I Tried Brightside’s Infrared Yoga and Sauna Studio

Brightside is a three way partnership between Webb and her Squeeze co-founder Brittany Driscoll as a part of their wellness brand collective The Feel Good Company, which also birthed Squeeze and Okay Humans. The brand new business was inspired by Webb’s ex-husband, Cam Webb, who she describes as “the creative mastermind” behind Drybar, Squeeze, and Okay Humans.

“Cam was doing each hot yoga and infrared saunas individually and realized that not only was there a possibility to create a greater brand experience within the yoga space, but he felt like there was a very big opportunity to mix the 2,” says Driscoll.

Infrared therapy has recently gained popularity as a consequence of a growing awareness of its advantages to human health. Research shows that infrared therapy may promote exercise recovery, reduce chronic pain, boost mood and energy levels, and improve each cardiovascular and skin health, amongst other advantages. Brightside’s founders felt the infrared yoga experience was superior to the stifling experience of doing yoga in a historically heated room, but in addition they desired to offer an easy-to-book private sauna experience as an adjunct service, or instead for individuals who don’t have or need a yoga practice.

What to anticipate at Brightside

The resultant studio is a bit like a Y7 and Chillhouse combined and finished with sunny Drybar vibes. It features 4 different yoga classes ($29 per class or barely less with membership options) in a studio heated with infrared technology—Brightside Basics, Power Play, Sculpt Sesh, and Fusion Flow—alongside 4 well-appointed sauna rooms, each of which might be booked for 45-minute individual sessions throughout the day for $39 or $29.75 with a membership.

Like its founders’ other businesses, Brightside is a tech-forward company that provides a do-everything app as one in every of its key differentiators; from the app, you possibly can book yoga and sauna sessions, rate your experiences, purchase refreshments, and track your progress.

Also consistent with The Feel Good Company’s other businesses, Brightside is designed to be modern, cheerful, on-trend, and yet unlike anything in its space. Webb says the team used the identical architect employed by each Drybar and Squeeze, and that they leaned heavily on their learnings from constructing those businesses to create a singular environment. “We desired to make it feel welcoming to everyone, particularly those that don’t consider themselves to be seasoned yogis or regulars,” she says.

There’s a philanthropic component to the business as well. Webb and Driscoll have partnered with the organization Motion for Healthy Kids, which is devoted to creating healthier schools. “For each membership sold, we’re helping to supply an hour of physical activity to a baby in an underserved community so that they can turn into healthy, thriving adults,” says Driscoll.

What it was like taking an infrared yoga class at Brightside

I just so occur to be a hot yoga junkie, so I used to be beyond excited when Webb and Driscoll invited me to try the studio out for myself. I are likely to agree with them that almost all hot yoga studios, even those I like, feel a bit dingy. Not Brightside. The studio’s aesthetic is precisely what you might expect from the founders of Drybar—vivid, white, and airy with pops of cheerful color throughout.

Upon entering the yoga room, I noticed Webb and Driscoll had some extent. While it was actually warm, it didn’t feel as oppressively muggy because the traditionally heated yoga rooms I’m used to. The easiest way I can describe the differing sensations is that I felt I could actually breathe, and I wasn’t immediately dripping in sweat. The founders attribute this to the undeniable fact that infrared technology heats objects in a room, while traditional forced-air heating systems (aka regular old heat) heat every little thing. The previous tends to be more comfortable than the latter, they are saying—and I agree.

The category itself, “Sculpt Sesh,” was nothing in any respect like what I’m used to. I hadn’t paid any attention to the outline after I signed up and was expecting a delicate vinyasa practice. What I got as a substitute was an excellent unique mixture of yoga, HIIT, strength training with weights, and cardio. In other words, it was like every workout genre I enjoy melded together into one hour-long workout, which was ultimately pretty intense. If you happen to’re the sort of one that leaves a yoga class feeling like all you bought was stretch, that is the category for you—it’s most definitely a workout and a well-rounded one at that. I enjoyed the category and located the environment to be more upbeat overall than I used to be used to. It felt energizing, whilst the work itself was exhausting.

After class, I used to be escorted to one in every of the sauna rooms, but just for a peek. The studio doesn’t actually recommend partaking within the yoga and sauna experiences back-to-back, which was a little bit of a bummer since the room looked oh-so-inviting. Like the remainder of the studio, it was vivid and clean but in addition cozy, like you might expect from a sauna. Contained in the sauna itself, there’s a little bit protective locker to maintain your phone protected in case you desire to bring it in with you to hearken to music, mediations, a podcast—whatever. The sauna experience also includes chromotherapy, aka color light therapy, which is claimed to confer additional health advantages including improved sleep and mood. Every Brightside sauna includes 96 LED lights, each of which corresponds with a distinct profit. You possibly can allow them to cycle through or select individual light colours based on the advantages desired. I definitely plan to return to experience this firsthand.

Hot yoga studios, and sometimes even yoga studios more generally, might be intimidating, which is, I feel, the largest value proposition at Brightside: The space is an awesome option for individuals who have never tried hot yoga before and/or don’t have an existing yoga practice because the founders have definitely executed on their mission of constructing it a warm (literally!) and welcoming environment. However it is sensible as an area for seasoned practitioners as well—the category I attempted was nothing like anything I’ve done before, in one of the best ways. And the easy-to-book, aesthetically pleasing sauna offering feels pretty unique, too. The one downside for me is the commute; let’s be honest, nobody in LA travels outside of their immediate ‘hood for a workout. That is why I let Webb and Driscoll know that their next location must be Silverlake, where I live.

For now, the founding duo says they’re focused on their initial Culver City location, but that they’d eventually wish to expand. Says Driscoll, “We really need Brightside to be a spot where everyone seems to be welcome, and where they leave as the perfect version of themselves.” IMO? Mission achieved.