CorePower Yoga

I’ve been an instructor for 13 years and «you name it» certified. My issue is not with the CP experience (although this is not actual yoga), it’s with how unbelievably corporate the un-​experience is. I’ve just moved to St Paul (litteraly this week) and cannot get beyond the «experience life» web ad/​marketing which is located in Denver. I just want to find a class already. So not interested and will finish my last 3 classes of my 10 class overpriced package. Also to newcomers… be safe. These instructors (⁵⁰⁄₅₀) don’t have national certifications and do not follow eastern practice of non-​violence towards the body or understand the meditative end point. It’s hot gymnastics or «McDonalds» for yoga which works great for me from a convenience standpoint. However, I’m 750 hours certified… not sure what kinds of injuries are out there but I cringe. Don’t get me started on the «elitist» mentality or how clicky these joints are. Zen? Like I said… gymnastics/McD’s yoga. Great sweat for $ 20/​class. Oh yeah, where’s the schedule per location again? Wait, I’ll «call» and get transferred to some business call center in Denver.

So far, I have been a part of the Corepower work-​for-​trade program for a few months now, so a perk of that service is a discounted membership. Once you make your presence known and actually attend classes on a regular basis (took me a while to get into the swing of things), the instructors there are all very warm and friendly spirits to learn from and share your small success with each time you don’t die from being in a slightly humid room heated to a comfortable 95–110 °F degrees. Not all the classes are heated, so don’t expect to suffer from heat stroke every time. I have taken hot yoga (slow movements for the most part, bring a towel and lots of water. Take it easy if you’ve never done it before!) and loved it. I took my first sculpt class on Monday with Sasha Z. and I’m not gonna lie, that was the most intense yoga class I have ever been to. I didn’t even know I had neck muscles I could work out like that! I feel amazing after every class I take, even if I can’t quite keep up with a class like sculpt. I have taken 2 classes with Lauren (one C1 and one C2 class) and she is always helpful. She has mini knowledge bombs she drops throughout the class that are mindful and thought provoking. I enjoy it. Thomas helped drastically improve my half lift. I could go on. Overall, the space is very inviting and efficient. The locker rooms are super nice and showers with shampoo and whatnot is available for use after your class. I always look forward to trying out new classes with different instructors to get to know them all and to get the most out of my practice. So far, they have all taught me little great things. I highly recommend coming in if you never have before and seek a safe haven to practice yoga. I believe they offer a free week to newcomers and it’s a great way to find out if you’ll really appreciate being there or not.

I really like CorePower here. They are always friendly and accommodating. I live out of town but I appreciate their flexibility and their ease of renting mats and towels when I go.
I’ve tried beginner and beginner hot and both were nice classes — I wish I remembered the instructors’ names. The rooms are nice sizes, even when full and I thought the place was clean, which is always something you want to look for in a studio that offers hot yoga!
They have a good mix of classes throughout the day, too. It’s a different style from what I’ve practiced — a little more relaxed and they’re not afraid to play music (that’s not distracting). It’s a good change from the oh-​so-​serious studios I’ve been to!

I first tried Core Power a month or so ago and I have been to four of the locations. After a Sculpt Class with Margaret and one with Sasha I was hooked on the Grand location! I love the instructors and I have yet to be disappointed with any class! The studios are clean, facilities are great, and classes aren’t too crowded. I totally recommend this location and recommend Core Power in general to anyone who wants a full body workout, a challenge, and an atmosphere full of energy!

I love lots of things about this studio. It has guided me from beginning to where I am now. I’ve lost 40# so far and I’m working on more challenging poses. The classes help calm me down. I love getting a front spot so I can focus on myself and not the rest of the class. My balance seems to improve when I’m in the front vs being in the back of class!

The only downside to this location is the parking. There’s a ramp across the street, or you can take your chances in the church lot behind or cross your fingers for street parking. Any way you choose, allow for a few extra minutes to park and get situated. Inside, the studios are not quite as roomy as newer locations, and there’s something about it that feels a little… dated. But, on the plus side, the instructors are awesome, and there’s quite a bit of merchandise if you feel like shopping.
Love the post-​yoga options downstairs =] Get some food or a coffee for the road!

Been doing the yoga thing for almost two years. Was a gym rat and dumb jock forever. I go about 5 times per week sometimes twice a day. People always cry on the internet about CPY being corporate blah blah blah. Who cares. They like all businesses need to make some money. The place is clean and organized. I have been to almost every twin city location. Happy with them all and they all have their own unique vibe. I like Grand the most because you can go smash a burrito downstairs or a coffee at the bread and chocolate place. Beers at billys etc. After class. The sky is the limit.
However if you need an instuctor recommendation here it goes.
Nisreen– hpf (hot power fusion) st paul wonderful personality
Ken– hot (st paul edina) great guy. Puts a smile on your face.
Josie– hot (st paul) she’s a great DJ too
Amy– hot (stadium village) holy shit hot :) she pumps it up
Kathy B and Michelle– ryder (highland) the best tunes too
Melissa– sculpt (highland) talk about the best fitness instructor I have ever seen. She is epic.
Lindsey– sculpt (edina) her classes are packed mat to mat, great workout, cult following there. For a reason. Great energy.
There are many others that I like too and honestly there are no bad instructors.
Say what you will about parking. Get there five minutes early and shop for lulu crap. During Christmas they have a great promo for a gift card.
Edina, Woodbury, and Tonka have the most intimate parking where you can rush in half naked at the last minute. Haven’t been to SLP, uptown, nordeast, or maple grove yet due to not having activies planned in those parts of town.
Kudos to you CPY. You’re doing it right.
–Victoria

The hot yoga is amazing! Overall the best yoga experience I’ve had. Their classes run all day into evening, which allows me to still go to the classes even when I leave work later in the day. First week is free for those who want to try it out w/​out any commitments. Be on the look-​out for Groupons!

CorePower Yoga is definitely worth a try. Thank you Jen for a great class

Since I don’t live in St. Paul, and it’s a ways for me to get here. I’ve only been here on weekends and the only classes that I have taken here are from two instructors, that I found so inspiring and worth it, that I make it out here just for their class. Cynthia on Saturday nights, and Greg H on Sunday nights both at 7:30 pm for Candlelight yoga. Yes, I said Saturday and Sunday nights… my idea of «party» is yoga. can’t you tell?
As for the space, it’s beautiful and spacious. The locker/​shower rooms are clean, comfy and spacious as well. There’s a private lot for parking. Really, I live in the wrong part of town. I would come here all the time, and not just weekends, otherwise.

Lies.
I was wrong.
Core power, which is a «white-​washed» version of yoga is all EFFING WIN.
Go sculpt.

I ended up coming here because of a gift which is interesting because this is a gift that keeps on giving. They usually have a first week free deal running also so you can try it out first.
I am always kindly greeted at the desk & now I feel that many of the instructors have also become my friends. Every instructor has their own style & all are always welcome to help you with poses or any questions you have after class.
The general area is always very clean. The studios sometimes need a little more help, but it depends on the class before & whether the cleaners can get into the room before the next class is always getting in the door.
Parking is a bit cramped, but I usually always find a space behind the studio in the back parking lot. Lots of stores in the area & even food if you love convenience. It’s a great location and a wonderful place to work out your mind, body & spirit. I’ve now even started the teacher training program & they have other programs like boot camp, cleanses, etc. It’s a great place! Can’t say enough good things!

Let’s not get confused here: corepower yoga is a gym. A gym that does yoga. You come here to work out– maybe a light work out, but a work out nonetheless. There’s showers, lockers, racks of gym clothes for sale, etc. If you’re coming here to practice the meditative qualities of yoga (i.e., the «mind» or the mind-​body balance that is yoga), you’re going to be disappointed.
That being said, this studio is modern, chic, and clean. I had a great time doing a hot yoga class; I had no idea my shins could sweat so much. The amount of coaching and instruction was just right (I’m an advanced beginner). Drop in rates were a tad on the high side ($ 12 I think) but the membership rates looked reasonable.
Most hilariously, this gym is located above the Bread and Chocolate restaurant. I had to fight getting an after-​workout snack pretty hard.
They list their schedule of classes online, which is awesome. They more or less have classes every hour, so it should be pretty easy to find something that works with your schedule.
Parking is a drag, so if you can walk to the studio, I’d recommend it.

Core Power Yoga is is own experience. If it’s your thing, more (core) Power to you! But these are my thoughts after a free week:
Pros:
1. It’s yoga! yay!
2. longer classes! (some 90 mins)
3. sliding scale fees for students, teachers.
4. really flexible scheduling.
5. very accessible location and fun to grab a cup of coffee or get some shampoo, etc. at all the lovely retail places nearby (or maybe this is a con!)
Cons:
1. Parking at this location. Cramped, especially in the evening. Took me 15 mins to find parking especially at Christmas. This is a very unzen feeling to experience fighting for parking.
2. Music during the classes. Sometimes loud and annoying when you want to focus on breathing and relaxing.
3. Some classes Hot. Very hot. Sometimes so hot I felt that I was going to get sick and puke all over.
4. I felt there was this slightly competitive feel like the very «good» students (i.e. students who could achieve the more advanced asanas, see #5) were in the front of the room and the less advanced in the back and there was not great support to «just do what you can it’s not about the positions»
5. I felt everyone had lots of yoga garb and was fashionable. Since when do you need to spend $ 100 on a brand name outfit (or not wear much at all? then again, see #3)?
6. Yoga sculpt is not yoga, it’s a fitness class that is inspired by yoga positions.
7. Locker rooms clean but really crowded after class (you must shower after the hot classes)
9. Slightly corporate feel. It is a chain, but at the same time kind of neat that a yoga studio can be successful as a chain!
CPY is Americanized yoga and that’s totally fine. Just not everybody’s thing. Enjoy it if it is and even if it isn’t because it’s still yoga and cool, but there are other forms out there, too, that may be better for you. Not my thing, but I’m glad to have had a free week and I still had fun (in the not-​so-​hot classes).

Of ALL the Core Power Locations I have been to including SEVERAL in Southern California… St. Paul minnesota STEALS my heart! This location is beautiful, the instructors are SO down to earth, friendly & knowledgeable! The facility is CLEAN & the retail section is interesting. I found the heat to be perfect, and genuinely felt like I got some 1 – 1 attention.
TWO VERY ENTHUSIASTIC THUMBS UP!
(Yes, I can see the parking dilemma, fortunately I took the 6:15 am class and never had to worry about that!!)
LOVE this street — Grand Street just rocks!
Sending love to Minnesota! :)

I am in love with Corepower Yoga! My favorite class is Yoga sculpt and I just cannot say enough good things about it. I have been a fitness enthusiast for most of my life, so when I first started at Corepower I never expected to get such a great total body workout from a Yoga class but let me tell you, this class is intense. Since starting at Corepower I feel like my body has been transformed. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking to get in shape or just wants a little variety in their workouts.
My favorite instructors are Megan, Robyn, Molly, and Sarah. You just have to check it out!!!

This was the 4^th stop tour and intro week of CY. I love the location and urban feel of this CY.
I sweat’d, yoga’d, and left feeling great. Again I would recommend they try some variation in poses and music. If I wanted to attend frequently I want variation… at least a little.
Locker rooms were clean and well equipped. Staff very pleasant.

I’ve been doing yoga at this studio for about a year now. It’s great! I really enjoy the Saturday and Sunday 7:30 AM C2 classes. It’s a great location but parking can get a bit difficult if you try to come the afternoon classes during the weekday. Bring a towel!
The instructors I’ve enjoyed most are Steve (Saturday AMs), Becka, Betsy and Nicole.

still coming here several times a week. Love it.
great classes, and instructors that remember your name.
I am going to give a shout out to some of the instructors, and these are just a few of the people we see regularly due to schedule. This is not meant to be a complete list, by any means, but if you go to these classes taught by these instructors, you will be have a great great experience!
They all rock, but these guys really rise to the top.
Becka, Nora, Sarah G, Chris, Betsy, Lisa, Nicole, much love to you all!
So yeah, come into any studio and sweat your ass off. Yo uwill get addicted.

Yes, I agree that you will sweat like crazy even if though it is not heated. I really like the instructors and they do go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.
On the downside, the women’s locker rooms can be croweded. I attending at 7:30 to 8:30 session and it was packed. A word to the wise: come early so you can get a spot in the middle of the yoga studio!
I highly recommend checking it out!