CorePower Offers 'Yoga for the Masses'

“Build your practice from within.” That’s the best piece of advice I’ve received in the 10 years I’ve been practicing yoga. It’s a mantra, of sorts, at CorePower Yoga in Park Ridge.

“We want to create an environment where you’re comfortable enough to get what you want out of yoga,” says Vy Brooks, studio manager. “We really want it to be accessible to all levels, to meet individual needs - yoga for the masses.”

The new studio, part of a national and growing chain, offers various levels and types of yoga - including classes in relaxation, muscle development (“sculpting” in female-friendly parlance), and a yoga-Pilates combo. It even offers an evening class conducted by candlelight.

Corepower features the popular “hot yoga” style, in which classes are heated to increase muscle and joint flexibility (according to its advocates). However, not all classes are truly “hot” – studio heat can be as low as 80 degrees. And, for people who want to get in shape the old-fashioned way, CorePower also offers a basic fitness “boot camp” (starting in May).

All CorePowers instructors have achieved at least a 200-hour level of certification through the Yoga Alliance, a nationally recognized organization. The studio itself offers yoga teacher training – currently for “sculpt” yoga, and for hot yoga as well, starting in June.

CorePower is open daily, but call or check out the online class schedule before you show up. Doors are only open 30 minutes before and after each class, for reasons of privacy and security. Generally, morning and evening classes are offered daily, with special “early bird” and lunchtime classes added on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The two yoga rooms are large, comfortable (if warm), with lots of natural light and, of course, yoga-friendly floors. The locker room includes the basics – lockers (BYO lock), showers, and basic toiletries. Mat rentals and water bottles can be had at a reasonable rate.

And, if the yoga doesn’t do it for you, you can get in some retail therapy. The lobby doubles as an inviting little shop, selling an array of yoga books, paraphernalia such as skidless towels and mat refresher spray and botanical toiletries. You can upgrade your fitness wardrobe by succumbing to pricey-but-gorgeous yoga wear by Lululemon – the hot brand of the moment.

CorePower also tries to make yoga accessible to your pocketbook. Its most compelling offer is a free week of unlimited yoga to all new students – no strings attached.

“We really want people to try it, but you don’t feel the full benefits after just one class,” says Brooks. “This gives people a no-cost way to do that.”

In a fitness craze that commands as much as $25 a class, CorePower offers unlimited yoga for $135 month – after the first month’s incentive rate of $79. Membership is good at any CorePower studio (great for us travelers!) and all that’s required is a two-month commitment. After that, you can stop your membership at any time, for any reason.

You may not want to, though. “Most people do sign up,” Brooks says. “If they keep to it for one week, then they really get it.”