I have been going to Essential Yoga this summer because of their Groupon deal, and I have really…read moreenjoyed it. The instructors have all been very friendly, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I appreciate that there are a variety of yoga styles offered. All of the classes I have attended have been very basic - stuff that anyone in reasonably good health could do. For someone who is really into yoga, Essential Yoga might not offer enough of a challenge, but for someone who is looking to try out yoga or just add a little bit of exercise and tranquility to a hectic lifestyle, this place would be perfect.

As I have gotten older, I found hot yoga classes were just too hot. Instead of enjoying the…read moreclasses, I was counting down the minutes until it was over. So I looked around & decided to try Essential & have been very happy with my decision. I prefer morning classes & there are several morning options. All the teachers have been knowledgeable & there are classes for different levels. Of course any yoga class can be modified to fit an individuals level, no competition here. There are men & women more my age but also younger students too. The meditation class on Thursday with Meg is free, so I take advantage of this peaceful time when I can. Parking is right outside the door. Also there is a massage studio connected to Essential, they share an entrance. I have taken advantage of Megan's wonderful massage skills. I have done yoga about 10 years off & on at three other places & think Essential will be my home. I encourage everyone to try the new member special & I think you will agree that this is a wonderful yoga studio.

Really nice shop selling items "mostly made in the Midwest." A warm greeting by the owner on this…read moresunny Saturday set the tone for a fun exploration of the diverse items on the shelves. They have a small selection of live plants, garden markers made from ornate silver utensil handles, unique hand made greeting cards, clothing, ceramics, beautiful hand made jewelry...just too much to list. You've got to check them out. The space is light and airy with plenty of room to move around, with a couple of thoughtful seating areas as well. I purchased some rice filled eye & palm pillows and my sister purchased the garden markers. We will be back!

From the owner: Sangha (Song-ah) is the Sanskrit word for community. We aim to establish a safe space for…read moreindividuals and the community to grow mindfully together through the practice of Yoga, Ayurveda, and conscientious buying. Yoga: We offer safe, thoughtful yoga classes for the beginner and seasoned yogi. Because we have a number of classes to choose from, we know you'll find a teacher who speaks to you. In addition to classes, we offer childcare. Ayurveda: Dive into India's 5,000-year-old medicine through workshops and personal consultations. Learn how to balance your life with this preventative medicine. Shoppe: At Sangha, we strive to connect the community by supporting local artists, farmers and companies. We believe if you're going to invest your money in something, it's important to be mindful about it. When we're not able to source our merchandise from our area, we make sure the companies we support share our love for awareness, sustainability and community growth.

Clean and packed! Great way to have a work out and sweat out all those toxins! Will be back soon…read morebut make sure you book classes early!

I was visiting Nixa (a town beside Springfield) over the Christmas Holidays and came to Sumit…read morebecause they got really great reviews on Yelp. I was very very impressed. Their hot studio is beautiful and they had a super full class on a Sunday morning! They've definitely got a following and I can tell why! I will be back again next time I visit from Houston!

Facility: I've only used the hot studio, but overall the facility is great. There are days the room…read moreis too hot for me, but nothing above 105°F. This is minor, and rare, but when there are a few guys and we all want to change or shower, there is a wait as the men's changing room is for one person at a time compared to the women's. The mats for purchase are great, but don't forget to bring your own unless you plan on buying a new one (which was $80.. or in that range). I understand not sharing equipment due to Covid, but they should carry a cheaper version in the event you do forget your mat. Instructors: When I first started going, I did a two week pass and went nearly every day to get a feel for the different Vinyasa instructors. I settled on 2 who I think are the best. The others have varied backgrounds, teaching styles, and levels of knowledge. I felt some didn't have the same background as myself, and couldn't really offer anything for me. Some taught the classes more as cardio, and less mind/body connection, which is what I look for. I appreciate a strong balance of breath focus, mental calm, and physical endurance. The two teachers I would recommend for Vinyasa in a heartbeat are Brandy Davis and Tana Aguas. They have great energy, and both appreciate the mindfulness of yoga as a practice, and not just a workout. Brandy is my go-to instructor due to her balance with yoga being in the present moment and also leading a strong vinyasa flow. For the first few weeks I was still acclimating to practicing in a hot room, until I finally got to the point where I would take her flows and push myself harder on additional variations of poses--hand stands, standing splits, toe balances, etc. Brandy would actually sometimes add these to the flow as well. The other great thing is she reads the room and tries for accommodate everyone. Her hot flow class is not for beginners, but all are welcome to attend and take the flows at their own pace. Her flows change with a fair amount of frequency which keeps things exciting for regulars. Tana reminds me of my first yoga instructor I ever had. She is certainly more on the spiritual side of yoga, and her classes tend to have a bit of variety from class to class. She also incorporates more artistic elements such as stylized asanas incorporating mudras. She will also challenge the class with various advanced poses when the class seems accepting of it. If you're looking for a mindful and challenging practice, S.W.E.T is a great facility and both Brandy and Tana are wonderful. I hope when Covid clears that the class sizes stay the same, as the current 12-14 people per class is perfect. I did hear before Covid, the class sizes were larger, so my feedback may be less positive had the classes been more full. As it stands now though, I highly recommend it.

I wish classes were much cheaper, because I would go more often. Instead, it's been my once or…read moretwice a year winter tradition for 3 years. I was a little nervous about trying yoga because I'm a very strong Christian, and yoga tends to be a controversial topic. However, I've never once felt pressured to do something I can't (physically or spiritually) do. It's even been verbally expressed in classes that it's okay to not do things you're uncomfortable with. I appreciate that. The locker room is great. It feels very welcoming. You don't feel like you're going to the gym. The cold towels are always a happy surprise because I forget about them every time. I always feel wonderful after a hot yoga session.

Easy to schedule my session. High quality facility and instructions during the yoga session. The…read moresession matched the description in style and effort.

As a first time doing hot yoga ‍ this was a win for sure! The instructor was very friendly and took…read moretime to answer questions and explain simply and plainly what I needed to do with out making us feel dumb or as an outsider! Environment is tidy, and welcoming, and had a warm design esthetic to offer.

Between Sumit Hot Yoga and Pure Hot Yoga, Pure is probably the underdog in SGF, but I think it won…read moremy heart over tonight. Whereas I always felt slightly intimidated by Sumit's hardcore yogis, Pure seems to embrace people that are just, I don't know - super normal, I guess? What I liked about Pure was that for the community class I went to (a one hour session for $5 cash OR card), I didn't have to wait outside in the cold - my friend and I could go right in and pop a squat in the room. At Sumit, you have to assemble outside and freeze your tail off until like, 10 minutes before the class starts, not to mention you have to show up early just to get in. At least, that's how it was a year ago when I frequented Sumit. I may be wrong now. Anyway, my teacher was great (you go, Leslie), the session was an ideal 60 minutes long, and I still sweat buckets. I can't tell if the flows are easier here than at Sumit or if the session was easier for me because my fitness level's improved, but it was a very good workout. Also, if you've never felt the sensation of having a lavender-infused cold washcloth placed on your forehead in a cool-down session, you gotta go just for that. It scared the $@#% out of me the first time it happened at Balance Fitness Studio, but now it's my favorite part of working out at places like these. TL;DR: Pure seems like a great, no-frills place to give hot yoga a try if you're new to it or if you're not into the more-intense atmosphere of Sumit.

Awesome yoga studio!!! The facility is clean, spacious and room is heated perfectly. Took the one…read morehour community class (only $7) that was calming and very easy to follow. Jyssica was an excellent instructor and very welcoming. Highly recommended!

I did this with my yoga-centric wife on a weekend getaway. Robyn was a great teacher making sure we…read morewere stretched, warmed up, and informed before we set out. A much different approach than my typical " climb on and fall off repeatedly till you figure it out" method. The one thing that might make it an even better experience, place a curtain between the "warm up on the dock yoga session" and the guys going out fishing.

Had my first SUP lesson today. It was so much fun. Robyn is an excellent instructor. Her easy…read moreinstructions enabled all of us to stand successfully. If you want to learn to paddle board you need to take Robyn's class. It was a blast!