Call it a coincidence or call it core curriculum: For some Bruins, campus cardio extends beyond the hills of Bruin Walk and into a 95-degree studio at CorePower Yoga Westwood.
At CorePower Yoga Westwood, Bruins are a common sight. As college life pulls students in more directions than ever, some students are finding that a one-hour class offers them a space to put their checklists on pause. Located at 1031 Glendon Ave., just steps away from campus in Westwood Village, the studio’s workouts double as a communal outing.
For Helena Rooney, a fourth-year communication student, the appeal of CorePower Yoga lies in the opportunity for stress management.
“I value the mindfulness aspect,” Rooney said. “I’m in a million different places. … I appreciate putting my phone outside the room, and I’m just going to be here and not worry about anything and try and survive the next 60 minutes.”
Rooney’s love for group fitness began in high school, when she went to the gym with her friends. At UCLA, where it is more difficult to coordinate regular workouts with friends, she said the studio’s group classes give her a built-in community to show up with.
“I’m such an internally motivated person with every other aspect of my life,” Rooney said. “But for some reason, when it comes to fitness and goals, maybe because I grew up doing performing arts, I really love the group aspect.”
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Instructor and UCLA alumnus Owen Pentz said the studio’s proximity to campus shapes the crowd’s energy, compared to other studios in the area where he has been a substitute instructor.
“When you walk in the studio and you’re getting ready to start teaching, everyone’s talking and hanging out,” Pentz said. “At other studios, that’s not always the case.”
Classes rarely feel anonymous, Pentz added. There is almost always a familiar face, which makes for an energetic escape from the swirl of classes, clubs and everything in between, he said.
“More than any other studio I’ve been to, it definitely does feel like a community,” Pentz said.
Instructor and UCLA alumnus Kyra Willett, who was once a student member herself, said she sees a big part of being an instructor as matching the energy of the students who show up. Because most of her Westwood students are undergraduates, she builds her playlists and pacing for them, leaning into the same music she loved as a student, she added.
For Willett, the value of the classes starts with the workout itself. She said she admires CorePower’s approach because it views strength training as both a mental and physical practice. Rather than focusing on physical appearance, the classes are structured around the sense of accomplishment during and after the workout, she said.
“The great thing about yoga and CorePower in general is that when I went in, I’m going to work out and it’s not necessarily to shake myself but to feel good about myself and feel comfortable in my body,” Willett said.
She added that members walk into the studio with energy and community. Students rarely show up alone, she said, usually rolling in with a friend group and connecting the studio with the larger UCLA social scene.
That combination of routine and connection comes with a price tag. An unlimited membership at the studio costs $199 per month at the Westwood location, although CorePower offers discounted pricing for commitment memberships. New members can also receive a free first week and discounted first month.
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Rooney, Willett and Pentz each said they participated in the studio’s Studio Experience Team program, which allows its members to receive a discounted membership in exchange for keeping studios cared for and clean.
For students willing to commit the time, SET offers a discounted yoga membership and further blends fitness and community. Members help with general chores around the studio in exchange for complimentary classes, reduced-price memberships and discounts on retail supplies.
Location makes the studio an easy habit to keep. The Westwood studio is a 17-minute walk from Bruin Walk, close enough to squeeze in a class between lectures without needing a plan to commute.
For Rooney, that familiarity is what keeps her coming back. Amid a busy college schedule, CorePower is a pit stop from campus to reset alongside a community of fellow Bruins, she said.
“UCLA is such an intense school,” Willett said. “It’s a great way of working out with other people who could inspire you and motivate you to keep going, rather than just going to the gym alone.”
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