09/07/08

Warm, welcoming yoga studio

by morganajanet

As the name implies, this lovely Yoga studio is heavenly. The instructors are among the most warm, helpful and welcoming I've ever worked with. The classes vary to meet your abilities. From the fantastic teachers, I've learned to value my own abilities. There's no judgement or competition, only personal reflection. You're challenged to meet your goals. I highly recommend Shosha's and Io's classes because of their kind and loving spirit. When classes become filled, we all scoot in a little closer and the practice adjusts accordingly. But even with a class at a more popular time, you'll find the instructors help you to refine a pose and listen to your specific challenges. I recommend you treat yourself to one of Shosha's monthly restorative classes... a two-hour journey of inner reflection. In addition to Shosha and Io, I've practiced with Marie and she's equally inspirational and informative. Take a class, and breathe anew with the lovely Angel City community.

• Pros: Great rope wall, calming ambience, lovely gift shop for the yogini in your life
• Cons: The parking meters have a tendency to be out-of-order!

07/17/08

Yoga that is truly from the heart and soul...

by champagnessparkles

This studio is a gem! It's one of the few studios that hasn't been taken over by the corporate world. The classes range from small to large, but the best thing of all is that it's not insanely crowded like some of the other studios in LA. It has the same quality, and even shares some of the teachers that teach at yogaworks, but you don't have to get caught up in the 'trendy' aspect. Everyone is there to practice and the collective energy is amazing. All of the teachers are so unique and have done their teacher trainings all the way from India to Yogaworks and have a very diverse teaching resume. It is soooo far from your typical cookie cutter studio. If you're looking for a really nice medium paced Hatha class that ranges from a mellow vinyasa flow throughout the class or sun salutations and an exploration of standing postures, I highly suggest Marie! Everyone who goes to her class always seem to stumble out in a yogic high - it's so delicious. I love Shosha's class, too. If you love Iyengar yoga, everyone here seems to share the mutual respect for the Iyengar lineage but still appreciates the newer less traditional approaches like Anusura. There isn't a clicky or judgemental vibe - just an open, caring vibe. They also have a full rope wall which rocks. This studio has become my home - I now try to go everyday. After class, you can go have tea at the Good Earth!! You can also find the studio on myspace now with the launch of their new teacher training program.

• Pros: Groovy Community and Teachers
• Cons: Parking, Old Equipment, Studio Could Use a Few Minor Repairs

07/06/08

Great classes and helpful teachers

by lizycap

I was a bit skeptical about joining. I am no yogi expert. i have done basic classes at a community college a couple years back, so going in i was a bit intimidated. Plus i am pregnant (not too flexible). i starting taking prenatal classes which i love! The instructor Shosha is polite, warm, and knowledgeable . in addition i started going to the "all levels" class. Even though there are other students with different needs, she (Shosha) is great with meeting everyone physical needs through helpful instruction. I now go twice a week and love it!!!!

10/20/07

Great variety, teachers who know their stuff, and a wonderful community

by sapphickitty

It's not the trendiest studio in Los Angeles, but you won't find a community like it anywhere else. Most of the teachers have been teaching their for several years, and a few since day one, 18 years ago. The teachers know their stuff and continue to study with some of the top teachers in the yoga world. The studio is so down to earth, and it offers a great variety from kundalini to iyengar. A lot of the classes are strongly Iyengar based, but there's also some great flow teachers, and the kundalini classes are out of this world.

There's free equipment, but it's a bit well worn.

The evening classes get pretty packed, so be prepared to get there a few minutes early.

• Pros: great teachers, community, teachers who live the culture
• Cons: well worn equipment, parking

08/11/07

Worst yoga class I've ever taken

by crimsons

I took the worst yoga class here in my years of practicing yoga -- and I'm not someone easily disappointed. The instructors -- and there were two teaching the class -- were completely insensitive to individuals' experience, and instructed everyone as if they were beginners. There was one point at which one of the instructors was actually hitting students lightly with some sort of rod. One of the worst parts was when they asked which women were "on their period," which is really priviileged information, guys. Usually the protocol is to mention that if it's that time of the month, you do *this* pose, instead of that one. But the pose in question wasn't even an inversion -- they just wanted those mensturating, for some reason, to do the pose on only one side. In any case, a real invasion of privacy. Ironically, the class was a mix of the sort of chanting you'd find among real yogis -- or in Pune, where we're not -- and then extremely annoying and non-meditative barking of orders, even during the final, allegedly restorative "corpse pose," from an egomaniacal instructor who may been practicing yoga half the time I have. The "cute" comments and "performing" really got old fast; I felt like a captive audience required to worship the instructor, and that's not why I came. The studio advertised this particular class as "all levels," but it was an extremely unchallenging class filled with beginners, advanced beginners, and more mature folks -- I am older too, and not a Gumbi-doll, but have been praciticing for years with excellent, well-respected instructors here, in San Francisco, and in New York -- even if I am a little stiff. I spent the entire 90 minutes increasingly angry at the instructors, and at spending $16 for this treatment, and will not be returning. If you're serious about yoga, avoid this place.

• Pros: Large, well equipped studio, good location.
• Cons: Invasive, egomaniacal instructor, parking difficult.

06/26/07

Not enough yoga for your money

by key176

The center is clean, comfortable, and relaxing, however the class I attended ended 20 minutes early for no reason. The center claims that your satisfaction is guaranteed, but don't even try asking them to live up to that promise.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere, good class size
• Cons: no customer service, no value for money

Old-school approach and top-notch instructors make this the Valley's grooviest yoga studio.

by Contributor

In Short
Remember when the word "yoga" conjured images of groovy folks in tie-dyed attire getting their "om" on while incense burned? That's the way they still do it at Angel City, a Studio City institution for over 10 years. The kind and knowledgeable staff leads a range of classes for all experience levels. The prevalent style is hatha, although a few sivananda and kundalini classes are offered, as well as tai chi, meditation, pre-natal, "Mommy & Me" and kids' classes.

06/03/02

Balancing Act

by JSchwartz_Citysearch

With two decent-sized rooms and a full schedule of classes, yogis of every level can find a place here. Sample the instructors, though. Within similar class levels, the practice varies widely. One intermediate class will be gruelingly physical, while another will consist of deep breaths and meditation.