One of my favorite things to do while traveling is checking out local fitness studios and stay on top of trends. I had a quick 36 hour trip to NYC last weekend for my niece’s birthday and thought that the perfect time to pop into a new class. Hip Hop Hot Yoga? Namaste yes!
Hip Hop Hot Yoga? Namaste Yes!
As I have mentioned recently, I am kind of obsessed with yoga at the moment. I recently wrote about why I think it’s so important for runners to incorporate it into their routines. “Y7” was a NYC Yoga studio I’ve been wanting to try and happy to find a “hip Hop hot yoga” class that I could squeeze into my weekend trip. Hip Hop Hot Yoga sounded like a crazy cool combo and I honestly was not sure what to expect at all. Would it be “dance-y”? Loud? Fun? I seriously had no idea but definitely wanted to find out.
Y7 Studio- Flat Iron District
I am always surprised by how small studios are in New York City as I am used to spacious entryways and huge locker rooms in my suburban classes in the Northern Virginia area. As we ascended the narrow stairway up to the Y7 studio, I could feel the temperature rising. Entering the check in area, there was a hustle and bustle that felt very “New York”. Very fit, scarcely dressed and very sweaty yogis leaving the previous class looking accomplished.
Stepping into the yoga studio, it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The candlelit room was really quite dark. We quickly arranged our mats according to the markers on the floor. Close, but not too close to the yogini, next to me. So the Hip Hop part? Today’s class was Rihanna themed and I was comforted that I knew most of the songs.
Unlike a typical yoga class where music is more of a background, this Hip Hop Hot Yoga class had more of a night club feel. There were no mirrors in the room which I am a fan of. How many times have I thought I was really looking like a yoga pro only to glance in the mirror and see how ridiculous I look. Yep we’ve all been there! This way, you just flow without any idea of how you look.
The flow is definitely much faster than a typical hot yoga class. It helps to have some knowledge of basic yoga poses so you can easily follow along with the instructor’s cues. A few times during the hour, we instructed to do a free flow for a few minutes.
I was not sure how hip hop and yoga could actually blend together but Y7 makes it work. They do “flow hard” and it’s a nice change of pace. You kind of have to “go with the flow!” One of the most unique yoga experiences I’ve ever had and a fun morning.
Would you give it a try? What do you think about Hip Hop Hot Yoga?
Linking up
Coach Debbie, Running on Happy, crazy running girl
This sounds like fun! The yoga studios Ive gone to don’t have mirrors, but when I have taken yoga classes at my gym they do. Its nice to not worry about what you look like!
Yes I have come to feel much more comfortable without mirrors in the room
Hip hop yoga sounds like it would be a really fun class! It’s cool they don’t have mirrors. I hate seeing how I look compared to everyone else in a class.
Whenever I think I really have a pose nailed and then I look in the mirror and well not so much ha ha
This looks like some serious fun! I’ve never thought to do hot yoga to hip hop music before!
It was new to me as well!
This sounds like a lot of fun! I don’t normally like hot yoga but if I approach the class like a workout (instead of a typical yoga class), I think it could be good. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I usually approach regular yoga as more of a relaxation stretch opportunity but when I go to hot yoga it is more of a workout. Never really thought of it that way before.
I would be SO into this if it wasn’t hot 😩 I hate being hot lol
It is hot but not super hot!
How fun! A yoga studio in town does an occasional hip hop class and it is always such a blast.
OH that is great that other places do it as well. It is always fun to check out new workout classes
I did a hip-hop yoga class during ZOOMA weekend a couple of years ago – it was different, but pretty cool!
It is certainly different but fun!
I love the idea of Hip Hop Yoga! Though the “hot” part doesn’t do much for me. I tend to feel overheated in a regular class that’s only about 80 degrees!
My favorite yoga instructor has a dance background and she tends to make her flow yoga feel very dancy and plays upbeat, fun music. I love it, even though it does move faster than a regular flow class.
I like the hot part much more in the winter time!
This sounds so awesome! I would so join in!
It was really a fun and different workout
What?! This sounds so fun! I’m in NYC now. Maybe I can squeeze in a class.
Oh you have to check it out! You would love it
I would totally try out this class. I think I’ll have to check it out!! 🙂
It was definitely different 🙂
OMG this looks amazing! what a fun way to practice yoga. I’m definitely going to have to look into this
It was really fun and different
Oh my goodness, how fun!!! I’ve done hot yoga before but never anything like that! That’s sounds fantastic!!
It was a first for me too!
Hmmm a club-like atmosphere? That’s a departure from the relaxing yoga I know, but I think I’d like it. I was recently invited to R&B yoga. Wonder if that’s somewhat similar??
It was very different and not the relaxing yoga you know. R & B yoga sounds great too
This is so cool! I wonder if they offer this in Toronto!
I don’t know but hope you have the chance to try it out
This does sound like an interesting mix! I am horribly uncoordinated (HORRIBLY!), so I would take great comfort in not knowing what I looked like (yay for no mirrors). I have never been to a hot yoga class, though. I love the heat, so it might be a good fit for me 😉
I love hot yoga in the winter time after a long run. Hope you have the chance to try it out sometime
That sounds really fun! I’m new to yoga but totally loving it right now. A hot yoga class is definitely on my to do list in the near future!
Hope you have a chance to try one!
Ha! How fun! I love how many variations of yoga there are. There’s something for everybody!
There sure is!
This sounds all kinds of fun! Need to give it a try some time!
All kinds of fun indeed!
This sounds like so much fun! I wish we had cool stuff like that here. I think we have some “fun” classes but nothing like what you’ve described!
It was a first for me too. I do love trying out new classes!
really appreciate studios with little mirror as possible. sounds like a fun class!
Right there with you on the mirrors!
There’s a hip hop yoga class in Boston that I’ve been dying to try, but since I moved out of the city it’s much harder to convince myself to battle traffic to go in and do it, haha. I should see if there’s one closer to me though!
I can totally see that-I rarely go into DC for classes or events. I hope you have the chance to try one sometime
I would absolutely try hip hop yoga! That speaks to me! I am NOT a yoga person, but add some heat and music and I could get on board.
Sounds like a fun trip to the city! Small world – I now live an hour outside of NYC, but I grew up in VA and my parents are still in NOVA.
Small world indeed! Let me know next time you are in NoVa you can join us for a run. It is definitely something to try!
This looks like such a fun time! I LOVE hot yoga and need to make more time for it in my routine!!
Super fun and yes I am trying to make more time for it myself
I can imagine the studios are much smaller than I would be used to as well.
Looks like a fun class and that is great you were able to take it with your niece!
Have a great weekend!
It was a fun time thanks!