Those of you who live in the Buena Park/E. Lakeview neighborhood might recognize the address of Hilltop Yoga as former home of The Yoga Boutique. (The Pine Grove address is the side entrance to Park Place Towers, 655 W. Irving Park Rd.) I was a longtime client of the studio in its previous incarnation. Dana Robert, the original owner, had built the Yoga Boutique into a solid neighborhood yoga studio: good teachers, a good range of classes, and small classes in a pleasant practice space. A year and a half ago, however, Dana sold the studio to move to the East Coast. The next owner (NOT a yogi!) kept the Yoga Boutique name, but quickly seemingly did everything she could to run the studio into the ground. She shortened class times, cut favorite instructors, and began to add a range of non-yoga classes: aerobics, kickboxing, strength training. In short, she tried to make a great little yoga studio into a mini gym, with a fraction of the space and resources. The results weren't good. Class enrollments declined. I hung on for the good teachers who were left, but the situation was frustrating...
But now the Great news: Hilaire Lockwood, owner of Hilltop Yoga Studio in Lansing Michigan, recently purchased the Yoga Boutique space, and the studio reopened in March 2017 as Hilltop Yoga Chicago. Hilaire is a longtime yogi (27+ years of practice, plus training with teachers such as Maty Ezraty) with extensive experience in studio ownership, and her experience has been immediately apparent in the host of positive changes that have come with her new ownership. The studio is in the process of being completely transformed: new paint, new lighting, and, most importantly, more yoga classes. Hilaire has kept the great teachers and classes that were there before (Whitney Pasch!) and has added a whole range of classes and class times, staffed by dynamic instructors who hale mostly from Tejas Yoga (in South Loop). I have now taken classes with several of the new instructors (Jaime Cameron, Micah Jordan, and Hilaire herself), and have loved all of them. I've been particularly happy more weekend classes have been added. Hilltop Yoga is a great addition to the neighborhood. And the strength and professionalism of its teachers should make it worth the trip for yogis coming from outside Lakeview or Buena Park as well. If you're a practicing yogi in the area, check it out! And if you've been thinking of trying yoga, give their beginner class a try! read more