Studio: Bloom Yoga, 4663 N. Rockwell

Class Focus: Level two at Bloom Yoga focuses on deepening an existing yoga practice, but within that practice, a yogi can take their practice deeper or ease out if they’re feeling all wound up.

Cost per class:  $16

Money saving offers: More class and membership options here, but current specials include getting a class for free if you bring a friend and doing the first month unlimited for $50.

• $70: 5 classes
• $130: 10 classes
• $235: 20 classes
• $150: Unlimited monthly classes

The Fab Fit Take:

I needed yoga in my life after spending 15 hours on planes and in airports Saturday. My body was not amused and zen was necessary to put my life back together.

Bloom yoga, situated an easy 100 feet from the Rockwell stop on the brown line, has been on my to-do list for quite some time. When I walked into the studio, I saw a blast from the past in the instructor Sharon (who just launched her website here). Sharon originally helped me fall for a more serious, spiritual yoga at LVAC about four years ago. It was in her class that I first chanted “ohm.” I was totally fine and no one made fun of my voice for cracking, in case you were wondering.

At Bloom, the community and the instructors all reflect the accepting and challenging environment I remember Sharon fostering in her classes at LVAC. The studio is full of books to make you think about WHY you’re doing yoga and how your body is responding to it and the practice reinforced that. This came onto our mats when Sharon challenged us to think about our bodies, our breath and how they connect at the start of our class.

(All photos courtesy of Bloom Yoga. Photo Credit  Steven Johnson)

Once we were centered, we launched into a Vinyasa flow class that mixed up the order of the flow that some practitioners may have come to expect. This kept my head in the game and kept my thoughts from wandering to a beach somewhere. We spent some time in the standing straddle forward fold pose, which gave my legs, arms and shoulders the lengthening that they needed following a marathon of sitting.

Towards the end of class, we spent a few minutes in my very favorite pose, frog pose. It is, as Sharon calls it, a very “juicy pose” that opens up the hips and the inner thighs in a super addictive way. I walked into class tied in knots and walked out feeling like I was ready to take on the week.

Try Bloom yoga for a challenging, but thoughtful take on yoga. You won’t regret it.

Date taken: 3/16/2014