Mindful Dog Yoga

So, so sad that Mindful Dog had to shut its doors. I had an awesome yoga studio, blocks from my house– and they happened to do my favorite brand of yoga– Forrest. And now? My yoga practice will be seriously downgraded– there ain’t nothing like it in JP.
I hadn’t been able to go the last few months (nursing a heinous wrist injury) and am sad that I won’t have a place to return to when I’m better. I hope Bill and company can bring the studio back to life sometime in the future. In the mean time, I guess I’ll do my back bends and pigeon poses at home. At least it’s hot enough in my condo in the summer to recreate the crazy sweat inducing yoga I love so much.

I went there tonight for the first time. This is THE place I want to practice yoga. I had such wonderful experience. The whole atmosphere in this studio is beyond words can express — that is to say, I am not very good at words to describe and I am doing my best express how happy I was from the beginning to the end. And I am still happy at home writing this. I recommend to anyone who want to find time for yourself to connect to yourself. I would love to continue practicing yoga at Mindful Dog Yoga.
Thank you so much to create such wonderful studio.

The word «best» is entirely subjective, but if I were to throw it around, it would be when talking about Mindful Dog. It’s certainly the best yoga studio in town for me. I’ve taken a lot of yoga over the years (and sampled quite a few teachers and studios in Boston) and Mindful Dog just feels right. It’s a Forest Yoga studio that dabbles in other styles, but sticks mostly with Forest.
When I went the first time I was skeptical – I’m not a big fan of these fairly new, trendy styles of yoga that have popped up everywhere you look and led by a teacher with a mystical-​sounding name who looks younger than me. For the past three years I’d adhered strictly to Iyengar classes and methodologies. My muscles are fairly tight (even with regular yoga) and so the attention to detail in Iyengar was essential for me to get poses right and to adjust them to work with my body. The virgo in me loved the idea that I was doing everything just right and adjusting my body in precisely the correct ways. I was a major yoga snob who thought my way was the only way and looked down on the poor fools who did yoga at their gym (can you really find bliss at a place called FitCorp? really?).
But I digress. What was clear was that I needed to be a bit more open-​minded (and find a studio closer to my house… commuting to Newton on the T was just not working out for me).
What I’ve found at Mindful Dog is a style of yoga that pays close attention to detail (and encourages props!) but that focuses as much on the spiritual and emotional body as the physical one. Throughout classes, Bill reminds students to let go of judgment as they work through the poses and to let go of any stress or emotion that has clung to them through their day. Leaving class, one feels not only physically and mentally refreshed, but emotionally invigorated. It lends an air of peace and community to the classes – we’re all there to let go of everything that happens in our lives, not just to see how far my hamstring will stretch. I rarely leave class without having laughed a little.
The studio also runs entirely on donations and Bill features great things like the March yoga challenge, where people pledge to practice a set amount each week and then keep track of their progress on a board in the studio. If you’re looking for a yoga practice that also creates a yoga community, this is the place for you.

This is the best yoga studio I have ever gone to. It is the top of a beautifully renovated house, with cathedral ceilings and giant glass windows. They specialize in Forrest Yoga, as well as offering some Vinyasa classes and other styles. They are great on helping you with injuries, and the Forrest style involves doing inversions, which are intense and fun. My memories of past yoga places that made me not go for several years was the undertone of seriousness and competitiveness, while Mindful Dog somehow rises above that and just feels very welcoming. All of the teachers are kind and engaging and Bill, the main guy, is great. They strike a good balance between giving your body a serious ass-​kicking and bringing you into meditation and relaxation. The only drawback is sometimes the classes are really full, which is sometimes distracting to really trying to get into your practice.

Ok I have to admit I was terrified when my first class started. It was hard! And my muscles hurt! I had an elaborate fantasy about yanking my friend by the arm, sneaking out and going back to bed. But I stuck around and I am so glad I did. Bill is amazing– he radiates kindness and patience and the fact that the studio is donation only – well– that alone says so much about the kind of person he is. I have only gotten to go to 2 classes and 1 workshop so far but even though there are several yoga studios closer– I will most certainly make the drive back. From the sunlight pouring in the beautiful windows, to Bill’s humor and kindness, to the gorgeous portraits of animals on the walls, this place is the real deal.

I already knew that Bill is an amazing yoga teacher. An athlete himself, he’s done amazing things for many of my friends in the running community, and he’s healed many of my husband and I’s aches and pains as well. In addition, he leads a laid-​back class that is very open and friendly.
But…now that he has his own space — wow! He has done a beautiful job — like the previous reviewer said, it really is an oasis. If I lived closer, I’d be there all the time. Even so, I make the trek from Somerville when I can (many of Bill’s earlier classes were held in the Somerville area, so I’m not surprised there are others making the trip)
So go — I’ve never done yoga where you can watch birds in the tree from the window!

All I can say is wow. This studio is an oasis. Beautiful space, huge windows, lots of light, great music playing at all (well, most) times. And let’s not forget the yoga…
Bill, the owner and primary teacher, offers brilliant Forrest yoga classes. He is kind, calm, soothing, and connected, yet his classes are challenging and he will push you to find your edges and limits physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The 2 hour yoga and meditation class (Wednesdays and Sundays) will leave you feeling rejuvenated and energized, yet calm and settled. It’s a wonderful way to savor the end of your weekend, or to get you through the hump of the work week. I’ve not yet taken classes with any of the other teachers, but I’ve heard only good things, and look forward to checking them out.
There’s a cozy lounge space with a comfy couch, they have a water cooler so you can fill your bottle instead of having to buy one, and they have two porches that you can use in warmer months to do yoga or sit and meditate (or just take in some Vit D).
Best of all is that it’s only a 9 minute walk from the Green Street station on the Orange line (probably less for most people… I have very short legs!) AND every time I’ve gone, there has been plentiful on-​street parking. I drove there from Inman Sq for a Saturday morning class and it took 20 minutes. Less than it would have taken me to get to and park at the other studio I go to, and here parking was a breeze!
Oh, AND (ok, now I’m just gushing) they have a charity of the season to which they donate a portion of their proceeds, they have an arrangement with the MSPCA/​Angell Memorial to help match animals with people to adopt them, AND they have a rotating art gallery featuring local artists.
What can I say? The place is just plain cool! I highly recommend checking it out.
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Just wanted to add that since writing this review I’ve taken Forrest classes with Cat and Bri, and Yin classes with Emily, and they’ve all been superb!