Alignment Flow Yoga: Equinox Class Review

This post is part of my 2017 New Year’s Resolution to try every group fitness class offered at my gym, The Equinox in Chestnut Hill. Full list of class reviews here.

I sent my mom this picture of my yoga mat because she left me a voicemail while I was in class that said “I bet you’re doing something muscular right now, but I thought I’d call…” And I WAS. I was doing something muscular. Still sort of amazes me that I have this reputation and it’s accurate.

I love this New Year’s Resolution but it’s hard to take classes that I love and wonder when I’ll be back. I have over 15 classes left to take in the next three months, so it’s not easy to repeat classes at this point! And Alignment Flow Yoga is worth repeating. Over time it would have a great impact on my ability to get the most out of various yoga poses by improving my alignment and precision in each pose.

Starting in January 2018 all classes will be fair game again! I’m looking forward to it.

Alignment Flow Yoga with Cheryl Bentsen

Class length: 1 hour

Description from the Equinox: This flowing structure includes sun salutations, standing poses, forward bends, twists, hip openers, backbends, and inversions balanced between the power of breath and the freedom of health that evolves from anatomical precision and alignment from Iyengar and Anusara Yoga.

What Class Was Like

A great class for someone slightly familiar with yoga who is interested in advancing the precision of their poses. Great attention was given to the “anatomical precision and alignment” piece, with the intent that a regular class participant over time would improve their knowledge of the purpose of each pose and how to do it correctly. Because part of the class intent is to focus on alignment, instructions were incredibly detailed in terms of body placement for each pose and sequence.

Class was a combination of held poses and flowing sequences.

Don’t be intimidated by the class description including “backbends and inversions”. Remember that Downward Facing Dog is technically a beginner’s inversion, and Cobra is a backbend. When I first read that description I was picturing headstands and pretzel-esque backbends. Not the case – and a good yoga instructor will always provide the “just right” modification for beginners (and this class is all levels welcome) if a class did include options for working on advanced poses.

I love Cheryl’s classes because she gives great detailed instructions for each pose and in her classes I always learn something new about correct form or the intent behind an exercise. This class feels like it was designed with her in mind because it requires a great instructor to rattle off the exact positions of feet and heels and hips and ribs for a full hour.

Who would love it?

Anyone who likes yoga and would like to gain precision and technique. Especially healthy for posture / hips / back flexibility. Absolute beginners might prefer a more restorative yoga class or a private introduction since some of the sequences were challenging (how long can your arms support downward dog?) even with Cheryl’s detailed guidance.

Know before you go

Yoga mats are provided. Don’t wear shoes into the yoga studio, leave them outside in the cubbies. Equinox cleans mats after use, look for a pile to add them to on the floor on your way out (don’t roll and return them). Water bottles welcome, but not a lot of time to drink between poses.