I highly recommend Afterglow Aerial arts for introduction to Lyra classes! The facility is clean &…read moreorganized & I feel like the classes are intimate enough to receive personalized instruction.

Since last time...new improved storage space in the lounge area, and a stall bar set has been added…read moreto the wall! The only downside I have noticed in the last couple years is that instructors seem to come and go faster. By now I have either reached or am very close to my 10th Anniversary of taking classes at Afterglow. Still worth the hour commute and a great place for building courage that I can apply to other areas of my life.

In case you don't want to read the long version, here is the gist:…read moreThis place is the best place I have ever worked out. The staff is friendly and helpful to an unusual degree. The instructors are fun and patient with newcomers. The class content is unusually FUN. I have recommended this place to ALL OF MY FRIENDS. It's so worth the time, money, and travel time. It is one of a kind!! --------------------------------------- For those who might like some details, here they are in more words than necessary. Sorry but I am incurably long-winded. I have used many Groupons trying to find somewhere fun to dance and work out and EVERY other time, the staff and clientele were either intimidating. I would either get a closed clique kind of vibe or in one case, distinct feelings of unwelcome because I didn't know their routines, habits, or I unknowingly stood in someone else's usual spot. Diva Den? Oh my freaking god!! I don't think I was made to feel this welcome since my last birthday party! For friggin' serious - I called to figure out how to activate my account and the woman who helped me, Valerie, could not have been more patient, helpful, and pleasant. A few times I went, I wasn't sure which room my class was to be in and every time, the front desk staff on duty gladly showed me to the room the class was in without even a flicker that implied I was an inconvenience, which would have been fairly reasonable given that I was asking them to walk me to class like they were my mother on the first day of kindergarten. The classes?? EVERY instructor I've taken a class from has been kind and patient and helpful AND more importantly, the classes are challenging but ABSOLUTELY SO MUCH FUN. Hashim, the instructor of a class that starts at 5:30am gave me individual help and encouragement despite the early hour and my abysmal ability to keep up with the regulars (who were also willing to help me get into their routines). Rosella is the instructor for "It's a Groove Thang!" and she makes the class SO fun - she's enthusiastic and energetic and her dance moves are less mind-boggling and complicated and more fun than other dance workout classes I've taken. By that, I mean, she gives you choreography that is delightful even if you are not as...coordinated as others (take it from me, as my friends always refer to me "dancing" in quotes). "It's a Groove Thang!" is easily my favorite dance workout class I have EVER taken and I have tried MANY. I took "Center of Gravity" with Jody and since Valerie was at the front desk that day, she kindly tipped Jody off that I was new (Valerie is a GD ANGEL). Jody helped me through all of the movements. I was SO scared before signing up for this class because it involves fabric slings hanging from the ceiling and I worried I'd end up tangling myself up and flopping around helplessly like a flying goober while the rest of the class looked on in perplexity and disdain. I couldn't have been more wrong. Jody helped me with everything before I even had to ask and the others in the class seemed to want me to succeed as much as I wanted to! And the class was DELIGHTFUL. I felt incredible afterward. I don't have a single negative word to say about this place. This review may sound like overenthusiastic hyperbole, but I don't usually gush. I just genuinely believe that this place is a wonderful, WONDERFUL place to go, workout, chat with inexplicably helpful and kind people. It is SO worth your time, money, and even commute! I have recommended it to all of my friends because it is a BLAST and a half and I have thoroughly enjoyed every single visit from beginning to end! It doesn't really have to be said, but to be clear aka redundant: HIGHLY. HIIIIIIIGHLY. RECOMMEND!!

Loved this studio, but unfortunately it's closed now. It's been bought out and is now a traditional…read moredance studio - No pole classes from what I can tell, which is too bad. This was a supportive, judgement-free zone .

Amy is AMAZING!! I had never taken aerial yoga before and was intrigued by seeing Eleven Aerial's…read moreInstagram page. The space for the class is inviting, clean, and relaxing. I have attended both full and smaller class groupings with her, and in none of Amy's classes have I felt anything but welcome. Amy instructs each participant with care throughout all movements. She has gotten me hooked on aerial yoga. You will leave class feeling restored, renewed, and ready to come back again!!

I came here on a Sunday afternoon for a beginners class to check out. The class was a half hour of…read morewarm-up, half hour of silks, and half hour of trapeze. I am very new to taking these types of classes, and that was not the case for everyone else. However, the instructor was super helpful in guiding me as much as possible. Everyone was supportive of my journey here and welcoming for being a newbie. I took this beginners class because I wanted to see if I wanted to invest money and into taking a 7 to 8 week class. I had a great time and I really enjoyed learning and developing the little skills that I was able to within that timeframe. I think taking one of the beginner class series would be the most helpful. I am glad that I enjoyed the vibe as there was people of all different shapes and sizes who were able to do amazing skill work. I also really like this place because they do shows around the city. I haven't seen one yet, but I definitely have seen them advertised and want to support them in the future.

Awesome instructors and fun experience! I love that the first 30 mins are warm ups and then you…read morehave a full hour of silks. It goes by very quickly and is a great workout!

Such a great space! It can be a touch challenging for parking. There is plenty, it is just that you…read moremay need to do some walking due to the entrance facing a street without parking spaces and due to it's positioning, the street parking is a blocks away with a few spaces only right in close. The space is very open for them to really arrange depending on the performance or use. I just recently saw an amazing performance there and it felt very intimate, even with the space pretty full. Keep your eye out for AWOL because the performances they produce or perform are always such a treat.

Jaw-dropping, eye-popping, spine bending --- electrifying aerial and dance performance! Feels a…read morelot like a Cirque du Soleil performance except you are seated close up --- way more intimate seating. You could rub elbows with the dancers! The aerial dancers were spinning and hanging from the rafters and or performing floor movements with a spirited and haunting musical set while interpreting the muse before sleep fading into a dream world. A superb story with balance of music, choreography and flying dancers! Wow! And what power and grace with passion and flexibility these amazing dancers displayed flying through the air. Wow again! You'll be amazed and you should definitely treat yourself to a one-of-kind AWOL performance! Go AWOL! Fly!

My young daughter Emilia loves Skyhook Ninja Fitness. She's really into obstacle courses and rock…read moreclimbing, and this has been a perfect fit for her. The coaches are kind, encouraging, and great at helping kids build confidence while having fun. She's always excited to go, and it's been wonderful to see her strength and confidence grow. Highly recommend for kids who love to climb, move, and challenge themselves.

This place is amazing! My daughter Melanie LOVES the place, never wants to leave. The coach we had…read morewas phenomenal - kind, skilled, and totally in tune with Melanie's energy and needs. I couldn't recommend it more!

Highly recommend this SPA. It's truly an amazing self care/mental health day respite. It's smack…read moredab in the middle of a sort of industrial/commercial/live space neighborhood in Portland. Some truly wonderful graffiti/urban art in the surrounding area. I digress. So this place is located inside of a modernish residential building. You would not know there is a SPA inside unless you actually go into the establishment, get checked in, and take the elevator up to the actual SPA. There you will see two nicely sized hot tubs and a cold plunge tub. Be warned that cold plunge is COLD! Opposite the tubs are the dry sauna and steam room which are HOT and the steam room is steamy! It does not take long to get a good sweat going, and before you know it you can feel the toxins and bad juju just melting away. They several types of water to re-hydrate room temp and cold water and sparkling water. I do believe I saw some plates that had oranges or apples or something of the sort. Be sure to try one of the foot scrub baths and massage. It really is the perfect tonic for pampering and stress relief. The massage therapist who handle my feet and calves was super friendly and professional. This foot care scrub and massage really the feet and calves much needed tension relief. There is a wonderful outdoor relaxation deck with lots of lounge chairs and tables to take breaks in between soak, sauna, and steam. This deck area overlooks a portion of the Portland city scape and highway. What made this deck enjoyable for me was waxing existential about what the folks in the cars driving by on the freeway might be thinking as you head back for a second dip into the hot tub. The SPA, locker and shower, and changing areas are all thoroughly maintained, clean, and give you everything you need to transition back into the Portland Urban. A really pleasant and enjoyable surprise Portland surprise.

Probably my least favorite spa that I've been to. We only did the thermal experience and didn't…read morethink it was worth the price. The facilities feel run down and the pools are crowded. There's a small outdoor, open balcony area but the chairs are uncomfortable. The thermal area is entirely indoors, and there's windows to look outside but still felt claustrophobic, not a relaxing experience at all. Sadly, we were looking forward to coming here for a long time and will not be back.

It's amazing that I just attended my first show here! I go to a lot of performances and have…read moreregularly attended performances most of my life. Echo Theater is also located in a really convenient spot for me to go to shows! I was very surprised at how wonderful this space is... conveniently, they are able to transform the space to accommodate whatever they are performing. I also , appreciate a snack bar that has a decent array of snacks, though, I confess I was hoping that they had just soda (even just a coke) but I was amused at seeing Capri Sun. I was able to see one of the last showings of Death of a Drag Queen and was completely blown away. When a single performer is able to captivate the audience for over an hour... it speaks to incredible writing, directIon and performance... all of which were clearly present. It also makes me want to come back here to see what else they have going on.

I've been taking classes at Echo since January 2024. I first signed up on my roommate's…read morerecommendation, and I'm so glad I did. Training at Echo, I have become stronger both mentally and physically, made awesome new friends, and been inspired to express myself creatively in ways above what I ever imagined. I was totally new to acrobatics before, but now, I feel confident moving in the air, and have even performed in front of an audience! I have taken lyra, mixed aerial, harness, and circus fitness classes at Echo, and every class has been challenging, energizing, fun, ebullient, and creative. The instructors are positive and encouraging, offering modifications and additional explanations to meet students where they're at. Amy especially is the best -- she cultivates a whole class atmosphere that is collaborative, silly, and uplifting. She prompts students to tap into playful creative energy while also leading a workout that will sculpt your entire body! I love that Echo provides opportunities for student performance. At Student Showcases, Echo invites students to bring to the stage whatever they are working on in an incredibly supportive, warm, and empowering environment. Designing and rehearsing a piece with your friends is a bonding experience that challenges you to grow personally and in your circus skills! If you're looking for genuine, authentic, positive people, this is your place. The community at Echo Theater makes it so special. Students cheer each other on in class, design performances together, and form lasting friendships. As a nonbinary person, I really appreciate that the queer community is well-represented at Echo and pronouns are respected. Echo feels like the least-gendered space I've encountered in Portland -- where we're all just a bunch of humans making shapes in the air! I also love that a wide age range is represented in my classes. I am inspired by adults older than I am who are still moving, experimenting, and challenging themselves with fitness! I highly recommend taking classes at Echo if you're interested in aerial, tumbling, dance, or any movement arts. Echo is absolutely the place for trying something new and going outside your comfort zone. My heart lifts every time I walk into the building, anticipating an hour and a half of pure joy (and also sweat and chalk). Sign up for a class, you'll be glad you did :)

I've had a lot of massages from many different masseuses and I think Leah ranks high on my list of…read morequality masseuses. I like deep tissue, skillful touch and she listened. After Leah worked with me, I felt very relaxed and grounded in my body. I slept so well that night and had been having trouble prior. The next day I felt my soreness had melted away. I also enjoy the light, supportive energy Leah has that makes me feel at ease. She is also one of the few I know who's not booked a month out, at least for now. I highly recommend her!

Wow, wow, wow! Every session is great, thoughtful and a deeply satisfying experience. From the Thai…read moreBody Work to the Acu-Aura Tuning Therapy Leah brings her knowledge, magic hands, and healing energy to every session. She takes time to ask questions and understand my needs and what is going on with me so she can take an informed approach while also unsung her intuition every step of the way. Try something uniquely special and treat yourself to a deeply relaxing and magical experience!

Baffled sometimes when people say theatre is expensive to watch. We have so many great places to…read moresee plays for many different budgets, and Portland Center Stage hits the mark on it. They have a number of programs, like $25 tickets, Rush/Standby Tickets, Arts for All, Pay What You Will days. All very affordable! And for the quality of the shows here, it's absolutely worth it to go see at least one show a season. The stage crew and actors put on great shows! Every staff member I've encountered there have been friendly, patient and accommodating. I've done the Standby tickets for a few shows now and it's a great experience. Put your name on the wait-list about 90 minutes before showtime, go grab a bite to eat, and if you get a seat, that's great! If not, they can put you on the wait list for the next show (and then you can go do another activity downtown). They keep the place pretty clean too, really nice bathrooms haha.

I need to do an update as I have become a lot more attending of the performances here. The reason…read morefor this is accessibility. As someone with limited mobility often - I have a tissue disorder and some days I am far more mobile than others. I am also, due to the tissue disorder, more modest means. Thankfully Portland Center Stage is a proud Arts for All member. In addition - they really do welcome people. They have a lot of seating for ADA and accommodate you should you need chair arms or no arms or will have a spot cleared for your wheelchair. I appreciate tickets being low cost for me but with ADA it can be tricky and the events at the most challenging ADA locations expect you to show up right before a show hoping they will have an extra ticket which I cannot physically do and would not want that on ushers either. When inquiring, I have been treated with less than stellar attitude. I would love to have money and mobility and I used to! I know so many who are starting to struggle with mobility as they age and I really encourage them to go to spaces like this where they can easily get in and out. But even just calling - they actually answer the phone and are so helpful! I get that they want to sell as much at full price but it makes me really appreciate how truly welcoming Portland Center Stage is. Arts are healing and the productions here really are top notch. Their staff is very diverse throughout the theater making it feel like a safe space for everyone also. When seeing shows here, they do have a great concessions stand/bar with a great wine selection and some decent snacks. The theater is in such a great location - to the back of the theater is a favorite gelato place of mine and also some of the most delicious West African food if you want to make a whole night of it!