CorePower Yoga

Let’s start off with you know that my jam is Your Yoga, always and 4ver heart Your Yoga.
With that being said I went to the Uptown CorePower Yoga with a few friends this past Wednesday at 7 pm to see what it had to offer. I had been to a CPY in Chicago a couple of years ago but this time was a completely different experience because, wait for it… we went to Sculpt — Heated Power Yoga with Weights. Words that came to mind after class:
— moist
— bathing in the sweat of my neighbor
— squats
— prune like
— packed in like sardines
— endurance exercise
If this particular class is your thing, power to you. The class felt like a boot camp and kicked my butt. I have only gotten progressively sore over the following few days.
On to the facilities… any yoga studio ends up being a small mecca for good looking people and there’s a lot of young good looking people in Uptown that want to stay in shape, hence the crazy crowded class and dangerously close proximity to my neighbor. At times I felt like I was going to get clocked in the face by my friend and his dumb bell. The added features of CPY include a locker room, this one seemed very small for the amount of traffic. I’m not a fan of showering at other places than my home but I understand the need for some however I don’t feel I should pay for amenities I don’t care for. The parking, none existent.
At $ 20 plus tax for a drop in I’m not sure I’ll be back soon but I’m open to the change of pace every once in a while.

I frequented a few CPY locations aroung Minneapolis but I likeed this location because it’s close to home and they have free parking across the street in the Planned Parenthood lot during non business hours.
They have two studios which rotate through their schedule of classes. Studio 2 can feel too small during «rush hour» after work M-​F. I would sign up for classes ahead of time to ensure you reserve a spot.
All their classes are heated which is a great workout during the winter months. C2 and Sculpt were my favorites, but I’ve found that the class intensity varies by teacher between locations.
Overall, a great yoga studio option for the variety of classes and scheudle throughout the week.

There are definitely things I don’t like about this studio, but the good outweighs the bad by far. Most importantly, these are some of the best workouts I’ve had from any class (I’ve done barre, HIIT, pilates, crossfit, etc). The sculpt workouts are great for a high energy, high volume class. I prefer the C2 classes, which after a few months of working on them are now the one thing I look forward to every day. They have amazing instructors, Nora and Aldrin are two of my favorites (intense classes with great flow). They are great workouts while calming my mind at the same time.
The bad? Its on the expensive side at over $ 130 per month. I don’t believe there is parking, but I walk, so its ok. The locker room is tiny and its hard to move around. The studios can get kind of smelly, which makes things much less relaxing. The classes can get crowded. So crowded during Groupons that I can’t get into some classes, which stinks because I’m paying a lot! The heater was out a lot this winter! And it was supposed to be fixed after they closed for a few days, but then didn’t work after that, too. And lastly, they were just closed for (3?) weeks and I wasted my membership money by not going as much, and wasted gas money driving to other locations.

After years and years of competitive running, rowing, and playing soccer (not to mention the eons I spent waitressing), my body began to slowly break down. I’d have so much pain in my back & knees every morning that it would take me at least 14 minutes to get up and I only recently hit my mid 30’s. After a doctor basically told me that if I kept up my current exercise régime (running running running and more running), I’d be looking at knee surgery within the (very) near future. Total bummer.
I decided to give corepower in uptown a try about a year and a half ago. It seems that everyone is on the yoga kick these days: friends, celebrities, your grandma, etc. I resisted going for so long because 1. I’m incredibly impatient and didn’t feel like spending an hour «om-​ing» with total strangers and 2. I didn’t think I could get a good kick ass type workout like I used to running.
WRONG on both counts.
I did the first week free and attended some C2 classes. I would recommended going to one of their intro classes first to get an idea of what poses are common in a C2 class and to become more comfortable in a heated room.
Yes, it’s hot. Like really really really hot. At first I didn’t think I could make it through an entire class but the instructors I had made it very clear that it was ok to chill out for a minute or two and drink a little water if you need to, no judgement. Now I not only find the heat to be detoxifying, but it also helps stretch and warm up all my tight muscles, especially in my back and hips.
This isn’t your grandma’s silver sneakers yoga, this is kick your ass yoga and I LOVE IT.
The instructors are friendly and approachable. There are always modification options given during some of the more difficult asanas. I feel at ease in the studio and totally have that «yoga glow/​high» after each class.
For you cardio and weight room junkies, there’s yoga sculpt which combines cardio, yoga poses, and free hand weights. This is a fantastic full body workout and my new favorite.
I know a lot of people complain about the packed classes, but I find them inspiring. Yeah, you need to watch that you don’t kick your neighbor in the face, but everyone is pretty good about staggering themselves on their mats so this doesn’t happen. Yep, it’s sweaty and stinky, but what do you expect when you cram 50 people in a room heated to 105? Deal with it or go back to your elliptical machine.
The changing rooms and showers are pretty small but that doesn’t affect me as I go straight home to shower after a class.
All in all I highly recommend this studio. This adrenaline junkie is a true convert.

For over a year, I went to CorePower in Uptown. The facilities are great, the staff are generally friendly, and I’ve gotten some great workouts there. I personally enjoyed the C2 and sculpt classes.
Despite some great perks about CorePower, I found the overcrowded classes extremely frustrating. Although I wanted to workout during peak hours –which were the only times I could go– classes were so overcrowded that I got turned away over half the time. I would think that over a course of a year taking these classes that CorePower would find a way to remedy this problem.
Not in time for me I guess.

I could never get comfortable with this overcrowded, sardine-​packed class where I was more focused on the butts, crotches & pits looming inches from my face. Weeknight & weekend morning classes… so crowded, so unpleasant. Yoga mats 3″ apart on all sides. Couldn’t even fully extended my arms & legs out (as most poses required) without smacking another person.

When I heard they now had spinning classes with Ryder bikes (that works the core), I had to get to this Uptown Corepower location, cause it’s closer to where I live than the. St Paul Highland Park studio the only other corepower studio at this time that’s offering spinning classes. I was disappointed, however. The ryder room is really small. It feels really cramped and stuffy, and once I start spinning I feel really claustophobic. You see, the spinning classes with the ryder bikes requires more room to be comfortable/​bearable since the bike moves side to side vs regular spinning bikes which are stationary. Well, that is my experience anyway. Well after 2 – 3 times, thinking maybe it was just me… I just couldn’t stand it. As for the yoga classes, I didn’t really care for a couple of the instructors here much (I won’t mention names since this review is not positive). It’s not all bad classes. I can think of a couple of instructors here that are awesome, however, I also know they teach at other Corepower locations… so I don’t think I will be returning to this one.

I tried the free week of classes and had a decent experience at the Downtown and SLP locations, but Uptown was terrible. I went a couple of weeks ago, actually reached out to them with the exceprts from the below review and never heard back.
Class Review
I believe the instructor’s name was Katie, though she didn’t introduce herself. I was in my trial week and work out very frequently. I visited Downtown, SLP and Uptown during my free week and this experience was the worse. I was greeted at the desk with a rude attitude and insistence that I owe money. When I said that it was my free week, she told me not to freak out. Ok… sort of a weird way to greet a new member.
Class itself was uninspiring — nothing special or unique. She seemed to be offended if you modified the move (I have an injury) instead of asking and acknowledging so that she could help the student adapt.
When I left 5 mins early, she told me that I needed to leave earlier in the future. I totally understand that, but since I am new, it would have been great if she had mentioned that in the beginning instead of coming in late to class. Also, since I cannot see the clock, I wasn’t exactly sure that we were at the end until she had everyone do corpse pose. A clock would have helped me leave in a more timely manner.
That being said, it’s unlikely that I will pay $ 19 per class after this experience. Other facilities have great instructors who are not rude to the clientele and bring positivity to the class.
Thanks for listening! I hope that this is an anomaly, but wanted to make sure I let you know.

I hate to give a sub-​par to a place I truly love with the experience of one instructor… no names — but I came in for a C2 on Friday morning at 6am (you can figure it out). With any 6am class — you expect a few people to scoot once 7am hits in the need to get prepped for work. After final chavasina (SP?) I was prob the third person to quietly roll up my mat and leave. * I get it — not super «zen» to interupt the final posture — but I feel like @ Core Power in those early classes its the norm — especailly when it’s 7:05…
As I walk out the instructor is guarding the door — quietly smile and whisper — «sorry to scoot out — aweomse class, thanks so much…» when she gives me the stink eye and responds in probably the meanest tone I can imagine at 7am «I advise you not to leave during the final chavasina in the future» followed by another glare. No thanks I won’t be back… I’ll be visiting some other instructors @ sigh yoga… thank you for starting my morning poorly.
Or St Louis Park Core Power where I feel great when I leave and instructors understand busy schedules (or give a warning for the time conscious)

This is now my late evening or weekend yoga studio. I’m a bit bummed out that they got rid of their 2^nd yoga room and replaced it with spin bikes, simply because there are now less yoga classes, and the general tone of the studio is less «yoga-​esque» and more «spinner-​esque».
I have yet to try the spin class, but will do so at some point — apparently the bikes they have tilt from side to side, which makes them, according to some «nausous-​esque».
Don’t forget you can park for free at planned parenthood (after they’ve closed).

I like this location because they do have parking over in the planned parenthood lot across the street which is nice. I also did not use the locker room and instead sat in a pool of my own sweat for the ride home. They were clean enough, I just don’t care for public locker rooms. I liked the class, it was crowded but there was enough room to move.
You do need a towel for sure though, when they say heated that means you sweat more! I’m sure it feels amazing in wintertime though! Maybe not the sitting in a pool of your sweat part though cos it will freeze when you get outside… guess I better get over my locker room phobia before winter!

If you are looking for the deep connection of yoga philosophy and practice, this is not the place to go. If you are looking to relax your mind with a slow flow or restorative yoga, this is not the place either.
BUT if you are looking for a great workout, attached to yoga thoughts intersected with modern life, this is the place to go.
Being a yogini for 10 years, I was a snob when I came to this studio, as the only yoga class I could attend that will fit my agenda. I was in for a treat! The instructors, though very knowledgeable of all aspects of yoga, give you a light class, do not push their beliefs and are committed to give you a good safe workout, and the sequences, definitely challenging, will develop your body and really help you get over your injuries, hot yoga is great for that!

Corepower in Uptown is similar to the other branches of Corepower.
In my review of the downtown location, I noted that it’s important to find instructors that give you the yoga experience you want. It’s a corporate studio, so while there is some cohesiveness to all of the teachers, each one has their own way of doing things.
If your schedule permits, the daytime classes are great in Uptown because they aren’t crowded. Most of the classes are pretty solid, but he evening classes are sometimes so packed you’re high-​fiving the people next to you during swan dives.
The women’s locker room is well-​stocked (disposable razors, hair dryers, brushes, etc.), but very small in comparison to the downtown location. In lieu of showering there, I usually just leave a trail of perspiration en route to my apartment and deal with myself there.
Tips: towels are a must if you don’t want to fall to your sweaty, slippery death; the sticky Yogitoes towels are a good investment if you practice hot yoga regularly (I got mine on Amazon for ½ price)