Yin to Restore w/ Hot Stones at Glow Yoga & Wellness, SF

If you’ve had a stressful week and are looking for the perfect mix of relaxation, a good stretch and a mini spa treatment, this is a perfect class. You’ll leave feeling warm, relaxed and ready for the weekend and week ahead.

CLASS: Yin to Restore w/Hot Stones at Glow Yoga & Wellness

TRAINER: Cianne Le Chat

SWEAT: 1/10. Since this is a restorative yoga class, there’s no sweating. This class is focused on breath and holding poses.

LEVEL: Beginners to experienced yogis will all enjoy this class.

APPROX CALORIES BURNED: n/a

TOP 3 TAKEAWAYS:

Extreme Relaxation — As one would assume, restorative yoga focuses on relaxation, flexibility and healing the body and mind. With a focus on a few poses explored deeply over 3-5 minutes, you will really have time to focus the mind and spend some much-needed “me” time with yourself.
Better in theory — The hot stones are a cool idea, and at some points do include an added layer of relaxation. But they can also take away from the practice. Between the time and noise spent for the instructor to gather the stones and place them on people during poses, stones falling off of people and rolling around the room (yes, this happened to us), it’s easy to takaway from the zen.
High-Level Yoga. It’s obvious that Glow is focused on yoga, which is always nice to see and experience a studio that has a strong focus on one area of fitness. Although they also offer kettlebell and barre classes, and plan to expand on this in 2019, it’s still a yoga studio at heart. This means expect to receive high-quality yoga instruction with high-quality equipment/props.

MUSIC: There was relaxing, Indian-style, slow music typical of a restorative yoga class.

BRING: Bring a mat, otherwise you can rent one for $2.

CLASSPASS: Yes

THE WORKOUT DETAILS

Classes begin on time and the Yin to Restore class begins seated in a comfortable position and a quick run-through of the practice from the instructor. She will also provide some Yoda-like wisdom on topics like stress management, resolutions, goal settings. After a group Om chant, the class did a short breathing exercise followed by the first pose. Ours started in a child’s pose.

Each pose was held for about 3-5 minutes — enough time for you to really sink into the pose and connect with your breath, but that also means there’s not as many poses as a traditional flow. Throughout the class, you’ll find yourself using a variety of props such as blankets, blocks, straps and bolsters, depending on your practice. They’re especially helpful because you’re holding the poses for so long. Intermittently throughout class, Cianne walked around placing hot stones on our low back, chest and/or hands, depending on the pose. Throughout the class, you’ll find yourself using a variety of props such as blankets, blocks, straps and bolsters, depending on your practice.

The class ends as most yoga classes do with a long shavasana, some gratitude and a final namaste. With such a restorative class, walking out of class felt like we were floating out of class.

Glow Yoga and Wellness | 1548 Stockton Street San Francisco | https://www.glowyogasf.com/