Yogamaya

Took two drop in classes while I was in the city visiting family. Took Frank’s Yin/​Restorative class which was okay. He was a great instructor and very welcoming, but there weren’t too many positions we worked on. Came back the next day to try Stacey’s not-​so welcoming L3 class and I left halfway through. I’ve never left a class in my 6 years of yoga, but this instructor was as rude as they come. I brought my mom with me to her class (my mom has been doing yoga for over a year now so I figured she could join and modify) and Stacey did not offer her modifications once. I offered to help my mom while Stacey was busy chatting away (which she talked the entire time about the universe and space, so five stars if you’re into that) and I was scolded for trying to help my mom. She then told me I should be using a blanket for my headstand, which I’ve never used a blanket for my headstand and it didn’t feel comfortable so I opted out. And told me I should not be doing that pose if I don’t do it her way. Her way? Really? And you’re a yoga instructor? Clearly you should know that people may have different practices and not all yogis will practice the way Stacey practices. I was pretty taken aback with her attitude that I just could not stay the rest of the class. Not sure if the rudeness was a New Yorker thing or a racist thing. If you’ve been trained in Vinyasa and enjoy it’s flow, this L3 class didn’t have any flow to it. The instructor also expected you to move at her pace rather than with your own breath. It seems as if the owners of this studio have made their own philosophy of yoga and have not taken class or learned from other studios to be able to bring a diversity to their teaching methods. They expect each and every student to pick up only what they teach, and not offer choices, alternatives, or modifications. Regardless, I don’t recommend this studio if you value respect. There’s plenty more studio options out there that I’d choose over this one.

My favorite studio in New York. Peaceful, clean, beautiful atmosphere. Nice people, great, friendly instructors, and they even have hour classes, which fit nicely with my schedule. I love taking Jessica’s Friday at 12:30 pm class, as well as Anna’s Thursday at 12:30, Bridgette’s Thursday at 5:30, Rachel’s Friday at 5:30, etc. Great people. And I absolutely love and appreciate that the instructors keep the «woo woo» stuff to a minimum. They usually say something nice and thoughtful, but don’t overburden the class with a lesson in morality or anything too weird. I like that they just say something uplifting and inspiring, and then get on with the movement part.
Feels like a second-​home. The only problem that sometimes arises is that the rooms can get overcrowded depending on the day and time, as the rooms, though comfortably big, don’t seem to be big enough to hold the amount of people who love coming here. But even with that said, I wouldn’t take away a star for this, because I have yet to find a studio in NY that makes me happy every time I visit.

I really enjoyed my Yin class with Frank. For me it was a challenging stretch — which I enjoy– but he was there with props should anyone need them. And I did! No pressure. A good vibe. Beautiful studio. Nice people.

I used my class pass at this studio for the yin/​restorative class! The instructor Frank was great! Very welcoming, super chill, and also great at encouraging us to modify poses to our comfort level (unlike some instructors I’ve had).
Free mat and cleanliness is a plus but def agree with others about the front desk staff. Not very welcoming/​zen like!

I tried to give this place a second chance by attending with a different instructor… given that it was last minute, and I couldn’t find another studio with timing like this, I decided to reserve a level 2 class.
Not only was the class incredibly packed, but our poses were restricted because of that fact. I really don’t mind practicing yoga with many people in the room, but there was about an inch or two separating me from the next person on both sides of my mat. Our flow was very repetitive and it really felt like a level 1 class. I actually preferred Brigette over this instructor!

Terrible experience! Staff has bad attitude. The entire management philosophy is questionable. Do you open a Yoga studio to create frustration and piss people off? I guess the management has no clue what does customer service mean or simply doesn’t care about Karma!

I’ve been to about 15 classes here. Half of the classes are decent, which is why I’m giving the 2 stars. However, the other half of classes were mediocre at best. Several times the instructors weren’t even there on time.
However, the reason for the 2 stars is for the attitude of the people that work behind the desk. For a yoga studio, there is very little zen.

I think I am becoming more picky, because some studios get it right, yoga or otherwise, when they don’t, it sticks with me and the impression is such a bad one. Or I just know what I like and am not afraid to say you should do more or think about what you are providing here…
Pros: Gorgeous zen lobby and yoga room. Free mat. Friendly desk person.
That is about it :(
I was in a lovely room on a semi warm day on the 6^th floor with a huge skylight. Would be beautiful if they again had some air conditioning on. What is with people and no air? If I wanted a hot yoga class I would take it! Well, I set up my mat right under the fan, and what does the instructor do when he walks in, shuts the fans off.
So I listen to his talk, none of which I remember b/​c I was already sweating and annoyed. We do the typical Ohm’s, and begin the VERY slow beginner L2 class. If this is L2, you could have fooled be. Luckily, since the room was sweltering, I wouldn’t have been comfortable doing L2 postures and chaturangas right off the bat. After approx 20 minutes, I really was unhappy, frustrated and pretty much debating weather or not to leave– it was a small class and it seemed he knew everyone, and I didn’t want to request fans) G-​d forbid), if it disrupted anyone else. He noticed my discontent though (I wasn’t exactly hiding it), and I said can you please turn the fans back on?
From there, I could practice in peace. It was comfortable. The sequence was VERY simple, repetitive, barely built upon itself, and was barely L1. For this 75 minute class it seems the savasana was like 15 minutes, so the actual flow was very short. Not sure it that is his style, but I wasn’t there to lay down all day.
I have a feeling it was the teacher, so I will give this studio another shot, but make sure it is on a cooler day, which are coming now.
Free mats are a huge plus I have to admit, and the room is very large– I hope I get luckier next time!

I love love love Yogamaya. I love walking into the studio and smelling the gentle, calming incense. I love sitting how people wait for classes to start on small benches and a carpeted floor. I love the studio with the glass ceiling. I love how they offer late-​night classes. And I love how the teachers make an effort to help out every student in poses. (I feel like I’m writing a love letter to this studio.) I’ve tried so many different yoga studios in the city but Yogamaya is my absolute favorite. There was one time I took an 8:30PM class and saw a full moon through the studio’s glass ceiling during side angle pose. IT WAS AWESOME.
I wish they were cheaper though! The cheapest option is $ 160/​month, which is a little out of my recent-​college-​grad budget, but it’s yoga in Manhattan, what can you do.
In summary, beautiful studio, awesome teachers, BUT I WISH I COULD AFFORD YOU. :(

Great location with nice service. The space is new and really cute. The equipment is also new and well taken care of.
You leave your shoes at the front door area. I would suggest shoving them in your bag and taking them in with you into the class. They have a cubby shelf in the classroom. Once, when I went, someone’s shoes got taken accidentally.

Beautiful space and nice front desk people who remember your name only after a few times. But, the classes just didn’t do it for me.
All teachers basically teach the same sequence. Vinyasa has 1000s of asanas, why teach the same thing over and over? Boring!
I went to level ²⁄₃ classes and teachers would stop the sequence multiple times during the class to show the next pose. This is level 2/​3, and there is the same sequence every day, do we really need 5 min long demonstrations?
And, please, fix the tiles in the bathroom, they shouldn’t be moving when one steps on them!

There is a sense of tranquility and calm the second you walk into yogamaya. The space is welcoming and relaxing, which is exactly what I look for in a yoga studio. Their actual studio has a skylight that streams in the sun as you do sun salutation and the teachers here are all super knowledgeable.
If you have experience with yoga, feel free to dive right into level 2. The instructors guide you carefully from one asana to another and you have plenty of time to learn the vinyasa before going on your own pace. You typically work towards a more advanced pose which you can choose to attempt towards the end of class. I love the verbal guidance for adjustments as well as the physical and I can say with confidence that my practice has definitely improved since going to yogamaya.
They have a beautiful changing room and are on Classpass. With free manduka yoga mat rental, it makes it so easy to stop by for an hour for 75 minute session.

The studio is beautiful and very clean; it never feels like they’ve gone a day without sweeping or cleaning the floors (unlike at some other studios). Because of my schedule, I’ve only had classes with Bridgette, so I don’t know about the other instructors, but Bridgette is great. Very mellow, walks around making gentle adjustments or just encouraging.
The free mats are clean and very good quality. There’s also a huge wall of storage where you can store your own mat.

Ended up here today after the subway made me late for a class I was debating trying at Jivamukti. Lo and behold I have never said this but thank you MTA for screwing me a bit because it made me try a studio that I literally had bookmarked for years.
Upon entering, the smell of incense was completely calming, the reception staff friendly and prompt and everything décor wise is bright and cheerful. And there is natural light streaming in everywhere including practice rooms. Makes this little hippie nature child happy. So much more fun to practice with light streaming in.
I was also really impressed that the drop in fee is $ 18 and that includes mat rental which are in the rooms and are really good, grippy mats and there is cleaner in all the rooms to use after you are done.
Now to the truly important part, the actual class. I took the 2PM 1 hour long L2 class with Karen-​Jane Wright. And it was fantastic. I loved that her beginning speech was brief and totally applicable to me and we OM’ed to start and end the class but the rest was a really good workout. Also loved at the end she really took time to explainthe nuances of your body position for crow which I appreciated because this is one of those poses that I think a lot of teachers elsewhere assume you already know. And I actually got deeper into it than I ever have because her instruction was so clear.
I will be back and update accordingly because I bought the 3 for $ 35 deal but could easily see this tied with Laughing Lotus as my favorite studio. Never thought I would see the day that another studio captured my heart as much as Laughing Lotus has but Yogamaya did that today.

I started coming back to Yogamaya specifically to take classes with Anna Greenberg, who I first discovered at Mala Yoga. Conveniently, she teaches Tuesdays and Thursdays during my lunch break. I just love Anna’s teaching style, warmth, and creative sequencing. Her classes are challenging, nuanced, and expansive.
Although it’s a shame that I didn’t enjoy one class here, it shouldn’t reflect my rating of the studio as a whole. The studio itself is a serene and sunbathed oasis — one of the most beautiful yoga studios I’ve ever stepped foot in. One big perk: If you’re coming via ClassPass, mats are provided!

I enjoy their hour-​long level 2 Vinyasa classes, which are not hard if you have a regular yoga practice, and introduces some next-​level poses like Crow and Side-​Crow. Don’t worry if you’re not there yet, there is zero pressure (or pretension!) to keep up but if you’re truly worried, there are also workshops that can ease you between level 1 and 2.
In some of the more popular classes, mats are lined up pretty closely to accommodate more students, but if you are feeling a little claustrophobic, the front desk staff are more than happy to register you for a later class that might be less crowded.
My favorite thing about this studio is the skylight in both studios which on nice days offers a gorgeous view of blue skies, and just a sliver of nearby buildings to remind you where you are. The studio is also clean, well-​designed, and will feel like an oasis for your practice!
You put your shoes to the right when you come in and sign in at the front desk. They have individual curtained off changing areas and 2 very clean bathrooms in a unisex area. There are shelfs inside the studio for you to put your coat and bag though it can sometimes get quite crowded.
Mat rental is included/​free if you’re here with Classpass or purchase a multi-​class package but are $ 2 for drop-​ins. There is also an option to store your mat at the studio though I have no experience with that.

First off, the studio is beautiful. This negative review is based on my personal experience so take it with a grain of salt. It seems likely that there is good yoga to be had here by the other reviews so it certainly warrants checking out if you’re considering it. If you’re curious why I was so frustrated, you can read on.
I came here for the first time for an evening L2/​3 course with Stacey. The class started out slow — there was 6 – 8 minutes of talking in the beginning about Ferguson but eventually we moved into the flow practice. The flow was fine — some unusual mixes of poses and modifications but I’m typically up for new things and I was happy just to get a yoga class in at the end of the day. Halfway through, though, the class ground to a halt. There was another 6 – 8 minutes of talking about the knee bend that we were going into before we finally started, and once I was into the pose I was feeling discomfort so I came out of it and waited for the next pose. Stacey came over and insisted on pushing me further into the pose even after I explained nicely that my knees were bent about as far as they could go. It should have been clear from the first 30 minutes of class that I had a reasonably advanced practice and understood my limits. I stuck with it in the hopes that the class would move forward again. A big part of yoga is pushing the body so you can clear your mind and be present. I didn’t want to miss out on that having already taken the time to show up to class. Then, there was about five more minutes of discussion, then everyone had to get up and walk to the back for 3 blankets, then there was more prepping for the next pose which was, to my disappointment, another deep knee bend. At this point, it had been 15 – 20 minutes since our last flow so I waited for Stacey to finish her instruction and once she was finished, I quietly rolled up my mat and headed out. As I was putting the gear away in the back of the class, she darted back and began scolding me for leaving early. She didn’t ask if I was ok or if something was wrong and just went straight into attack mode. I tried to softly tell her that I wasn’t in the right mindset for this type of class but she cut me off and, her voice raising up a few notches, told me that I was being disruptive. It seemed like pausing her instruction and creating a scene in the back of the room was significantly more disruptive than my exit, but there was no way to tell her that without just being part of the problem so I said nothing else, finished putting away the gear, and left.
This was the first time in six years of yoga that I was even remotely angered by a teacher’s behavior. I’ve had a handful of disappointing classes but I was always happy that I at least went and had a good practice. This, sadly, was the first time that I actually regretted making the effort.

Took an L2 1 hour class on a cold Friday morning. The receptionist was prompt and helpful. There’s a long coat rack as soon as you enter where people left their coats and boots. I know it’s a yoga studio (karma and all that) but I do wish the coats faced the front desk so at least I could tell myself someone would keep an eye on my things (also — half the coats were the same puffy black North Faces!). They have shelves inside the studio where people brought and left their bags. This is fine by me as long as ppl remember to turn their ringers off.
The studio is spacious inside an unassuming building and I think they did a great job of making it feel yoga-​y within such an industrial space. (Yoga-​y means dark wood, vibrant, rich fabrics, lots of natural light but still cozy). There are lots of changing rooms — but no lockers or showers. It seemed like there was a giant wall where regulars stored their mats.
On to the class, I loved the level of this «intermediate» class. There was a good flow and the right amount of instruction to move from pose to pose. Definitely appreciated it when I was starting out, but now I don’t like classes with too much instruction. For example explaining every single part of a basic sun salutation messes up my vinyasa (ykno — one breath per movement and all) (not that I’m perfect at it). The class introduced me to some new poses (with variations for different levels of bendiness and strength) and I got just a tad bit sweaty towards the middle/​end of class, which was the right mix of stretchy/​relaxing and challenging/​opening/​strengthening for a Friday morning. Wasn’t too crowded and we each got a few corrections from the instructor as she walked around. Excited to try some more classes (actually, more of the same).

This is a beautiful studio. Clean with changing rooms. No showers though. They offer a lot of class times and variety. I’ve dropped in several times over the last few years. And what I don’t like is… most of the teachers can’t teach hour long classes. Which is only a problem when I’ve showed up to an hour long lass because I only have an hour, and I get out an hour and 15min later or and hour and half and am rushing to where I need to go! The only time it didn’t happen to me was in the early morning classes, all the other classes I’ve attended did not end on time.
Another time I was there I just felt awkward because the front desk person left a passive aggressive note on the studio door for the teacher… but everyone saw it on their way out. It just made me feel weird about the whole place.
I did more or less enjoy the classes I’ve attended here, I just wouldn’t come to class unless I had more time, wasn’t in a rush. I also like that they don’t charge for mat rentals here. I don’t have to think about carrying min around especially if I want to come for class unplanned.

At the beginning of the year, I made a resolution that I was going to finally take up yoga. Thanks to a Groupon deal I found, Yogamaya was the first yoga studio I’ve ever been to… and I’d say it set the bar pretty high for all future yoga studios I decide to try!
Yogamaya is a very large and well-​equipped space, with lots of changing stalls and mat storage, as well as two bathrooms and a separate sink. As a total beginner, I only went to Level 1 classes, and I especially liked Joanne’s class — there were a couple of other newbies in my first class, so she spent some extra time showing us basic poses like how to do a proper downward dog. The pace of her class is a little slower, which is wonderful if you’re still getting into the swing of things.
The only downside of Yogamaya is that sometimes the classes get overcrowded. In one of my classes they were literally squeezing people in last minute which was a bit annoying for everyone else who’d gotten there earlier. But other than that, it’s a wonderful studio and I highly recommend it.