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3. YOGA
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Yoga is designed to unite the mind, body and spirit. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “to yoke,” as in harnessing the physical and spiritual together. These exercises have been around for more than 5,000 years.
The exercises widely vary in what they can do, including alleviating joint pain, straightening posture and improving flexibility, all while improving one’s mental thinking through meditation.
Where to Find It: At City Yoga on Fairfax Avenue, just south of Santa Monica Boulevard, you’ll find a plethora of classes to choose from, available from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the basic classes, learn the yoga fundamentals of deep breathing, basic postures and alignment principles, or take on an upbeat pace with more challenging asanas (the unique poses for which yoga is best known) in the advanced classes. City Yoga even offers kids and prenatal classes for the mom or mom-to-be. Individual classes cost $18, or you can get a month of unlimited yoga for $110. However, to give new members an opportunity to discover yoga, City Yoga offers unlimited yoga for the first two weeks at $30.
Want a more intimate and spiritual yoga studio? Check out Shahr Salon and Wellness (9053 Nemo St. at Santa Monica). Classes are $10 from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stay after a session to get a new hairstyle, a tarot card reading or attend the studio’s monthly “Ask Spirit” clairvoyant readings.
Other places that offer yoga include Third Eye Yoga (1235 N Sweetzer Ave. at Fountain), Rise Movement (8906 Melrose Ave. at La Peer), Movement Studio (7409 Beverly Blvd. at Martel), Pink Iron (1106 N La Cienega Blvd. at Holloway), Equinox (8590 Sunset Blvd. at Londonderry), Reebok CrossFit LAB (8466 Melrose Ave. at La Cienega), Body Maxx (8474 W 3rd St. at La Cienega) and Up Dog Yoga @ Flywheel (8599 Santa Monica Blvd., west of La Cienega).
What You’ll Work: You’ll tone your muscles and improve your balance with the yoga poses and lose weight doing bikram or hot yoga. Through stress relief, studies have shown that yoga can help decrease anxiety and depression and improve sleep patterns.
