International spies practice yoga for the flexibility to climb through narrow air ducts and the mental resolve to withstand the Tickle Monster's interrogation tactics. Prepare for reconnaissance of the mind and body with today’s Groupon: for $98, you get a 20-class pass to Urban Yoga Spa (a $240 value).
Urban Yoga Spa’s enlightened instructors lead budding yogis to relaxing states of physical nirvana through a variety of hot yoga classes in a studio heated up to 105 degrees. During the 75- to 90-minute Hot Hatha class, pupils contort their bodies into poses designed to stretch and strengthen their limbs—great for muscles cold and cramped from living in undersized igloos. Power Vinyasa classes keep participants toasty with a series of postures that emphasize core strength and holistic breathing techniques. Students can boogie down the road to enlightenment in Music Intense Vinyasa classes, which incorporate current rock ‘n’ roll and pop music to synchronize mind and body in 4/4 time. Though Urban Yoga Spa’s disciplines engage all levels of skill, a one-hour restorative yoga session promises softer stretches that seek to reduce stress for a more calming experience.
The spa’s pristine, heated studios block out inner-city pressures with a convenient class schedule and free locker rooms and showers. With no restrictions on class times or dates, students show up 20 minutes before any class of their choosing, lock their stress demons in a storage cubby, and grab a complimentary towel for a sweaty session of yoga.
Urban Yoga Spa
Clients stepping into Urban Yoga Spa— with its rows of candle votives and futuristic white decor—may feel as if they’ve entered a meditation chamber in the twenty-third century. Designed by award-winning architects, the minimalist decor aims for a specific effect; the intentional absence of color evokes the look of a blank canvas or Ted Turner’s worst nightmare, helping clients to clear their minds during intense yoga sessions led by skilled instructors. Hot Hatha and power Vinyasa classes held seven days a week help inspire practitioners to find the serenity in a challenging series of poses. Meanwhile, the spa’s aestheticians pamper newly toned bodies with massages, nail treatments, acupuncture, and waxings.