Mary T.
Yelp
Lately, it seems like I'm downward dogging all over town.
I really enjoy yoga, but my current budgetary situation doesn't really allow me to frequent any studio with long-term regularity. As such, I'm always on the hunt for deals, which is where Bloom Yoga came in.
September was National Yoga Month (what doesn't have a month these days?!) and participating studios were offering a free week of yoga. My first choice was a studio closer to home, but their target market was ladies of leisure given that the only yoga classes were between the hours of 9 and 5. Being right off the Brown line Rockwell stop, this was a natural second choice.
I will be honest, I was a little nervous about choosing Bloom. They have a lot of classes geared toward expectant mothers and children, which is so not my cup of tea (no offense intended). Fortunately, they also have a robust regular class schedule, which is also very accommodating to people who do work. I never had trouble finding a class that I could attend.
Since I had a week of free yoga I really aimed to get my "money's worth" and attended 4 classes. I took level 1, 1/2 and level 2 classes, which for the most part were pretty great. All of the instructors I had were very knowledgeable, I just clicked more with some than others, which is to be expected.
The space is simple, but bright and modern - colorful walls, nice wood floors and clean, white lights make it an happy, enjoyable space. I could see the interior appealing to adults and kids alike. There are 2 studios, a small one, good for a class of 8 or so, and a larger one that could hold at least 20. There are also two washrooms, good since pregnant ladies always have to pee, and a changing room too. Classes seem to be on average 90 minutes and prices seem to be on par with other studios I've visited.
There were only a few things I wasn't wild about at Bloom:
1) The temperature of the studios. All, but one of my classes was in the large studio; when there are back to back classes, there is only a 15-minute window between them, not nearly enough time to air out the studio! My first class was oppressively humid and smelled kind of like a sweaty locker room. Other classes didn't have the same problem, but did seem to either be too warm or a touch too cool; in one class the instructor seemed to be fiddling a lot with the thermostat.
2) Pre-registration is not required for classes. I suppose that's good and bad. Good because you can pick up a class on the fly, but bad if you arrive to find out it's full or you're really cramped into the space. I don't know if has happened, but I would be super annoyed to trek up here only to find a class at capacity.
3) Mat rentals. If you don't bring your mat you can rent one for $1. I know it's not a lot of money, but I find this to be a turnoff since most studios provide mats for free. Unless you're coming from home, lugging a mat around can be a pain.
Bottom line: Friendly staff, nice space and knowledgeable instructors; if I had the money and this place was a little closer to home, I would consider making this my regular yoga studio.