Workout Wednesday: Arrichion

I’m trying out a different workout class each week and reporting back for your entertainment every Wednesday. Homegrown fitness concepts all the way up to the big national franchises. Follow along here, browse our fitness archives for more, send class suggestions to [email protected].

Vitals

Name: Arrichion Hot Yoga + Circuit Training
Class: Arrichion offers several different class styles. I have taken: Topaz, Krystallos and Bloodstone
Location: 125 Winona Street
Class schedule: see schedule here
Class duration: 45 minutes
Drop-in rate: $20
Monthly membership: $89 monthly auto renew; $135 month-to-month payments; $55/month for students, seniors and first responders
Good for: people looking for a quick, consistent yoga workout; men who think yoga isn’t for men (there are lots of men here)
Bad for: people who are claustrophobic (small, windowless studio), people who don’t like to sweat, Ted Williams because he can’t pronounce the name to save his life

How to dress and what to bring

This is a very hot studio so come prepared to sweat. Moisture-wicking clothes are a good idea. Spandex pants, shorts, sports bras, whatever you’re comfortable in. They prefer that you avoid entering and exiting the studio once class starts. So unlike most other studios where you can run out to refill your water bottle, here you should bring enough water to get you through the class. Also, I forgot a hair band one time and wanted to straight up perish from the earth. If you have long hair, do something with it.

What to expect in class

Each class is different and you can read all 9 descriptions here. Topaz is a beginner-friendly flow, Krystallos is a challenging hot pilates core strengthening class and Bloodstone is their standard hot vinyasa flow class. Major differentiators on the Arrichion schedule are their MMA Yoga (high-intensity yoga with weights and mixed martial arts moves) and Tiger’s Eye (half yoga, half circuit training) classes.

Plan to arrive on time (which means early) and stay quiet during the class. This is the strictest studio I’ve been to regarding cell phones in class (100% banned unless you’re on call), talking in class (don’t do it) and arriving late to class (not allowed). I really respect that.

The classes I went to started with some simple breathing techniques before moving into the flow. For the most part, they teach the left and ride side of each pose in succession rather than string together a long series of poses on the right followed by a long series of poses on the left.

Class ends with an optional savasana (final rest), which is unique in that most studios make savasana a strongly encouraged requirement for class.

Where you’ll feel it the next day

This will depend on your yoga experience. If you’re new to the practice, you might feel it in your shoulders (from downward facing dog) and quads (from lots of warrior lunges). Personally, I definitely felt it in my core after the Krystallos pilates class.

Locker room situation

There are men’s and women’s locker rooms with cubbies for storage and separate unisex restrooms. Personal belongings aren’t allowed inside the studio so leave them in a cubby or in your car.

My take

I have a lot of respect for what brother-sister duo Clay and Quinn Reynolds have built at Arrichion and replicated in three cities (Charlotte, Durham and Raleigh). Their studio runs like clockwork and their classes follow prescribed, franchise-able formulas that ensure a consistent client experience. I also really like that they’ve set clear ground rules and expectations for clients and that their clients respect those rules.

Fun fact: They hand out colored bands when you hit different attendance milestones. I noticed that people keep them stacked up on their water bottles. Nice touch.

The workout itself is challenging, accessible to all levels and very hot. If you’re not into heat, this is just not your studio.

I didn’t really pay attention to class descriptions on my first visit and so I didn’t realize I was in Topaz, the beginner class. I appreciate it as a very accessible class for beginners and think it’s an important inclusion on the schedule, but if you’re more advanced and looking for a traditional flow, find another class time. Krystallos, the hot pilates class, was very unique for me and challenged muscles I didn’t know existed.

As far as class duration goes, I’ve practiced in and taught hot yoga classes up to 90 minutes so at the end of 45 here at Arrichion, I felt myself craving a bit more. Overall, they’ve got a great thing going, a very activated, loyal following and probably the best yoga pricing around.