Yaletown YYoga

I got the 30 day challenge pass because it’s a good deal and because I wanted to get back into yoga. I’ve tried two studios, but mostly Yaletown, and a lot of different instructors. In general, the studios are really pleasant and clean and nice, and the instructors are really good and know their stuff. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed most of my classes, which is why I’m giving it four stars. I won’t be getting a membership when this is done though because there always has to be that one rogue yoga instructor who just takes pleasure in making people sweat. This isn’t just YYoga, I’ve noticed this in many studios around town that are set up for hot yoga — they’ll name a class «Power» but heat the room to hot yoga temperatures. Now, that said, I don’t have a thermometer hiding in my pocket, but I can tell the room is hot by little signs such as — a puddle of sweat on my mat when I’m not even doing anything hard, like a forward fold. Why is this frustrating? If I knew I was coming to a hot class, I’d plan for it — hydrate thoroughly, bring a towel, shampoo to wash my hair after, etc., or I’ll know not to come if I don’t like hot yoga. Also, some people have health issues where they’re not allowed to be working out in hot rooms. So, to each their own. I really really like most of the classes, but I feel like it’s a case of Russian Roulette with the hot room, so I’ll be getting a pass in a studio that doesn’t have a hot yoga option, and then I know they can’t overheat the room. Namaste.

Great instructors, nice facilities, awesome location, good variety of classes and times. The hot room is fixed now and fully operational, so hot classes are once again amazing.
Promotional packages expire too soon which is really annoying, certain classes are sometimes over crowded which interferes with the practice, front desk people could improve customer service at times, and the drop in rate has been jacked up over the years.
The Chopra studio on Granville seems to be more aligned with the core principals of Yoga and less focussed on money.

I purchased the 30 days for $ 40 promo because I happened to have numerous days off around Xmas so the intro worked. Otherwise, my schedule is quite unpredictable and at $ 130 /​month, my money would be wasted. There is also a $ 50 cancellation fee which I do not believe in.
I absolutely adore the small studio! I had my first class experience here with Aili and it was a good class and awesome zen vibe inside. The frosted glass with the script is amazing. On a bright sunny day, I brought my cell into the room and snapped a few awesome shots as the light diffused through. Beautiful.
I enjoyed most of my classes here. Some instructors aren’t very detailed or thorough so you have to look around quite a bit to see what’s going on, but overall I liked it here. The reception staff was hit & miss at times but, in the end, I really liked everybody. I was not able to obtain a keychain ID tag here, though. The computers never functioned properly so I had to get my ID tag at Burrard.
I was disappointed with both of the Power classes I chose, though. I improvised during the ample shoulder & head stands. I’m not there yet, nor can I get into a position to lead-​in. In class #1, my only complaint was about physical corrections. I don’t mind a stranger handling me to help me get into proper form BUT please don’t offer if you sweat lots. It was really gross having someone lean over me and drip their sweat onto my back and my brand new mat which I sanitized later. Bleck!
During class #2 with Liv, I was so annoyed that I felt like walking out mid-​class. I nearly did on a few occasions but managed to stick with it. I could tell, a few people beside me were unhappy with the class as well. She does speak fast but poses are not held long enough so by the time you get into one, you’re out and the pace was difficult to keep up with. Also, it was clear that my particular corner of people could not keep up or do all the shoulder stands she emphasized throughout. No modifications or help was offered. We got ignored. It was not pleasant, in the least. I sat around and did not do much during the class. It was awful. I also noticed her method is very imbalanced. What happens on one side was not congruent or consistent. I really wish I had walked out.
Shelley T was my favourite teacher. Beautiful, soft, inspirational. Her classes are a real treat and she is lovely to talk to, also caring and mindful of everyone in the class and covering people’s needs/​requests. I can’t wait to attend another class of hers — she also teaches out of ONE YOGA which is closer to home for me. She is worth her own punch card!
My only other issue with YYoga is regarding their website which did not function [for reservations] throughout the duration of my membership. Therefore, I had to show up 20 – 30 minutes before class to ensure a spot.

This is my fave spot to sweat in this city. Been to their downtown flow classes and nothing beats the low key vibe here. Try the morning 7am classes to set the day right.

Short and sweet, with footnotes at the bottom — how does that sound?
Things I love:
* an abundance of classes from 7a to 9p on most days (1)
* the variety of classes available (2)
* I can go to any of their locations (3)
Things I appreciate:
* bathroom/​change room with shower facilities
* complimentary tea and a lounge area to hang out before or after class
* clean space and very friendly staff
* mat and towel service available for a fee
* no lockers, but you can leave your belongings with reception
Things I don’t like:
* classes can be soooo packed (4)
* not that affordable (5)
* could be intimidating for beginners (6)
— — — — –
(1) There’s no excuse for not finding a class that fits your schedule!
(2) including yin, hot, flow, power yoga (and indoor cycling at the Flow location)
(3) The 2 in downtown being so close is especially convenient for me as they are interchangeable depending on my schedule and which type of yoga I felt like doing that day
(4) Sometimes they let in too many people in one class. Also, this means having to arrive at the studio 15 minutes ahead vs. 5 minutes ahead, which does not always work with my schedule.
(5) in terms of absolute dollar. In terms of value, you have to judge for yourself since different people place different value on the flexible schedule or their spa-​like ambience, etc, but they are at the top range of their competition in my opinion ($ 20 drop in, $ ¹⁶⁰⁄₁₀ classes, $ 120/​month unlimited)
(6) Classes are all-​levels. This is not usually a problem but yyoga’s popularity attracts more seasoned yogis and instructors.

This review is just for the hot classes. I’m a 4x-​a-​week hot yogi (Bikram/​Moksha/​Baptiste). I visited this studio while traveling, and was actually looking for a Bikram studio, but this was closer and I thought it would be a nice change of pace. It was!
The biggest problem for me was that the classes are advertised at 104 °F (40 degrees C?) but only one of them was anywhere near that. Because this studio teaches many other types of classes, if the class before wasn’t heated, it can take almost the whole hour to rise to a nice sweaty level.
The second thing that bugged me was that most practitioners seemed dedicated, but not very advanced. There were cues to take different variations of poses, but nothing really crazy. Bikram is so strict that I love to cut loose in new studios and take my standing separate leg stretching into headstand, my squat into crow, or my bridge into full wheel, but if the instructor doesn’t mention it as an option or suggest we «play around», I always feel like I’m showing off.
One thing worth mentioning is what people wear. I am no supermodel, but since I’m used to Bikram, I’ve fallen in love with the comfort of practicing hot yoga in just shorts and a sports bra. This studio is one where most women practice in leggings and a tank top — probably because the other classes are not heated. However, most of the men in the class took their shirts off, so I ended up not feeling uncomfortable. I only mention this in case someone else is wondering the same thing.
If I lived near this studio, I’d come back — I loved the friendly atmosphere, mindful attitude of the teachers and the amount of space!

Currently on a yoga kick and really enjoying this place. Why?
1. super close to my place and they have other convenient locations
2. great availability of classes (multiple options before and after work)
3. excellent instructors
4. very friendly staff
5. you don’t have to bring a mat
6. very clean facility and they have water and tea in the lobby (somewhere to refill your water can be critical especially if doing hot yoga)
Anyway, at the moment I am impressed and definitely considering becoming a regular in the longer-​term.

Such a great place!
The staff are helpful (you can ask them ANYTHING about yoga/​what yoga would be right for you and they do not make you feel silly/​stupid for asking and really explain and go over options for you!)
Wide range of classes to choose from (something for everyone!)
A great space with great instructors, who actually care about their students! Love it!

LIKES Great location, transit-​friendly, good hours, helpful staff, intimate setting
DISLIKES Can be crowded at times (both lobby and the studio)
Namaste.
I come here to do hot yoga mostly, but they offer many other yoga styles at different times, even until 9 p.m. at night. Lots of variety, helpful and amazing teachers and a non-​judgemental environment during practice.
The change rooms/​washrooms could get very crowded, but you will find space for your stuff (I’ve never had trouble doing so). You can keep your valuables with the people at the front desk. They have five showers, with the toiletries provided. They even have deodorant and hairspray in case you forget! Plus, the change room is clean as they have a no-​shoes policy.
So far, I find that this yoga studio offers more value than all of the other yoga studios I’ve tried. It certainly isn’t inexpensive, but their $ 40 first month promo is a steal, and if you do decide to become a member, they offer different options for you, depending on how much you practice.
The Yaletown location is even more special than the others since the studios are smaller, meaning they could fit up to 30 people (guesstimate), and rarely do they reach capacity. This allows you to practice yoga with a smaller community who mind themselves and let you do your own thing.
A bonus for this studio is that it is close (five-​minute walk) to transit, especially Canada Line customers.
The staff are helpful, pleasant and seem to really enjoy their work at Yyoga.
I would recommend this studio.

I’m a regular at the Yaletown YYoga since it is so close to home, but I had a particularly lovely experience yesterday that I wanted to share:
I came in for a hot class at 4:00 and when I arrived, we found out our teacher didn’t show up. Right as the front desk attendant began apologizing to the class, one of our classmates stood up and said «I can teach!». She introduced herself as Kathy and was a manager at the Flow location. We were all so relieved! (especially when the weather is below zero, I’m sure the majority of us chose the Hot class for that reason).
I have to say I was so impressed with Kathy and how she handled the situation like it was no big deal. She embraced the quick change and seemed genuinely happy to be teaching instead! She also led the class well and was very thorough in all our poses.
Thank you Kathy for saving the day!

This studio is so charming and intimate. A wonderful haven in the hustle & bustle of Yaletown.
I have been to all of the Yyoga locations and although the other studios have more space, along with all the bells & whistles (saunas, massage therapists, large retail space, etc), I really appreciate Yaletown Yyoga for it’s sense of community and intimacy.
Yes, it gets crowded here. Yes, even the non-​heated room gets hot due to the large amount of people in there. But I promise that once you arrive on your mat, any of the instructors there will lead you in an incredible practice and you will leave ready to consume calories at any of the Happy Hour places in Yaletown (in your yoga tights of course)!

It’s smaller than the big ‘un but it’s not all size ya know! Cozy rooms, enough showers (gotta be quick!), friendly staff.
I work a few blocks away so it’s perfect for some lunch time yoga here, especially power with Christine! Highly recommend :)

‘I’m here for pilates.’ ‘What? Oh you mean pilat-​ease, you’re so funny’. Look whatever, sign me into the goddamn class already.
Despite the fact that I have to fake a Canadian valley accent to get into this place, I really enjoy it. It’s smaller than their Flow location, which means the classes can get quite warm and crowded, but the dark room makes them more relaxing. They do have a much smaller changing room and a more limited class selection, but if you are looking for a chilled out Hatha class, this is the place, much better than the light filled studio rooms at Flow.
Remember, Brits, it’s pill-​att-​ease.

I’ve been going to YYOGA Yaletown for the past year and a half. It remains my favourite studio in the city for a few reasons.
1) It’s intimate. Two yoga rooms and close quarters means less yogis through the front doors. I’ve always thought that YYOGA YT has a small town feel, everyone knows everyone — and you’re always running into your friend from down the street.
2) The teachers! Yes many yoga teachers frolick from location to location, but YYOGA YT has a number of them that are just loyal to their studio. A few faves: Alex Mazerolle, Troy Turi, Clara Roberts-​Oss, Katherine Moore, Chris Brandt and Liv Hilde.
3) Location. It’s smack in the middle of Yaletown and the perfect place to stop in before or after work.
Over the last few months, the studio has seemed to undergo a number of changes. Instructors are moving on, class times are changing being moved and their seems to be something rustling. The folks at the front desk are always smiling, but sometimes totally out to lunch. Lots of the new teachers they have brought it are terrible — I will continue to be a fan of YYOGA YT if the great ones remain. Fingers crossed.
PS — If you’re headed to YYOGA YT for Alex Mazerolle’s Sunday class, be prepared for ‘Sardine Sunday.’ It’s packed — and for good reason. Reserve ahead and come ready to get sweaty.

Pros:
Clean studio, friendly staff, free tea, great instructors, 2 minute walk from home.
Cons:
Popular classes are always packed (even if you reserve online you need to get there at least 20 mins before class to have a decent spot). Small change room (always crowded) esp after class.
At the end of the day, even from the back of the room and sometimes not enough room to pose, I still leave there feeling great.

My first trip weekend trip out to Vancouver, I needed 2 hours to kill in the morning. I looked up Yaletown yoga spots on Unilocal and it lead me here. As a newcomer, I couldn’t sign up online, so I had to show up hoping the class wasn’t full.
Wonderful clean facility, they do towel and mat rentals for $ 2.50 each. I did their 2 week special because I knew I wanted to come back a second time during my weekend trip. $ 5.00 alone for their towel and mat rentals made the 2 week deal worth it. There are other walking distance locations by the same company, and there are plenty of classes to try throughout the day. I learned some new poses that I never tried before and was pleased with the overall experience.

If I were comparing this YYoga to other locations, I might give it a lower rating, but that’s not really fair. It deserves it’s very own, stand-​alone review so here it goes:
During my two week intro ($ 39), I enjoyed mat and towel service and unlimited classes.
There is a great variety of classes and instructors. Classes are offered from early morning to late night so there’s no excuse not to go!
Because I live so close, I never used their showers but it seemed like maybe you had to rush out of class to get a shower since there aren’t too many.
Hair dryers, tea and filtered water are a nice touch.
You can leave your valuables behind the reception area free of charge.
Aesthetically, this yoga studio is better than the average. It feels very «high-​end» and «zen». My only criticism would be that it often felt crampy in the waiting area, reception area and change rooms. During class changeovers there are a lot of people coming and going. Often, there are a bunch of people waiting for one class to end so they can go in a set up their mats.
Being in a heritage building on the 2^nd floor surely presents a challenge for air flow…’twas a wee bit «stuffy» (euphemism) during peak hours. But, that’s to be expected with hundreds of people practicing hot yoga in a small space all day long.
I highly recommend taking advantage the 2 week Intro.

I love Yaletown YYoga because it’s a lot quieter than the other studios. I didn’t like it as much last year because they only had YHot, Power, Anusara Inspired, and Yin. Now they added Hatha, Flow, and Pilates to the schedule so it’s great to have so much variety. I wish they had YRide and a sauna too, but I realize the studio space is too small for that to happen. Plus, the Flow studio isn’t that much further so if I want to change it up, it’s only a bit of an extra walk.
I am also a huge fan of the instructors at this location. Brandee’s classes are amazing — she plays the best music and you really work up a sweat! They also sell really cute clothes, water bottles, and yoga mats and have a tea station. Love this place!

I remember when YYoga Yaletown was Yaletown Yoga. It was there that I was introduced to Yoga.
I’m not a regular but the Yaletown Studio has always been there when I have needed a place to get connected, get in flow and become grounded.
The studio itself has changed a bit over the years in that there are definitely more people going there than before so it tends to get a bit cramped. I still love the heritage feel. It’s clean, the tea is lovely and I do love sitting in the lounge area.
I have met many wonderful instructors over the years and I particularly want to shout out to Sjanie and Rich who have always made me YYoga experience breathtaking.
namaste
g

I love YYoga but this location is such a disappointment, especially if you’ve ever been to the Burrard location (which is amazing). My low review is due to the over-​crowded nature of this location and subpar facilities.
I visited for an 8pm class and walked in to find a chaotic environment with people everywhere. To their credit, the staff and instructors are friendly and helpful. However, the narrow space in front of the counter also serves as smelly shoe storage. It was literally a pile of shoes all over the floor which you had to walk around (ie there was a shoe closet apparently that no one seemed to use nor anyone policed).
I checked in and headed to the locker room to take care of my belongings. Unfortunately, the locker rooms are actually changing rooms (no lockers) and small (be careful not to bump naked butts — I had to tip toe carefully by a few). Since there weren’t any lockers, I went to the waiting area … a small 10×10 space next to the counter and shoes that is filled with a big round piece of furniture that was covered with people. The whole space was steamy and smelly (I think a hot yoga class had maybe just let out).
I tried to find a spot to stand without being bumped into by people. I couldn’t find one — the place was packed, people also lined the hallway leading to the two small yoga rooms.
I finally get into the ‘small’ room (per the staff who checked me in) to find that it’s very narrow and contains big pillars that you can’t see around. It must have had a recent hot yoga session as the room was also extremely stuffy and hot. At first, I thought I was in a hot yoga class by mistake and asked someone else in the room. Nope, just residual heat. Yuck.
I would estimate the room would normally fit 15 – 20 people at capacity … but our class had 30 people booked for it. We had to squeeze so close together, including two people who had to wait to close the door in order to lay out their mats. My mat was 8 inches from the wall and 6 inches from the person next to me. Talk about claustrophobic.
Throughout the 1.5 hour class, I had to listen to people clomping by my mat as the main entrance to the studio was only 8 inches from my head and separated only by ¼″ piece of glass. The floor boards even moved under me from the people walking by.
The instructor (who was super cool and did an excellent job) thought the packed class was due to the 30-​day challenge promotion but when he asked only 1 person was there for that reason. Basically, they allowed it to be overbooked for the space as he said everyone was pre-​registered. The room also did not contain enough props for people. Even with a small class size, I doubt there would be enough blocks.
I’m sure the moral of the story is that you should shrug off this inconvenience and not sweat the small stuff. But, I’m not a yogi. I went to this Yin class (supposed to be highly meditative and relaxing) but found that the Yaletown location only added to my stress level before, during, and after my class. It was not enjoyable at all. I will not return to this cramped location.