Ittai A.
Yelp
So, I am on the fence between 1 and 2 stars ( which fell from 3-4 when I was a member). Honestly, I really want to like this school. There are things to like. However, I am burned out trying to deal with this school.
As far as the classes, let's be frank - it is another Power Yoga center in L.A. The actual classes feels a lot like gym yoga on weirdly squishy mats. If you want a lot of knee to nose and a place that calls Urdva Hastasana mountain pose who teaches a number of poses that are less than 10 years old, then go ahead, but it will cost you $100 or more a month and you can't cancel. It does feel more like a Yoga studio than say, YogaWorks... and there is a good intention to be traditional there.
Kumi (the owner) is very nice and also well intended. She is great to deal with one on one in the moment, has a love for California Yoga and does seem to have a Bhakti intent. The big issue is she never follows up on her promises and is a bit flighty.
After stopping my membership when they kept cancelling classes ( sometimes with little to no notice) Kumi said she would follow up to my email and offer me some class passes, not only did she not follow up, the school keeps trying to hit my credit card. I have sent numerous emails, texts and calls, and they have yet to cancel my membership. I closed out that card, but I still get a monthly nagging emails from them to update my card and attempts to charge me on the old number which mt bank lets me know about each time.
That being said, the teachers are very friendly and well trained in what seems to be Kumi's version of Power Yoga and they do have some actual Bhakti Yogis come in regularly as guest speakers, and also Kirtan devotional nights. They are also close to the Krshna center which gives them an air of credibility, but the depth of Yogic understanding is not much deeper than most of L.A., most of what I heard was more in the realm of New Age and not the Vedas, Upanisads or Gita as one might hope in a place so close to two wonderful Hindu temples.
Caveat Emptor: If you are happy with modern american Yoga and want a spoonful of extra traditional influence, than this might be the place for you - but I am not the only person who has had issue when cancelling.