Sweaty With A Side of Zen : Anjali Power Yoga

Category:  Yoga

Target Zone:  Core, Arms, Legs Location:  Rittenhouse / South Street Intensity:

Cardio:

Tighten & Tone:

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Did you know that Forbes Magazine recently ranked Philadelphia as the third best city in the US for practicing yoga?? Venture down to the Linc on a winter Sunday and you might find that hard to believe… Yogi’s by day, aggressive (or as I’d prefer to call it “passionate”) sports uber fans by night. Only in Philly. But seriously, recently I feel like it’s hard to walk two blocks without seeing at least one yoga studio. Eager yogi’s hustling past with their stretchy pants and yoga mat backpack in tow is a pretty standard occurrence these days. I don’t need anymore proof- the yoga scene in Philadelphia is booming, no doubt. And so, even though I still love my Saturday mornings at Philly Power Yoga with Steve Gold, I decided to stretch my wings and venture down to South Street and Anjali Yoga. 

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You’ll Feel Right At Home. Literally, you are pretty much in the owners living room- she lives right upstairs! My first time at Anjali I opened the front door and suddenly had this “oh-my-god I think I just entered someone’s house instead of the yoga studio” feeling. Luckily that was not the case, but don’t be alarmed when you walk inside and wonder if you are in the right place.. You are! The hospitable and communal feel of Anjali will put you immediately at ease, allowing you to sit back, find your zen, and get ready to sweat. 

No-Frills, No Problem. Remember, this is about the yoga! While the aesthetics may be less glam than you will see in other spots around town, the charming simplicity of Anjali makes the experience feel even more authentic. And after a few vinyasas, the only thing on your mind will be how you’re possibly going to get through 75mins of the sweat bath that you are entering. 

Get Ready To Sweat. Make sure to bring an extra towel and lots of water, because the combination of a heated room (usually to around 90 degrees) and the vinyasa flow style will have you dripping by your first down dog. Love it, and embrace it. When you walk home feeling like you’ve just cleansed every toxin out of your body, you’ll be happy you stuck with it. 

Male-Friendly. In my mind, seeing guys in a yoga class can mean one of two things. Either its a super athletic, ultra sweaty, awesome workout OR... there's a super hot teacher. It's a pretty basic equation (sorry guys). The class I most often attend is Monday nights with John Wylie, and while he is really great, I think it’s option # 1. So while I know "yoga" can be a tough one for guys, the teachers at Anjali make the experience that much more enjoyable AND beneficial by offering multiple variations of every pose. This isn't a mirror lined studio so you won't have to see yourself struggling to get into that elusive pidgeon-pose, and most importantly- you won't be alone!

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Multiple Locations. Work in the burbs? Or looking for a place to stop on your way home from the city? Anjali offers multiple studio locations making it that much easier for you to find a time and place to squeeze a session into your daily routine. I have only experienced the South Street studio, however Anjali also has studios in Westmont, Maple Shade AND in those summer months... Avalon too!

It’s A Steal. The first-timer deals at Anjali are so good that you really have no excuse not to sign up. First month unlimited classes for $50, or 10 days of unlimited classes for just $20. Don’t feel like committing? Drop-ins are a perfectly reasonable $12 per class. Bottom line: Anjali will leave you feeling all the benefits of a toxin-cleansing, muscle lengthening and body strengthening workout, without feeling a major hit to your bank account.