YogaWorks Montana Ave

I have been practicing yoga since 1998 and have experienced many studios. After two weeks I finally found a couple teachers worth taking class from, but the general vibe is incredibly Santa Monica cliquish. Everyone has to have the right clothes, the right mat, etc etc. The teachers are often marginal and the worst part is the people at the front desk are usually quite rude. Most studios also have amenities like spray bottles of soapy water to clean your mat. When I ask for these things they snottily say, «oh, we have mat cleaner for sale…» I’d rather YogaGlo or any other studio, honestly.

I have been coming to this studio on and off for a few years. I usually go to the Westwood or Brentwood studios nowadays. I have come back to this studio recently for their prenatal yoga. Unfortunately it is only offered here at least in this area. I have gone to a few of the prenatal classes and have really enjoyed the ones taught by Patti. It is a strong yoga class which I appreciate since I had a strong yoga practice before becoming pregnant. I went to another prenatal yoga class on a Wednesday afternoon and it was not as good. I think I will stick with the Saturday prenatal classes instead!
They do have a parking lot at this studio but it is full quickly. They do not have shower facilities at this location either. Of note, I have been to some of the other regular yoga classes and the teachers here are fantastic! No TRX or Sculpt at this location either, btw.

The original Yogaworks — and still the friendliest!
The teaching staff are extremely professional — but Gigi Snyder’s class is the best fun!
Highly recommended!

Ralph Is a very talented ashtanga teacher and I am so blessed to have found him. The desk staff here are super friendly and cool. The studio it self is very clean with hardwood floors and lots of sunshine, there’s even a ocean view! Love the tea and patio out on the sun deck to relax. Free easy parking! Love this place!

I’ve been a beginner since 1974. FINALLY found a teacher who inspires me to actually do this. Chris Stein is an amazing yoga teacher.

The recent addition of a «reserve the class» feature is so hostile to high-​paying monthly members, annual members and especially to class ticket bundle purchasers. Yes, Yogaworks wants you to reserve a spot in class, fueling your fears of losing real estate to someone else’s mat, and will charge you if you can’t make it. Could something be LESS aligned with the non-​physical principles of Yoga that they teach??? Considering the number of groupon and classpass attendees in the classes, WHY would Yogaworks introduce a «feature» designed to punish the customers who have established more loyalty to the brand already? Seriously, I’m going to be out an entire class purchase price if something happens and I can’t make it to the class you scared me into reserving, in case it’s full? This is LA, it could be anything from a sigalert to an audition. Very hostile and unbecoming.

Really poor experience. Yoga teacher, Krista, was very rude and condescending. She spent a majority of the class talking about her private clients and how she only teaches certain poses in her «private classes». She even scoffed at me while I was in a pose! So unprofessional and elitist. I’ve taken yoga for several years and enjoyed all of the studios in Santa Monica thus far. I will not be returning to Yoga Works.

I really wanted to like this place. I really did. The studio is beautiful. But each time I took a class here, I was disappointed more than the last. Not impressed by the teachers here or their style. I won’t be returning. To anyone looking for a studio in SM… There are so many good ones but this isn’t one of them!!! Sweat, Power Yoga, Hot 8… All 1,000 better than Yogaworks and their lackluster classes. BTW I have been practicing yoga for 7 years and have been to many many classes and studios in LA. Trust me when I say this place sucks.

Second time to yoga works, I’ve practiced yoga for 13 years and this chain is nothing short of the standard gym yoga class, but with a funky smell. This studio this time the yoga teacher didn’t even show up, so this place is unorganized and I was disappointed to hear. I got a month on living social and to be honest I don’t even feel like wasting my time to try them again, I mean it’s pretend yoga!

This studio embodies everything that I dislike about yoga classes in LA. Parking here is THE WORST. There’s nothing like being stuck in the up ramp to the parking lot waiting for people to leave so you can get a spot. Meanwhile the parking lot, spaces and ramp are all super narrow so it’s a constant battle of readjusting just to see if there are any spots available.
Aside from the parking situation, the classes are all super packed and stacked back to back. You end up waiting for the class before you to exit and then have to mad rush into the room to fight for a spot. The classes are so packed you end up spending to first 10 min of every class having to move your mat around to accommodate people who are late. Once you have finally settled in your spot you are usually right on top of the people next to you.
When you go to leave you end up dealing with the same parking lot BS as when you arrived because the next set of students are anxiously trying to get spots in the lot and everyone is trying to maneuver their vehicles.
I always end up leaving these classes feeling tense and annoyed rather than relaxed and tranquil. Hiring a parking lot attendant would help a lot of the parking issue… but parking is not the only reason that I would not recommend this studio.

This is a great studio — clean, light and plenty of room to stretch out, relax and challenge yourself to build strength and stamina. I’m taking Charlie’s class regularly and have achieved much in balance and focus. PS– Free parking upstairs

After many years (more than 10!) patronizing YogaWorks’ Main Street studio, I’d moved on to other routines like swimming, especially because I was travelling so much.
In December 2015, I decided to enlist again for 2 weeks as a trial. My first week was spent in the Main Street studio 90 405, but their classes were too advanced for my rusty routine (L2−3) — yet the teachers were all gracious and confirming that I knew what I was doing with my body.
My second trial week was spent with the Montana 90 403 studio, where they had more beginner classes (L1), and I enjoyed all, until I took the Iyengar 1 with Chris Stein — Iyengar being my favorite yoga practice — and that’s when it went all downhill.
My first (and last!) Iyengar class with Chris Stein was an absolute emotional torture! From the get go, she zeroed in on me, and bullied me for the entire 90-​minute class — trying to force me to do poses I knew were bad for my body (I had back surgery), even banning me to the back of the room like if I was a 5-​year old because I was falling into child pose to rest! Her picking on me was so obvious and embarrassing that some of the students came to me after the class to comment on how much she’d been mean to me, and how much they felt bad for me. A couple offered the explanation that her class is so busy that she may be trying to put off new students (success there!).
I left the class an emotional wreck, literally in tears, after so much bullying + negative energy from so-​called «teacher» Chris Stein.
The irony is that this was my last 2-​week trial day, and that I was ready to become a full time member. But Chris Stein put me off it, for good.
The next day, I tried another yoga studio in town, and they will be my regular studio for the foreseeable future. They offer a variety of classes for all levels, are genuine with no attitude, and so far it’s only been good news — body and mind.
UPDATE 1÷21÷16:
I shared my dismal experience at the Montana Ave studio with the Main St studio manager Meera, who is absolutely fantastic and had enrolled me into the 2-​week trial, and she was very understanding, It’s a shame that classes at Main Street are mostly L2−3 advanced, but if I get my yoga groove back I may go back there.
I’m also upgrading my rating of 1* for the Montana Ave studio (don’t even deserve 0!), to 2*, and only thanks to Meera from the Main St studio. She could definitely teach those twats at Montana a few tricks about positive customer service — starting with the attitude!

This is my new yoga home. This studio because they have more classes in my level. Front has been great. I am truly enjoying wonderful Birgitte’s classes. She is a very clear teacher with quite challenging classes. I feel like I get a lot out of her classes and because she is so knowledgable regarding injuries and how you need to position yourself, I haven’t had any issues regarding shoulder pains etc (that I have had in other places). Classes are super crowded (even daytime ones), but the studio has lots of light and it is clean and somehow we all fit in. I park in the surrounding streets, but this studio does have a lot with some parking spaces. I am planning to use Breeze bike (bike share. One bike station right across the studio) once the weather warms up a bit ;)

I have been wanting to practice Yoga for awhile, but never found a location I liked. Then I did the free one-​week trial here and loved it. 10 minute walk from home, lots of class options and wonderful instructors. I bought a 14 month unlimited membership for the price of 10 months. I am so excited!

I’ve had some very poor experiences with the front desk here so I’m surprised to read that people report friendly experiences with the staff. Most recently, I was given a hard time for renting a mat because I forgot mine at home — despite the fact that I paid them for this service.
In general, this staff (instructors not included) is stoned and not concerned with running the studio. I have had the most wonderful experience with all other YogaWords studios’ front desks so I’ll be discontinuing my time at this studio and moving to another.

Practiced here during the 6 months that we lived in Santa Monica, and it’s seriously the best yoga instruction I’ve ever had.
My favorite teachers were Heather Seiniger, Anne Van Valkenburg, Carolina Goldberg, and Calvin Corzine. They made it very difficult for me to leave Santa Monica! Especially Heather. I can’t explain how much Heather impacted me. Somehow she became my teacher. It’s been several months since I left Santa Monica, but her words and instruction still ring true for me today.
The studio manager, Paul Bocage, was always kind, attentive, and helpful. The other staff were fantastic too and usually greeted me by name. Just make sure you learn their names too or else they get a bit feisty (I’m looking at you, John).
And last but not least, I enjoyed getting to know my fellow yogis here. There were about 10 of us who always ended up in the same classes, and we got to know one another so well, it broke my heart to leave.
I’m very grateful for the time I got to spend here and for all that I learned. If you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend this studio!

Gorgeous space and incredible teachers! I work long hours and I can’t wait to take my yoga works class at the end of the day. Charlie is one of my favorite teachers!

Love this place so much! I just moved to LA and was looking for a yoga studio. Everyone here is so nice from the front staff to instructors. I’m third trimester pregnant and love all the prenatal classes! Jasmine’s therapeutic class is also amazing and Brigitte can’t say enough good things

used the free week pass and took the baby and me yoga. class was so fun! went with 2 of my girlfriends with their babies too. i enjoyed the «baby circle» and «flying baby» when the babes got to be a part of the yoga. would definitely recommend.
parking is free up on the rooftop structure. starbucks right downstairs for a good ice cold drink after class. :)

Jessie Schein’s level ²⁄₃ classes are a remarkably complete yoga experience. She teaches ingenious sequences combined with a constant focus on breath and gaze «drishti». Her classes are reminiscent of Maty Ezraty’s teaching.

Did the 1-​week free trial here. Convenient parking on the roof top. Friendly front desk at check in. It was nice to have complimentary hot tea, especially since it was raining that day.
I only made it to 2 classes before my trial expired. It was interesting to try a couple of different variations but I much prefer my regular yoga studio. Maybe I’ll give it another try down the road.

I have been a member for little over a month, after doing yoga at donation based studios for 3+ years. While I love those studios, I wasn’t receiving the alignment cues and adjustments I needed, and was injuring myself (wrists and shoulders) and not getting much stronger. A friend suggested Carolina’s class, and I decided that it was time for me to commit to a studio and my yoga practice.
YogaWorks Montana has been a game changer for me. The teachers are very knowledgable and thorough in explaining proper alignment in each pose, as well as walk around and make adjustments. So far I have tried 8 different teachers, and all have been excellent. A month in, I am in love with yoga again, and already so much stronger. My shoulders and wrists are doing much better, and I no longer spend the first half an hour of class feeling stiff as a board. It’s clear to me that I am building proper muscles and no longer trashing my joints — I wish I had joined a long time ago :-)
All staff and teachers I have encountered have been super friendly. Paul, the manager, was very helpful in explaining the ins and outs of the studio and going over the different classes and teachers’ styles. The studio is clean. It reminds me of Hawai’i: Simple and calm.

Studio: Clean, nice amenities, friendly staff. It’s also awesome that they have their own parking lot, which most studios don’t. Word of caution though, the ramp going up to the parking lot is very narrow and it is the same ramp to go up AND down, so if you go at a time that a prior class is leaving it can be a little hectic to park. I always try to arrive a little earlier to ensure I don’t get stuck in that mess and never have any problems.
Teachers: The main reason I give this place 5 stars is because of Gigi Snyder who is one of the best yoga teachers I’ve ever taken. The very first time I tried Yoga it was at the Yoga Collective in Venice when Gigi was teaching and I absolutely loved it. I was hooked on yoga and wanted more, but I thought that most yoga classes would be more or less the same. As a result, I thought I would just game the system and use introductory member deals/​groupon so that I would never have to pay full price, but after trying numerous studios and teachers, I realized that Gigi’s classes were the best and ended up just buying a package of classes at Yogaworks.
Gigi’s classes embody what I believe are a perfect yoga class: A mix of meditation, stretching, cardio, strength building, balance, and movement which Gigi masterfully combines with music and lighting to create an environment of a deep and meaningful practice. She is also incredibly knowledgeable in yoga, and has a way of making you feel challenged and nurtured at the same time. Granted, everyone has their own preference in yoga, so other classes may have more movement/​cardio type stuff (i’ve noticed that a lot of studios ramp up the repetitive workout movements for the 6:30 classes), or more stretching, or more meditation, etc. but in my mind Gigi’s classes are the perfect mix. The only other teacher I’ve found who has similarly balanced classes is Ali Owens who use to teach in Santa Monica but now teachers at The Green Yogi in Manhattan Beach.

I absolutely ADORE this YogaWorks studio– in addition to having the expected high standard of quality instructors (my daily practice there ranges from Pranayama to flow to Ashtanga and therapeutics with Lisa Wofford, Chad Hamrin’s, Maria Villella, and Jasmine Lieb) the studio has its own parking lot, a comfy outdoor seating area for enjoying the delicious hot tea the studio offers all day long, AND is across the street from one of the best cold-​press juice bars in a Whole Foods store!
Show up early ’cause classes and the parking lot get full.
namaste
Respectfully yours,
Karen Elaine
A very happy regular customer at YogaWorks since June 2014

great class selection, and really friendly teachers and staff. The evening classes are quite full, so you can attend times that are not in the immediately after work zone it’s a bit more of a pleasant experience.
i’ve tried both main and montana — yoga works main caters most to level 2 – 3 (which is great) however, once i needed prenatal /​hatha styles they had little to offer. Montana has a much more balanced range of offerings.

I just moved to the neighborhood from west hollywood and am looking for a new yoga studio close to home. My favorite place in LA for yoga (Aura Yoga on Sunset) is now too far from home unfortunately.
I walked into YogaWorks this morning to take one of the 9am classes and was greeted with rude and condescending remarks right away from the girl at the front desk. She kept interrupting me to follow a programed script without any care or attention to me as a person. The client that came in the door after me greeted her with a compliment and she explained that the only reason she looked nice today was because she put on fresh lipstick this morning but that all of her other makeup was still from last night. She didn’t wash her face before coming into work, and then told clients about how dirty she still was from the night before.
As a first time client, this was not the vibe I want to feel from a studio. Their customer services doesn’t seem to be a top priority. I won’t be back.

Joined the studio after doing the Groupon deal because I loved the instructors so much. Unfortunately, most of the classes I like aren’t at convenient times for people who work normal hours and some of the classes (especially on the weekend) can get really crowded.
My favorite instructors:
–ALEX
Absolutely love her classes and would definitely recommend if you can make her MW 4:15 classes. They’re challenging and she likes to mix things up from class to class with different flows and arm balances. Alex is GREAT at sequencing classes and also gives great adjustments.
–JESSE
Challenging classes that are sure to make you sweat. her saturday classes are always packed mat to mat though.
–GIGI
Super friendly and approachable. her classes are more consistent week to week and I always leave with my mind at peace and free of clutter.
–CALEB
Caleb doesn’t normally teach at the Montana studio, but I’ve taken a few of the classes he’s stubbed for. he really challenges you to slow down your movements, taking 3 – 5 seconds per movement
Other instructors I’ve taken classes with and enjoyed:
–Carolina
–Calvin
–Sean (sub)
–Casey (sub)

I took a level 2 class at YogaWorks on Montana in Santa Monica. The studio is on the second floor of the corner building and there is surprise– free parking in front of the yoga studio! However, parking is sparse, so come early to snag a parking spot.
The studio has two rooms to practice in and is pretty clean. The studio provides the typical yoga props, however, I noticed that the props looked used and abused. The level 2 class itself was decent.
Yogaworks reminds me of a 24 Hour Fitness for yoga studios. There are several locations all over Southern California and your membership here allows you to access to all their studios.

This is a very classy and comfortable yoga studio that features a nice range of instructors to fit your every yoga want and need. Check the website out for descriptions of each instructor’s style, level, whether they play music, etc. The site is super helpful!
Also very helpful are the sweet staff members who work the desk. My only complaint is that they have a tendency to call you on your personal phone number to ask why you haven’t been in in a while sometimes… it kind of makes me feel cold called, but they’re always really nice about it so it’s not a huge deal.
If you’re new to this place, the best bet is to try their unlimited 2-​week deals. Right now on the website they’re offering 2 weeks for $ 30 (I’ve also seen some pretty awesome coupon deals for unlimited month memberships). It’s a great way to try a bunch of different instructors, which as we all know is the key to finding a studio you love!
Parking can be a bit difficult since it’s right on Main St. so if you can walk or bike there it’s ideal.