Universal Power Yoga

Now that I have worked through my 2 weeks for $ 25 pass and my 10 classes for $ 60 pass (all available to new students), I feel I’ve gotten familiar enough with this studio to write a review.
They have a good mix of classes in terms of heat and intensity. None of the instructors I’ve had here appear to be new to teaching yoga, which is refreshing, compared to some experiences I’ve had at other studios in the area. Some instructors are very power orientated, but there are others that offer more restorative classes.
I only have a few complaints. Some of the classes can get really crowded. I went to a New Year’s Day class here and the room was PACKED. I was looking for a nice relaxing yoga experience, but got kind of anxious with so many people in the room. Also, during all the epic snow this winter, there was extremely limited parking in the lot. I came to the studio a number of times but ended up heading back home after not being able to find a parking spot. I’m also not such a fan of the squishy floor. It’s made of an interlocking foam material that can be a little odd if you are used to practicing on a hard surface.
Overall, however, I’d definitely recommend this studio. The location is super convenient too, right off of Route 1.

No words can express how awesome Universal Power Yoga Studio is. I have been practicing yoga here since they opened the studio about 2 years ago. Each and every teacher is great. No matter what your level, they make practicing yoga accessible. There is a class suitable to everyone’s needs.
The owner Jen is amazing and makes you feel welcome each time you practice. UPY is a community that I feel a part of and am proud to give it a top rating. Trey it once and you will be hooked for life!

Nice, heated studio with hot and warm classes. I really prefer the warm vinyasa, so I’m happy that they offer it. Some «hot» places are all hot, all the time! Cheryl is my favorite teacher. Her yoga is powerful, you will work hard and reap the benefits. The rubbery floor, honestly, is not my favorite, I like a slightly more firm surface, but that’s the only issue. All are nice, happy clientele also.

UPY is truly a yoga community, where the staff cares about the students. The owner has done an incredible job building a strong team of instructors and connecting to all that attend. I am so excited there is a great yoga studio in the area.

Great amount of parkings. Friendly staff who don’t care if you don’t sign up on-​line but that option is nice so you can see who is teaching that day. I got the Groupon but you can get a first 10 classes deal right from the website as well. I like the warm yoga with music. I have heard great things about Weekend Warrior class. I wish I lived there year round to better enjoy the heat the in cold months.

Absolutely love them! The teachers are great. The studio is clean. The community is awesome. Everyone feels welcome. I just love it! Jen the owner has done a great job here.

Now that I’ve been attending classes regularly, I felt like it was time to update. My experiences just keep getting better. I’m now going 3x/​week and have started feeling comfortable venturing outside of beginner’s classes. I can’t really begin to describe how much of a difference this place has made in my life. If I hadn’t felt so comfortable and welcome when I started, I probably wouldn’t have continued with yoga. And if I hadn’t continued with yoga…
I am so much stronger now, physically and mentally, than I was a few months ago. I signed up for my first class because my life was in flux and I didn’t know how to handle it, and I knew something needed to change. I wasn’t taking care of my body the way I needed to. I was feeling completely lost, alone, and confused, and all I knew was «this isn’t working!» I wanted something different. Yoga was different.
Bill and Jen have completely changed my life. They have totally different teaching styles, but they’ve both complemented my practice and helped me grow. I love both of their classes and I love the sense of peace that I only get when I’ve finished my practice for the day. Earlier, I was down on the floor taking care of some sprouting seedlings I’m preparing for the spring, and I did a few quick poses before going back to my computer. It’s just a part of my life now.
Before UPY, «yoga» was an abstract concept for me. I knew people benefitted from it, and I knew it was a good thing for some folks, just like I knew it was good to work out if you have depression — but I was never actually going to DO it. I need structure and motivation. I need to believe that I’m CAPABLE of doing something — and when it comes to things that require physical strength and coordination, that’s quite an accomplishment. (Fun fact: I am so clumsy, I have a scar on my leg from TEN YEARS AGO when I sat up in bed and accidentally scratched myself with my thumbnail. Yet somehow, at UPY, I can balance on one leg… occasionally.)
I really don’t know how I can describe the benefits here — and I’m not sure I want to! Selfishly, I want to keep this place all to myself. But that’s silly. Come to UPY if you’ve ever considered yoga, if you’re feeling like something is missing, if you’re in a crisis, if you’re depressed and anxious and you know that something is wrong in your life, but you’re not sure what. I HATE leaving the house, but I’m always excited to go to yoga. I’m never sorry that I went. It’s even worth the struggle of getting across several lanes of Route 1 when you need to turn left leaving the parking lot… and really, I don’t think there is any greater complement than that.

I was surprisingly pleased by this studio and the quality of the teachers. I am pretty picky about my yoga classes but have found myself coming back again and again. I also love that the floor is padded, which is great for those of us with sensitive knees.

I recently returned to practicing yoga, and selected UPY because it came so highly recommended by friends I know and trust. Plus, I have always preferred the heated yoga studios.
In my first class back after a several year hiatus from yoga, I was both out of shape and full of anxiety. This studio, these instructors, this environment — it provides a unique and extraordinary yoga experience. I kid you not. It’s hard to articulate it, but I’m telling you UPY is the most welcoming studio I’ve ever been to (and I’ve tried at least a dozen over the years). The instructors lead you through a class that you can tell they have put a lot of thought into (their words, the music, the flow). They share stories about themselves and make them relevant to your life. They seem to give a piece of themselves to each person in the class, and help you tailor each practice to your specific needs and your level. Every class can be as physically challenging or as nurturing as you need. UPY always feels like a judgement-​free zone. It’s an amazing place that feeds your soul and helps you get in shape too.
Each of the UPY instructors are fabulous, and each provides something different. Do yourself a favor though, and don’t miss taking a class with Jen. You will never regret it.

So far I have been to 2 classes at UPY and though those are the first 2 yoga classes I have ever done, I am hooked — I had 2 different instructors and though my first class was not a beginners class I was able to do it since they remind you that to go to where you are comfortable and push it when you feel you can. My second class was a beginners and I still found it challenging but at the same time the added instruction to help guide me really helped me learn even more and feel amazing leaving there! I have done all kinds of different classes and forms of exercise but find this not only challenging but rewarding at the same time but in a completely different way than running or weight lifting does. I look forward to getting to more classes and so far all the class participants have been really nice as well and welcoming to someone new to the studio and new to yoga!

Great studio in a convenient location! I am picky about studios but this one is consistently good. Sometimes I wish the classes would be slightly longer (only an hour), but it is also nice to not have the class take up your whole evening.

As a clinical social worker and intermediate yogi, I truly appreciate how much of a resource UPY is to our community. I used to attend yoga at studios that either had too much of a physical focus without enough emphasis on mindfulness and breath work — or went to studios that did well with guiding meditation, but left me wanting a greater physical challenge. UPY is a studio that seamlessly integrates core aspects of yoga meditation with an excellent, fun physical work out. The instructors are consistently great and I always leave feeling both refreshed and challenged. Thank you Jen and fellow UPY teachers for your insights and guidance!

I love UPY.
I had a pretty blah experience with yoga in my younger years, and I just never really liked the «culty» and «preachy» style that comes with yoga. I had always gone to big box gyms, waiting around for machines with macho guys staring themselves at the mirrors, and dreading my workout. It’s never fun! Until some gyms started to get fitness classes, there are always 40 people there, and the instructors never give you the attention you deserve. I hated the gym for more years after that, until this spring when I was getting married, I started signing up for a Spin studio, kickboxing gym and needed a good low key balance.
This is where UPY steps in. When I first learned about a new yoga studio opening 5 minutes away, I was still skeptical. «Yoga is not my thing, I’m not flexible, I’ll just look stupid» it echoed in my head. After all, I saw the $ 25 unlimited classes for 2 weeks for new clients, what do I have to lose? Especially after I saw the Groupon, I can always take advantage and see if I like it. If I hate it, it’ll be over after 10 classes!
Well, guess what? I am now a yogi. Still a beginner yogi, but I truly love yoga. It gave me inner peace that I never knew could exist. I find myself looking forward to yoga after a stressful work day. I still spin, I still lift weights, I still do kickboxing, but all that is balanced with my peaceful, but sometimes hardcore, yoga practice.
When I set foot in UPY, I feel a comfort that I don’t usually feel at other «gyms». Maybe because it reminds me of home — I walk around my home barefoot, and UPY/​yoga has a barefoot culture, and the soft padded flooring reminds me of being safe at home. Owner Jen is a total sweetheart. She is a great instructor and a great person. All of the yoga instructors that I have had at UPY were amazing individuals, and in less than 2 weeks they all knew my name. It really makes a big different when you are greeted by your name, rather than just «oh hi» when you walk in the door.
UPY made me feel welcomed, and I can practice without being judged. The instructors give clear cues, provide options for nurturing and are great with correcting poses. It is also a great place to meet other new yogis. The friendships we have made over us falling over crow, is truly precious. I very much appreciate that one hour I spent at UPY a day that is all about me. I walk out feeling like a new woman.

UPY is a wonderful place for newbies! The instructors are knowledgeable and their guidance throughout practice is great! The studio is cozy and welcoming! I love coming here and always look forward to it everyday!

Nothing but great things to say about UPY ! As a yoga novice, I was happy to see that classes are for all levels which made me feel comfortable joining in with some of the more experienced yogis! The staff is really receptive to all students abilities and really make an effort to get to know where you are in your level of practice. I have seen a big improvement in my practice since starting at UPY and its such a great feeling! There are a ton of classes to choose from, a great variety of teachers all of whom I have enjoyed. Nothing but two thumbs up !!

Staff is kind and knowledgable, studio is immaculate and peaceful, the yoga was challenging but relaxing. I love the fact they offer daily noon time classes. I went to one class and plan to go to many more!

I spent a number of years doing Bikram Yoga everywhere from Providence to Boston before visiting UPY. My experience is as many others and it didn’t seem to change even when I visited Miami, San Francisco, and other studios abroad.
Why am I leaving other types of Yoga practice for this studio? I am tired of people who are trying to cash in on Yoga and doing a bad job at it. Many of these franchise studios around the area use carpets and if you search around for reviews with the words «gross» «bully» «control freak» «nasty carpet» then you will find no shortage of issues. I have always believed in Yoga but I think the people who I am shelling out hundreds of dollars to have forgotten what the basic level of decency is for running a studio. I don’t need to go into detail about the mysterious rashes that I’ve gotten from Bikram carpets that are sprayed lightly with household cleaner in-​between classes. These places are straight up run down and its very cultish. I feel a bad energy from some studios where everyone just seems to be focused on profits and jamming people in these classes. The teachers yell at you, tell you to stop drinking water, are inconsistent with dialog etc. etc. etc.
Why do I like this new studio in Norwood? Well for all the reasons that I don’t like everywhere else I have tried to go. This place is brand new and has a simple but unique floor from other studios that uses a black foam block type padding. Its not a carpet!!! Thanks for that. The owner, Jennifer is personable and I don’t get the feeling that she is looking to build a 20 studio franchise to rake in the bucks off of Yoga. They claim to have 12 teaches on board and based on the website Bios, they appear to be legitimate and very good teachers.
Kids yoga is awesome and my 5yr old looks forward to her next class! The schedule is accessible and my second class was as 12pm on a Saturday which is unheard of at the studios I visit. At this point the studio had a handful of people but naturally that meant I had gotten more personal attention. I found the place to be clean and in a good location in terms of traveling in/​out of the Route 1 area.
Doing this kind of «flow» yoga is a bit challenging for me. but now I see what this whole «breathing» aspect is about. I need to learn to be more graceful and concentrate. but now I am doing it to meditate and not stop by body from overwhelming itself. I love that the «bad boy» of Yoga broke me in, but now I need to do something that challenges me in a way that won’t hurt me. This UPY place feels good to me and my daughter won’t stop talking about the teacher they have do Yoga for Kids!