DAY 18 OF FITNESS – Vinyasa Power Flow at Giving Tree Yoga

Woman taking a toga class together in mid-pose.

Wyndi Kappes

By Alex McCray

(L to R) Caroline Simpson, owner Melissa Lopez, Alex McCray

Name of fitness facility

Giving Tree Yoga

Name and length of class

Vinyasa Power Flow – 1 hour

Name of instructor

Courtney Kern

What do attendees need to know before class starts?

Be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes early so that you can put your shoes, keys and other personal items away in a cubby. If you don’t have your own yoga mat, the studio has mats you can borrow.

How would you describe this workout? How does it compare to similar classes you’ve taken?

I’ve taken other power yoga classes before but sometimes they can be way too intense and too challenging. I thought this workout was a great introduction to power yoga and was very friendly to beginners. The class combined strength and stretching wonderfully. I would say people of any fitness level could handle this class.

To learn more about the classes watch our Facebook Live below with owner Melissa Lopez.

Click here to watch our Facebook Live with studio owner Melissa Lopez.

What muscle groups did this class work the most? Was it a great workout for your abs, butt, arms, etc.?

This was definitely a killer for the core and upper body! We did lots of moves that targeted our abs while we were in downward dog. We also did variations of planks, which engaged my entire upper body (hello, bicep burn and shaky abs).

Did the instructor do anything to make the class extra special?

I loved Courtney! She made the atmosphere of the class super fun! Her style of teaching is so relaxed and playful. She cracked jokes during challenging moves that helped take your mind off the struggle of holding the pose or moving through a flow. I also really loved that her approach emphasized safety.

What was the most enjoyable part of the workout?

My favorite part of the workout was pushing myself during the more intense core portions and testing my strength. Courtney made it really fun and encouraged us to just try, even if we thought we couldn’t do it.

Class members bring their palms to heart's center. — Class members bring their palms to heart’s center.

Any other feedback you’d like to give about the Vinyasa Power Flow workout?

The staff and members at this studio are super warm and welcoming! They offer so many different types of classes from gentle yoga to this more strength-focused one so everyone can find something here.

Details: 1295 W. Spring St. SE., #120, Smyrna; YogaStudioSmyrna.com