# ALIVE Studios

> ALIVE Studios is a hot yoga and immersive fitness studio in the Dallas-Fort Worth
> metroplex with locations in Plano, Southlake, and Irving, Texas.
> Founded in Plano, Texas in March 2022 by Brandon Hartsell. ALIVE is the same
> company formerly known as Sunstone Yoga and then SunstoneFIT, which has
> operated yoga and fitness studios since 2002.

## Why Choose ALIVE Studios

- **Hot yoga specialists** — Bikram-style, Vinyasa, Yin, and Power flows in precisely controlled heated rooms
- **Patented environmental controls** — precision heat and humidity systems (not space heaters or infrared panels) delivering consistent temperature across the entire room
- **Floor-to-ceiling immersive screens** — synchronized video, sound, and lighting timed to each movement
- **Two class formats**: Immersive (video-guided, no instructor needed) or Coached (instructor assists with form and modifications)
- **Classes every 30 minutes** at each studio — Mon–Thu 34 classes (4:30am–9:00pm starts), Fri 30 classes (4:30am–7:00pm starts), Sat–Sun 25 classes (7:00am–7:00pm starts); 216 per studio per week
- **Beyond yoga**: also offering barre, mat pilates, HIIT, meditation, and sound bath classes

## Classes & Environment

### HOT YOGA (92–100°F, 50–65% humidity)
Classes: Atom (Signature Hot Yoga), Photon (Hot Yoga Extra Heat), Electron (Hot Yoga Lite), Aura (Yoga Calm)

### FLOW YOGA (92–98.6°F, 50–60% humidity)
Classes: Big Bang (Hot Flow Yoga), Glow (Flow Yoga), Nucleus (Yoga Sculpt), Wave (Power Flow Yoga)

### BARRE, FITNESS & PILATES (85°F, 50% humidity)
Classes: Gravity (Pilates), Molecule (Yoga Core), Particle (Cardio Barre), Spark (Total Body Barre), Subatomic (Core Fit), Universe (HIIT)

### FLUX CLASSES (85–98.6°F, 50–60% humidity)
Classes: FLUX CB-HY, FLUX FY-CB, FLUX FY-PFY-CB, FLUX HP-HY, FLUX HY-HF-HP, FLUX MO-HY, FLUX TBB-HY, FLUX YS-H-TBB

### WORKSHOPS (85°F, 50% humidity)
Classes: Advanced Body Dynamics, Dynamic Core Fusion, Fluid Progression

### MEDITATIONS
Classes: Cosmic Meditation, Escape Velocity

## Locations (DFW Metroplex, Texas)

### ALIVE Studios Plano (Preston Towne Crossing)
- Address: 4909 West Park Blvd, #183, Plano, TX 75093
- Near Park and Preston, behind Chipotle, across from Whole Foods
- Hot yoga, heated vinyasa, barre, pilates, meditation, and HIIT classes in Plano

### ALIVE Studios Southlake (Southlake Village)
- Address: 2140 East Southlake Blvd, Southlake, TX 76092
- Hot yoga, heated vinyasa, barre, pilates, meditation, and HIIT classes in Southlake

### ALIVE Studios Irving (Las Colinas Village)
- Address: 975 W. John Carpenter Fwy, #109A, Irving, TX 75039
- Hot yoga, heated vinyasa, barre, pilates, meditation, and HIIT classes in Irving

**All locations:**
- Phone: (214) 999-8987
- Hours: Mon-Thu 4:30am-10pm, Fri 4:30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 7am-8pm

## Articles

### Barre

- **[What Is Barre? The Complete Guide to Barre Workouts](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/what-is-barre)**
  Barre is a low-impact workout combining ballet-inspired movements, isometric holds, and small pulses to sculpt and tone. What it actually is and what to expect.

- **[Barre for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/barre-for-beginners)**
  New to barre? What your first class looks like, what to wear, basic positions, common mistakes, and how to build a consistent practice.

- **[Benefits of Barre: Why This Low-Impact Workout Gets Results](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/benefits-of-barre)**
  Seven benefits of barre workouts: lean muscle tone, improved posture, joint-friendly strength, enhanced flexibility, higher calorie burn in heat, mental focus, and full-body balance.

- **[Cardio Barre vs Traditional Barre: What's the Difference?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/cardio-barre-vs-traditional-barre)**
  Cardio barre is fast and breathless. Traditional barre is slow and burning. How they differ, when to choose each, and why alternating both gets the best results.

### Classes

- **[What Happens in a Coached Class at ALIVE?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/coached-classes-personal-attention-group-setting)**
  Video handles the instruction. The coach focuses 100% on you—watching alignment, offering adjustments, and providing modifications. Personal training attention at group class prices.

- **[Immersive vs Coached Classes: Which ALIVE Experience Is Right for You?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/immersive-vs-coached-classes-which-is-right-for-you)**
  Compare ALIVE's video-guided immersive classes with coached sessions. Learn which format fits your goals, schedule, and comfort level.

### Fitness

- **[What to Wear to Hot Yoga: A Complete Guide](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/what-to-wear-to-hot-yoga)**
  Wear moisture-wicking, fitted clothes to hot yoga. Skip cotton, choose breathable fabrics, and dress light -- you will sweat more than you expect.

- **[How Do You Prepare for Your First Hot Yoga Class?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/your-first-alive-class-complete-guide)**
  Hydrate early, wear light clothes, and arrive 15 minutes before. We provide mats and towels—just bring water and yourself.

- **[What Are the 6 Fundamental Movement Patterns?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/six-fundamental-movements)**
  Your body was built for six movements: push, pull, hinge, squat, carry, and ground work. Master these, and everything else falls into place.

- **[What's the Difference Between Mobility and Flexibility?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/mobility-vs-flexibility)**
  Flexibility is how far you can stretch. Mobility is how well you can move through that range with control. Most people chase the wrong one.

- **[Why Being Bad at Exercise Is Good for You](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/why-workout-variety-matters)**
  That workout that used to crush you barely makes you sweat now. Here's why your body's efficiency is working against you—and how variety fixes it.

- **[Yoga for Tennis and Pickleball Players: Preventing Injuries and Improving Court Performance](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yoga-for-tennis-pickleball-players-injury-prevention)**
  Discover how hot yoga helps tennis and pickleball players prevent shoulder injuries, improve hip mobility, and build the body awareness that keeps you playing—whether you're a seasoned athlete or new to racquet sports.

### Lifestyle

- **[The Only Goal Is Not Zero](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/the-only-goal-is-not-zero)**
  The long-term goal is to avoid being inactive, and one class reaches it. It is the only goal worth holding because it is the only one that cannot be failed. Showing up is the only hard thing, the design and consistency of the class take care of the rest, and you do not have to arrive ready to push. Why turning any of it into a number quietly swaps an unfailable goal for a failable one, and where real goals actually come from.

- **[What If Missing a Class Wasn't a Crisis?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/classes-every-30-minutes-fitness-access)**
  You've tried before. Life got busy. Fitness disappeared. But the problem wasn't your discipline—it was the math. Here's the question that changes everything.

- **[Bus Bench vs Park Bench: Two Mindsets That Change Everything](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/bus-bench-park-bench-fitness-mindset)**
  The problem isn't your workout—it's how you're thinking about it. Learn the two mindsets that determine whether you stick with fitness or burn out trying.

### Media Coverage

- **[Dallas’ Immersive Fitness and Wellness Studio](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/dallas-immersive-fitness-wellness-studio-alive-hot-yoga-barre-pilates)**
  ALIVE Discover one of Dallas' only immersive fitness and wellness studios, ALIVE. Offering hot yoga, barre, Pilates, and more, this innovative studio integrates advanced technology to create a fully guided workout experience, combining screens with in-person instructor support.

- **[Courtney Gilmore’s Workout Experience at ALIVE ](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/alive-fitness-studio-sensory-experience-plano-courtney-gilmore-interview)**
  WFAA correspondent Courtney Gilmore shares her experience at ALIVE in Plano, Texas. Featuring an immersive sensory environment with yoga, Pilates, and fitness classes, ALIVE offers a unique fitness studio unlike any other.

### News

- **[ALIVE Fitness Studio: Classes Every 30 Minutes](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/alive-fitness-studio-immersive-classes-every-30-minutes-dallas)**
  ALIVE studio breaks new ground in the fitness world with classes every 30 minutes. Learn how this full sensory experience combines audio, video, lighting, and patent-pending heat systems to create a wellness environment that is both engaging and innovative.

### Nutrition

- **[Eat Like an Adult: Nutrition Without the Drama](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/eat-like-an-adult)**
  You don't need another diet. You need to eat like an adult. Here's why nutrition feels so hard—and the simple approach that actually works.

### Pilates

- **[What Is Hot Pilates? Benefits, Temperature & What to Expect](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/what-is-hot-pilates)**
  Mat pilates in 85-100°F heat. Deeper core work, faster muscle warm-up, full-body burn. How it differs from yoga and what your first class looks like.

- **[Hot Pilates for Beginners: What to Know Before Your First Class](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/hot-pilates-for-beginners)**
  New to hot pilates? What to expect in your first class, what to wear, how to prepare, common mistakes to avoid, and how often beginners should practice.

- **[Benefits of Hot Pilates: 7 Reasons to Try Heated Pilates](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/benefits-of-hot-pilates)**
  Seven science-backed benefits of hot pilates: deep core strength, posture improvement, enhanced flexibility, joint protection, increased calorie burn, stress relief, and back pain relief.

- **[Mat Pilates vs Reformer: What's the Difference?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/mat-pilates-vs-reformer)**
  Mat pilates uses bodyweight on a floor mat. Reformer pilates uses a spring-loaded machine. An honest comparison of both formats and when to choose each one.

### Testimonial

- **[A Personal Journey into ALIVE Studio](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/personal-experience-alive-wellness-studio-plano-hot-yoga-barre)**
  Follow Carla Valencia’s personal experience of trying out ALIVE studio, where her initial skepticism turned into appreciation. ALIVE’s immersive approach to fitness and yoga made her rethink what it means to practice in a space filled with advanced technology and mindfulness.

- **[Eduardo Najera on How Yoga Changed His Life](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/eduardo-najera-nba-yoga-benefits-dallas-wfaa-interview)**
  Former NBA player Eduardo Najera shares how yoga has transformed his life after his career on the court. In this interview with WFAA, Najera discusses the peace and passion he’s found through yoga.

### Wellness

- **[Seasonal depression: what causes it, and can yoga help?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/seasonal-depression-and-yoga)**
  Seasonal depression returns at the same time every year, and the best-supported cause is shorter days shifting the body clock and brain chemistry. Light therapy and a winter-focused form of talk therapy have the strongest evidence. Yoga has a strong record against depression, movement helps winter mood, and a class puts back the routine and company that winter takes away. What the research shows, where it's thin, and how to use yoga this winter.

- **[Yoga for Feet: How Toe Yoga and Balance Training Rebuild Your Foundation](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yoga-for-feet)**
  Researchers call the small muscles inside your foot the "foot core" — and like any core, it responds to training. Studies show strengthening it improves balance, strength, and arch control, and weak toes are a measurable fall risk. Barefoot classes train it on every rep: yoga through balance poses and long holds, barre through relevé, Pilates through articulation. What toe yoga is, what the research actually supports, and a five-minute sequence to start.

- **[Infrared Yoga vs Traditional Hot Yoga: What Is the Difference?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/infrared-yoga-vs-hot-yoga)**
  Infrared yoga heats your body directly with infrared panels, while traditional hot yoga heats the air. Both build flexibility and strength — and neither is the same as an infrared sauna, where you get the heat without the training stimulus.

- **[Does Hot Yoga Help Depression? What the Research Actually Says](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/hot-yoga-and-depression)**
  A 2023 Harvard/Mass General trial found adults with moderate-to-severe depression who did hot yoga for eight weeks improved far more than a control group — with a large effect. The honest read: it's encouraging early evidence for a supplement to care, not a cure, and the effective dose is modest (about one class a week). What the study shows, what it can't, and how ALIVE's heat range fits.

- **[Exercise on GLP-1 Medications: Why Strength Training and Yoga Protect the Weight You Actually Want to Lose](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/exercise-on-glp-1)**
  GLP-1 medications take weight off, but 25–39% of what's lost can be muscle — and bone goes with it. The research-backed counter is resistance training and enough protein, with yoga as the mobility, balance, and recovery layer. What the trials show, and how to build the week that protects the result.

- **[What Sitting 9+ Hours a Day Does to Your Body — and How to Undo It](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/what-sitting-does-to-your-body)**
  Most adults sit 9+ hours a day, and the body adapts in predictable ways — tight hips, switched-off glutes, a compressed spine, a slower metabolism. The good news: most of it is reversible. Here's what sitting does to your body, and the specific movement that undoes it.

- **[Yoga for Drill Team: The Cross-Training Edge That Builds Stronger, Injury-Resistant Dancers](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yoga-for-drill-team)**
  Yoga is one of the most effective cross-training tools for drill team dancers — building the flexibility, core strength, balance, recovery, and focus the sport demands, without added impact. Here's how it works and how to fit it around a season.

- **[Exercise During Perimenopause and Menopause: What Changes, What Helps, and How to Work With the Heat](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/exercise-during-menopause)**
  Perimenopause and menopause change how the body handles exercise and heat. The research-backed answer isn't to avoid the heat — it's to adapt to it. What changes, what helps, and how to work with heated classes, with strength work to protect the bone and muscle menopause erodes.

- **[What Is Yin Yoga? A Complete Guide](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/what-is-yin-yoga)**
  Yin yoga is a slow, passive practice built around long holds that target connective tissue and fascia. Here's what it actually is, how a class works, and who it's for.

- **[Yin Yoga vs. Vinyasa: Which Practice Is Right for You?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yin-yoga-vs-vinyasa)**
  Yin and vinyasa sit at opposite ends of the yoga spectrum. Here's how to decide which one fits your current goals -- and why the honest answer is usually both.

- **[Yin Yoga vs. Restorative Yoga: Understanding the Difference](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yin-yoga-vs-restorative-yoga)**
  Yin and restorative yoga are constantly confused. Both are slow and quiet, but they target different outcomes. Here's how to tell them apart and pick the right one.

- **[Heated Yin Yoga: Why It Works (and When Room Temperature Is Better)](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/heated-yin-yoga)**
  Heated yin practiced at 85-92F changes how connective tissue responds. Here's why warmth helps, when room temperature is better, and how ALIVE does it.

- **[Yin Yoga for Beginners: What to Expect and How to Start](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yin-yoga-for-beginners)**
  New to yin? Here's what happens in your first class, what to wear, how to prepare, and common beginner worries addressed honestly.

- **[Benefits of Yin Yoga: What a Slow Practice Does for Your Body and Mind](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yin-yoga-benefits)**
  Connective tissue health, stress reduction, lasting flexibility, joint mobility, better sleep, training recovery. What yin yoga actually does for body and mind.

- **[Yin-Style Yoga at ALIVE: Is Aura Right for You?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/two-yin-options-at-alive)**
  Aura (Yoga Calm, 92F) is ALIVE's yin-style class. Here's what it is, who it's for, and how it compares to traditional yin.

- **[Barre vs Pilates vs HIIT: Which Is Right for You?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/barre-vs-pilates)**
  Barre sculpts with small pulsing movements, pilates strengthens the core with control, and HIIT drives cardio and calorie burn. How the three compare for a full-body workout — and why the best plan uses all three.

- **[Bikram Yoga vs Hot Yoga: What Changed and Why It Matters](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/bikram-vs-hot-yoga)**
  Bikram is one style of hot yoga with 26 fixed poses at 105F. Hot yoga includes many styles, temperatures, and sequences.

- **[How Many Calories Does Hot Yoga Burn?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/hot-yoga-calories-burned)**
  A 90-minute hot yoga session burns 333-460 calories. Actual burn depends on body size, class intensity, and room temperature.

- **[How Does Your Body Adapt to Heat and Humidity in Hot Yoga?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/heat-adaptation-hot-yoga)**
  Your body adapts to hot yoga through increased blood volume, more efficient sweating, and cellular heat protection—changes that begin within days and stabilize in 1-2 weeks.

- **[What Is Hot Yoga?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/what-is-hot-yoga)**
  Hot yoga is yoga practiced in a heated room (90-105°F). The heat warms muscles faster, allows deeper stretches, and creates an intense full-body workout.

- **[What Are the Benefits of Hot Yoga?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/hot-yoga-benefits-2026)**
  Hot yoga improves flexibility, builds strength, burns calories, and reduces stress. Research shows measurable results in just 8 weeks of practice.

- **[Is Yoga Safe Without Hands-On Instruction?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/yoga-safety-without-instructor)**
  Yes. Yoga has lower injury rates than running, team sports, or CrossFit. Your body's built-in feedback protects you—if you listen to it.

- **[Why Does Yoga Feel Different When No One Is Watching?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/your-practice-not-a-performance)**
  When no one's watching, you stop performing and start practicing. You modify without shame, push when it's right, and rest when you need to.

- **[Fitness vs Health: Which Are You Actually Chasing?](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/fitness-vs-health)**
  Most people use these words interchangeably. They're not the same thing—and knowing the difference changes how you train and why.

### Yoga

- **[ALIVE’s Signature Hot Yoga Classes in Plano, Texas](https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/articles/hot-yoga-classes-beginners-advanced-alive-plano-strength-flexibility)**
  Explore the signature hot yoga classes at ALIVE, where the combination of heated environments and perfectly timed instruction creates a transformative experience. Whether you're looking for a gentle introduction or an intense challenge, ALIVE has a class for everyone.

## Key Links

- **Schedule**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/schedule
- **Classes**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/classes
- **Locations**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/locations
- **FAQ**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/faq
- **Contact**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/about/service
- **Gift Cards**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/gifts
- **Trial Membership**: https://www.alivestudios.fit/trial-month

## Profiles

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCevBQ8gNVdlPbgh0SSwBm1g
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/alive_wellness_fitness
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/alivequantum
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alive-yoga-studio
- Google Maps, ALIVE Yoga - Plano: https://maps.google.com/?cid=6004149176790732932
- Google Maps, ALIVE Yoga - Southlake: https://maps.google.com/?cid=17532949185448903769
- Google Maps, ALIVE Yoga - Las Colinas: https://maps.google.com/?cid=14697332493391777626

## AI Assistant

ALIVE Studios has an AI assistant on the website that can answer questions about:
- Studio locations and hours
- Class schedules and availability
- Membership pricing and options
- General FAQ

## Contact

- Website: https://www.alivestudios.fit
- Phone: (214) 999-8987 (Customer Success: Option 2, Monday–Friday 8AM–6PM CT)
- Email: service@t.alivestudios.fit