Yaletown YYoga

The second studio I visited on the Passport to Prana promotion was Yaletown YYoga. YYoga is a chain of yoga studios in the lower mainland and is known for offering power, hot (adapted Bikram's), hatha and cycling fusion classes. The studios are very sleek and tend to cater to the higher end clientele. They recently had a promotion during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics where people were able to attend an unlimited amount of classes for free, which was very cool. I wasn't able to check out the Yaletown location, so this was my first experience there.

What: YYoga Yaletown

Where: 280 - 1050 Homer Street, Vancouver BC

When: May 7, 2010, 4:30pm-6:00pm

Class: Anusara Inspired - Intermediate to Advanced

Teacher: Shelley

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Comments:

Space:

Located in the heart of Yaletown, this space was pretty easy to get to. The decor was beautiful, but the two studios were quite small. The studio I was in for my anusara class was quite warm and with the relatively low ceilings, it felt a bit cramped. There were nice amenities for showering and changing and the little yoga store was a bonus.

Atmosphere:

Being in Yaletown, the space had a bit of an uptight and austere vibe - the same kind of vibe I used to get at Bikram's. Maybe it was the fact that I had chosen to go to an advanced anusara class, but I tended to get the feeling that this was a place for hardcore yogis only. The staff were really nice, though! It was just the fact that this studio didn't offer any classes for beginners really - it's all mainly power yoga, hot and anusara. I wish it offered more hatha classes to include all levels of students.

Teacher/Class:

Shelley was very passionate about her role as a teacher both on the physical and spiritual fronts. She opened with a thoughtful story and reminded us of the true essence of what it means to be on a yogic path. Her presence was both powerful and nurturing. I had been to her anusara class before and every time I go to anusara, I am amazed by the rigorous detail they give to each pose - right down to the placement of our internal organs! At times, I found this language was difficult to connect with (what does it mean to scoop your kidneys in?). Anusara is definitely intense and this class was no exception! This class had crazy arm balances, contortionist-like poses and not a lot of time for resting poses. At least it was labeled intermediate to advanced! We also did some partner work where we meticulously set up our Warrior stances... so don't come if you're apprehensive about someone grabbing on to your thigh and standing on the top of your foot. I really did learn a lot from this class and was impressed with the quality of instruction. Not for the faint of heart though!


Rating: 8/10 I would recommend this studio to intermediate to advanced practitioners. I wish they would offer classes that cater more to beginners, though.