Julie Lawrence Yoga Center

Before I moved to Portland, a yoga teacher in North Carolina raved about Julie Lawrence and on her recommendation I checked out JLYC. I’ve had a wonderful experience in both Level 1 and Level 2 classes. The instructors are fully committed to the rigor, precision, and mindfulness of Iyengar practice. The light-​filled studio has sweeping views of downtown Portland. And I love that my classmates come in all ages and shapes.

I’m so grateful that Portland has a dedicated Iyengar studio. If you’ve been to other classes in town and left feeling like you had merely hurtled yourself from one foreign posture to another, give this a try. Students are in very experienced hands at JLYC. Classes are structured intelligently and conducted mindfully, in such a way that I feel the wisdom of yoga is allowed to reveal itself. The environment is welcoming and encouraging, with enough variety of instructors and class times to allow everyone to satisfy her inner Goldilocks. I had to get over my initial resistance to practicing on the 7^th floor of a downtown office building, but now I’m hoping the studio doesn’t change locations because I’ve chosen my new apartment based in part on its proximity to JLYC! Plus, the studio and props are CLEAN with a fresh flower bouquet to greet you at the door. What a wonderful resource in our community.

This was my first time doing Iyengar yoga, and also any yoga in a group/​studio setting, so I did a lot of research to find the studio that felt right, and I am very happy with this choice. My husband and I both got a lot out of the 12 week session, and I really like how the classes are taught there, somewhat in succession so you can continue to stay at the same pace or move up when you’re ready.
We LOVED our teacher, Allison– she is so calm and easy-​going but really knows her stuff and cares about each student, their limitations and their potential. We can’t wait to go back, we just didn’t have the money at the right time to start this round of classes, but we are hoping to jump back in ASAP because it was already changing our lives, body mind and spirit. It was our favorite day of the week when we would go to yoga in the morning and then hit KURE for a green juice.
You might like to check their website to see when they offer a free introductory class for newcomers– that helped us feel more comfortable. The one we attended was led by Tonya, and then we later caught a makeup class with her– she is also wonderful, a little more energetic, fun and peppy fyi, if that’s your yoga style. We loved Allison’s chill vibe and sweetness and hope she will be teaching a class that works for our level when we go back, but I’m confident all the instructors are well-​chosen and I would not hesitate to try working with the others in the case that classes with Allison are full.

I studied a lot of Yoga through the years, and then became physically disabled. I could not return to any of my former yoga classes without a severe flareup of my spinal pain .A friend suggested I try the gentle yoga class at JLYC and I did. It is the first place I felt comfortable and safe because they practice genuine Iyengar yoga. Since starting there, I have been practicing yoga almost every day, injury-​free, and without flareups. I owe my health to JLYC. As long as I can move and breathe, I will be a student there. The studio is also beautiful and clean.

I dropped in for a lesson while on a business trip. I am not a Iyanger student (or haven’t been) but have been practicing vinyassa for about a year with a lot of privates from careful teachers.
This place was great! Julie is such an attentive and clear teacher. There was an absolute minimum of the kind of new age BS that can ruin an otherwise good yoga class. While I did not actually work up a sweat, my body felt way better than it often does after yoga because the stretching was intense, well thought out, and focused.
Even the spiritual side of the class was great. Julie gave a reading and a few thoughts that were really appropriate for almost everyone.
If I lived in town I’d be a regular here.

I’ve been a student at Julie Lawrence for at least 10 years. I consistently find it to be the most important way that I can stay centered and grounded so I can tackle challenging work. And, my body loves all the stretching and strengthening. The teachers are welcoming, challenging and clear at explaining the poses.

I have been a JLYC student for almost 15 years. I think it offers, hands down, the finest collection of yoga teachers (both in regular rotation and in the form of visiting teachers) in Portland.
The atmosphere is warm, welcoming and supportive. There is an order and spaciousness in the studio that is both calming and reassuring. I’ve practiced in other yoga studios where things were a chaotic mess of students and props going every which way. Here, things make sense and there is always clear instruction of not just how to use props, but how to put them away when class is done.
The quality of instruction is outstanding. Special care is taken to connect with each student individually, and to the class as a whole. I meet so many people who think yoga is just about cranking your body into weird positions, so I especially love that the Iyengar yoga philosophy of connecting mind and body is brought into each class.
JLYC also offers free introductory classes to prospective new students, special workshops with teachers visiting from around the country, and a variety of other community building events, which I think is really cool. While the downtown location isn’t super convenient for my personal situation, there is an early morning class that makes it much easier to swing.
As each year and season goes by, I love seeing the changes in my body and my ability to go deeper into various poses. Thanks to the inspiration and instruction at JLYC, I am blessed to be building a yoga practice that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.

I’m an Iyengar yoga student newbie. But I just finished 10 sessions in 5 days at The Center for Yoga in Seattle.
I was in a level 1 class with Julie. I think the class was especially level 1. It was a large class with 30 folks and she had no assistants. Which is great for her but not us.
As for Iyengar you still get a lot more attention than any other form, but I was amazed at how much really bad form was allowed to pass. A lot of bent knees. It just seemed like these folks weren’t getting the form feedback I’m used to.
But to be honest it wasn’t a strenuous class at all. I didn’t even break a sweat. But I wouldn’t go back to this lesson if I returned and I’d be more likely to try someplace else first.
Still nice to get a stretch and it is a beautiful space.