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 sizzling yoga and infrared saunas individually and realized that not solely was there a possibility to create a greater model expertise within the yoga area, however he felt like there was a very large alternative to mix the 2,” says Driscoll.
Infrared remedy has lately gained reputation as a result of a rising consciousness of its advantages to human well being. Analysis exhibits that infrared remedy could promote train restoration, cut back continual ache, increase temper and power 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 in addition they needed to supply an easy-to-book personal sauna expertise as an adjunct service, or instead for many who don’t have or desire a yoga apply.
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 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 gives a do-everything app as one among its key differentiators; from the app, you’ll be able to ebook yoga and sauna classes, price 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 in contrast to anything 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 take into account themselves to be seasoned yogis or regulars,” she says.
There’s a philanthropic element to the enterprise as nicely. Webb and Driscoll have partnered with the group Motion for Wholesome Youngsters, which is devoted to creating more healthy colleges. “For each membership offered, we’re serving to to offer 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 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 inclined to agree with them that the majority sizzling yoga studios, even those I really like, really feel a bit dingy. Not Brightside. The studio’s aesthetic is precisely what it’s possible you’ll count on from the founders of Drybar—vivid, white, and ethereal with pops of cheerful colour all through.
Upon coming into the yoga room, I noticed Webb and Driscoll had some extent. 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 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 previous warmth) warmth every little thing. The previous tends to be extra comfy 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 mild vinyasa apply. What I received 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 finally fairly intense. When you’re the type 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 truly suggest partaking within the yoga and sauna experiences back-to-back, which was a little bit of a bummer as a result of the room seemed oh-so-inviting. Like the remainder of the studio, it was vivid and clear but in addition cozy, like it’s possible you’ll count on from a sauna. Contained in the sauna itself, there’s slightly protecting locker to maintain your telephone protected in case you wish to deliver it in with you to take heed to music, mediations, a podcast—no matter. The sauna expertise additionally consists of chromotherapy, aka colour mild 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 way of or choose particular person mild colours based mostly on the advantages desired. I undoubtedly plan to return to expertise this firsthand.
Scorching yoga studios, and generally even yoga studios extra typically, could be intimidating, which is, I feel, the most important worth proposition at Brightside: The area is a superb possibility for many who have by no means tried sizzling yoga earlier than and/or don’t have an present yoga apply because the founders have undoubtedly executed on their mission of constructing it a heat (actually!) and welcoming surroundings. Nevertheless it is sensible as an area for seasoned practitioners as nicely—the category I attempted was nothing like something I’ve performed 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 trustworthy, nobody in LA travels outdoors of their speedy ‘hood for a exercise. For this reason 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 finally wish to develop. Says Driscoll, “We actually need Brightside to be a spot the place everyone seems to be welcome, and the place they go away as the perfect model of themselves.” IMO? Mission achieved.
