La Jolla San Diego

DECEMBER 18, 2009 -- San Diego yogis sometimes drive to various corners of the county to follow their favorite instructors. And instructors have had to leave the county to study with master teachers. Now, La Jolla Yoga Center offers all that (but no bag of chips) under one roof.

The full-service studio offers more than 90 classes per week from more than 40 instructors in approximately 20 different styles. The weekly schedule provides about 20 classes per day, beginning on the half hour.

There are offerings for true beginners up to level 3/4 in Anusara, Ashtanga, Hatha/Raja, Iyengar, Svaroopa, Vinyasa and more. Tailored courses include Yoga for Golfers, Anusara-Inspired Playtime, Yoga for Cancer Recovery and Prenatal Vinyasa.

The 6,000 square foot, eco-conscious facility, with feng shui design, was the vision of founder and director Jeanie Carlstead. She brings 22 years of yoga experience to the center.

“Many of our students and the community in general have been calling us a beacon of light,” says Carlstead. “They are so appreciative to have a place to gather and see friendly faces, meet old and new friends, and experience such positive energy.

“Others are so happy that they can just drop in any time of the day and just ask what class is starting around now. With so many classes, they feel like they can work yoga around their schedule rather than around a studio's schedule. Many do not even check the schedule. They just show up and know they will be able to take a great class.”

To bring her vision of the studio to fruition, Carlstead teamed up with studio consultant and yoga teacher Bonnie Saldivar-Jones. “It was my great pleasure to help Jeanie actualize her dream,” says Saldivar-Jones.

There are options for aspiring yoga teachers, too. Teacher Training programs will be offered in both Anusara and Vinyasa, beginning in early January. Teachers in training will receive a five month unlimited membership with the course registration. Carlstead and Michael Fukumura are the lead instructors. Guest teachers will include Saldivar-Jones, Erich Schiffmann, Douglas Brooks, Roger Cole, Amanda McCarroll, Carolina Vivas, Ann Williams, Josh Vincent and Michael DeFrancisco.

The course is held on Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday twice a month from January 8 to April 9.

(Heather Back covers fitness and wine bars for sandiegoDTOWN.com.)

DECEMBER 12, 2009 --  Pilates practitioners (estimated at over 11 million of us) can take a note from car enthusiasts and their souped-up engines. Pilates “SPX” is a revved-up version of the system developed by Joseph Pilates.

The traditional method uses the mind to control core postural muscles, teaches awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aims to strengthen the deep torso muscles. The technique provides results often without breaking a sweat.

Pilates Plus La Jolla offers a race-car version of Pilates, aimed at making your pores produce some liquid exhaust. The 40-minute sessions jump start your metabolism while toning the entire body. SPX creator Sebastien Lagree infused core stability with muscle dynamics. With resistance and counter-resistance sequences, muscles hit peak contraction and maximum exertion.

“Circuit-training-style Pilates with a cardio base works each muscle to exhaustion, which transforms the shape of the muscle and makes you feel tighter,” says Pilates Plus owner Jessica Tomson.

After Tomson trained with Sebastien Lagree in West Hollywood, she began dreaming of a studio of her own here in San Diego. Her dream was actualized in January 2009. As an SPX partner, versus franchisee, Tomson leverages the promotion gained from Lagree’s features in InStyle, PilatesStyle, Los Angeles Magazine and on Live! With Regis and Kelly.

With several traditional Pilates classes under my belt—and Wunder Unders—I left my downtown comfort zone to experience Pilates with a punch. There are just eight reformers (Pilates machines), and that means I get a lot of personal attention during this training session.

With no rest between exercises the heart accelerates quickly, while condensing the time to get a complete body workout. Before I know it—like a drag race—the time is up, and we move to roll downs and stretching. I find it fast, fun and efficient, definitely not the ol’ station wagon Pilates.

Lagree has said: “If you don’t want a tighter ass, don’t come here.” After 40 minutes, my glutes and core are exhausted. The principal focus is to strengthen, tighten and tone with strength training and cardio elements, while including the lengthening, therapeutic benefits of traditional Pilates.

The high intensity reduces the time needed for a total body workout—and you’ll be glad when the instructor waves the checkered flag.