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But, I have not personally encountered any of the aforementioned worries and if you do, please let me know. Quite the contrary, yoga has helped me significantly--to calm and quiet my unruly mind, to feel more peaceful, relaxed and to be more aware of my body and my surroundings.
I started out doing yoga at Gordon with Cathy Chadwick. The very first class, my very first encounter with it, I cried. This let me know that I needed to be doing this.
My second experience with yoga was through Healthworks for Women in Cambridge between my junior and senior year of college. Sometimes they have summer student specials, which I took advantage of that summer. I remember it being kind of difficult-taught at a higher level-and I had become so accustomed to pushing myself beyond what felt physically bearable, that I pushed myself too hard. Although I still benefited from these classes, especially the Relaxation Yoga class, I still had a lot to learn in the way of listening to my body and treating it well.
Then I kind of left it alone for some time; attended a Bikram yoga class or two with a couple of friends. Bikram just did not feel right.
So when I moved to the North Shore after college I did some shopping around, and this what I found.
I LOVE BBY. I love the room; the temperature has never been too hot. I love the big windows on Boylston that overlook Boston. I love the urban feel, most of all. My favorite class is with Ame Wren on Saturday nights at 6:15pm for Relaxation and Vinyasa. While people may have their arguments about music during yoga, I love the mixes-sometimes featuring Citizens Cope, Bon Iver, Thievery Corporation or Alicia Keys. This is a flow class, that is both challenging and relaxing. Love it.
I've only attended once. And while I liked the class I went to and the teacher was super experienced-her teaching style was pretty great. I didn't really like the space. There were no windows, it felt a little too claustrophobic for my taste.
The feeling here is also more of a "get a good work out and a good sweat" feel than it is about improving your practice. Granted, I've only been once, so please don't take my biased opinion. Check it out yourself.
I really enjoy yoga spirit. It's this small studio in Hamilton-very community oriented. Because of my schedule I mostly attended classes with Kat Mansfield, who I thoroughly enjoyed. And when she went to launch a new thing in Manchester, I went too.
This is the studio I currently attend, where Kat Mansfield teaches.
Kat is an educator and will remember your name after the first time you attend her class. She may/may not know that she does this, but during the classes she's taught me modifications to improve my practice.
My experience in her classes has surpassed any other experience I've had with yoga. She also treats the class as a community and will often have students pair up with each other to assist in learning new inversions.
