Earth/Sky/Mauka/Makai

CorePower Yoga instructor Lia Catanzaro PHOTO COURTESY LIA CATANZARO

CorePower Yoga instructor Lia Catanzaro
PHOTO COURTESY LIA CATANZARO

COREPOWER OPENS WARD STUDIO

CorePower Yoga opens its second Hawaii location next week in Ward Village, beneath T.J. Maxx. The studio launches with an opening party — including a free class — at 6 p.m. Dec. 31. The first full day of business is Jan. 1, 2015. The class schedule is set to be released soon.

“We’re super excited to be in this location,” CorePower yoga teacher and studio assistant Lia Catanzaro says. “This whole (Ward/Kakaako) area is already booming, and it’s going to be the new hotspot. We think we can really empower lots of people with the love of yoga.”

The expansion comes about two-and-a-half years after CorePower opened a one-room studio at Kahala Mall, where business has thrived. The new space, with two rooms, will allow CorePower to teach more classes.

“Now members can practice at either studio — and now we will have three studio rooms going at once,” Catanzaro says. “At any given time, there could be three classes that you could choose from. (Members) will have a lot more options.”

Plus, CorePower anticipates that the Ward location will increase accessibility.

“We have heard from a lot of people that this is close to where they work — so they could come midday, they could come early in the morning,” Catanzaro says.

After all, she explains, it is accessibility in general that CorePower aims to cultivate in its corporate culture.

“A lot of people are intimidated by yoga, for whatever reason,” she says. “But we just like to have an open, inviting space. We aim for everyone to be completely comfortable, for everyone to just be their best and try something new.”

While Ward Village is only the second CorePower location in the state, CorePower studios have been sprouting up throughout the country since the company launched in 2002 in Colorado. Founded by tech entrepreneur Trevor Tice, CorePower now has more than 100 studios in 13 states. Tice discovered yoga as an alternate workout to running and climbing after suffering an ankle injury.

And it’s that ethos Core-Power aims to maintain: Its classes offer an athletic form of the practice that is suitable for experienced athletes, as well as those with injuries, plus beginners or those looking for a meditative experience.

“At CorePower, we are open, we want to empower people, we want to be accessible to any person, any body type, any age,” Catanzaro explains.

Classes offered — both locally and at all CorePower studios — include a fast-paced, flow-style power vinyasa, hot yoga and yoga sculpt, which incorporates weights and cardio. CorePower also offers one week free for prospective members. CorePower members will be able to take classes at either studio. (In fact, members can freely attend classes at any CorePower studio throughout the country.)

CorePower also recently launched free Thursday classes at the Ward Village Information Center courtyard. These sessions are suitable for all levels and will continue after the new studio opens. Plus, wine is offered following classes on the first Thursday of each month.

Catanzaro has been with CorePower for about two years, after starting as a student. For her, one of the greatest appeals of yoga is the way that it can relieve stress.

“I had to be able to spread that to more people,” she says.

“Now that we will be having this second studio here in such a great location with so many people around, that will just help us spread that yoga love even more,” she adds. “That’s really exciting.”

For more information and to view class schedules, visit corepoweryoga.com. Or download the CorePower Yoga app for a full listing of classes.