Hi friends! Welcome to a new series, where I, a certified personal trainer, try different workouts in the area. More specifically, I specialize in strength training, a powerlifting/bodybuilding hybrid. I love to train with women who want to get strong and shed the myth the industry has taught us about shrinking ourselves. This series will explore new workout spots, and you’ll find some trainer tips sprinkled throughout, too. I thought I’d start with a candlelit restorative 6 pm class at CorePower at Congressional Plaza instructed by Megan.
Come to FITRow Day of Fitness at Congressional Plaza on May 17th for Puppy Yoga!
But first, I stopped into Athleta for some gear, one of my favorite places to get workout looks! The staff had a positive, upbeat playlist playing in the background with charging outlets in their changing rooms! How cool is that??
I’ve been eyeing the Solace Keyhole Bra online, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Super cute, and no weird uni-boob situation. I paired it with the Salutation Stash Leggings (they have pockets!!) and the With Ease Tank that shows off my back muscles—because let’s be real, I worked hard for those.
Back to the class– I booked my class online in less than two minutes (the first week is free, btw). I signed up a few days ahead to secure a spot. On the day of the class, I give myself some extra time to get my mat and blocks together before the class started. FITRow is a cute nook of workout, class-style, boutique gyms tucked behind the Barnes and Noble.
Walking into the candlelit studio on a Sunday evening was magical. LED candles were scattered around the perimeter of the studio, and a strand of blue lights divided the room in half. I liked that the space for each mat was clearly divided on the floor. Megan, the instructor, distributed cards to indicate if you were okay with hands-on adjustments—a small but thoughtful touch.
This was my first restorative yoga class. The room was about 90 degrees, but since the movement was slow and minimal, it felt more like a cozy hug than a hot flash. I didn’t even break a sweat! Megan led us through the session with ease and gentleness, guiding us through each pose, allowing space for silence, and then softly bringing us back to the present.
At the beginning of the class, she told us, “Resistance is kindness,” reminding us all that this class wasn’t about pushing ourselves to our bodies’ limits but rather accepting the tightness (i.e., the resistance) in our bodies and working within those limits. This really resonated with me as I shed the “no days off/ rest when I’m dead” gym mentality of my twenties. Working out should be a celebration of what your body can do, not a source of frustration for why you aren’t where you want to be, and this restorative yoga class felt exactly like that.
We performed about eight to nine different poses and held them for five minutes each. Starting on the lower body, stretching the hips, lower back, obliques, and spine. After each pose, we “flossed” through the muscles we’d just stretched– meaning we moved intentionally to help our bodies absorb the benefits of the pose (like muscle memory meets massage).
If you’re someone who thinks “restorative yoga” is just lying around on the floor for an hour, please allow this class to change your mind. It’s active recovery in the best possible way—intentional, calming, and surprisingly impactful. Plus, doing it in a candlelit room with a kind instructor and a perfectly curated playlist? Pure self-care.
I love any workout that celebrates what my body can do, and this was a gentle yoga class that helped with my overall recovery, which is essential for reaching my fitness goals and helped prepare me to get back to lifting heavy weights for my next barbell workout!
Playlist: Gameday for the Girlies– a hype playlist with a feminine touch that will get you ready to tackle any workout
