Beautifully Toned

About This Class

Bryan Kest leads a richly layered 70-minute dynamic flow built around three interlocking themes: upper-body and posterior-chain strengthening, expansive hip and shoulder opening, and a meditative gratitude practice at the close. The class opens in Child's Pose and Down Dog before moving through repeated cycles of Plank, Baby Cobra, full Cobra, and Locust/Superman variations that progressively warm the entire backside of the body. Arm-balance exploration — side plank progressions, three-legged Down Dog with knee-to-elbow and knee-to-forehead sequences, and awkward airplane — challenges shoulder stability and core control without sacrificing breath freedom. The standing block pairs Crescent Lunge, Hero (Warrior II), and Warrior I with a bound forward-fold shoulder stretch, followed by deep low-lunge hamstring work, a quad-stretch with a gentle spinal twist, and a wide-legged pigeon-style hip opener. The floor finale includes Bow Pose, a core series (Boat/scissor legs), Plow, and Shoulder Stand, before landing in supine twists and a long Savasana anchored by a guided gratitude meditation. Throughout, Bryan cues deep, smooth, free-flowing breath as the primary marker of appropriate effort, repeatedly encouraging students to back off rather than push through discomfort. The class suits anyone dealing with tight hips, hamstrings, or shoulders, post-workout stiffness, desk-related posture issues, or general stress — while simultaneously delivering meaningful muscular challenge for the back, glutes, shoulders, and core.