Boulder - The Yoga Rundown...

Alright-- so I'm on yoga studio number 3 in Boulder. I love yoga. And I am definitely missing my regular practice at Saraswati's Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT. It's just a really modest, beautiful studio with lots of natural light. The teachers are all so down to earth and so different which makes for great variety if you practice everyday. And in general, Mitchel Bleier, will probably be my most beloved and influencial teacher ever. Despite having inhereted the curse of entering every yoga class and evaluating it based on everything he's ever taught me. Not to be a total yoga snob-- or to be closed minded-- but I really truly believe in his school of teaching.

I just feel like many of the vinyasa classes I've attended out here so far-- are lacking. In a 60 minute class I have such high expectations of accomplishing so much more. The classes here in general focus a lot on standing poses and maybe take the last ten to fifteen minutes of class for backbends and hips. The class moves pretty slow in comparison to the Joint's style. There is very little guidance as far as action alignment instructions and/or physical adjustments. Also-- it seems they have changed sanskrit to fit their own definitions of poses. For instance, I've had several teachers here call Tadasana or Mountain pose-- what I was taught to be Urdhva Hastasana. There are moments when I'm pretty confused with the language and explaination of poses.

Maybe someday Saraswati's Yoga Joint will want to have a satalite studio in Boulder or some other part of the country. Either that or I need to get on it and get a teaching position here soon. Jamie is actually helping me work on my updated Yoga/Wellness resume as we speak...

But so, here is a little rundown on the places that I've been to so far. There are a few other places that I've been scoping out to try as well. I noticed that a few of the same teachers that teach at Om Time, also teach at Studio Be Yoga -- in particular Cindy Lusk, a good Anusara teacher, from what I hear.

Omtime

I loved doing Anusara yoga here. It's a small and unheated, but nice space. Unfortunately, I had to pay for parking in the Pearl Street Mall every class that wasn't on the weekends-- and a 50 class punch card is (at the student rate) $400. They don't offer any form of unlimited class card or membership. I could blow through a class card like that in two months- which would put me at about $200 a month for an insatiable yoga habit. The teachers there are phenomenal and there's a real sense of community. All the yogis there that I met were really helpful and friendly- especially at the Eye of the Tiger Anusara class. I just wish it was a bit more affordable for someone like me.

Yoga Pod

A beautiful studio, located right in the midst of the 29th street Mall. Free parking is awesome. And a good price too. Two weeks for $30 for new students, and after that if you sign up for their monthly membership it's only $89 for unlimited yoga.

Though, I sort of felt after the two weeks, that the classes did lack some variety as far as poses and challenges. The vinyasa classes are heated- about 90 degrees-- which at times felt way too hot. I found the heat to be the most difficult part of the p2 or level 2 vinyasa class that they offer.

I really liked the Forrest Yoga class on Wednesday nights.

CorePower Yoga

I just tried this place today. They have an offer right now where you can try classes there for a whole week for free which is pretty cool. It's a nice studio with a really nice locker room. I read a review on google that said it was the McDonalds or fast food of yoga. The class I went to today wasn't too packed-- but it was really really hot in there, throughout the entire class. The teacher used some wierd sanskrit, but I finally got to do a few different poses that I hadn't done in a few weeks. I'm not sure if I can handle that kind of intense heat with every practice though...