If your bridge pose is getting you nowhere and your bow is totally boring, it may be time to freshen up your yoga practice. Several Dallas-area studios and instructors have dreamed up some truly creative classes that will have you saying "om" with renewed purpose.
Aerial Yoga
Move with grace and style as you practice yoga supported by colorful aerial hammocks at Moving Canvas Dance Space in Arlington. This 60-minute class takes traditional yoga exercises, such as the warrior sequence, and uses the hammocks to enhance the exercises by allowing the body to be supported so stretches can be deeper, and oxygen and blood can flow more freely throughout the body.
There's a beginner class, as well as one for more advanced students, and benefits include increased flexibility, improved upper body strength and a stronger core. Moving Canvas owner and instructor Gypsy Ingram says aerial yoga can improve memory and have emotional benefit as well.
Les Mills Bodyflow
This yoga-based class combines simple yoga moves with elements of tai chi and Pilates to an inspired soundtrack for 30-, 45- or 55-minute workouts. You’ll improve flexibility and increase core strength while reducing stress while you move and stretch like a bendy straw. Bodyflow is taught at two Dallas Gold’s Gym locations: Preston Center at 8335 Westchester Dr. and Uptown at 2425 McKinney Ave.
Yoga Sculpt
A total body workout, yoga sculpt is a one-hour class with plyometrics ("jump training"), cardio, yoga and weight lifting at CorePower Yoga. The intense class can be modified for all fitness levels, but be prepared for squats, lunges, and bicep and tricep curls set to energizing music. The class is available at the Henderson, Mockingbird and Preston-Forest locations.
Flexin' Flow
Also known as "grit yoga," this is the signature power yoga class of Dallas fitness guru Brit Rettig. The 55-minute class combines vinyasa power yoga sequences, core stability exercises, leg toning circuits and intensity intervals with upbeat music.
Through the end of August, there's a free Flexin' Flow class at the W hotel in Victory Park every Saturday morning at 9 am, and it's regularly taught at the Dallas Grit Fitness studio at 3821 Ross Ave.
Yoga Spa Splash
This class begins poolside Wednesdays at 7 pm at The J (Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas) with 30 minutes of flow yoga accompanied by the sounds of “singing” crystal bowls. The peaceful intro is followed by 30 minutes of heart pumping, aqua-Pilates cardio in the pool. Non-members of The J can try a class for free through August 12 (no class on August 5) at 7900 Northaven Rd.
Wood Series
Develop strength and flexibility with a fusion of yoga, Pilates and resistance stretching with Sunstone Yoga’s Wood Series. Set in a 90-degree studio with 60 percent humidity, the one-hour class is designed to strengthen and balance weak areas in the body, deepening your active range of motion. You'll sweat like never before and find yourself bending into new poses with ease. The class is taught at multiple Sunstone locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.
Yoga gets graceful when it's done while hangng with colorful aerial hammocks.
