I've been taking Paul Sobin's Continuing Basics series for about 6 months, and this review is…read morepurely about this series. I'm very new to yoga. There are free classes at my school, but I feel like you need a certain level of understanding of the poses before going to those classes. I'm the kind of person that would feel VERY uncomfortable mimicking the poses in class without learning the ABCs first, just for the sake of feeling sore afterwards. I'm also uncomfortable when the teachers talk way too much about their spiritual journey. I respect other people's spirituality, but when it's hovering over the ENTIRE CLASS, it can be very distracting. Paul Sobin solves both of my problem. In the class we would move from pose to pose, but he'd always mention the mistakes easily made. So when I'm doing the pose, even when he's not nearby to correct me, I could still keep in mind what to avoid. He offers a sweet mix of the physical and spiritual practice. For example when we start the slow breathing at the beginning of class, he'd mention how life is always busy and stressful, and it's good to take just a couple minutes to breathe slow and deep to give yourself a bit peace of mind. I really appreciate this. The series are pretty flexible - if you can't make it to the class you signed up for, you can do a make-up with any other series class Paul/ Sommer teach. Whatever leftover classes you haven't used in this series can be carried over to the next one. Students get a discount, which comes to $10 per class. This is quite an investment compared to the free gym, but I'd be happy to skip a weekend drink for this. People seem very nice, chill, and friendly as well. They also offer a week of classes free before the start of the series. The only con I can think of so far: The class can be crowded, to the point that the distance between you and the next mat is half a mat's width. Come 10 mins early to secure a good spot.

I love how safe and welcome I feel at this studio. I am new to yoga and I appreciate the options…read morethat are given for each pose so I don't feel left out as a beginner. They have plenty of supplies if you don't know what to bring and offer a variety of classes depending on your level. I have left every class feeling relaxed, challenged, and supported. I'm also grateful that they offer an intro pass to let you try before committing to a membership. Would recommend to anybody looking for a yoga studio to call home!

Yes yes yes yesssss!!! This place. It has been such a healing and restorative place for me…read more I don't live very close to FSYC but the 30 days for $30 drew me in. I thought "why not?" especially when most yoga drop in classes are $15+ I ended up going to class nearly everyday while I had this newcomers deal and of course it got me hooked! Started off with the mellow beginners classes and slowly integrated into the vigorous class. Mellow class: very beginner friendly and typically has around 5-15 people attending. Expect slowly, restoring poses. They do have mats that you can use: Vigorous classes: hotter and sweaty! Hard but don't let it be a reason you don't go. It's challenging but a good, healthy challenge. I'm no yogi not even close but I do enjoy these classes :) All of the teachers are very kind and knowledgeable. Can't say enough about this lovely studio. I would recommend it to anyone!

So this is a review for the new teacher classes specifically and needs to be noted (but also seems…read morelike what some others have experienced before too with other classes) Lori made sure I knew where to park and was really helpful. I really hate that you have to pay for parking on days outside of Sunday and therefore, I probably won't go to the studio during a weekday or Saturday for that reason. I understand that Franklin Street is pretty busy, and it's not really their fault but it's just a financial inconvenience. I really wish that the instructor would've been doing the movements with us. It seems like others have taken classes, and the instructor doesn't necessarily participate. I feel like this helps with pacing and understanding when holding a pose is on the brink of being too long (maybe I'm just not as used to holding warrior 1&2 for so long in any classes I've taken but my quads were about to give out. If they aren't doing the pose with us, I don't know if they can tell when a pose is too long. The studio itself was very cute and very clean and well organized with a ton of supplies available for students. I really love their choice of music which was very calming and wasn't anything crazy. I love at the end of class they give you a little eye mask and by the time we went into meditation at the end, I completely forgot where I was and was zoned out, which was awesome. I'll be interested to see how other teachers do later on and how their pacing is. I also completely forgot my mat at home and was very thankful when they offered me a borrowed one!!

Kind of meh. The yoga room is dark and more than a little dank. Does not smell all that fantastic…read moreeither. Outside the room is a small gym and not so small weights that get dropped with reverberations that can unsettle any tree pose. The heat felt dry and unhealthy. It's a shame because not too many hot yoga places in these parts. Will look to get my fix when traveling.

I signed up online for a beginners yoga series. They took my money and on the day the first class…read morewas scheduled, I showed up and found no one there. After finally getting let in, someone doing a workout told me they had probably cancelled the class. There was nothing posted letting anyone know and I certainly never received any email or phone call. I was told the owner would call, she didn't. They did refund my money after I contacted them. Left me feeling like they really don't need my business, which they're not getting.

Cute and serene yoga studio on ninth street. Stopped in with my roommate one afternoon for a yin…read moreflow and it was lovely. If you're looking for a welcoming and relaxing yoga studio in Durham, look no further than here. They offer a variety of yoga classes to suit all levels and preferences. The instructors are knowledgeable and attentive, and they create a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcome. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced yogi, you'll find a class that's perfect for you at Yoga Off East. The space itself is beautiful and peaceful. The studio provides all the necessary props, including mats, blankets, blocks, and straps, so you don't have to worry about bringing your own equipment.

Just finished my first class at this studio, and was very impressed. At first I was nervous about…read morethe small size but as others have said, made it feel more personal and the class was so well run. The pace was perfect for a Saturday morning yoga to release the stress of the week. The gentle flow, peaceful music, and supportive instruction was exactly what I needed. I will be back as often as I can manage!!

After having "shopped around" and visiting many of the local yoga studios, a friend recommended…read moreLoving Kindness Yoga School. That was two years ago, and I have been attending classes with Ti at least once a week ever since. Not only is Ti the best yoga teacher I've ever encountered (my yoga improved drastically, in the most gentle ways!), his regular students are a diverse and welcoming community. Beginners are encouraged to attend, but seasoned yogis will not be disappointed in any of the classes. Ti's donation based school is very spiritual without requiring his students to be so. He encourages each student to find the breath and take time to consider, and leads through example.

If you're looking for a knowledgeable, real-deal, no-bullshit yoga teacher, this is the place for…read moreyou. I've been studying yoga since 1999 and teaching since 2010, and Ti Harmony is the best teacher I've ever had. His years of experience, intuition, knowledge, and humility set him apart from most other yoga teachers in the area and in the country. Often, beginners and very experienced practitioners share the same space at Loving Kindness, but everyone comes away having had the practice they needed because of Ti's ability to provide great personal attention and assists (if you want them) as well as his ability to teach to the group that shows up, not to a sequence he has predetermined. You won't see many Lululemon pants or the other material trappings of the "yoga lifestyle" here (though if you have those, there's no judgment). All are truly welcome. I send my own students to Ti from time to time, because they'll ask where I learned something or who my teacher is, and they always come away impressed.

I was told it's not hot yoga but the studio is so warm some days. I like the restore class but I'm…read moredone. Yesterday the instructor said it was going to be hotter than usual all summer due the a/c not able to keep up in hot weather. I drink lots of water but I still am wiped out for the day.

I can see what other people are mentioning about the smell, it didn't necessarily bother me a lot,…read morebut I did notice it walking in. Smelled like chemicals or something off not really sewage The person at the counter was really nice and checked me in quickly! I signed up for the class a little bit last minute, but was still able to make it in time. The original instructor ended up not being able to make it to the class and so someone else was subbing for them last minute (she did a good job, considering she wasn't supposed to lead this class) Unfortunately I do think that this impacted the overall class. The instructions weren't super clear for some of it and a lot of it seemed very sit / lay and breathe so sedentary and not a single downward dog. Maybe this specific type of class just isn't what I should be looking for, but I just thought hot yoga would have a bit more movement and make us sweat I'll try to come back for a different class and see how it goes that time. Overall everyone was nice

My daughter did aerial dance here so this review will not speak to the yoga classes…read more We have both taken aerial at 3 locations in the triangle so I feel fairly qualified to evaluate the class my kid took. It was multi-age and multi-skill level which was what we thought we wanted. To start with, there were too many children in the class and there was little to no spotting when students were high on the silks. Sometimes the instructor asked other children to spot each other while she was in the connected room and out of sight of the students. This was not something that thrilled me and parents are not allowed to spot for "insurance purposes." How kids spotting kids fits that bill is beyond me. There also not enough pads to go around under each set of silks (one of which was alarmingly close to a running ceiling fan) and some of the kids had various pillows and yoga mats under their silks. Aerial silks are fairly high; you want a thick, high quality pad under each set of silks. Because there were so many kids, there was also almost zero instruction and an often loud and rowdy class. My daughter has been doing aerial for two years but she did not learn a single new skill. The kids were just set free to do whatever moves they wanted to work on. A few times older girls tried to teach her some moves. My kid LOVES aerial but she grew to really dread this class. We ended up skipping the last two. I recommend the Levin JCC or Legacy studios for aerial classes if you are in durham or chapel hill.

The stimulus passcard is where it's at! I strictly do the Anusara classes and they are excellent…read more Sommer and Paul have been kicking my ass for years. If you need to sweat out some toxins or realign your chi, this is the place. I leave you with a few lines from Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Peter: "What's up? My legs, that's what." Prana: "We're doing quiet headstands today." Peter: "I'm doing a handstand, motherf***er! I'm doing a handstand."

Excellent classes. Knowledgeable staff. Superb location…read more There are three yoga instructors sharing the space and all are outstanding.

Wow! My life and body have changed tremendously in the last year and a half since starting my…read morepractice at the yoga Shala.  Lyndsay's experiential wisdom of the body and incredibly detailed knowledge of anatomy have empowered me to understand my body at such a deep level. I can totally see why PTs and Doctors refer their patients to Lyndsay for further recovery and healing. For me those docs could only take me so far, and through my practice at the Shala, I've been able to strengthen my body in a way where it wants to work at 100% again. I've been practicing yoga for many years, but due to some significant injuries from work I stopped practicing. Mainly because the way that I was practicing yoga at that point made things worse. Lyndsay teaches us how to use the strength from within our own core, our heart, and our breath to move outward through the rest of our limbs. Her easy to comprehend cues have made me look at how I walk, sit, and stand very differently. For years I couldn't sit for more than 20-30 minutes without being in pain. Now I can sit comfortably for hours. Every class includes pranayama breath work, meditation, and very detailed anatomical cues to fully grasp our own bodies better. Through consistent practice, I have not only been able to heal some years-long sustained injuries, but actually feel stronger than ever. Now I often look at my very physical job as a fun workout, rather than a way to further injure my body. As a bonus, the community at the Shala are a very welcoming and focused group of yogis all on their own path of personal growth. I feel very held in a safe space to work on my stuff too. If you've been looking for your yoga family, or you simply want to understand your own body better, or you have something you've been trying to heal for years, I highly recommend coming to one of her classes. You won't regret it. Eternally grateful to Lyndsay Bahn and the Jyotishmati Yoga Shala.

I am a dancer and have been looking for barre classes to strengthen my core and muscle strength…read more This past week, I was offered a free class with Barre3 at Chapel Hill. I had a workout class with the instructor, Casey, and really enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of the studio as well as the intensity of the workout itself. On entering Barre3, I was welcomed warmly by the staff, Jess. The studio has a very calming and relaxing aura. The facilities are very well-kept and truly motivate you for a healthy exercise. Casey was a great instructor and gradually increased the workout intensity and techniques. Barre3 workouts are known to focus on strength, cardio, and mindfulness and our workout incorporated these 3 elements well. We went through stretches, slowly increasing our heart rates to reach more intensive exercises and I really enjoyed the focused approach. This helped to focus on the exercise's technique, improving the quality over quantity for the entire workout. All in all, I think Barre3 is a great barre studio where you really have a chance to hone in on your barre techniques and focus on what your body needs in each moment of your workout. I only wished that the intensity apex for the exercises were a bit higher, but of course this is a studio for individuals of all levels. Truly recommend Barre3 if you are getting started or looking for ways to consistently get into barre exercises, as they have class packs and unlimited options ranging from $59-$239. Great option for barre classes in Chapel Hill!

Early 2020, I went to a pop-up workout class in Durham where a new instructor was teaching a Barre3…read moreclass. I didn't know what Barre3 was at that time, but I thoroughly enjoyed that class. At the end of the event, I purchased a 5 class pass and was hoping to use it throughout 2020... which ended up not happening. By the time the gym was re-opening, I barely had enough time to use any of the passes. I contacted Barre3 - Chapel Hill, and they honored my purchase and extended it for one more year. So I got to use the passes this spring! Like a lot of people, I gained some weight through pandemic as I was moving a lot less: So I'm pretty out of shape. I only went to Sunday classes as I live in Durham, and this place it a bit of a drive for me. The receptionists are always friendly. I think I've met at least two different ladies, but they were all friendly and made me feel welcome although I'm not a regular. The instructors! I've worked out with two different instructors, and they were all friendly and all super fit & strong. They gave me many modification options throughout the classes which I appreciate so much since I'm very out of shape. Every single class, I left feeling sweaty but refreshed. I usually bring my own water bottle and a towel, but there are lots of towels for you to grab by the receptionist desk. I love that Barre3 is a combination of cardio and muscle work out. After going to classes consistently for couple weeks (only once a week though), I feel stronger. I really wish this location was closer to home (almost 30 minutes from where I live), so I could come here more often. I'm hoping to get random drop in classes as I loved it so much. Thank you, Barre3!

Where do I even begin... this place is just magic! The moment you walk into the studio, you are…read moregreeted with such warmth (literally too!). The three empowering women that run the place, Josephine, Courtney and Autumn are the sweetest.. not to mention super talented too and genuinely cares about their students. You can really feel that they give their heart and soul into this place of love. I've tried their yoga offered by Josephine and Courtney and other great instructors and Conditioning by Autumn. And wow, what a great workout! They will be bringing in tires and other props for the workout soon too! It's like circuit training but more intimate and catered to your needs. They also offer a variety of other classes like contemporary dance and ballet. Not to mention, it's also a recording studio and have monthly open mic nights where you can BYOB! What a great place to collectively create. I feel so lucky that this place is conveniently located near where I work so that I could go here to decompress with a nice hot yoga sesh between my work shifts! There's plenty of parking too in the back and oh I almost forgot... their natural light in the space is just beautiful!!

I was hesitant about doing another yoga class. It had been 2-3 years since my first yoga class and…read moreI wasn't impressed. But Josephine The instructor made it relaxing and personable. She made the experience amazing. Thank you.