Exhale Spa Midtown

This is the one on Central Park South. I went alone, all the way to midtown. Didn't want to go to the other one on the upper east side, not after last time (remember - corefusion??)

Anyways, this place is really spa-like, feels soo expensive. maybe too expensive for my humble tastes. One big highlight, as I was walking into the class, I saw walking out Rodney Yee. He must have just taught the class on backbends right before my class. THAT SUX!!! I would've loved to take his class.

yoga level 2 class. The teacher Eden looked familiar...and I couldn't place it for awhile. Then I figured out that I took her class once before at Laughing Lotus. She's pretty great, the vinyasa flow, deep stretching and moves that I've never done. She finds moves to help you explore your body.

The studio is very pretty, but I just wouldn't hike up here unless I was rich, or my yoga coupon was expiring...

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center

This place leans more towards the vibe of Integral Yoga Center. It feels very NOT-egoish. The guy who greets you behind the desk looks like a buddhist in robes. In the back you can see and smell some yummy food being cooked. I didn't figure out whether or not the food came with the class...I was by myself, and didn't have the courage to ask.

So you walk up to the yoga studio which has mats all set up. I think the people who go here go regularly, I was the only newbie. The class starts with dead mans pose. weird but relaxing. Then a long series of breathing exercises. Then, the vinyasa moves. then dead man pose. the point I guess, is to move and then relax. Then right into head stand, no wall. Some other moves, I don't remember...

I liked this place, but you kinda feel like it's a real community of yoga buddhist people, who go on yoga retreats together and stuff. I'd definitely go again, but I don't think I'd pay for the class...unless the food came with.

Kula Yoga

This place is in Tribeca, kinda close to my studio. I took the 8:15 Open class. This place was nice, not in the fancy, beautiful studio kind of way, it just felt down to earth, and nice. There were alot of first timers in my class, and half were guys. That was kinda cool. really not about the ego here. It was a bit crunchy granola, but it didn't have the attitude that Laughing Lotus has.

We started off doing some weird foot stretches, and then went into the vinyasa poses...and at a nice pace...not too fast, not too slow. We did some poses that I had never done before.

I would definitely go back here. It's really small, just one studio, but who needs big? right?

Sal Anthony's Movement Salon

http://www.movementsalon.com/

Kyung and I went to the studio on 3rd Ave @ 17 St and took the Sunday 4pm intermediate class. The poses were challenging and I worked up a sweat. I was so happy to see that when the room got hot, the instructor turned on the a/c. Lori, I know, you'll love that. My fav new pose that we learned in class is the "rock star" where you kick off your leg and arm from downward dog. Kyung, like a true rock star, dived into the pose nicely. I, on the otherhand, could not, due to abdominal pains from backstroke swimming. Even though my abs killed, the class was a great experience.

Yoga In Tribeca

Chona and I went to this one.

I arrived first for the 6:30 basics 1/2 class. I walked into the studio which was the teacher's home...loft. It was really weird to walk into a stranger's home, for free. I was really dehydrated so I drank some of my water, and the teacher quickly told me that I really shouldn't drink anything before taking yoga. weird. Chona finally arrived 2nd, out of 5 people. The room was quite nice, hardwood floors, the walls were decorated with nice indian paintings. and candles and incense.
but the teacher, who was maybe in her late 40s, did not seem too friendly. We started the class with stretches, not the normal ones we are used to...it was more like a mix of highschool gym stretches mixed with yoga.
If we weren't doing something correctly, the teacher would impatiently (or maybe that's just the way she talked) repeat over and over and over the same words til we got it right. It made me nervous.
Finally we did some yoga moves that I am used to. Built up alittle sweat...it was okay.
She took my yoga pass, even though I still had one visit left. But I don't think I'll be coming back to this place.

Integral Yoga Institute

We ventured out to Integral again. It was Keren and me in the Level 2/3, Karen in the 1/2? and Lori in the Prenatal Yoga. Let's hope she blogs this one...her story is much more interesting..hint hint...

So I think Hatha, even the high levels are pretty slow and easy going. Hatha's more of a breathing, centering, and meditation yoga, and not the exercise that vinyasa is. But once in awhile i do like doing the gentle slow hatha.

Be Yoga

I went to the yoga 1/2 class at the 5th ave & 19th street studio. The teacher Marco was really cool. The class was an interesting mix of yoga, in a good way. The idea was to get deeply into the poses, and really make all the correct adjustments to get the body, muscles and alignment perfect. I liked this class, though the studio was REALLY hot...beware hot room haters...for those who like hot rooms...this may be for you. The push wasn't to get into really challenging poses, but to push yourself to really understand the poses you were in.