Shauna Sunkel
July 18, 2019 10:34
I've been to quite a few yoga studios since starting yoga 5.5 years ago, but my favorite studio is by far YogaWorks. I've been going to YogaWorks for about a year and a half (about 4 days/wk) and I still feel challenged and surprised every time I go in...even in your more "basic" (level 1/1-2) classes because the teachers break down the postures and breathing techniques so that their students do them correctly and don't just flop around any which way. Doing "basic" poses correctly is challenging in itself, and oftentimes overlooked. If you don't feel challenged in your class, focus on your breathing to "heat" things up.
Generally speaking, I'd try to get to popular classes about 5-10 minutes prior to the class, but I rarely feel like a class is "too crowded."
I want to recommend my favorite classes (and I haven't had a chance to practice with every teacher at YogaWorks yet, but hope to soon!). Keep in mind, I do seek out the more challenging classes:
1. Any of Nichol Chase's classes are incredible. She does an Alight & Flow 2-3 class Tues/Thurs midday and Saturday at 11:15am. These are workshop-style classes that starts with simpler poses and lead up to advanced poses that will always surprise you. I love the challenge her class gives me, and the way she breaks the anatomy of the poses down in a digestible way. I've never not liked one of her classes. AND she always ends them with a song...that SHE sings beautifully.
2. A staple: Dave Larot's Vinyasa Flow 2-3 classes on MWF. You can't go wrong with his classes if you're looking for a challenging vinyasa flow where you can really *zone into* the flow. They're consistently really great classes, and always leave me sweaty. He focuses a ton on breath work too, which is one of the main reasons why yoga is so important to me. AND when we're in Shavasana, he walks around and presses on your shoulders to open them up...love it.
3. Tina Rath. I just started taking her classes a few weeks ago, but was hooked immediately. She is so knowledgeable about anatomy, which I admire a ton in yoga teachers. She really takes the time to make sure that we have correct form in our poses and that we're utilizing our props (you'd be surprised how often you should be using props).
4. Julie Conrad. I've just started taking some of her classes, but I can already tell that I'll go weekly. She incorporates a ton of Ashtanga poses into her classes, which I personally love because I practiced Ashtanga (Mysore style) for a year. She also seems to know a lot about anatomy and will walk around and make adjustments to your poses.