Took my first class here with Mark. A couple of notes here. Also, if you have a few minutes, I recommend scanning their IG page to get an idea of what you're in for.
1. The class gets very, very hot, between 90-95 degrees F. For the hour of power class, the sequence is fast-paced. At one point, I ended up skipping every other chatarunga in order to keep up (sorry, Mark). Also, not many breaks built in so I took plenty of self-imposed breaks. We hit a lot of different poses in that one hour. I wasn't bored, that's for sure. Panting and dripping sweat and conscious of the giant puddle I was birthing, but not bored. I loved the focus on some of the lesser-done moves, like crow. (Seriously, every yoga class is going to do bridge. Also, petition to banish ab work from all yoga sequences. Signed, someone who hates bicycles with a fiery passion.)
Stinky foot smell scale: 7/10. I got used to it after a while, though.
2. Mark is a beloved teacher judging on how full the class was and how many regulars there seemed to be. And he was truly awesome. One of the best, clearest yoga teachers I've ever taken, who would do the moves with us as he went along. I noticed halfway through that he wasn't using music and seriously, that made such a difference. I felt like I could concentrate on what he was saying and what I was doing without getting caught up in whatever song was playing.
That said, he does hands-on assists (no heads-up is given at the beginning of class so this is me giving it). Some people (including me) don't mind it - in fact, I'm giving an apology in advance for how soggy I was; others might find it distracting or intrusive. Granted, this isn't specific to this one teacher. If you go on the Baptiste Power IG, hands-on assists is listed as one of the core features of their practice. I suppose it's up to each individual person to weigh that and decide if maybe another studio feels right for them.
3. Studio is nice and spacious with windows (I hate the windowless interior ones that make you feel like you're in a basement, looking at you, CPY). It gets crowded AND there's definitely a strategy to picking a spot, hence why it would behoove you to get there early. It seems like the ends of the room (closest to the door and windows) are the coolest, while the center and closer to the front get the hottest (since you're under the row of lights overhead and also right in the instructor's line of sight). I didn't cotton on to this quickly enough and by the time I had gotten myself set up, it was too late. Front and center and a literal puddle by the second sequence.
Also: no mirrors. On bad body image days, I appreciate that, though sometimes catching sight of myself in a bind or doing eagle gives me a confidence boost.
4. Parking: metered street options, plus a lot right across the street. The studio is in a bustling part of Brookline, with lots of restaurants and cafes nearby. read more