Brightside is a three way partnership between Webb and her Squeeze co-founder Brittany Driscoll as a part of their wellness model collective The Feel Good Company, which additionally birthed Squeeze and Okay People. The brand new enterprise was impressed by Webb’s ex-husband, Cam Webb, who she describes as “the inventive mastermind” behind Drybar, Squeeze, and Okay People.
“Cam was doing each sizzling yoga and infrared saunas individually and realized that not solely was there a chance to create a greater model expertise within the yoga house, however he felt like there was a extremely massive alternative to mix the 2,” says Driscoll.
Infrared remedy has just lately gained reputation resulting from a rising consciousness of its advantages to human well being. Analysis reveals that infrared remedy might promote exercise recovery, reduce chronic pain, boost mood and energy levels, and improve both cardiovascular and skin health, amongst different advantages. Brightside’s founders felt the infrared yoga expertise was superior to the stifling expertise of doing yoga in a historically heated room, however additionally they needed to supply an easy-to-book non-public sauna expertise as an adjunct service, or instead for individuals who don’t have or need a yoga observe.
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What to anticipate at Brightside
The resultant studio is a bit like a Y7 and Chillhouse mixed and completed with sunny Drybar vibes. It options 4 totally different yoga lessons ($29 per class or barely less with membership options) in a studio heated with infrared expertise—Brightside Fundamentals, Energy Play, Sculpt Sesh, and Fusion Stream—alongside 4 well-appointed sauna rooms, every of which will be booked for 45-minute particular person classes all through the day for $39 or $29.75 with a membership.
Like its founders’ different companies, Brightside is a tech-forward firm that gives a do-everything app as one in all its key differentiators; from the app, you may guide yoga and sauna classes, fee your experiences, buy refreshments, and observe your progress.
Additionally in step with The Really feel Good Firm’s different companies, Brightside is designed to be fashionable, cheerful, on-trend, and but not like anything in its house. Webb says the workforce used the identical architect employed by each Drybar and Squeeze, and that they leaned closely on their learnings from constructing these companies to create a novel surroundings. “We needed to make it really feel welcoming to everybody, significantly those that don’t contemplate themselves to be seasoned yogis or regulars,” she says.
There’s a philanthropic part to the enterprise as properly. Webb and Driscoll have partnered with the group Action for Healthy Kids, which is devoted to creating more healthy faculties. “For each membership offered, we’re serving to to offer an hour of bodily exercise to a baby in an underserved group to allow them to grow to be wholesome, thriving adults,” says Driscoll.
What it was like taking an infrared yoga class at Brightside
I simply so occur to be a sizzling yoga junkie, so I used to be past excited when Webb and Driscoll invited me to strive the studio out for myself. I are likely to agree with them that almost all sizzling yoga studios, even those I like, really feel a bit dingy. Not Brightside. The studio’s aesthetic is strictly what you might anticipate from the founders of Drybar—shiny, white, and ethereal with pops of cheerful colour all through.
Upon getting into the yoga room, I spotted Webb and Driscoll had a degree. Whereas it was actually heat, it didn’t really feel as oppressively muggy because the historically heated yoga rooms I’m used to. The easiest way I can describe the differing sensations is that I felt I might really breathe, and I wasn’t immediately dripping in sweat. The founders attribute this to the truth that infrared expertise heats objects in a room, whereas conventional forced-air heating programs (aka common previous warmth) warmth every little thing. The previous tends to be extra snug 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 consideration to the outline after I signed up and was anticipating a delicate vinyasa practice. What I received as an alternative was an excellent distinctive mixture of yoga, HIIT, power coaching with weights, and cardio. In different phrases, it was like each exercise style I get pleasure from melded collectively into one hour-long exercise, which was in the end fairly intense. When you’re the sort of one that leaves a yoga class feeling like all you bought was a superb stretch, that is the category for you—it’s most undoubtedly a exercise and a well-rounded one at that. I loved the category and located the surroundings to be extra upbeat total than I used to be used to. It felt energizing, even because the work itself was exhausting.
After class, I used to be escorted to one of many sauna rooms, however just for a peek. The studio doesn’t really advocate partaking within the yoga and sauna experiences back-to-back, which was a little bit of a bummer as a result of the room appeared oh-so-inviting. Like the remainder of the studio, it was shiny and clear but in addition cozy, like you might anticipate from a sauna. Contained in the sauna itself, there’s a bit of protecting locker to maintain your telephone protected in case you need to carry it in with you to hearken to music, mediations, a podcast—no matter. The sauna expertise additionally contains chromotherapy, aka color light therapy, which is alleged to confer further well being advantages together with improved sleep and mood. Each Brightside sauna contains 96 LED lights, every of which corresponds with a special profit. You possibly can allow them to cycle by way of or choose particular person gentle colours primarily based on the advantages desired. I undoubtedly plan to return to expertise this firsthand.
Sizzling yoga studios, and generally even yoga studios extra usually, will be intimidating, which is, I feel, the largest worth proposition at Brightside: The house is a good possibility for individuals who have by no means tried sizzling yoga earlier than and/or don’t have an current yoga observe because the founders have undoubtedly executed on their mission of creating it a heat (actually!) and welcoming surroundings. However it is smart as an area for seasoned practitioners as properly—the category I attempted was nothing like something I’ve carried out earlier than, in one of the simplest ways. And the easy-to-book, aesthetically pleasing sauna providing feels fairly distinctive, too. The one draw back for me is the commute; let’s be sincere, nobody in LA travels outdoors of their rapid ‘hood for a exercise. That is why I let Webb and Driscoll know that their subsequent location ought to be Silverlake, the place I stay.
For now, the founding duo says they’re targeted on their preliminary Culver Metropolis location, however that they’d ultimately prefer to broaden. Says Driscoll, “We actually need Brightside to be a spot the place everyone seems to be welcome, and the place they depart as the most effective model of themselves.” IMO? Mission completed.
