Angeliki P.
Yelp
A commercial yoga studio, beginners, in my view, definitely avoid, ok for anyone else. Not worth the trouble if you don't live near by.
I have been practicing yoga since 2004.At the beginning it was a 4- times a week thing, now an everyday necessity. Yoga is very important to me. I was never the flexible /strong ballerina ,gymnast or athlete, who 'saw the light' and turned to yoga. When I first started I could hardly touch below my knees with my hands. As with most things, I believe that starting the right way is incredibly important.People ask me often where I would recommend going and that is why I am writing this long review.
It is very fortunate that I didn't start at triyoga.
While there are some excellent teachers, I would never recommend starting there if you do not have some prior yoga experience, unless you are the gymnast/ballerina, in which case you still need to be very careful. By experience I mean , for example, someone already having explained to you what it means to lift your kneecaps, how often and in which positions ,how to breathe -especially ujjayi breath- what does it mean to have a sensation in your back, knees or shoulders and to which extent it becomes dangerous. I have seen people practicing dynamic forms of yoga without being aware of their bodies in this way and the instructor hardly ever showing the right way that doesn't lead to injury.The number of people attending are simply too great for what, I consider, a safe practice for beginners and no instructor will ever thoroughly spend time with you.In fact, not even close. In the two years I have been to triyoga I believe I have only been adjusted a maximum of 10 times.I am not really that advanced but, even if I was, I don't think you ever stop needing adjustments. It is not that instructors don't care about safety, it is just impossible to be thorough with 20-30 people in a class. Most instructors are doing the best they can. Luckily, I knew my body- my hyper-extensive knees for example- because other instructors in other countries and places had made sure that I was practicing in a safe way, pointing out the things I needed to be aware of throughout the practice .But I didn't learn any of this at triyoga.
Moreover, all the beginners courses are charged extra, which I find a bit much given that you pay 108 pounds per month for unlimited classes.
From a spiritual point of view(and I mean of the spirit, not religious), the classes are ok, but there is still an air of something fake about the whole thing.You just have to keep yourself constantly in touch with your body and your breath and ignore the general context around, which can be a challenge the first years of one's practice,especially in an overcrowded room with an instructor giving general directions.
However, from the classes I have been to, there are certain instructors that I would definitely recommend trying, either at triyoga or elsewhere whatever your level. They are superb:Joyce McMicken, Mary Young, Tim Cummins and Sandy Sharkey .
For more advanced students it can be ok, I guess. But still, don't expect to deepen your practice substantively, unless you have your own very strong motivation and your own established practice, in which case, you can just do it at home and go to the occasional weekly class to stay in tune.Don't expect much guidance there.
So, if you have your own personal practice, know your body in yoga well and you don't need much guidance, triyoga can be good , with certain instructors. For anything else, not so great.
I am quite happy I did not start at triyoga because I don't think yoga would have become such an important part of my life, if I had started there.
Finally, the studio has a completely hipster vibe to it. Expect to see a lot of high end 'ethical' outfits and totally, in my opinion, overpriced everything. Bring your water and food with you if you are staying for longer and make sure that you don't interact with reception much.The light in the studios is good and the cafe area is relatively pleasant if you like this sort of vibe.
