Yoga Blend studio aims for a community-minded, noncompetitive spirit
You can probably guess that Yoga Blend, a friendly studio in Burbank, has classes influenced by the various schools of yoga. Its schedule has about 70 classes a week, including vinyasa flow, belly dancing, core yoga and basics, along with classes for pregnant women and children. Workshops offer more specialized subjects, including cellular yoga.
Studio owner Christy Marsden opened Yoga Blend with her husband, Jason, in 2005. They emphasize a noncompetitive atmosphere — not always the case in yoga these days.
Yoga Blend, 1921 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, www.yogablend.com
Aura
True to its brochure, Yoga Blend is welcoming and community-oriented. Many of the students headed in and out seemed to know one another. There’s a couch out front, magazines, community announcements on a bulletin board. And there’s a bowl with intentions students can take. Mine said, “I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.†I like this idea a lot.
Effort
Almost none of the positions were super-hard on their own, done once. We did series of exercises repeatedly, with the intention to create an elegant flow — something I never quite achieved, but it took a lot of effort even to try.
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Style
The room was hot, though not Bikram-style hot, the lights low and the floor space pretty well filled. “Press your feet into the floor like you want to leave footprints for future generations,†was one of teacher Rose Moran’s directions, which seemed to me emblematic of the class — grounded and aspirational at the same time.
Cost
Classes range from $9 to $18, with a two-week introductory rate of $40 for unlimited classes.
If you have suggestions for classes, please let me know by email or on Twitter: @mmacvean.
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