YogaWorks Soho

Just started a Groupon deal for an unlimited month of yoga. I went to the location in Union Square several years ago. Sad that it closed down, as it was the most convenient location for me.
Yogaworks Soho is a very big space. They have a couple studios, upstairs changing rooms with bathrooms, showers, and lockers, and a main reception area with a shop that sells yoga equipment and clothes. As I’m used to going to the tiny studio in my neighborhood, this is quite a change for me. The classes are HUGE. The studio is huge, yet even so, the classes are super crowded. One class I’ve been to had at least 70 people, probably more but I couldn’t count. You have to kind of jostle for space, and follow the people in front of you since it’s too hard to see the instructor. The class was pretty good though, just the right amount of difficulty for me.
I’m still undecided about this place. On one hand, you can see that their facilities are well maintained and they are organized. On the other hand, the constant swarm of students, to the point where the common areas get backed up and you have to wait in line for things, does not feel zen-​like at all. It almost feel like a gym overrun by sorority girls. When classes are about to start or just ending, it’s pretty much a zoo. We’ll see how I feel after I complete my month of practice.

In comparison to the Union Sq location, this one is a lot bigger and more spacious. There’s ample room for changing and I like that they have lockers instead of cubbies. I only took a morning class here and the instructor was decent. With the Union Sq location being closed, I guess this will be the next popular alternative.

Loved Angela, the instructor for the 12:45 level ²⁄₃ class! She was so sweet! Angela was knowledgable, had a great calming voice, had a great sequence and peak pose to lead up. She had an amazing adjustment that I needed, gently opening up my hips. I’m thankful and grateful to have had her as my instructor. 12/​29/​2015.
The facility was also clean, nice space, and I enjoyed the mint tea.

Had one of my best Vinyasa Flow classes ever with Cassandra Rigney… combination of strength and flexibility… intense and relaxing… will return…
Overall experience was very positive!

I tried to get my 200Hr trainer program done here. They give you a program adviser far away in CA. The point is the attitude of this adviser is super personal and keep finding troubles on me, it makes me feel she tried as hard as she can to kick me out their program which is hilarious. Very disrespectful and irresponsible and unprofessional. Just to show that they are busy and ignore you because they are big company and they don’t care you.

Unfortunately I had such a negative experience with soho Yogaworks.
I joined hoping to complete my 200hr teacher trainer course with them but was so unhappy with how they ran this studio that I chose to go elsewhere for my training.
I mentioned to the studio manager about the cleanliness of the studio, the unfriendly and disorganized greet team along with other issues. She herself was extremely rude and condescending in return. It is run more like a unfriendly gym rather then a community feel yoga studio (and I have worked in big business gyms where guest were actually treated like members and family rather then just numbers and money to reach their monthly targets).
I was originally sold on a package that I receive first and last month free. When I decided to leave they refused to uphold their end of the contact and conveniently ‘lost’ the contact. They refused my entry and flatly stated that I was no longer a member (even though I still had a month left). They then proceeded to take another withdrawal from my account without my permission. I tried to speak to their head office and my email and phone call went unanswered.
There are some great teachers at this studio, so I really didn’t want to leave them, but I chose to follow the teachers to their other studios instead of supporting a studio that doesn’t care about their members at all.
It’s ironic that the way they run this studio is in opposite alignment with what yoga is. It’s very disheartening.

Big, clean, bright studio.
Good teachers.
The front desk always seems clueless.

this review is for barworks class. emily was the instructor and she taught one heck of a class. since it was a small class (~6−7ppl) she was able to go around and give each of us pointers and correct our forms. the class involved a lot of cardio with tons of pushups and planks. you’ll get a good sweat from this class. showers are upstairs

Four stars for Jason and Jason only. He is the best. His classes are the only ones I’ll take at Yogaworks.

Has some great instructors, also has some not-​so-​great instructors. The facilities are nice. My major problem was trying to end my membership with them, and the level of disorganization and rude customer service from the managers and receptionists. I paused my membership due to a back injury and a chronic illness. They restarted my membership after 6 months and charged me, and when I called to deal with it they weren’t willing to give me a refund on the month, and also asked me «when I was going to get better?». .. which is a very upsetting and inappropriate question to ask someone with a chronic illness.
I thought I had cleared it up, but my membership unfroze again and, at this point I decided I needed to cancel because clearly I couldn’t just pause my membership until I chose to reactivate them like I have with other clubs. We agreed that they would cancel my membership and I could finish out the month that I paid for when I felt better. After I finished my free month (during which I had to explain what was going on every time at the front desk because no one made a note of it) I thought I was done with yogaworks. Then I got an email saying «welcome back to the mat» and that they were reactivating my account on october 31. At the point I was very frustrated, and was told by the regional manager to «calm down» and that «they’ve been in business for 27 years and don’t dance around with customers.» I have a business as well, and never have I ever told a customer to «calm down.» If I was repeatedly charging a customer for services not rendered I would understand why they would be angry. Rude and unprofessional.

It has been a while and I returned to this studio. There is a wide variety of classes and bc the studio is so large there are sometimes several classes offered at around the same time. Sometimes in the morning they offer a vinyasa class and an hatha or yoga works style class so I can choose. Though the took the sauna out the locker rooms are still large, clean and tidy. They limit towels which I don’t think they used to but its always good to be nice to the environment. I have not tried the non yoga classes yet.

I would give this place 5 stars because I love Sherman’s class. And the changing facilities are spacious, But they don’t offer drop in classes! What the heck! I came here on a new student deal. But I won’t be coming back because I can’t drop in. I like to mixup my workouts (yoga, weights, bootcamp, dance etc) so it’s not practical for me to sign up for a monthly membership. It’s strange because all the other yoga works allow you to drop in.

I am a member since two years — and I have seen this place going down. bad management. the receptionists cant answer any questions regarding events or training.
They increased the price without communicating this, no towels anymore, you need to ask for one, no tea bags anymore, just one tea dispenser which is ALWAYS empty. the showers are increasingly dirty with flocks of hair all over.
constant turnover of personnel. bored, if not even rude receptionists eating their sandwich while checking you in. this place is becoming very corporate and has nothing to do with yoga anymore.
two of their best teacher left

I like the classes here but one thing that really really annoys me and had help me made my decision to cancel my membership is the lack of yoga courtesy of taking off your shoes while entering the studio. Some students and almost all of the staffs wear their shoes into the locker rooms and the floors/​areas where a lot of yogi walk barefoot on. By the time we get to our mat or finish redressing, the bottom of our feet is dirty. A lot of the studios that I been on are pretty strict on taking off your shoes but not this one. On raining days, we walk on rain water from the outside inside the studio floor from other member’s shoes. Not as clean as I would likez

Take Keisa’s kickass #TRX class on Mon and Wed @945am. I guarantee it will change your muscle tone, especially in the abdominals (upper). The kickass refers to the way she instructs the class with humor, sternness and charm which makes you both love and hate her all at once. She keeps you coming back when you start feeling your abs getting more sore and yet, oh so defined. Don’t get me started on her #Barworks class. It’ll bring the abs of steel, graceful and delightful, tutu-​wearing ballerina out of you. I’ll even bring you in as a guest so you an experience his review first-​hand

The only reason I keep coming here is for Julie Dohrman. Otherwise, the classes are way, way too big (due to constant groupon, gilt city etc deals it seems) and they let people in late which is really disruptive. They also encourage people to go to classes that are beyond their level, which takes away from everyone’s experience. The locker rooms are nice on the façade, but really everything is always breaking/​falling apart and many times it’s dirty, missing toilet paper, missing soap, etc.
The overall feeling I get is that they are more concerned with getting new members than keeping the ones they already have.
Tip — get there 15 – 20 minutes early to get a working locker and a spot in class!!!

The good:
Clean spacious changing rooms
Big airy practice rooms with plenty of props and blankets
Generally very high quality teachers
Lots of classes
Sherman Morris. Seriously, Sherman will kick your buttasana, in the kindest possible way. I’ve practiced on and off for 11 years and I feel like a complete novice in his class.
The bad:
This is a pop yoga studio of the lululemon, basic b*tch variety. Cool if that’s your thing. But kinda irritating if you think that scene is bull.
The ugly:
Membership hard sell. I bought a gilt voucher for 30 days and have been using it a lot and yesterday a note was slipped under the studio door saying «*my name* can you please stop by reception after class» — eh?! I thought I’d done something wrong or lost something or I don’t know what. But nope, they just wanted me to sign up to a membership. Now. Right now. We have a special Offer today, not sure how long it’ll be. chain gym pushy. Not yoga.
So. I don’t know. The teachers are good. I want to keep going to Sherman. But hmm. Jury is still our

After going regularly to another well loved studio for over a year and a half, it was time for me to find a new place to practice when I moved. At first I was skeptical about a chain yoga studio, I was used to the independently owned place I had been going to. I worried it would feel too «corporate», like I was going to a regular gym.
Fast forward a few months and I couldn’t be happier. The facilities are very clean (featuring towel service, showers, free tea) and lots lockers in the ladies’ lounge (leave your lock at home)!
A side note: During busy times I’ll often see people going crazy trying to find a digital locker that is free — USE THE COMBINATION LOCKERS on the far wall. Honestly, it will save you time/​frustration, and save everyone else’s sanity so we do not have to hear you complain about there being no lockers.
Most of the teachers are fantastic, although recently some of my favorite teachers have moved away or their schedule has shifted. Some of my favorites are Julie Marx, Holly Jean Cosner (Barworks/​Pilates), and Alie Carey Flynt.
Great mix of vinyasa, hatha, and their signature «Yogaworks» class which focuses on proper technique and goes at a slower pace. I also love that they have barre, Pilates, and TRX classes available on certain days so you can mix up your workout. Love that there are classes almost every hour during the day — which makes it so much easier to drop in when your schedule allows.
Never have experienced any fellow yogis or teachers with elitist attitudes, everyone is very welcoming and the teachers encourage you to go at your own pace and make modifications if needed.

Man, man, man. I’d never been to a fancy yoga studio before Yogaworks and was blown away:
— HUGE classes. Jeez! Each room is gigantic and classes are all at capacity with 50 – 90 students! It’s crazy. There’s often a line-​up situation at the front desk when everyone is trying to check in, the locker rooms are always hectic, and the hallways are always filled with people rushing to or from class. Not very calming.
— The space is clean and obviously fit out for a boutique studio, with very «yoga industry» décor touches. Yogaworks takes up the 2^nd and 3^rd floors of a classic cast-​iron SoHo building with windows facing Broadway, so you can hear traffic noise in two of the yoga rooms. The last room is windowless and built out specifically for barre classes, with slots in the walls for modular barres.
— Big locker rooms, showers, complimentary tea, towel service. Bring your own mat or rent one from them for $ 2… Or buy a fancy one at the little store opposite the front desk. I admit I never figured out how to use the digital lockers so just stuffed my bag on a shelf. Got nothing stolen, woohoo.
— In terms of demographics, the place looks exactly like a sorority.
— «Yoga advisors» (i.e. salespeople), just like at a gym, will call and email incessantly about membership as soon as they get your contact info. On the plus side, the deals they offer can be good. Practicing here is membership-​only, month-​to-​month, at a default price of around $ 135/​month (yikes), but you’re almost guaranteed to get some sort of deal. They also have student/​teacher/​corporate discounts.
Most importantly… the classes were excellent. A barre class (level ½) kicked my butt almost as hard as fencing did. A vinyasa (level 2) class was filled half with people who lifted beautifully into headstands, half with people who couldn’t take wheel pose, and I felt exactly where I needed to be. It’s the first time I’ve considered «progressing» in yoga. The classes are split into 3 difficulty levels, they’re all an hour or longer, and there’s a good variety throughout the day.
I really dislike the sorority vibe and everything that comes along with it, but for the sheer quality of the instruction and the relative flexibility of classes in terms of skill level and scheduling, I would actually consider membership here… once I figure out how to double my paycheck.

If you want a full service yoga studio, come here and look no further.
I still have no idea what the prices are to join this studio, but I am guessing it is pretty expensive. I overheard a conversation about membership and one of the receptionists said, «oh you’ll need to speak to our yoga adviser for that.» What in the world is a yoga adviser?
Anyhow, I used my YogaPassBook here. I get 2 classes with my coupon. This is a great deal for this studio. Why?
1. Good instruction
2. Complimentary yoga mats for your use
3. Showers!
4. Complimentary towels
5. Complimentary tea and water
6. Digital lock lockers
I would seriously consider joining this studio once I am done with all my coupons… they are high-​end, but you’re paying for quality. And there is something to be said for quality.