmup, but slid in on the end of a row of about 5 other girls. I brought my own yoga mat (they have some as well), so the instructor was kind enough to bring me two blocks and a strap.
The class was a combo of intense stretching (think… dancing or gymnastic stretching and less yin yoga) and slight (but intense) strengthening exercises for butt, shoulders, hamstrings, lower belly, hips… even the muscles above our kneecaps! The focus was on using your muscles to get into the deeper stretches, not just gravity. The instructor was strict about alignment, made small adjustments and called out helpful cues frequently.
I think it’s a good add-​on to my yoga practice! Booked myself for another class next week.
I found (free, non-​permit, non-​metered) street parking without a problem.