Yoga has never been my forte. I’ve only taken it once in my life, but on a night last week in Northern Liberties, I decided to try Sculpere. It’s a cross between yoga and ballet, with a little bit of Pilates thrown in there for good measure. The brainchild of studio owner Cristina Espaillat, Sculpere is perfect for those who love yoga and have always wanted to try ballet.

Let me start out by saying that I was ready for the physical workout of Sculpere, but I was definitely not prepared for the mental and spiritual discipline needed to master it.

I was initially drawn to this class because of the ballet component. As a child, my favorite part of ballet class was working the barre. I always felt so elegant and graceful, as I fluidly moved my arms and pointed my toes.

Sculpting the body and mind 

Christina grew up studying dance and concentrated on classical ballet. She joined the City Ballet of San Diego, fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional dancer, in 2003. After breaking her foot in 2005, she gained a passion for yoga that equaled her love of dance. Sculpere is a Latin word that literally means “sculpt.” Christina aims to sculpt both body and mind in her class, and I believe she did just that for me.

The studio is absolutely cozy with Tiffany-blue walls and ceilings, gentle lighting, and soft-brown wooden floors. I felt very comfortable in the class of six, including Cristina.

Feeling the “good” pain

The class began with us sitting on our yoga mats (I purchased my mine at Five Below for $5!) with yoga breathing, relaxation, and stretching. And after a particularly hectic Monday, I really appreciated this de-stressing.

We then moved to the ballet barre for basic pliés (pronounced plee-yays) and grand pliés, then onto simple front, side, and back kicks, complete with pointed toes. This part of the class really gets your blood flowing and heart pounding.  We ended the class back on our yoga mats for core strengthening work and a cool down. The entire workout lasted an hour and 15 minutes.

After taking Sculpere, I realized that I am very out of shape! The next two days, I gingerly walked around because my legs were in pain like I’ve never felt before! But let me clarify, this was a good pain. Given some of the challenges I faced in this class – such as difficulty reaching my toes – I now have a great incentive to get my body back into better condition. Bring on the good pain! I can take it!

In essence, this class is perfect for, but most certainly not limited to, people who have danced in the past, who enjoy yoga, or who are looking for a good challenge. I honestly can’t wait to take a Sculpere class again.

Get discounts at Sculpere

If you’re interested in taking a class at Sculpere, be sure to call 215-592-1200 and reserve your spot. Fans of our IBX Facebook page can even get unlimited monthly classes for $60 and/or a one-hour Reiki Session for $40!

This was a really fun and challenging class that I strongly recommend to anyone looking to get fit and have an awesome time doing it.

What are some challenging classes you’ve taken that have really paid off?