Katie is the best yoga teacher. Ever. I have done yoga off and on for around 30 years and have been…read moreto all the yoga studios in the Valley. I have never met a yoga instructor so intuitive, so committed, who knows how to engage her students exactly where they are at in their practice. In her " Yoga for Stiff People" class, everything that I had learned previously, fell into place because she took the time to start with the foundations of yoga. Her first class focused on the feet and by the end of 6 weeks, we had systematically worked our way up to the neck and head. She demonstrated good and bad techniques, breaking down each movement into its components so that we not only got the position correct but we understood how simple, easy to remember adjustments helped us maintain body memory. Each week Katie reviewed what we had learned from the week before and her warm, engaging style was an invitation to think about form and posture in very practical ways. Previously, I never quite knew if my foot placement, or hip placement or if my weight was distributed quite right. Katie changed all that with her practical, hands-on instructions - and she had time to come around to all of us in her class to give us one-on-one help. Quite unexpectedly, I found myself working at home on short routines that she had shown us. I was also thinking of getting shoulder surgery after years of injections and P.T. - but not any more. When our 6 wks ended, I jumped at the chance to work one-on-one with Katie at a deeply discounted rate and it's the best decision I've ever made. I've worked with personal trainers in the past, and I had a daily running practice. In addition I worked out diligently in the gym but ironically it has been Katie who has taught me to really connect with my body and teach me ways to deal with chronic injuries that previously I simply pushed through. Bum knee? Painful shoulder? Neck? Challenging back pain? Do yourself a favor and work with Katie. She changed my life.

I have been taking private yoga classes with Katie Shults/Build Yoga for about 8 months and could…read morenot be happier! Katie offers a program of Private Yoga for the well being of the whole person, providing a therapeutic vehicle for truly taking care of yourself. She tailors her teaching to meet you where you are and helps you move forward at your own pace, with enthusiasm and humor ,and without judgment, whether for a single session or a cumulative series of private sessions. Katie is a strong advocate for learning proper alignment to avoid injuries and to build core strength. You set your own the pace, learn to build a foundation from the ground up. It's so important to have the right foundation. The great thing about her private instruction is she is there just for you, without distraction of other students, with lots of hands on to start you off on the right path. Private yoga classes can help you ride the wave of events in your life, helping you to be in touch with your needs and moods, and learning how to feel grounded. How to open your heart. How to protect yourself. How to stretch and breathe and how to keep your chin up, look straight ahead and feel balanced in your life. My first private classes with Katie were for a shoulder impingement. I had practiced yoga for several years in and around the Valley and had ignored a repetitive shoulder injury for too long a time. Katie offered me a series of private therapeutic yoga sessions. I was initially a bit nervous and uncertain as to what to expect from my new private yoga experience. From the moment I met Katie for our first session, she immediately put me at ease. The results of a series of 3 sessions were amazing -- by the last session I had almost no residual shoulder pain and was stronger than ever before, less prone to re-injuring my shoulders and back. I have continued my private yoga study with Katie on a longer term basis to work on building core and upper body strength. Katie's steady hand offers a purposeful and reassuring touch, as she assists in adjusting aspects of my alignment and positioning while clearly explaining the purpose of each pose and adjustment. She custom tailors each pose for me, talks me through the hard parts to distract from the discomfort, and continuously introduces new poses every session, integrating breathwork, relaxation and self-care into the mix. Cumulative progress happens much quicker in private sessions than within a group setting. A private instructor helps you gain confidence and progress safely. Instead of being overwhelmed by information and awkwardness, I find myself being eased into knowledge and understanding. During each session, somewhere along the way I lose all track of time and by the end of the session feel different, like I have accomplished something great. I am calmer and more relaxed. Katie knows exactly how hard to push and really understands a client's limit. I cannot imagine any yoga teacher, personal trainer, physical therapist or coach that could do a better job at catering to a client's personal needs and goals than Katie Shults. Yoga is a means to real personal improvement over time. It's a gradual, steady, natural way to feel better in and about yourself. I've discovered that between sessions, bits of guidance that Katie has given me will spring to mind...suddenly there I am on the street corner waiting at a stop light, focusing on breathing deeply, relaxing my shoulders, changing my posture and along with it, my attitude. All thanks to Katie. Group yoga classes are great, but a private teacher deepens your practice in surprising ways. It's like the benefits a student receives from a tutor versus classroom learning. Whether new to yoga, needing rehabilitation from an injury, or just wanting to take your practice deeper, one-on-one or private group yoga instruction with Katie Shults/Build Yoga can help get you there. Occasionally I also attend Katie's group classes. Her group sessions are phenomenal...creative, insightful, hard work and fun. Private or group classes, Katie's pretty wonderful. Do yourself a favor, consider calling Katie/Build Yoga and make an appointment now!

If you are looking to build chi, work with the breath, and ultimately find peace centered in an…read moreopen heart and a balanced body, I highly recommend Lynn's classes. Her practice is deep and spirit-filled.

I very much enjoy Lynne's Yoga and Healing Arts Workshops. Having been a student of Lynne's for…read moreseveral years, I can, with confidence, give her a five star rating. The Yoga, Tai Chi, and Medical Qigong programs heal and relax both body and spirit. Some of the many benefits of these healing arts are stress reduction, increase range of motion and flexibility, enhanced breathing techniques, and improved balance. A fit for all ages!

Katrina (from the Pilates Studio) is a highly skillful and experienced Pilates instructor. She is…read morevery knowledgeable in her field, yet able to explain things to others in simple, easy to understand language. As a result she is now a respected trainer of other Pilates instructors, many of whom she employs at her center. I have come to know a couple of her instructors quite well and they are, without exception, wise and wonderful women! Katrina is warm, approachable and empowering in her approach to Pilates. I know several people who have done ongoing work with Katrina and have had excellent results with their physical issues. I also know a local chiropractor who regularly refers clients to Katrina because she is able to further the healing that he begins. I highly recommend Katrina and any of the instructors at the Pilates Studio that she employs.

Amazing space especially for a beginner! Instructors extremely patient and supportiveread more

Best workout deal in town! Check it out. Les Mills, TRX, Yoga, Zumba, personal training with…read morehighly qualified and caring instructors in a comfortable, sensory friendly studio! Check it out and pass it on

I love this studio! It's nice, spacious and is located in a great location not too far away from…read moredowntown Amherst. The instructors are AMAZING to say the least. Both Kim and Robin are very friendly and welcoming and they are very knowledgeable in the classes they teach. To be honest with you guys, I do not like waking up early on the weekend just to work out and do cardio. I'm tired, I'm lazy and I just want to sleep. But there is something magical about the studio and the Body Combat class. The energy Kim and Robin bring to every class leaves me speechless and in awe. About a quarter of the way into the Body Combat class I always suddenly find myself going from a tired slob to a smiling, energetic and motivated athlete! They are always super supportive and motivating at the same time. This class is literally my morning pick me up. I honestly wouldn't be able to do it without them so I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication. I would not be able to workout without their help.

They reject any medical exemptions to wearing a mask or face shield, effectively enforcing…read morediscrimination and segregation of this country's citizens. The town mask mandate requires businesses to respect medical exemptions. I was belaying my partner at Central Rock Hadley in August 2021 when they told me to put my mask on after I'm done belaying him. I said "OK!", and they left. A couple of minutes later, when I was holding my partner up in the air, both hands clearly occupied, the manager came and snapped at me in an extremely nasty tone to put a mask on immediately at that moment. I explained to her that I was holding my partner up in the air and it would be unsafe to do so. How more unsafe could you get than to demand someone to put a mask on while they're holding someone up in the air? She then said that I had to either lower him, or give her the rope so I could put a mask on. I wanted my partner to finally get that climb and to continue to communicate with him about it so I put my mask on while she held the rope. After I was done lowering my partner, I took it off, and she came back to harass me, which I explained that I had a medical exemption and there has been no issue from anyone with me wearing it when I could and taking it off when I couldn't, until now. She stated I had to put the mask on immediately at that moment, or leave now, and if I didn't chose one of the two options, she would call the police on me. I told her I would leave and later on she explained that I had to wear a face shield if I couldn't wear a mask, to which I explained that I couldn't wear a face shield either. Her rules were: everyone needed to wear either a face shield or a mask. My medical exemption was effectively ignored. They violated my rights through violating the ADA and the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/public-accommodation-civil-rights-protections The town of Hadley mask mandate states: "Nothing in this order shall be construed to require a mask to be worn by children under age five (5) or children who frequently compromise mask integrity with frequent manipulations or removals, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance or anyone who cannot wear a mask for other underlying health and safety reasons." The manager and employees were also delighted when my truck with signs advocating for medical freedom was vandalized. In fact, from how they acted, I wouldn't be surprised if they knew who did it, or were even involved with it themselves. The Hadley police reviewed the footage but the footage was too blurry to see who did it, so I wouldn't be surprised that these bullies tampered with it, either.

A great climbing gym for beginners and experts alike (though I'm definitely a beginner!). Helpful…read moreand friendly staff who don't coddle you--they make sure you're up to speed on belay technique and everything safety-related. This keeps the gym feeling really safe and professional, which I enjoy. I also love the variety of yoga and fitness classes, plus the free weights in the gym. It's the perfect mix for me of climbing, yoga (which I used to HATE and now generally enjoy, thanks to CRG) and weightlifting. The training area upstairs is also great for climbing-specific training, with a variety of hangboards, a kilterboard, and more. I really like the vibes here, and the music is great 99% of the time. Great atmosphere and a nice sense of community fostered by the staff with lots of events like queer climbing night, women's climbing night, and more. Honestly, my favorite reason for living in this area. Highly recommend visiting!

Health coaching: All…read moremy life I have had a problem with body weight and self image. I routinely ate too much of the wrong foods. I was unable to get a firm handle on what I could do to stop my lifelong spiral into obesity. Over the years my weight has gone steadily up. I've suffered from hypertension, colitis, high blood pressure, and the general fatigue that comes from carrying around 30-40 extra pounds. I knew I needed help. I turned to Health Coach and Mind/Body nutritionist Christie Rosen. Christie really knows what kinds of food make the human body run most efficiently. She put me on an organic diet that has worked wonders for me. I'm never hungry. I've lost a great deal of weight. I feel terrific. My blood pressure is super low. My colitis has vanished. I have all the pep in the world. Christie is an extremely pleasant and non-judgmental young woman, and very knowledgeable in her field. I would highly recommend Christie Rosen to anybody with a weight problem or to anybody who simply wants to get a handle of good nutrition. She has definitely turned my life around. Yoga Instruction: I have taken many yoga classes over the years and always came away disappointed. The classes were either boring, physically undemanding, painful, or on rare occasions potentially injurious to my body. Since my wife and so many of my friends raved about the wondrous benefits of yoga, I decided to give it one more try. Lucky for me I took a class taught by Christie Rosen. Christie was the first instructor I ever had who really taught me how to do yoga properly in a way that would let me fully experience its many benefits. Her exercises are mentally soothing as well as being physically invigorating. I come away from her classes knowing that I've had a thorough workout yet I never feel tortured or stressed. She intersperses new postures with old so her classes never get tedious or boring. She gives each of her students personal attention, varying postures and exercises based on individual flexibility and skill levels. Christie has a thorough knowledge of yoga and its underlying physiology. She is a wonderfully talented and extremely personable young woman. She has a people-oriented teaching style coupled with a relaxing demeanor and calming personality. Thanks to Christie, my overall physical condition has improved dramatically. Since starting her classes I bend lower, stretch further, balance better, and stand taller. Christie's yoga class has become the focal point of my weekly exercise routine. I will do anything to avoid missing it. I cannot praise Christie highly enough. Gary K. Wolf Creator of Roger Rabbit http://www.garywolf.com/

Christie is one of the best yoga teachers in Boston. She is a great instructor for all levels and…read moreabilities. She will take the time to answer any questions after class. I could not recommend her any higher. Namaste.

Jackie is hands downs one of the greatest therapists and people I have had the privilege of…read moreknowing. She introduced me to several therapy techniques that have proved beyond beneficial: tapping (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Jackie was immediately helpful in reducing stress and improving my overall outlook. The benefits have been lasting and have helped me in both my personal and professional life. I'm beyond grateful for these therapies and for Jackie. If you're looking for a therapist I can't recommend her highly enough!

From the owner: Jackie offer's virtual holistic psychotherapy and trauma processing including Attachment-Focused…read moreEMDR, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and other energy medicine modalities while also incorporating Internal Family Systems and Somatic Approaches. Jackie specializes in working with people struggling with Anxiety, PTSD, Depression, healing generational patterns and issues with Self Esteem. Jackie also is a Certified Yoga Instructor and incorporates mindfulness practices into sessions to help clients restore health, wellness and balance.

50/50 and Energia were great! A found it a little strange the gym was divided between two location…read morebut nonetheless the spaces were clean and well-equipped. All the trainers and owners were really friendly (most of them knew me by name) which was surprising and a great atmosphere to be in. I tried several classes as well as participated in personal training for a couple months before I moved back to Boston. The classes were challenging and they definitely accommodated all types of fitness levels especially the spin classes. Kickboxing wasn't my favorite but that probably because I'm coordination-challenged. The other people in class were nice and overall it was just a great atmosphere to work out in, and the instructors were incredibly motivating - cheering on individuals as they work harder. Your hard work won't go unnoticed. The personal trainer that I got to work with was Jamie who was chosen because his schedule worked nicely with mine. Jamie is an outstanding trainer and overall amazing person to spend time with. I had so much fun training with Jamie, he was funny, optimistic, smart, and he definitely challenged me every time I came in. Additionally, he was super accommodating to my changing schedule, and personal needs from a trainer. Even when I wasn't in the mood to work out or was having an awful day/week - training with Jamie always helped to turn things around. And beyond the gym and my physical well being, this guy helped me a lot mentally and with situations that had nothing to do with my body. I really can't say enough good things about this guy. I feel blessed that I got the opportunity to meet such a great guy and sorry that I had to leave Western Mass.

Their friendly staff, clean and inviting facilities, and interesting classes finally inspired my…read morebutt to get in shape. Once you start coming here, you won't stop. Katie's spin classes are a MUST.