size doesn't always matter
i ran into christy marsden and her yoga blend crew at the off the mat event at sacred movement earlier this evening. and thanks to them, i heard about this recent article in the LA times which recognizes the "little guys" in the local yoga and fitness scene.
so kudos to the staff at silverlake yoga, liberation yoga, goda yoga, and of course, yoga blend for receiving the recognition they deserve!
(by the way, i've edited this article to only include the yoga studios. the complete article can be read here)
It's the small things
L.A. has its fair share of neighborhood gyms that offer less and more than big-box fitness centers.
by Jeannine Stein
January 7, 2008
THINK "fitness club" and the first image that comes to mind is some warehouse-sized complex with blaring music and boatloads of shiny equipment. But the Los Angeles area is also peppered with neighborhood gyms and studios offering a different experience -- a more relaxed environment, smaller classes and less of a cookie-cutter approach. Some are posh with trendsetting workouts; others are holes in the wall where you feel as comfortable as if you were in your own living room. Though the city offers great outdoor workouts (the Santa Monica stairs, cycling trails in the mountains), there are times when only a class or equipment will do. Here's a sampling of noteworthy places in Los Angeles -- and just beyond:
Silverlake Yoga
2810 1/2 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles
(323) 953-0496
silverlakeyoga.com
Billed as the oldest yoga studio in Silver Lake (12 years in one place), Silverlake Yoga is proud of its friendly, mom-and-pop environment. The studio offers 65 classes a week, including kids' yoga, Pilates, tai chi and prenatal classes taught by co-owner Juliette Kurth, a certified doula. Classes are generally small, with about 10 to 12 participants, but weekend classes can attract twice that number. "We've been here long enough that the entire life cycle of the community passes before our eyes," says co-owner Jonathan Emerson. "Students have gotten married, had babies and now bring their kids in."
--
Liberation Yoga
124 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 964-5222
liberationyoga.com
Liberation Yoga has both ends of the yoga spectrum covered. For newcomers, there's an intro course that goes over the basics and explains the history and philosophy of yoga. For more seasoned practitioners, there are noteworthy workshops such as the Five Elements workshop series, which explores connections with nature. And several yoga styles are available, says co-owner Christine Burke, including Iyengar, vinyasa and ashtanga.
For people looking for an alternative to the four-walled studio, Liberation features a garden studio, a covered patio complete with heating (when it's cold) and plants, lending an outdoor feel for when you just can't be fully enclosed.
--
Goda Yoga
9711 Washington Blvd., Culver City
(310) 287-1255
godayoga.hypermart.net
Goda Yoga is the quintessential neighborhood yoga studio. Small and friendly, the entire 1,250-square-foot facility includes a yoga room that holds 30, a dressing area and boutique. The studio offers classes for all levels and specializes in personal service. "There's a lot of gentle instruction, and your teachers get to know you very well," says owner Cheryl Moss. "This area isn't saturated with yoga studios like the Westside, so the students are often beginners with no expectations."
--
Yoga Blend
1921 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank
(818) 954-9642
yogablend.com
Got a hankering for a yoga class at 9:30 at night? Head over to Yoga Blend in Burbank, where classes start early and go late. It's hard to find but perfect for a studio-heavy neighborhood where not everyone works a traditional 9 to 5.
A choice of about 70 classes a week includes a wide variety of styles and focuses, including meditation, prenatal, beginning, power yoga and stretching. Workshops are available for those who want to delve into new territory, according to owner Christy Marsden. The studio also fosters a noncompetitive atmosphere and encourages newcomers by adding modifications in classes for those just starting out.
so kudos to the staff at silverlake yoga, liberation yoga, goda yoga, and of course, yoga blend for receiving the recognition they deserve!
(by the way, i've edited this article to only include the yoga studios. the complete article can be read here)
It's the small things
L.A. has its fair share of neighborhood gyms that offer less and more than big-box fitness centers.
by Jeannine Stein
January 7, 2008
THINK "fitness club" and the first image that comes to mind is some warehouse-sized complex with blaring music and boatloads of shiny equipment. But the Los Angeles area is also peppered with neighborhood gyms and studios offering a different experience -- a more relaxed environment, smaller classes and less of a cookie-cutter approach. Some are posh with trendsetting workouts; others are holes in the wall where you feel as comfortable as if you were in your own living room. Though the city offers great outdoor workouts (the Santa Monica stairs, cycling trails in the mountains), there are times when only a class or equipment will do. Here's a sampling of noteworthy places in Los Angeles -- and just beyond:
Silverlake Yoga
2810 1/2 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles
(323) 953-0496
silverlakeyoga.com
Billed as the oldest yoga studio in Silver Lake (12 years in one place), Silverlake Yoga is proud of its friendly, mom-and-pop environment. The studio offers 65 classes a week, including kids' yoga, Pilates, tai chi and prenatal classes taught by co-owner Juliette Kurth, a certified doula. Classes are generally small, with about 10 to 12 participants, but weekend classes can attract twice that number. "We've been here long enough that the entire life cycle of the community passes before our eyes," says co-owner Jonathan Emerson. "Students have gotten married, had babies and now bring their kids in."
--
Liberation Yoga
124 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 964-5222
liberationyoga.com
Liberation Yoga has both ends of the yoga spectrum covered. For newcomers, there's an intro course that goes over the basics and explains the history and philosophy of yoga. For more seasoned practitioners, there are noteworthy workshops such as the Five Elements workshop series, which explores connections with nature. And several yoga styles are available, says co-owner Christine Burke, including Iyengar, vinyasa and ashtanga.
For people looking for an alternative to the four-walled studio, Liberation features a garden studio, a covered patio complete with heating (when it's cold) and plants, lending an outdoor feel for when you just can't be fully enclosed.
--
Goda Yoga
9711 Washington Blvd., Culver City
(310) 287-1255
godayoga.hypermart.net
Goda Yoga is the quintessential neighborhood yoga studio. Small and friendly, the entire 1,250-square-foot facility includes a yoga room that holds 30, a dressing area and boutique. The studio offers classes for all levels and specializes in personal service. "There's a lot of gentle instruction, and your teachers get to know you very well," says owner Cheryl Moss. "This area isn't saturated with yoga studios like the Westside, so the students are often beginners with no expectations."
--
Yoga Blend
1921 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank
(818) 954-9642
yogablend.com
Got a hankering for a yoga class at 9:30 at night? Head over to Yoga Blend in Burbank, where classes start early and go late. It's hard to find but perfect for a studio-heavy neighborhood where not everyone works a traditional 9 to 5.
A choice of about 70 classes a week includes a wide variety of styles and focuses, including meditation, prenatal, beginning, power yoga and stretching. Workshops are available for those who want to delve into new territory, according to owner Christy Marsden. The studio also fosters a noncompetitive atmosphere and encourages newcomers by adding modifications in classes for those just starting out.
posted by joni at 11:35 PM
2 Comments:
hi, just looking around yoga blogs and found yours. nice!
i'm tesa, and i teach with pulse yoga philippines.
i also like your blog name. funnily, my husband calls e a yogista.
hi tesa --
glad you found me! and thanks for pointing out pulse yoga; i'll make sure i drop by one or both of their locations the next time i visit my family (which i hope will be sometime this year)...
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