Sweat + Soul

I’ve been dragged into doing my first half marathon, I blame my triathlete bf. Some days are great and I love it, some days are hard and I question myself why Im running, some days are painful and sore and all I want to do is lay down.
But I’m determined to not walk during the half marathon and do as much as I can to do to cross train which is where Barre comes in. I found a living social deal for $ 50 for 5 classes so my sister and a friend and I all signed up.
The first class was hard. My abbs and ribs were sore and It almost hurt to breathe. But it hurt so good. If you know what it feels like for your body to shake while working out, that’s the norm in this studio. But don’t let that hold you back, when you look at the instructors lean toned bodies it will be inspiration enough to keep going.
The instructors are awesome! Ritchie and Lianne are passionate about barre and it’s easy to see during their classes. And even though they are fixing my positioning more often then not, they have this kind way of doing it so you don’t feel singled out.
Although you’ll see pictures of ballet bars on the website, those are only used to do exercises. You don’t have to be a ballerina. I’m definitely far from it. I’ve only done 3 classes so far but I’m definitely hooked. Hopefully my butt, legs, abbs will thank me soon enough. :)

Ever wonder why ballerinas have such toned bodies? Just attend a barre class and you’ll quickly find out. To preface my review, here are a few things about barre in general that are good to know: Number One — Every day is leg day at barre, Two — You will shake during class from the intensity of the exercises and Three — You will be told to EMBRACE the shake.
I discovered Sweat + Soul from a Unilocal Kicks Butt event back in 2015. They’re located in Kaka’ako right across the BJ Penn UFC gym and right next door to The Hang Out (aerial yoga). They have a really tiny space that’s easy to miss but if you look up at the really colorful building across the gym, you’ll spot them on the 2^nd floor. There’s a staircase to the left that will lead you right to Sweat + Soul’s door. Their lobby and retail area is really spacious and they have a table and some racks for merchandise (grip socks, tank tops, water bottles, etc.) Right outside of the actual studio, there’s a shelf for your belongings and some clean towels for the class.
The actual studio is pretty tiny and very clean, probably the cleanest workout space I’ve ever seen in a workout facility. There are additional shelves in the back of the studio for belongings and that back corner also houses the weights, straps, workout balls, mats and disinfectant wipes. The walls are lined with, you guessed it — the barre.
Sweat + Soul offers a few different classes (Barre, Cardio and Barre, and Yin Yoga) and their schedule is conveniently posted on their website. Classes begin with a warm up and then a mix of whoop ass is quickly thrown your way and your muscles are definitely worked. I mean, you’ll work muscles you never even knew you had. A typical workout is as follows: warm up, arms (with light weights), push ups, legs and glutes (on the barre), core and stretching. You pretty much get a full body workout with every session and the nice surprise for me is that I find out I worked parts of my body without even knowing. Sounds crazy but parts of my body end up aching and I don’t remember even working on those particular areas of my body. Yin Yoga is not as intense as barre and the class is much slower but is really helpful because of all the stretching. The poses target tissues, joints and bones that aren’t normally exercised.
Their entire staff is awesome. All of the lovely ladies are warm and friendly. During class, the instructors are nothing but encouraging and keep an eye out to make sure we’re in correct form and also provide modifications to either decrease the intensity or kick it up to make the workout even more intense. Not to mention, their playlists are pretty sweet and help to keep the energy up in the room.
There are a bunch of different class times to choose from throughout the day so it’s pretty easy to find a class that will fit into your schedule. Your body may hate you during class but when you begin to see and feel the results a few classes later, your body will definitely thank you.

I made a New Years resolution to love myself more. One of the ways I’m loving myself is by doing barre! I’ve tried other studios in the past and I enjoyed them but they didn’t leave me wanting to come back.
I bought their new client special for $ 103 after tax. It’s definitely worth the money because I can take any class multiple times a day if I want! Although the teachers kick your butt so I don’t think I could handle multiple classes in one day.
Their studio is clean and organized with a nice selection of retail items as well as «sticky» socks!
Overall this studio makes my body and soul happy and I’m so thankful I found this place!

Exactly one year ago, I walked out of my first barre class at Sweat + Soul sweaty, sore, and smiling! I had recently been introduced to barre classes and was unequivocally obsessed with this form of workout that combines ballet, yoga, and pilates-​based moves with light weights, fun grip socks, and lively music. At the time, barre classes in Hawaii were fairly new and had yet to gain widespread attention, so imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that a new barre studio would be opening in Kaka’ako! I signed up to the their email list and waited patiently for their doors to open. In the days leading up to Sweat + Soul’s opening, they offered a few free introductory classes and I immediately signed up!
From my first visit to Sweat + Soul, I knew that this place was special. Located in an up-​and-​coming area of town, Sweat + Soul’s studio was a breath of fresh air in Hawaii’s landscape of boutique studios. The interior is clean and streamlined with all the amenities, including mats, weights, straps, blocks, balls, towels, and water, provided free of charge. Melissa, the owner of Sweat + Soul, was warm and inviting and immediately remembered my name and made me feel welcome. And, the students, who were all of varied fitness levels, were friendly and encouraging. Since that first visit to Sweat + Soul, the studio has only grown more special to me. More instructors, more students, more classes, more variety, MORE FUN!
I initially started going to barre classes at Sweat + Soul every other day, but have since increased to almost every day! Barre is the only workout to not only keep my attention, but make me excited to exercise. While you may plateau with other forms of exercise, barre gets more challenging as you get stronger. The instructors, who are all encouraging and supportive, offer options in class to help you challenge yourself in new ways. I love that, whether you are new to barre or a regular, everyone in class (and I mean EVERYONE) will be sweating, shaking, and struggling together!
Sweat + Soul is like a family. We sweat together, we shake together, and we support each other to find confidence and strength! It’s been exactly one year since my first class at Sweat + Soul and it has been the most amazing year ever!

I have this thing called arm envy, where I get incredibly jealous of females with perfectly toned arms. 2 years ago I told everyone and their moms that I wanted Michelle Obama arms. I even told my boss about my arm envy and my boss stated «you want her arms?» And in my head I screamed «umm, have you not seen her guns?! They look fantastic!» Fast forward two years and my arm is still shapeless… and if I was to describe them to you my arms are pretty much cankles glued to my hands. Depressing? I know…
After finishing my half marathon last month, I decided to put my foot down and stop crying over my arms and do something about it. I heard about barre and thought it would be the perfect solution. I looked up Sweat + Soul, read their reviews, and decided to take a class.
The studio is beautiful and exceptionally clean. They have towels, mats, and other equipments for you to use. You can use your own socks but I would highly recommend purchasing a barre sock since it grippy and won’t have you sliding everywhere, The classes are a hour and it’s extremely fast paced. If you love workouts like yoga sculpt and body pump, you’ll love barre. Same intensity and energy but totally different workout. If you have read other reviews prior to mines, you may have come across people talking about «shaking» during the workouts. Shaking is real!!! One time, I shook so much during a certain thigh exercise I thought I would going to topple over and bring the girl in front of me down too.
I have taken classes with Richie and Melissa and they are both excellent. They’re incredibly friendly and their music choice for the workouts are great. Parking isn’t difficult at all. I have never had a hard time finding a stall in the area after work (around 5:30PM) and even on the weekends.
After taking some of these classes I have a feeling I am on my way to achieving those beautiful toned arms like Michelle Obama’s. I mean they can’t be cankle-​ish forever right!!!

I have to admit, I first joined this class because I have Black Swan fantasies. I mean, I have to keep up with my twin, Natalie Portman, right? And after I bombed my first adult ballet class, I was stoked to find out that there was a new barre studio in my neighborhood. I’ve been coming to Sweat + Soul for the past several months now. And although I don’t feel like a ballerina (my poor hair is a hot mess and my clothes are plastered to my back with sweat after each class), I feel like I am getting to be as strong as one.
I would describe myself as already relatively fit, but I still get my butt kicked (in a nice way) every time I go to class. It is quite challenging, but you are encouraged to work at your own personal best. As Richie always says, «No comparing!»
What I love about coming here though is I see people from all levels of fitness. There are some who look like they are just about to begin their fitness journeys and those who are in the thick of it. It’s ok… we all die pulsing in weird pretzel positions together haha! The atmosphere the teachers create are very encouraging to those just beginning and to those who want to move forward.
My tips would be to bring a big bottle of cold water when you come. Come a bit early if you want to choose your favorite spot in the room. Also come with an open mind… we all look ridiculous doing stuff, seriously, it’s ok, even for the guys. Come prepared to die… I mean, sweat! Cute socks do help (I personally like the ones with sparkles or the ombré ones, which you can purchase there). Don’t compare, and just go for it!

I love this place! I haven’t gone in a while and haven’t gotten around to sign up for a monthly membership, but they have a $ 40 for 2 week special and I snagged that opportunity with a friend. We took classes with all of the instructors (Paola, Melissa, and Richie) and loved it! I feel the burn after 5 minutes into the class and it feels so good once the class is over. You feel refreshed, accomplished, and motivated to stay fit. The movements throughout the class tones and targets the whole body and body parts so everything feels like it’s working.
Parking isn’t very hard to find even though there is the UFC gym right across the street. I normally just find street parking where I have to feed the meter and if I dare, I turn into the alley where the UFC members park to see if I can luck out and snag a stall there.
All of the instructors are so nice and they make you feel welcome on your first day. It’s okay if you struggle through the class because the only ones that make it look easy are the instructors, so it’s okay to struggle all together!

«Release any frustrations, any judgments, any comparisons and replace them with gratitude for your hard work and dedication in class today.» This place is not about getting lost into the motion, but being more aware of your body and putting as much focus and energy into every single part of your body to maintain the correct positions.
I’ve been coming here every morning for the past 4 – 5 months, and I’ve seen my body change so much! I’ve always been an active person, and besides my typical activities, such as soccer and running, I’ve never been able to keep interest in anything else. I’ve tried the gym, but never found the motivation to go, so I ended up canceling my membership. I’ve tried zumba, and as much as it was fun, I didn’t feel I was making any progress in my weight and body, so I quit going. I’ve tried workout videos, but lost interest quickly. But when I attended my first barre class here, even though it was super challenging and I felt the burn afterwards, I got addicted to it and found myself going everyday!
The great part about this place is their New Client Special. Where most places make you buy their membership right away without even testing it out if you’ll even like it first, Sweat + Soul has a deal for 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $ 40. And if you want to purchase their membership, even though it says $ 128/​month, if you purchased their New Client Special, you get an additional discount off their membership fees: $ 99/​month! But you have to purchase it within a week after your 2 weeks deal expires in order to get that special.
The instructors here are amazing! I’ve never raved so much about working out until I got here. The instructors are really what make this place stand-​out from anywhere else. They’re super friendly, they care about their students as they’re always constantly asking ways they could improve, and not only do they motivate us to push our boundaries, but they are always making sure to compliment us when we’re improving in our positions. Their encouragement and assistance in making me better is one of the reasons why I find myself committed to attending class everyday! It’s one thing to feel you’re improving, but when you hear someone else acknowledge your progress, you can’t imagine how much of a booster that is towards your self-​confidence!
From my first day in class to where I am now, I’ve improved so much in my flexibility and in my strength. And it’s always so amazing to hear the instructors point out your accomplishments over the past months and how they feel so touched to be apart of my journey on making health and fitness a main priority.
Thank you Sweat + Soul for helping me grow confidence in myself and in my body.

Put away all those preconceived notions you might have about barre, or else you’re gonna come here and get your butt kicked. Actually, you’re likely to get your butt kicked no matter what!
Classes are scheduled at convenient times throughout the day. Since I am sooo not a morning person, the afternoon classes at 5-​ish worked perfectly for me! They have an online system where you need to sign up for classes to ensure that there’s enough space for everyone. This works on a first come, first served basis so keep that in mind. Having to plan ahead definitely helped me to look forward to my workouts as well as keep me accountable, since there is a fee for missing classes! Talk about killing 2 birds with one stone.
The studio is gorg in all of its clean, sparkling perfection. People, this everything that a workout space should be! No skunky smells or grossness (I’m looking at you, 24 Hour Fitness… Just thinking about the random abandoned bandaids in the workout area still gives me shivers); it was love at first sight! The instructors are awesome, super engaging and energetic. They have a good music selection that I found really helped me feel pumped up!
Barre moves on their own might seem easy at first, but when combined as a workout, the repetitions are killer! On my very first lesson, the instructor suggested that I start with the lightest, 2 lb dumbbells. I was skeptical, but oh boy, was she right! Halfway through the workout I found that I needed to pause because my arms were burning! The routines worked a little bit of everything: arms, abs, legs, booty!
Parking kind of sucks in the area. You’ll need to look for street parking, and beware if you use the meters near the park. I believe that they have a maximum time limit of one hour, but the classes are also about an hour. Luckily I didn’t get a ticket, but it’s a gamble!
Membership is pricey at $ 140 a month, compared to the $ 30 that I pay at 24 Hour Fitness. But I can honestly say that I think it’s worth every penny. Never before have I actually enjoyed AND looked forward to working out so much! That in itself is priceless!

I’ve taken my share of workout classes but Sweat + Soul is definitely a winner in my books! Tomorrow will be my fourth session and honestly, I am completely hooked.
Additionally, I’m not sure how long it’s lasting, but Sweat + Soul has a coupon special on Amazon Local that is a complete steal (5 classes for $ ⁴⁵⁄₈ classes for $ 80). I HIGHLY recommend snatching that deal up while you can!
The classes are tough (and definitely have a range of difficulty depending on who the instructor is) but the hour goes by SO quickly. Be completely prepared, however, to have wobbly legs when you leave. I’ve come embarrassingly close to tumbling down the stairs on my way out (multiple times — shhh).
Oh and also, your butt will HURT the next day. Do your best to not drop things on the floor, at work, when you might have to be in front of people and trying your best not to make inappropriate noises of pain — not that I would know what that’s like, of course…

The barre classes are a GREAT workout! The studio is super nice and clean and new. The instructors are awesome. The location is convenient, just wish there was parking available in front (you have to find street parking). Towels are provided. Socks (required) and bottled water are available for purchase.
I went to the Unilocal Kicks Butt event here and loved it. I bought a 10-​pack of classes through Amazon Local and have been enjoying the workouts.

If you come to barre thinking it’s just an easy class that’s all stretches, I’m afraid you’d be in over your head!
I was very excited to be introduced to Sweat and Soul through a Unilocal Kicks Butt event! Well, I was so smitten (and so sore the next day), that I just had to come again! In fact, I’ve been going 3 times a week for two weeks! ;D
Barre is a low impact class, in that you aren’t running around and jumping up and down like a maniac (not that I don’t enjoy that from time to time), but I guarantee you will feel that burn in your muscles that you yearn for to tell you how great of a workout you got! It isolates muscle groups and with various small movements and light weight, works them to fatigue. I swear I shake from the thigh exercises every single time!
All of my weaknesses, this class focuses on– training my core, strengthening my upper body, and toning me from head to toe! It is a very challenging class, but they offer modifications to make it easier or harder depending on where you are at. The teachers are very aware of each individual, and will help you with positioning and encourage you to do your best! Every time I leave I feel energized and stronger, and I love it! I definitely recommend this class to everyone, regardless of gender or athletic level. Sweat and Soul is where it’s at!

I’ll make any excuse not to work out but these ladies have it all figured out. They provide EVERYTHING you’ll ever need for your work out including mats/​equipment, clothes, water, sticky socks and even hair ties! I book my classes easily through an app that syncs to my calendar and they have a 7:30pm class which works great when I get off work late. Seriously no excuses. If you think of one let me know.
I hate the workouts because my limbs are shaking and my muscles are fully feeling the burn. There’s always two too many holds and pulses and I want to die. I’m constantly giving Paola (my Mon/​Thurs instructor) the death stare but she smiles through it unaffected.
Why do I go back? Because at the end of it, I feel awesome. Everyone has great energy, the studio is clean and the music is just right. The only advice I have is to drink a lot of water throughout the day so you don’t cramp up. Maybe no one else has that problem but I’m the worst at staying hydrated and pay for it in class.

Love it! I’ve never heard of barre until I attended this Unilocal event. Since then… it is my FAVORITE workout to do!!!
The studio is located right across the UFC Honolulu gym… There’s lots of metered parking around and it’s located upstairs in this clean, quiet studio.
Melissa and the girls are awesome! I always feel so welcomed when I walk in. I’ve been to a few of Melissa’s classes. She has this soothing voice that keeps you motivated to push through the pain. (Good pain of course) As much as it hurts so good and my legs are shaking uncontrollably, Melissa makes every move worthwhile.
Barre… Is like ballet, Pilates and yoga put together without the dancing. It’s a low impact workout that makes you sweat sweat sweat. Every time I come to barre, I can really feel my muscles engaging. I highly recommend barre for all body types. It’s a great workout! It’s my FAVORITE workout! And as long as my job hours allow… I’m going to keep coming back!

Sweat+Soul is an adorable studio located across from UFC gym on Pohukaina Street. The studio is incredibly clean and has brand new equipment. They offer two types of classes here: Barre, a ballet-​inspired workout, and Yin Yoga. The brand new fitness studio is run by Melissa, who also teaches many of the Barre classes.
Most people come in thinking the studio is so cute and charming, that the classes must be a light aerobic workout to match the atmosphere (I am one of those unfortunate people). A word of caution: Do not be fooled by the soothing music and friendly instructors, the classes are NOT EASY. Your legs, glutes and abs come here… to die.
Barre is an amazing workout that strengthens your entire body, with emphasis on your lower half. From variations of ballet stances to pushups to incredibly intense ab workouts, Barre heavily focuses on small-​muscle, isometric movements to build up strength and endurance.
Melissa and the gang are very friendly and helpful. They will walk around during class to correct your form or push you to hold a little longer. And they learned my name so quickly! A difficult feat for many people! They are very open to questions and feedback and take the time to explain what they do before and after a session.
A few helpful suggestions for your first session:
1) Bring a pair of socks with grips (or you can buy a cute pair for $ 10 at the studio)
If you forget to bring this, you’ll slide around and have trouble performing the holds.
2) Bring water. You might not be moving around a lot, but the burn will leave you thirsting for some hydration.
3) Only street parking is available. You can park for free after 5:30pm on weekdays.
Overall, a really positive experience. I would recommend this studio for anyone. The classes seem to draw primarily women, but I think the classes are also a great opportunity for men to develop their lower body and improve their flexibility. They currently are offering a 2 week pass for $ 40 to give their studio a try. Normally priced at $ 128/​month, the 2 week pass is a steal!

Bought the Amazon local coupon, and have enjoyed both classes that I have attended so far. Melissa is a great instructor, explaining each exercise clearly and helps newbies like me make adjustments. It was a great workout, as the next day, muscles I didn’t even know existed hurt — but in a good way — «it hurts so good!» Parking can be a hassle — I was almost late to class — so leave extra time (and have quarters!) to make sure you can get to class on time. Go check it out!

Feeeeel the burn! That’s exactly what you’ll be feeling after every session. Everything hurt. Muscles I didn’t even know I had, hurt but hurts so good!!!
Love the fact that it uses mostly body weight and resistance to work you out. You will use some small weights and the barre but it’s mainly small movements done w your own body weight. The workout is a combo of core targeting exercises, ballet, yoga, pilates, and small, repetitive movements. I love the fact that it really targets your bum bum because I have such a hard time getting a good bum bum workout! Seems like nothing I do will get it to burn but mine feels firm, tight, and sore after every session here. These workouts are suppose to make you build long, lean muscles and I’m built like a mini football player so hoping this is true.
Melissa is awesome and her voice is so soothing. I dunno how she works out w her class w a mic on and does it for multiple classes. O_​o she is attentive and corrects your positioning during class and is sooo nice! The rest of the staff is super sweet as well.
I already have a gym membership but after my first class I knew, this class was gonna be a regular part of my routine so it was a no brainer I was gonna purchase the monthly pass here as well. Get the monthly pass, it’s totally worth it and watch yourself turn into a lean, mean, muscle machine.

HAPPY HOUR at the BARRE!
Are you bored with your current workout routine? I was.
Do you want to increase your core strength and improve your posture? I do.
Do you want a flatter stomach and longer leaner muscles? Who wouldn’t?
Try a Barre class at Sweat and Soul. Sweat + Soul is a boutique studio specializing in Barre and yoga. I never took a yoga class here, so this review is only for the Barre classes. I bought the $ 40 for 2 weeks unlimited deal just to try it out. After my first class I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. After my second class I was still on the fence. Somewhere after the third class it kicked in and I ended up going to six barre classes in 12 days, to feel the full benefit of going to Barre classes regularly.
2015 is the year of the BARRE
I would describe a Barre class as a mixture of yoga, Pilates, core strength isometric exercises, and ballet *inspired* leg and arm exercises (note the *inspired* part. because this is nothing like ballet).
I’ve belonged to various gyms for over 20 years and have tried it all. I started my exercise fascination with the «20 minute workout» on TV (now how many of you remember THAT show??), hi impact, lo impact, step, kickboxing, cycle, Zumba, yoga, Pilates, strength training, boot camp… you name it, I’ve done it all. But I had never taken a Barre class before. I go to the gym a few times a week, which includes weight training, yoga, and some cardio. How hard could it be, right?
WELL. Let me tell you.
Apparently I was not training my core. My core was weak. I thought my legs were strong but they were SHAKING after some of the Barre leg raises. By eliminating the glute involvement, the quadriceps do all the work and I was dying during the fold over section. The elevated plié death squats (my official name for them, not theirs) causes tremendous amount of shaking each time. I love balls but when I have to squeeze the ball in-​between my thigh while squatting on tip toe… it’s KILLER. There is even one move where I felt like I was learning to TWERK! I am still a work in progress but now I’m more aware of where my hips, shoulders and ears are. I have to tell myself to pull my shoulders back and down, square my hips and tuck my tailbone in to stand in the correct position.
It is easy to fall out of the correct posture/​position and not work the muscle you’re supposed to be working. This is where having a great instructor/​trainer like Melissa comes in. She is the sweetest person but don’t let that fool you. She kicks my ass. Every. Single. Time. She makes sure that I don’t «cheat». Just when I think «omg I can’t do another one», she says «okay just a little bit higher Lori! Squeeze it past my hand. Just 4 more!» and sometimes I look at her and think «uh no way».
Today Melissa decided to make me into a «pretzel». No problem there until she said «ok now lift the back knee, and pulse». (ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?) I didn’t even think it was possible to lift that back leg! With proper alignment and a strong core lock, it happened. Even though I don’t sweat as much in a Barre class as I do in hot yoga, or classes like kickboxing, I definitely feel it the next day. I am sitting here typing because I can’t really do much else since the rest of my body is sore.
It’s not all torture, though. The deep stretches are awesome, with the strap or bar assist. I feel longer, stronger, leaner, meaner (!), and my legs and butt have gotten a huge wake up call. This has helped me lift more weight at the gym, and has increased my flexibility in yoga, so these Barre classes are a great addition to my current workout routine. The price for monthly membership is a little bit much for me, and my schedule is erratic, so pay-​per-​class works better for me. I found a deal on Amazon Local this week: $ 45 for 5 classes or $ 80 for 10 classes, which is a HUGE STEAL. Go get it now.
Now who wants to meet me at the BARRE?
LOGISTICS
Parking: Daytime – Street METER parking ($ 0.75/hr) – Pohukaina is 2hrs, Cooke St is 1hr only (so you can not park on Cooke, as you will be gone longer than an hour!). Free after 6pm. Do not leave your car over the time limit and put more quarters. I got a ticket on Pohukaina when I left my car there for 2.5hrs (I had put more quarters in the meter, but they marked my tires). There are some free spaces on the surrounding streets but I’ve never been able to find an open spot.
Location: Across from UFC gym, in the same building as Tropical Blends and Hang Out (the aerial yoga place). Go to the second floor of this building, it will be at the top of the stairwell.
Must wear grippy socks. 2 bathrooms are outside the studio. No showers. No childcare.

This was admittedly the first time I had tried barre and I LOVED IT!
Even before trying them out during their grand opening, I was thrilled with the concept. A yoga studio and a barre studio in one– toning and relaxation!
The spot is located next to The Hang Out and in a colorful, painted building across from the UFC gym. (Ummm, can you talk about an awesome pairing– the Hang Out, UFC gym and Sweat and Soul?! Maybe one day they will do a joint membership!) Parking is all street parking which is probably problematic for some of the class times.
I went to two of their free classes during their grand opening weekend and I was impressed with both. I did 7:30 am barre– a great strengthening workout for the early morning! My favorite part of it is that it had an engaging and upbeat music soundtrack and integrated classical dance moves. Having done ballet as a kid, it was cool to remember those moves!
I also did Yin yoga, which is a type of relaxing (yet challenging!) yoga that increases blood flow to your deep tissue and rids your body of toxins. You hold the poses for about three minutes each. This was more of a workout then you might think and I really enjoyed the sensation of new blood flowing throughout my entire body. In addition, the candles made the session beautiful and even more relaxing.
Sweat + Soul is a clean space– completely new and clean. They have water, towels, mats, blocks, cleaning wipes for your mat, etc– all for free. They also have a store with workout clothing and accessories– currently, you get a percentage off with your Unilocal check-​in!
Although the membership is pricey– about $ 120/​month, I definitely want to come back.

I have been waiting and waiting for this adorable studio to open up in Kaka’ako and the day has finally come! I spied Sweat + Soul when I took at class at the Hang Out next door and three months later the doors opened for barre and yoga classes. I had signed up for their email list and got an invite for their free weekend of Grand Opening classes. Yes, oh yes! I wanted to try their barre class but was only able to fit in their candlelight Yin yoga. I always believe that the Universe always delivers exactly what you need and a relaxing hour of yoga was just what my body was yearning for.
Located across from the BJ Penn UFC gym, Sweat & Soul is hidden on the second floor. When you walk in there’s an assortment of yoga gear for sale and a check-​in area. The studio itself is tiny but it was a great place for our candlelit yoga session. I’m not a candle person but the Yin yoga class has totally changed my mind! I practice hot yoga about 3 – 4 times a week but the addition of candles created the most relaxing environment. The class was interesting because I’ve never taken a Yin yoga class and we held each pose for much longer than regular yoga. I’m consider myself to be very flexible but found certain poses very intense because of the length of the hold.
At the end of class our instructor talked to each guest to get feedback which I thought was great! I was lucky enough to meet Melissa (the owner) afterwards and she was such a lovely person. Can’t wait to try out their barre classes and I look forward to another Yin yoga session!