What's that saying? "People say you don't know what you've got until it's gone." Truth is, I knew what I had, I just never thought I'd lose it! After having traveled so much for the last few months, I was fortunate enough to come back just in time for their 4th open house. From 7am-12pm, it was a day of "free yoga, food and fun!" And honestly, what's better than practicing some hot yoga with one of the best yoga communities around?! Sure, I mean you might be profusely sweating on one another, but hey - who cares! It's not often that you get to practice with about 50 yogis! Open house aside, there really isn't anything close to what The Yoga Shop has, or is. The community, the hot yoga, the instructors - I can genuinely say that after having a year of experimenting and exploring other yoga studios in the Greater Hartford area, The Yoga Shop has it. Packages are moderately priced, your first class is always free, student/military discounts, and a $15 walk-in? It's certainly fair to say that TYS is agreeably priced. The only gripe I have is that it's a bit far to get to. During the after-work rush hour, it can easily take up to 15 minutes just to get to the studio from the off-ramp. So leave yourself a good 30 minutes just to get there and be comfortably situated. Whether you're looking for a heated, athletic and fast-paced yoga class or getting into yoga for the first time, TYS has something for everyone! read more

My yoga background / qualifications for this review: I have been practicing yoga with increasing intensity for the past 2 years, close to completing my teacher training at SRY and just started teaching my own class at Central Rock. I have attended classes at 7-8 studios in the greater Hartford area, double that number including studios outside of CT. My proclivity is towards vigorous power classes aimed at intermediate students (on my scale "advanced" is contortionist level). The shop is not only the best yoga experience I've ever had, it's also the best establishment I've ever engaged with outside of my own parents business. It's so tempting to write a novel about how much I love this place but instead I'll just say that after moving from Indiana to Connecticut 3.5 years ago, the shop is the only place that makes me feel home again. Pros -the community / immediate sense of inclusion (opposed to the big-box WHY vibe) -Annie: business owner, instructor, life coach, role model -teaching style - all shop instructors have been taught in the signature "livefree power" styling -wide variety of classes -convenient class times -HEAT, hard to find non-bikram hot power classes -free first class to try -classes NEVER expire, I've never seen this at a studio before -classes are also transferable to friends -value, buying class cards during open house promotions ~$10 / class, very inexpensive for the area -constantly updated, modern, high BPM music, high quality sound system -beautiful space / ambiance -free cookies & tea everyday :) -Wednesday night power is just the best class ever -108 sun sals monthly Cons -location (coming from Bloomfield / weha) -I can understand from a beginner's perspective the community could be perceived as intimidating, as many students are life long practitioners -studio can be hard to spot, in an industrial mall -space does fill up (personally I've found this to also be a "pro" as it's a lot of fun to be in it together, but some may feel uncomfortable) -no showers :( -lobby / cubby space can be congested after popular classes read more

Yoga Shop - with my shop family at the annual yoga on lasalle - Yoga Near Me - South Windsor, Connecticut

I took my first yoga class ever at The Yoga Shop just over two years ago and have been taking classes on and off there since. I would highly recommend the Hour of Power on Fridays at 5 with Kim. It's a great way to wind down the week and get excited for the weekend. Truly my favorite class and worth leaving work a bit early to make! Even as a beginner, I took some of their "Power" classes (now called LivFree Power) and I survived, so if I can, you can. They also do community yoga every Saturday at 4:30 for a $5 donation. read more

I can't believe this place doesn't have any other reviews besides a negative one. I am a professional actor and dancer in New York City and am surrounded by high-class yoga studios. I practice various types of yoga on a weekly basis. Very rarely do you find a special studio where they are extremely hands on and allow you the freedom to meditatively work your personal practice. I visited my family in CT one weekend and asked my mother who is a yoga instructor to find a class we could attend. We were both new to this studio and extremely excited to try out the Monday AM Power Yoga Class. First off, the decor is beautiful ... small yet open space. We walked right into the classroom where everyone was setting up. There were two assistants and I can't even tell you how amazing this aspect was. I have yet to be in a class where there were assistants helping you perform the poses correctly as well as pushing yourself. Everyone including the instructor were hands on and it was the most amazing experience I've had yet in a yoga class. The class was a beautifully flowing class that focused on your breathing as well as pushing you into a full blown workout sweat. The instructor took the time to explain everything so it would be performed correctly further enhancing your practice as well as preventing injuries. I was absolutely blown away by my experience here. I walked out of here as a very satisfied customer that would recommend this yoga studio to every Yogi in the state of CT. Thank you, Yoga Shop, for a WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE! read more

This place is unprofessional, and is a bigot run facility. I along with two traveling nurses stood there for 45 minutes and were totally ignored, not even so much as a person stepped up to us and offered information or even a hold a minute we will be right with you. How disappointing! Thankfully there are other places that can surely use the money of a 5 travel nurses. read more

I can't wait to return to the Yoga Shop. I found this place while visiting my family in Connecticut. I was between duty stations, and I had a whole month of leave. With the thought of putting my practice on hold until I moved on to Georgia completely out of the question, I went Yoga shopping. I had the extreme fortune to stumble upon The Yoga Shop as my first prospective studio. The instructors were all very welcoming, and they're registered on mindbody, so enrolling in classes is a snap. The highlight of my month of practice here was the energy of the studio as a whole. The yogis who frequent the Yoga Shop glow with confidence. When a challenge pose shows up in a sequence, almost everyone is up or in the last few stages of learning the pose, which I found incredibly motivating. The vibe in class is lighthearted and casual. No pressure, no elitist yoga jargon, just a bunch of yogis trying to go further into the space between each breath. The classes are surprisingly advanced, with plenty of sequencing that will keep you on your toes (literally). If that's intimidating, don't worry. There are plenty of stopping points along the way so that you can build strength and confidence in a pose you're comfortable with. I found the classes challenging,upbeat, and playful. Gentle adjustments, both verbal and physical, are offered constantly during class. Inversions are typically offered at least once per class, and arm balance poses are also available frequently. The standing asana portion seemed to center around warrior 2 and crescent lunge, which are two great poses to build from. Child's pose is always an option as well. The studio itself is clean and well equipped. There's a large amount of blocks, straps, blankets, and mats for use. Water is sold at 1 dollar per bottle in case you forget yours. There is a large sitting area to place your shoes and keys during class, with a changing area nearby. All classes offered here are heated. Grab a towel and a bottle of water and give it a try! You won't find a more friendly, creative studio anywhere in the area. read more

I have been going to the yoga shop for two years and love it! The instructors all have their own style and the class schedule is convenient. I highly recommend you check out this studio! The first class is free and they offer a free yoga class every Saturday afternoon. read more

My favorite thing about The Yoga Shop is the love you will revive from the teachers and fellow students when you listen to your body and express the poses the way your body wants you to (while staying safe). There is no judgement, just love read more

The Yoga Shop is more than it yoga studio. It is a yoga community. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The people at the studio both staff and students alike are very welcoming! Classes are offered for students at various levels. Several workshops are also offered for students who want to take their practice deeper! The classes are always fun and the sequencing is creative and full of good energy! If you want to leave a class feeling amazing, this is the studio! read more

I have been here quite a few times. I have had the pleasure of taking Kim's class a couple times. She is awesome! She really likes to motivate her class and is really personable and quite funny. Each time I go here it is another journey further into my fitness. I love this little shop. Everyone is always welcome and the regulars always want to meet the new people. As far as the yoga goes, there are a lot of levels of classes. I like taking the power classes because they are really a great test of how far one can push yourself, mentally and physically. They have a lot of beginner friendly courses as well. If you want to get your stretch and bend on for the first time, this is the place to do it. Great atmosphere and excellent, informative teachers. I have not had an instructor here that did not help me to feel welcome and further my practice. The only bad highlight of the Yoga Shop is that the yoga is quite expensive. Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of money, so I find myself practicing here seldom. Classes are just shy of 20, dollars if going in as a walk in, they do have returning deals, however, it is 100 dollars or more for these packages. Unfortunately, I have the drive to do yoga, but, personally do not have the pockets to do it as often as I would like. read more

I found The Yoga Shop 5 years ago. I initially went to the studio for a boot camp class that included yoga. I had never done yoga before and I have to admit I looked pretty silly doing some of the poses. What kept me coming back, after the boot camp was done, was the enthusiasm and encouragement of the teachers at the shop. This studio is now my family, my friends and my community. Sunday mornings with Marilyn is my church. Every time I walk into this studio, I feel like I'm home. read more

I have been practicing Iyengar yoga for a few years and consider myself to be at an intermediate level. I tried an All Levels class, but it is absolutely not for all levels; anyone who is new to yoga would feel totally overwhelmed. I initially thought I had stumbled into the Power Yoga class! There was very little actual teaching, even though there were beginners in the class, and no attention paid to proper body alignment. I was happy that I already knew the postures and the aperture needed, because a beginner could really hurt themselves. I came back for a Foundations class to see what it was like, and it was rather like a slower version of the all levels class-- a bit more info on how to do those particular poses. There was more actual instruction, and hands-on adjustments by the teacher. Both classes were heated, which I did not know beforehand, so make sure you bring a towel. Classes begin and end with "om". This is a very nice studio, and everyone is friendly and welcoming. It ended not being my cup of tea, but I would recommend trying it out if you have a more advanced practice and seek a heated environment. read more

I had dabbled in yoga for years: bikram, vinyasa, and some others; however, it wasn't until I took a class at The Yoga Shop that I was truly hooked. The classes are dynamic and hard. Also, the community does not compare to those at other studios. TYS is a warm and welcoming environment. Furthermore, I believe that the classes are moderately priced: student and military discount! All of the teachers are talented. Most have trained with Annie and Kim who own TYS. My only critique's are that they should update the website in order to display all of the teacher's biographies, and the classes tend to be 5 minutes longer than stated on the schedule- just in case you run on a tight schedule! But those are two minuscule critiques. Go practice at TYS! It will just make your life better. read more