Woodland Hills is home to a brand new yoga studio called Warrior & Co. It officially opened on August 1st & they’ve been running this awesome promotional special where your first week is FREE!
Hands down this has got to be one of the nicest yoga studios around! There are two yoga rooms – one for hot yoga & one for other classes, like Kids Yoga, Senior Yoga, Warrior Flow classes, etc.
What’s unique about this studio is that the owners have a Revolution Humidification Misting Fan in the hot yoga room. I participated in 3 hot yoga sessions during my week-long trial & in two of those classes, the instructor turned on the mister/humidifier during key moments of the yoga class. I found it to be really cool (no pun intended). In fact, after my first time experiencing it, I made sure to position my mat so I was very close to it. 🙂
Plus they are big on essential oils & have essential oil diffusers all over the studio, from the hot yoga room to the lobby area & locker rooms.
Speaking of the locker rooms, they are super nice. They have a bank of lockers where you can store your gym bag & gear, two shower stalls equipped with complimentary soap, shampoo & conditioner. Let me tell you that after taking my most recent hot yoga class, I really needed to jump into the shower – especially since I was going to run errands immediately after the class.
Truth be told, I only went inside the women’s locker room but I’m assuming the men’s area has a similar set-up. They also have two large hampers in the bathroom area so that you can turn in your used towels or yoga mats, which you can rent for a nominal fee. I have my own yoga mat but during one of my sessions, I forgot to bring a towel & I really needed one for the hot yoga class, so I was grateful for the rental area.
So what are the classes like? As I had mentioned before, they have a variety of classes from hot yoga ones to your basic Vinyasa flow classes in the non-heated room. I attended three different types of yoga classes, so here is the lowdown…
Sculpted Warrior
I have experience with yoga but I still consider myself a beginner. I’ve never taken a hot yoga class before (although I have always wanted to) so I decided that my very first class at Warrior & Co. would be this particular hot yoga class.
Camryn was my instructor for the class & I let her know right away that this was my first time doing hot yoga. She was very patient & kind, letting me know that I could take things slower if I felt too hot or overwhelmed. Camryn instructed me to take small sips of water if I am thirsty (not big gulps) because the temperature difference in the water vs my body could make my stomach upset. FYI: the room is heated to about 100 degrees or more.
Out of all the classes at Warrior & Co, I enjoyed this one the best – so much so that I took the Sculpted Warrior class a second time with Morgan (who is one of the co-owners). No matter who teaches the class, the basic idea is that you start out with yoga flow sequences to warm-up, then you incorporate free weights, mixing in squats, lunges, planks, plus bicep & tricep work.
There is also a short cardio section. Then you end with more yoga sequencing & my final (and favorite) part is Shavasana. The instructor will place a cool compress on the side of your mat that has been soaking in eucalyptus & water. It feels SO refreshing to place that on your forehead or chest as you mentally prepare to end class & transition to leaving the studio.
Warrior Flow 1-2
I decided to take this class the following day, after my first hot yoga class. That way I could compare the two classes (hot vs non-heated). Theo was my instructor & he has a lovely English accent. This class is offered in the non-heated yoga room & is great for beginners or those at the intermediate level.
Warrior Flow 1-2 is taught at a slower pace, where you go from standing postures to vinyasa flow sequences. I really enjoyed this class, as it reminded me of other yoga classes that I have taken elsewhere. However the key difference at Warrior & Co is that the yoga instructors really set a thoughtful tone right from the start of class. Theo was no different from Morgan or Camryn. Each one reminded the class to set an intention at the beginning, all of the instructors went around & made gentle corrections in a student’s form (if needed – I know I sure did) & all had caring attitudes.
As someone who has taken yoga (& other fitness classes) all around the Valley, I’ve been to a few yoga studios where the instructor did not have a thoughtful or mindful attitude at all. It was just about getting down to business & going through the sequences. For some people it’s not a big deal. However for me, having taken these classes at Warrior & Co, having an instructor that takes a more more mindful & philosophical approach has made such a big difference!
Exalted Warrior
This is another type of hot yoga class offered at Warrior & Co. It was also the most challenging of all the classes that I took there. The instructor runs through a series of specific yoga postures performed in systematic order. It is very much a power yoga class. So for those who are at the intermediate level or perhaps a beginner-ish level but have several hot yoga classes under your belt, then this class is definitely for you. Since I’m more of a casual yoga attendee, plus it was only my second hot yoga class of the week, I definitely had to take this one at my own pace. I also modified a lot of the moves since I wasn’t able to hold some of those yoga poses. At the end of the class, I felt proud for hanging in there, as did my yoga instructor. I think if I were to take more of these Exalted Warrior classes, then I’d definitely increase my balance & flexibility.
Overall, it’s a great yoga studio! They have unique classes, from Sunday “Family Flow” classes that really help the whole family get connected, to Senior Yoga, hot yoga & standard flow classes in their non-heated room. For parents who want to multi-task, there are weekly Tween Warrior classes in the non-heated yoga room, while parents can flow in the hot room simultaneously. Check the schedule here for dates/times.
Warrior & Co. A Yoga Studio is a clean, state-of-the-art facility with first class instructors. I’d highly recommend it & remember, your first week is free!
The studio is located at 21015 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Free parking is available in their spacious parking lot. For more information, visit the Warrior & Co. website here. Don’t forget to check out their Facebook page for the latest updates!
So tell me, have you ever done hot yoga? What is it that you love about it?
Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. This blog post is for informational purposes only. I attended complimentary classes that are open to everyone in the community. All images & opinions are 100% my own.
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