Ita Yoga Studio

I got the new student deal, it’s been a week so far and I really like it. They have classes from 9:45 am to 8:30 pm so you can always fit one into your schedule. I love the environment, they have amazing infrared light emanating heat as well– it gets the muscles relaxed and clears out the lymph as you practice. Very therapeutic. The instructors are very gentle. They have mostly slow flow and yin type classes but I prefer them to more intense styles because it stretches you and you feel really good after the class.

Moved to ann arbor from California two years ago and still hadn’t found a studio I liked… until trying out Ita Yoga a few weeks ago. This place is amazing. Beautiful music, beautiful setting, wonderful instruction. I feel like a new person everytime I leave here. Do yourself a favor and give Ita yoga a try, your body and mind will thank you over and over again. Mine does. Plus, it smells nice, and there are mints :)

I’ve been to 4 classes at Ita Yoga Studio since summer 2015 — and they’ve all been free! Ita offered 4 free classes to the community in the summer of 2015 to celebrate her going to the Wanderlust festival (not entirely sure what it is, but hey– free yoga!). She also offered free classes for the ENTIRE weekend that just passed. I really appreciate her willingness to give back to the community this way, especially since yoga can be costly for some.
I enjoyed all of the classes I attended. They were packed (free, so to be expected, still enough room– I didn’t graze anyone’s hands or feet!) and boy did we sweat.
Ita has a great space here. Don’t be deterred by the location inside the mall — all of the windows are «blacked out» with slates of wood (looks cool), and there are drapes blocking the view of anyone passing the door.
There is ample room for your items, and a change room. I would give 5 stars if there were a locker room with showers (it would make the studio complete) but alas… it’s just not possible.
***Special for January 2016 — 30 days of yoga for new students is only $ 30***

This place is wonderful. The space is nicely decorated and soothing. Ita and her crew taught me so much about yoga and alignment. They are careful and committed to more than just the physical aspects of the practice. This would be a welcoming studio to new and experienced yogis alike. It caters to non-​students (there are some undergrads, but also plenty of young professionals, parents, and retired folks). I did not feel self-​conscious in this space as a non-​18 year old. It is a little on the pricey end– I would like a monthly unlimited package that is more comparable to other studios, but still, no regrets for spending my time and money here!

Ita Yoga Studio is a warm welcoming studio with classes that suite a variety of levels. I really like Ita’s style of teaching, the flow is always creative and different and accompanied by complimentary music. The perfect way to warm up and chill out after long day!

I have been going to the «gentle yoga» class taught by Carla on Wednesday mornings. First, Carla has an amazing voice! It is a treat to listen to her instruction. Also, she smoothly takes you through the class in a very balanced way that builds your strength and technique. I have 4 years of experience but then was sidelined with some serious injuries and arthritis. This class was able to get me moving again and keep me from completely losing all I had gained physically, mentally, spiritually. Carla is a great teacher!

I’ve been searching for a yoga studio in the Ann Arbor area that I could call my home. I’ve finally found one at Ita Yoga Studio!
Ita Yoga Studio offers a variety of classes: ashtanga short form, vinyasa, slow vinyasa, gentle yoga, & yin (which most studios don’t offer). The instructors are easy to follow & provide challenging flows that you really feel the next day (and sometimes the day after that). They combine posture instruction with relaxation aid & encouragement — giving you how much longer you have in the poses & reminding you to focus on your breath to get through it.
In the slow vinyasa & ashtanga classes, the instructors are not hands-​on, but are always open to help & actually ask at the end of class if anyone has questions.
The studio, itself, is beautifully decorated, calming, & large enough that I have yet to worry about hitting my neighbor when I spread my arms (and I have long arms).
The instructors are friendly & welcoming when you walk in the door, & Ita, herself, takes pride in her studio & joy in greeting & instructing her patrons.
The studio is hard to find at first, so remember, they’re in the Plymouth Road Mall right next to the Songbird Café. You have to go into the mall (door to the right of the café) & then 2 doors down on the right.
I strongly encourage anyone looking to try yoga or continue practicing to check out Ita Yoga Studio. It’s wonderful!

I am really not impressed by this yoga studio. The location is convenient for people who live in that area, but the vibe of the place is just very strange.
The loud music during class makes it difficult to concentrate on your breathing and makes savasana really pointless (how are you supposed to relax when there’s loud music?). A lot of the music is new-​agey and just distracting, while other songs are more pop-​ish.
The teachers do not help you improve — they just tell you what to do and then you’re on your own. Looking around, I saw many people doing poses incorrectly and putting themselves at risk for injury.
The room is kept dark — blinds cover the windows, there are strange glowing space heaters, and only a very dim light is provided by candle-​like lights on the wall. Overall, it seem like they are trying to hard to create a ‘yoga vibe’ that, in my opinion, just comes off as strange and unappealing.
The website for the studio also says nothing about Ita’s experience or qualifications as a teacher, which I find really strange.

I paid for a month of classes with this «teacher» only to realize that she has only been studying yoga for a few years. Ask Ita when she started practicing yoga for yourself, you will not be impressed. I have practiced yoga since the mid-​nineties and figured that since she had opened a studio in my neighborhood that she was experienced. Yet it seemed to me that she has been developing her lessons from a book, only slightly ahead of her students. They are very basic and typical. She does not have the knowledge that I expected when I paid her, yet her policy is no refunds. She is also a very arrogant, unpleasant woman if you do not agree with her. There is clearly no chance of getting back the money that I paid. My mistake for assuming too much I suppose, but I would recommend any of the many yoga studios in town before this one. It would seem her husband who owns the hardware store across the hall has just funded this so she has something to do. I am amazed at some of the other reviews here, as anyone with any knowledge can tell that she is not an experienced teacher. I tend to question if those reviews are real or just manufactured to bring in business. Don’t waste your time or money here.

Ita is a very good teacher. Ita made me fall in love with Yoga. I like her calming, yet strong, voice that guides me through the practice. The flow of Yoga postures of every class is very well designed. I can see all parts of my body are becoming stronger and more balanced. Ita cares individual students and kindly guides/​corrects/​supports their postures. She is very good at directing you to focus on the inside and outside of yourself throughout the class. I love Ita’s inspiring comments that she gives at the beginning and end of the classes. Her collection of music is very soothing. All of these together make me feel fully replenished after every class as if I dipped my body in the fountain of youth. Now I believe Yoga will be my life-​long physical/​mental workout of choice.
The atmosphere of the studio is very comforting and relaxing. Hassle-​free parking is also a plus. I highly recommend Ita Yoga Studio to everyone who is seeking a daily mini retreat for physical/​psychological healing.

I’m not a yoga guy, but I went with my wife, who loves it. When we moved here from CA, she checked out several popular studios in Ann Arbor (they tended to play loud top 40s music, which she thought was a bit odd). This was (and is) her favorite.
When I went, the instructor was calm, intentional in her teaching, welcoming, and kind. It was challenging. The music was engaging but also relaxing.
Don’t let the strip mall location get you down. It’s nice inside the studio.
After class, check out the café next door. It’s called Song Bird. It’s another great spot.

I like this studio. Ita is a very good instructor. Places emphasis on posture, pranayama, and being deliberate. Would rather have the students take an extra breath in a posture rather than rush through it. Soothing music, nice space for practice. Not a lot of changing space, but you can make it work. Students don’t come into the studio until the previous class leaves, so there’s not a lot of milling about. Always welcomed, always made to feel a part of the studio. Definitely recommend for yoga practice, but not for a sweat inducing exercise class; that’s fine by me.

I took my first yoga class on 1÷27÷13 at Ita Yoga. Since then Ive been to two classes. It’s located off of Plymouth Rd but you can get to it from the back entrance too between Carpenter Bros. Hardware and The Wine Seller (which is also an amazing place to find great beer and wine). I arrived 15 min early to ensure I could sign in, fill out any papers and pay for my class. It is located inside a strip mall — so you should look for a boardwalk sign on the ground (they may have gotten a neon sign on the front of the building, but not on the back). New student unlimited yoga (1month) is only $ 45 which is an incredibly good deal. The instructor greeted me instantly (some other posts stated she was not warm or welcoming — but i didnt experience that) and asked me my level of confidence and competence in taking her course (I tried «yoga flow» which is made for the advanced student — but incredibly wonderful to try if your lookin to sweat) There was plenty of space to store my belongings — as it is winter time I had a sweatshirt, sweatpants, a coat, gloves boots and bag all outside my yoga gear and there was room for all of it. There were about 12 – 15 ppl in the class (with room to fit more ppl and still have lots of space to move) and they ranged in skill from expert level to intermediate beginner. So don’t feel odd if you go and you can’t keep up with the experts — they are just simply more experienced and if you keep practicing you will be too. The room is kept at 80ish degrees which in my opinion is wonderful — it allows for an incredibly deep stretch and you can expand your lungs looking for a fulfilling breath. I brought a Nalgene and yoga mat with me but you can purchase water for $ 1 and mats for $ 2. I’ll definitely be bringing a towel with me next class. This is important: if the class states it starts at 9am, the latest you can get there is 9:04 and then the door is locked. This may seem harsh to some people — but for those who appreciate being «in the moment» and feeling the relaxing ambiance and aesthetics that the class has to offer — get there on time — it’s well worth it. I will definitely be going back for more. And if you check Living Social or Groupon there is a special on your first visit — which is a wonderful price :) Thanks Ita, your corrections and overall positive attitude will make your studio extremely popular — I hope this review was informative.

Practice what you preach, Ita.

First– Let me stress that other than being a student, I have no personal or professional connection to Ita Yoga Studio. I’ve elected to give a 5-​star rating to this studio based solely on my experience attending classes.
In late April I signed up for an 8 week class through Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. I’d decided to give Yoga one more chance as the previous few times I’d attended classes elsewhere I was left feeling underwhelmed and unappreciative. My first contact with the owner was via telephone. I inadvertently signed up on the wrong day for my class and I was hoping to have it changed. I called around 6 in the morning expecting to leave a message and ended up speaking directly with the owner, Ita. She was very understanding even at the early hour and was happy to accommodate my request for a schedule change. A few days later I attended the «Gentle Yoga class» which is designed for beginners. Admittedly, I wasn’t expecting much because of my previous experiences attending other studios but ended up being pleasantly surprised. The class focused on breathing and the connection to the poses. For the first time I felt like I «was finally getting it.» I’d been told by other teachers about the importance of breathing but no one ever emphasized or explained the connection to the movements. When I left I was filled with wonderment and yearning for more. Additionally, I felt fantastic and slept like rock that evening. The following week I’d decided to try a drop in class in addition to my scheduled class. Needless to say, I’m now addicted! I’ve been attending classes at Ita Yoga Studio 4 – 5 days per week since May and I simply love it! The minute you walk into the studio you’re filled with a sense of peace and tranquility. The studio is very warm, quiet and spacious and there are three different levels of classes offered for beginners to advanced students. Not to mention, the instructors are amazing; totally accessible, professional and friendly. This studio is a long overdue treasure to Ann Arbor’s north side and definitely worth a visit.

I started going to Ita Yoga because I had a Living Social deal for a month of unlimited yoga, &I was looking for an affordable yoga studio. Ita is very sweet, calm, &helpful. I enjoyed taking her classes. The studio itself is very clean, &despite being located in an indoor strip mall, is fairly quiet. There are two reasons I am not giving my review 5 stars: first of all, it is not easy to find. I was late to my first class &couldn’t get in because I was looking for a large sign on the building itself. However, because it is located inside the indoor part of the strip mall, there is no big sign on the building, only a small collapsible sign on the sidewalk near the entry doors. Secondly, there is no indication that the Yoga Flow class is heated on the website, &I did not know it was «hot yoga» before she pulled out the heaters as the practice was starting. I had been running around all day &definitely didn’t drink enough water prior to class (I know, bad me!!), so I nearly blacked out several times during the practice. It was not pleasant, but I learned my lesson. That class is very challenging, but I found the Gentle Yoga to be a little too easy for me. I’d like there to be a more intermediate level class offered, that is a marriage between the two.
Some cool things about this place is there is a changing room separate from the restroom, as well as another room to put your things in. She offers mat rental, and also sells mats &bottled water, in case you forget yours. She also seems to offer a good amount of deals.