I have practiced yoga with hundreds of instructors and Murti Howard and Larina Hawkins are my…read morefavorite. Although only a minor reason why you should continue your yoga practice here, the fact that the first three classes are free is kickass cool. The duo teach hatha yoga five days a week in a breezy, open-air classroom at the Waikiki Community Center. Parking is free at the center (enter from the Liliuokalani side of the block, not the Paoakalani side of the block). The entire second-floor classroom floor is covered with a thick spongy surface that you can put your yoga mat or or borrow one of the ones Murti or Larina provide. There is very little chance of slipping or hurting yourself. Maha Fusion also provides straps and blocks, which they use in every class to support good form. The class is gentle, restorative, and yet designed with pose progression such that even students who have been practicing for decades will find their edge of challenge. Murti's yoga heritage goes back to Rodney Yee, whom I believe is a master of restorative, restful poses, but Murti also folds in traditions of ashtanga, a more acrobatic and spectacular yoga practice. We also use methods employed by those who practice kundalini yoga, micro yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar yoga and vinyasa yoga. Murti is an avid read in yoga theory and makes his students well aware of the vast survey of yoga teaching through commentaries and the sutras. Go Rumi! Larina is a dancing yogini! Larina teaches classes in conjunction with Murti, and usually heads up the Saturday class. Her hatha-based practice folds in elements of ecstatic dance. Students in her class will find themselves moving about the classroom in addition to engaging in a challenging vinyasa flow. Larina has a very healing and gentle spirit about her and the sharpest eye when it comes to adjusting students' form. With the slightest touch or brush of her fingertips she will have you executing poses with the accuracy. What I love the most about this practice is the flexibility is brings to my own practice. I am an athlete and strong and experienced in practice, yet there are days when my body, like anyone's is not having it, has had it, and does not want me to be there. Those are the days that I am thankful I practice with these two. I am never made aware that I suck that day and never am I guilted into going beyond what I should be doing that day. Larina and Murti break down each pose is broken down into krama or various expressions of a pose, from the slightest expression of a pose to its grand finale, and each student is invited to find a variation of the pose that suits them that day. There are some days when I am a full wheel and some days I am a man on his back with just his hips raised off the floor a little. The students in the classes range from 30-something to 70-somethings, from surfers and athletes to grandmas and grampas. The rapport between students is remarkable, and is probably due to the fact that in every practice the students engage in partner yoga whereby they assist one another in obtaining the proper form or in engaging in more challenging poses with the support of another person. It is common to for students at the center to greet one another with hugs and kisses on the cheek. At least several times a year there are vegetarian potlucks after classes on Sunday where students catch up, and every month there is a meditation group held at the beach. In sum, Murti and Larina have created a yoga community. I recommend practice at Maha Fusion very much for the novice practitioner and those who have been practicing for a long time.

One year ago I had stage 4 prostate bone and anal Cancer. Today I make my one year free of cancer…read more Because of chemo I have major neuropathy problems. I found this yoga class has calm the soreness on my hands and feet. This class has brought me to a new level of having the soreness go away. As I continue taking this yoga class I find myself getting more strong and balanced. Yoga is now part of my life and the teachers are awesome they help you stay align while teaching the class as a whole. Thank you for your dedication to your students and want to bring the best out of you. I humbly ask you to join this yoga class you will benefit from it no matter if you had health problems or not.

I am not a local but i was in Honolulu for a couple months for work and decided to try out the…read moreCrossfit Oahu and Yoga Collective Oahu because it was conveniently located to my office. It was great decision. They use the mindbody app to book classes and there were plenty of options to choose from. The yoga studio is located up the stairs and there is plenty of parking adjacent to the building or in the side lot. There is quite a variety of instructors and each tend to teach the same time each week. I want to name bomb instructors but frankly there were so many good ones who each have their own style that i dont want to leave anyone out. The classroom isn't that large so the classes are normally between 4 to 8, and the instructors know you by name and offer a lot of personal direction and support. I highly recommend this for locals and travelers alike as you can pay per month or class or group of classes. The introductory rate is a great deal. All the equipment is provided but you could bring your own if you want. The facility has a water cooler and showers. The website could use some work but if you call, they are very responsive and will get you started. Also the class is great for those new to yoga or those experienced. Don't be intimidated. My second yoga class ever was inversions.

Pleasantly surprised by this new Yoga studio in kaka'ako. The 6-7am class taught by Malachi was…read moreperfect for me with just the right amount of strength and flexibility; I'm ready to start my day!! The convenient parking out front of the Crosfit Gym is a bonus!

I had a wonderful experience at Up Lift Yoga with Anna. The view from the backyard studio is…read moreabsolutely beautiful. Anna was very empathetic and helpful when she saw that I was having difficulties with a pose. She came out of her pose and helped me adjust. The session ended with sound healing, which was an amazing experience. I left feeling calm and filled with peace and happiness. I definitely recommend Up Lift Yoga with Anna.

I normally don't write reviews, but I just had to share my experience here. I've been practicing…read moreyoga consistently for the past 5 years & my experience here was not at all relaxing or empowering as yoga tends to be. I went here last week for an aerial yoga & sound bath class. My friend & I arrived an hour early after spending 2.5 hours driving from Seattle. Since we weren't familiar with the area, we decided to see if we could hang out at the studio. We peeked our head in & said hello. Anna took a while to acknowledge us & when she did, she didn't even say hello or ask how she can help us. With a sour face, she told us we needed to come back in an hour because she was still setting up. I understand she was probably overwhelmed setting up, but I've never been to a studio that wasn't at all welcoming no matter their current state. This interaction alone made me reluctant to even go to class at all. An hour later, we return & the first thing I notice is how overpowering the essential oils were. Usually studios are mindful to strong scents because some people, like me, are sensitive. Immediately, I start to get a headache but try to push through since I did spend hours driving here & spent $30 for the class. We go claim a hammock & there are mats set up underneath. I had seen on the website that mats were optional, so I brought mine just in case. I tend to have sweaty palms while practicing regardless of whether it's intense or restorative & I explained this to her. Her response? "I was going more for the aesthetic, but since your mat matches, it should be okay." WHAT. Since when is yoga about aesthetic & not about an individual's practice?!? I was pretty much done after this. The class itself was interesting. Anna was better as an instructor than how I first perceived her as a person. My only qualm is the set up of the hammocks made it difficult to see what poses we were doing. For a first timer of aerial yoga, it wasn't the easiest to follow. Also, the combination of the scents, swaying of the hammock & the residual body odor the hammock exuded (probably why they were heavily sprayed) made me nauseous. Overall, I'm glad I tried aerial yoga to know it is not for me. What's also not for me? This studio. I will definitely not be going back for their other classes.

I was visiting the 'aina and needed to get my breakdancing fix. My friend recommended me this place…read moreso I decided to check out their open session. Here was my experience on a Monday evening (8:30-10). AMBIANCE: Surroundings - Not the most touristy part of Honolulu but it's across a pretty nice apartment complex regardless be cautious. The studio itself is on the second floor. Pretty spacious that's decked out with a mirror and space for about 15-20 people. I got lost at first but after hearing music bumping, I knew I was in the right area. They got mirrors to check yourself. Parking - There's street parking or a parking lot right next door. Customer Service - The open session was pretty fun. I enjoyed the beats and the company. Marc was the main person in charge and he was pretty helpful. TL;DR OVERALL 5 Stars. Dancing is always hard, regardless if you're a beginner or not. It can be difficult from mastering a move to creating your art, but what helps if you're in a supportive environment and these are one of those spaces. I encourage people of all ages to check this place out. Advice: * Bring water * Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Attended the free first Saturday class as LCC. Wow! There were only about 8 of us - apparently a…read moreresult of too large a break from the holidays - but it was lots of fun and an amazing workout! My entire shirt was soaked and sweat was dripping off my hair. I was really worried about being intimidated and just too slow to hang with the class but the instructor was really awesome about watching out for newbies like me, taking the time to call out more complicated moves and generally being really encouraging. And the other students/instructors were really encouraging too, high fiving me when completing something particularly challenging. The energy of this class is nice and high while being warm and inviting too. Parking is free, and there is tons of it. This class only happens once a month in this location, and it is totally worth it! Other classes available in town at both the Waimanu Street and Ward Avenue locations - updates here: http://streetjamzwerkout.blogspot.com/?m=1. Drop ins $5, class passes available.

Found out about this studio through a yelp event! I signed up for a Barre class and the first email…read morereminded me to bring water, grip socks and a towel. Studio was very clean. Maryann was my instructor and guess what? I was the only one in the class so I had a private lesson! Maryann said it is still slow because they are new in the neighborhood but I am sure they will be busy very soon! Anyway we did Barre non stop for 50 mins. My first barre ever! My legs were shaking by the time we finished but I felt so good! Worked on my core and all muscle groups. Maryann was knowledgeable and approachable. She gave me so much encouragement throughout the session! I think I will get a a 10 class pack and go back for more Barre! I didn't need parking but I heard there are only 3 to 4 spots. Otherwise there are plenty of street parking close by.

I took a 7:30am strength class at Salt Burn Studio in Kakaʻako for the first time. The workout was…read moresolid and definitely felt it the next day (in the best way possible)! Chelsey, the owner, led the strength class. She is super knowledgeable, but made class approachable and fun! She also assists with adjusting your form. Her husband Vance even made a guest appearance! Shoutout to supportive spouses! Class sizes are small (no more than about 15 people), which makes it feel really intimate and not overwhelming. The group clearly seemed like a tight-knit fitness community--lots of familiar faces--but as a newcomer, I still felt welcomed. People smiled, acknowledged me, and it didn't feel cliquey at all. Also, the playlist was a fun throwback--lots of 2000s hits that made the workout even more enjoyable. Overall, great workout, great energy, and a welcoming vibe. I'd definitely come back!

Nice studio, but didn't love my teacher's class. I've had class with Joji before at the Piikoi…read morestudio and know that I would take his if I decided to trek out here again. For this class, it was just me and my guest; if we hadn't been there, no one would have shown up. Meter parking was fairly open at 4:45 and I paid $2. Studio smelled like bananas from Banan, which....actually wasn't unpleasant at all. Kinda liked it actually lol. I'd pick a different instructor. The class I took had a little flow and as soon as I started sweating, it all stopped and we went into stretches. First time I'd heard that the instructor took Venmo, which is not my experience at the Piikoi studio, but that's cool since who wants to carry cash.

Yes! Its true! I cheated on Corepower Yoga today! If you…read moreknow me, you know that i go there min 15 times a month but today i was "curious " and wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side.... and my favorite teacher from Corepower left and now he is teaching here so decided to try his class. *Ambience: definitely not as nice as CP, no water fountain and no mirrors and i love to look at myself when i work out (is this weird? Lol) Oh, the place is not heated either. *Service: Alex Morales is THE BEST yoga instructor EVER! Specially for sculpt! The place was not the best and honestly not my type of yoga place but any class with Alex is always good! I would even enjoy a class in the middle of the freeway with him! Thats how good he is! *Parking: paid public parking in the back or street parking. *Price: its donation but $15 is suggested and there is a $10 min donation. Overall, i would come back! Def 10+ stars for Alex 4 stars for the place since it was good but just not my favorite.

After halting my aerial practice for a year of hiatus due to covid, I started getting back on it…read morewhen I was back in my home state. I stayed in Honolulu for about a month and wanted to get some practice aerial sessions in. I just emailed them and it was really easy and flexible booking a session. I signed up for open gym sessions since their group classes aren't available yet and I didn't want to get private lessons when I wouldn't be in the state for too long. I loved that people practicing there are serious about their aerial practice since some other gyms I visited in Honolulu were a bit lackluster. I felt really safe with all the precautions as well and they also allowed me to rent their silks which was great! I did find the price fairly high for open gym sessions which was about $25-$30 ($25 for 1 hour + $5 silk rental) considering I usually pay $35-40 per class session back in LA. Still, was glad I had access to a high quality aerial gym! It does get a bit hot in the room due to lack of air conditioning + masking. The studio is 2nd floor above a bike shop and you enter through the shop. I'm hoping to go back to Honolulu later this year for a bit so will be back. Hoping group class sessions will be back because I would love to take an actual class there.

Awesome blossom! About as unique as you can get for a birthday party!…read more This review is for a birthday party for kids held at Samadhi Hawaii. I arranged a private party via email with Nicole. It was easy to arrange, she was informative and quick to respond. They are able to accommodate kids of almost all ages (they made it work for a 3 year old!). The payment is per person who participates in the party and the hours are held outside of their normal business hours. They are located on Cooke St, about a block in from Ala Moana Blvd and inside of Boca Hawaii (there's a door just to the right of the cashier area to get upstairs). The birthday I held was on a Saturday evening, which worked out just fine. You can also rent tables/chairs/space within their studio and bring in your own food/drinks to conduct the birthday celebration after the lesson. They had 3 tables and roughly 20 some-odd chairs. Nicole and her instructors are hands on and great with the kids. The group was divided into smaller groups of 3s, which gave everyone much more hands on application on the apparatus'. The private lesson runs between one and a quarter to one and a half hours or so, including stretching before and after the lesson. They used the silks and the trapeze. The kids had a blast and learned a lot - most, if not all, had not tried anything like this before. After the kids ate, they continued to bounce and run on the mats that were left out. I'm not sure if this was ok with Nicole and her staff but no one stopped them and the kids continued their good time. It's literally the perfect location for kids and an extra special girly birthday! The adults are happy too when their kids are worn out! We brought in food and drinks to have dinner there after the instruction. They don't offer refrigerator space so you need to have everything in coolers or out in the open (note: everything needs to be carried upstairs). Also, no A/C so it does get warm. Would recommend food that can be outside. Also, due to no A/C, best to let guests know so they can dress accordingly. Parking I believe is street only. I'm guessing there is not usually a problem on the weekends (though a little walk from some stalls). Boca, which is the main tenant of the building, has a small lot, which is reserved for them. I didn't ask but if you ever go to Samadhi, best to check with them if guests can park in the Boca lot after hours (they closed at 5 on that Saturday). Another tip is that once Boca closes, the front door is closed so guests need to ring the doorbell so someone from Samadhi can let them in. If you're looking for a unique birthday party, I would highly recommend Samadhi! (Based on the party, I'm sure their normal lessons are GREAT too!)

I'm being charged for a ballet class I'm not taking, and nobody is doing anything about it…read more I'm a teen who's taking Hip Hop 1&2, strictly only those classes. Recently, I've noticed that on my account activity, I've been attending a ballet class. I don't attend those classes, and I've been very careful of not entering a class that wasn't my respective class. I asked someone about this and they told me there was a girl in the ballet class that had the same name as me and they would fix it. Fine. Next day, I see it again, I'm being charged for a ballet class. I'm fuming at this point. I call, they say again, it'll be fixed. It doesn't. Nothing I do is getting this issue fixed and I'm sick of having to call everyday because they're not checking the email of who is checking in. I doubt she has the same email as me, and if I have to keep going through this then I don't think I'll be staying at the studio.

My favorite studio on island…read more - there's actual parking stalls. YES. Inner city studios are known for having zero parking, but there are actually a few stalls in their lot + street parking + parking @ a nearby shopping center (shh.) - so many different classes for the keiki AND adults. That's right. I know some of y'all secretly want to appear on world of dance and you can fulfill those dreams here. Classes change around every season for the adult classes, but hip hop 1 and street femme on Tuesday nights + hip hop 2 and intro to hip hop on Wednesday nights are here to stay! - all of the instructors are personable! New studios can be intimidating; here's how to navigate this one: 1. The building is a two-story blue building next to Still and Moving Center. Enter through the right door that has a small Honolulu Dance Studio sign on it. 2. You'll see a narrow stairwell on your left. Walk up the stairwell, put your outside shoes on the shoe rack on the top, and slip your dance shoes on (yes, you need indoor shoes specifically for dance, whether that's ballet slippers, jazz shoes, indoor hip hop shoes). 3. Walk over to the registration table on the left and fill out a clipboard to get yourself/your child registered + pay. 4. Wait until the dance instructor calls you in, put your water + belongings on the inner racks, and have FUN! Hope to see you in class!