Brightside is a three way partnership between Webb and her Squeeze co-founder Brittany Driscoll as a part of their wellness model collective The Really feel Good Firm, 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 artistic mastermind” behind Drybar, Squeeze, and Okay People.
“Cam was doing each scorching yoga and infrared saunas individually and realized that not solely was there a chance to create a greater model expertise within the yoga area, however he felt like there was a extremely large alternative to mix the 2,” says Driscoll.
Infrared remedy has lately gained recognition as a result of a rising consciousness of its advantages to human well being. Analysis reveals that infrared remedy might promote train restoration, cut back persistent ache, enhance temper and vitality ranges, and enhance each cardiovascular and pores and skin well being, 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 in its place for individuals who don’t have or desire 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 completely different yoga courses ($29 per class or barely much less with membership choices) in a studio heated with infrared know-how—Brightside Fundamentals, Energy Play, Sculpt Sesh, and Fusion Circulate—alongside 4 well-appointed sauna rooms, every of which could 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 provides a do-everything app as considered one of its key differentiators; from the app, you’ll be able to e book yoga and sauna classes, charge your experiences, buy refreshments, and monitor your progress.
Additionally consistent with The Really feel Good Firm’s different companies, Brightside is designed to be fashionable, cheerful, on-trend, and but in contrast to the rest in its area. Webb says the group 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 Motion for Wholesome Youngsters, which is devoted to creating more healthy faculties. “For each membership bought, we’re serving to to supply an hour of bodily exercise to a toddler in an underserved group to allow them to develop into wholesome, thriving adults,” says Driscoll.
What it was like taking an infrared yoga class at Brightside
I simply so occur to be a scorching yoga junkie, so I used to be past excited when Webb and Driscoll invited me to attempt the studio out for myself. I are likely to agree with them that the majority scorching yoga studios, even those I really like, really feel a bit dingy. Not Brightside. The studio’s aesthetic is strictly what you might count on from the founders of Drybar—vibrant, white, and ethereal with pops of cheerful shade all through.
Upon getting into the yoga room, I spotted Webb and Driscoll had some extent. Whereas it was definitely heat, it didn’t really feel as oppressively muggy because the historically heated yoga rooms I’m used to. One of the best ways I can describe the differing sensations is that I felt I may truly breathe, and I wasn’t immediately dripping in sweat. The founders attribute this to the truth that infrared know-how heats objects in a room, whereas conventional forced-air heating programs (aka common outdated warmth) warmth all the things. 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 observe. What I obtained as a substitute was a brilliant 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. For those who’re the form of one that leaves a yoga class feeling like all you bought was stretch, that is the category for you—it’s most positively 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 truly 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 vibrant and clear but additionally cozy, like you might count on from a sauna. Contained in the sauna itself, there’s a bit of protecting locker to maintain your telephone protected in case you wish to carry it in with you to take heed to music, mediations, a podcast—no matter. The sauna expertise additionally consists of chromotherapy, aka shade gentle remedy, which is claimed to confer extra well being advantages together with improved sleep and temper. Each Brightside sauna consists of 96 LED lights, every of which corresponds with a unique profit. You’ll be able to allow them to cycle by means of or choose particular person gentle colours based mostly on the advantages desired. I positively plan to return to expertise this firsthand.
Sizzling yoga studios, and typically even yoga studios extra usually, could be intimidating, which is, I feel, the most important worth proposition at Brightside: The area is a good choice for individuals who have by no means tried scorching yoga earlier than and/or don’t have an present yoga observe because the founders have positively executed on their mission of constructing it a heat (actually!) and welcoming surroundings. However it is sensible as an area for seasoned practitioners as properly—the category I attempted was nothing like something I’ve accomplished earlier than, in the easiest way. 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 exterior of their speedy ‘hood for a exercise. That is why I let Webb and Driscoll know that their subsequent location needs to be Silverlake, the place I reside.
For now, the founding duo says they’re centered on their preliminary Culver Metropolis location, however that they’d ultimately prefer to develop. 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.
