YogaWorks Brooklyn Heights

Yogaworks has seriously gone downhill in 2 years and it is a real disappointment. It feels entirely too corporate and seems only concerned with gaining membership. the front desk staff are very polite, but STILL they haven’t put a single prenatal class ont he studio which is a real disservice to the community. they’ve also made serious changes to the schedule now where most of the upper level classes are now «open level» or easier, and many classes that used to be 70 minutes are now 60 minutes and even 45 minutes! this is fine for a lunch class, but on weekends, there’s no reason for classes to be shortened.
yogaworks doesn’t seem to care about serving its members. its convenient with a lot of classes but dont expect to be treated like you matter. your’e just money to them.

Clean studio. Lots of class options. Online schedule. Instructors are good. Staff is nice but none is overly friendly. They have equipment and mats available, but you’re welcome to bring your own. If you’re a member you get towel service and unlimited classes. Prices are competitive.

I really like this studio! I was afraid to come here after reading all of the negative reviews, but I’m so glad that I did! I think that a lot of the negative reviews have to do with things like their sales strategy, their cancellation policies, etc. So coming here through ClassPass is probably a pretty different experience, and it’s always been really great for me! The location is super convenient, and they have such an extensive class schedule, so it’s the perfect studio for when I’m on a tight schedule.
The classes I’ve taken have all been really different, so I think your experience here also really depends on the teacher. I’ve taken a level ½ class, a level ²⁄₃ class, and a restorative class. The level ²⁄₃ class was my favorite, and I like that they offer these combined level classes, because it gives me a chance to push myself without feeling out of place. The music definitely varies a lot from class to class — the ones I’ve taken have been more traditional in that sense. (Although I’d personally love a teacher to play Tove Lo, like one negative review complained about!)
One thing — the two studios are both kind of oddly shaped, so I’m never quite sure where the front of the class is (it changes from teacher to teacher). It’s a little confusing, and I’m never able to get the exact spot I’d like because of it. However, they are both spacious, and I’ve never had a problem with crowding, so that’s a plus!

I have been a member at Yogaworks for about two months now and love it! The studio has great promotions, is extremely clean, and provides water, tea, and towels. The instructors are all extremely kind and take the time to address any of my questions and to make sure that I am not doing anything to aggravate my back injury.
Although their sales tactics were a bit aggressive at times, I was able to join at a great time and apparently got a great deal.
Finally, I lost a very valuable ring in the studio. Although it took a bit to find, the employees found the ring and kept it safe in an envelope. It is wonderful to practice yoga in a studio that would keep something safe for me.

I recently joined this studio and really enjoy it. So many classes to choose from and most have been great. Trx classes are great as well as their advanced yoga classes. Highly recommend ruah and Lindsey for yoga.

Three star review is perfect for this place. Thought the class was okay… the instructor I had worked most of the lower body and leg strength. His voice was super soothing, but he didn’t really seem to have a flow. This must be one of those free form classes where you just kinda do your own thing, but it was titled a lever ²⁄₃ class so I thought it would be a bit more challenging or structured. Also it was advertised that there would be music playing during the class, which I thought, awesome! Unfortunately it was an odd mix of dubstep (which got a bit loud so I couldn’t hear his voice) and random semi-​yoga songs.
I’d revisit this place, but not with the same instructor.

After taking TRX ²⁄₂ as my first class and being sore for 3 days straight (this was my fault alone! I could not handle that type of class given my current fitness level), I exclusively stuck to BarWorks ½ and ²⁄₂.
BarWorks ½ classes were a perfect time in the morning and the class size was never more than 10 attendees. The music played during class was good for my focus during arms/​legs/​abs, and I enjoyed that I got some cardio with planks, extra weights, etc. Since I am currently focused on building strength, I found BarWorks to be the class for me.
It could be because the majority of the classes I attended were with Cynthia (for BarWorks), but — as a result of those classes — I have a great impression of YogaWorks BK Heights.
The introductory offer of $ 30 for two weeks of unlimited classes was great, but since I travel for work up to 85% of the year the $ 135/​month might not be worth, though a great price.

Please try this studio and ignore the negative reviews! This is a great studio with a myriad of classes at different levels. It is much more than a typical yoga studio as it offers TRX, Barre, and Sculpting classes. The instructors are welcoming, knowledgeable, and well-​trained. I have never left this studio feeling short of amazing from a great workout:)
With that said, you can sometimes hear the subway in the studio. I know it’s shocking to hear subway noise in NYC!!! I mean, let’s get real. The studio does feel the effect from the Borough Hall train station nearby, but I appreciate the convenience of all of the nearby trains and if someone is truly focused on their own practice, it shouldn’t matter. The same goes with creaky floorboards! If you are paying attention to every little sound, I’m not sure if you’re really breathing and focusing on the movements as instructed. To the studio’s credit, they suffered some water damage and had to replace the floor as the studios are located in the basement. Thought it took a while for them to fix, they did it seamlessly without a disruption of classes so I can’t complain. Again, it’s New York City! If you want a large, open, one floor studio space, I suggest moving out of the city. Most workout spaces I’ve been to in NYC all have at least a two-​floor set-​up. Get over it! The studio is clean and well-​maintained, which is the most important thing for me.
Yogaworks is a corporation and this studio, like all corporate studios, reflects that. However, I never felt pushed into a membership. I started with an Amazon local deal and then joined after it ended. I worked with Bernard and he was kind, patient, and clear about their policies. You can cancel your membership with one months notice, which I think is fairly standard. Unlike other gym/​studio memberships, YW has no annual fee. Furthermore, they offer a number of reduced rates for different groups, which was also told to me when I went to ask about a membership. There was no hiding of discounts like other gyms in the area. But what’s even better about their system is that they have a rewards program so if you attend enough classes, you can earn a bunch of perks including a free month of workouts! Of all of the bigger corporate studios I’ve tried, this one is the most accommodating. They also have an app that allows you to see the class schedules complete with descriptions of the classes themselves and the instructors. With the push of a button, you can have your classes added to your calendar with a nice little reminder. This is the benefit of going to a studio that has been around for 25 years!
As for the classes themselves, I have yet to find one that I didn’t enjoy. The classes ARE led with music, so if you have specific taste you may not always be pleased. However, I have found that most instructors are very open to feedback on all aspects of their classes and have included or omitted music upon request. Plus, I’m there to get fit, not write a music review. I go to enough concerts and have an iPod for that…
This studio in particular, has early morning and late evening classes. I haven’t seen anyone not encouraged or helped in any way and the instructors really focus on form and using proper alignment. I honestly couldn’t be happier with my results! For my money, it doesn’t get any better than Emily’s TRX, Sherman’s Vinyasa, and Cynthia’s Bar or Sculpt!!!

Where should I start?
The location is somewhat distracting, as I can hear (and feel) subway trains rattling somewhere nearby every 10 minutes. Initially I thought the woman to the left of me had some SERIOUS issues with her spine, as I was hearing very loud, bassy «pops» in rapid succession until I realized it was the floorboards cracking, and not her joints. I was staring open-​mouthed for a minute, not understanding how she got to the actual studio in her condition, until I figured it out.
The instructor I had seemed to be pretty fresh. Sometimes you get those instructors that really like using the sanskrit names for poses, and mine was as such. Rather than getting the feeling of being spoken to and interacted with, it felt like she was spitting out something she had memorized in the past. It felt hollow, impersonal. Her instruction was so unfocused that at one point she discovered many attendees were somehow at the front of the mat instead of the back, and said, «How did that happen?» I had to choke on my retort, «Because you suck at this.»
Very western, very… departed from the roots of yoga.
I didn’t like the music she was playing. She started out with a remix of Tove Lo’s «Habits», a song about sadness, angst and drug use, and moved into live chamber music covers of hard rock and top forty songs, complete with cheering crowds and one of the artists speaking into the mic at the end of some of the tracks. Very distracting. If you’re going to play Aerosmith covers you might as well just play the damn original. Why not just play some original chamber music? You know, stuff that was originally written for violin, viola, cello, and bass. That works too. Classical is a wonderful genre.
There was an AWOLNATION cover in there too. Instrumental of course. That makes it all better, right? I guess she thought we wouldn’t recognize it through the curtain of stringed acoustic instruments? Here, I’ll post some lyrics for you:
This is how I show my love
I made it in my mind because
I blame it on my A.D.D. baby
This is how an angel dies
I blame it on my own supply
Blame it on my A.D.D. baby
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Sail!
Maybe I should cry for help
Maybe I should kill myself (myself)
Blame it on my A.D.D. baby
Maybe I’m a different breed
Maybe I’m not listening
So blame it on my A.D.D. baby
See what I mean? Terrible fit for a place of serenity.
I was distracted enough that I was missing a lot of her instruction, half-​assing my asanas. She’d come up to me frequently to correct me, thinking I wasn’t capable of doing things like reaching my fingers to the floor in a forward fold, when actually I was just too agitated to really get into it. At one point she started putting blocks in front of me so I could touch those instead, I was like, «OK, here, I’ll just do it the way you want» and reached my hands down to my toes. She then got behind me and started pulling on my hips. At that point I turned around and straight up told her to stop. My instructor seemed kind of oblivious to my agitation until I verbalized it very clearly, which is surprising as most instructors are EXTREMELY perceptive.
The student base seemed pretty beginner-​ish. One woman in front of me was pulling off the absolute loudest sun salutations I’ve ever heard on the jumps forward from downward dog.
All around poor experience. After this I’m thinking I need to avoid studios that have more than two locations at most. The good instructors won’t stick around at a place like this, meaning they’re probably getting inexperienced/​new/​low quality instructors. I verified this with staff at another, smaller yoga location. Turns out I was speaking to someone who had taught there previously and left.
Apparently Yoga Works was bought out by Reebok? Yeah… this is pretty much the closest thing to the Wal*Mart experience I’ve had with yoga. Not recommended.
All around poor experience. F+.
Saving grace: The receptionists were all VERY friendly and engaging, which is how I got sold on attending in the first place.
P. S.: I’m now seeing they offer free classes for new members. Sad I had to pay full price on account of walking in vs discovering them on the Internet. Boo, yoga works. Boo.

I had a wonderful experience at this studio. I’ve been going mostly the the Union Square location, which had good classes too. But this studio is by far more comfortable. I checked in and was walked to the studio, shown the lounge room and how to work the lockers. Even after I locked myself out of the locker the women who helped my was still super pleasant. The lounge area was also nice and cleaner than the upper west’s.
I came to this location for the barworks class and it was also really good. Cynthia, the instructor was very clear and walked everyone through everything but never too slowly. My experience was nothing but great and I highly recommend anyone with the time to check out this spot.

The negative reviews almost scared me off– but now that I have visited several times, I’m kinda baffled at the low rating. Don’t be scared to come here! If you live in Brooklyn it’s easily accessible via many train and bus lines. Take advantage of the free one week pass or one of their other offers and give yourself the gift of affordable, well-​taught yoga…
One reviewer described this place as being like a gym, without the gym, just the classes. I see what they mean. I’d compare it to a «boutique» fitness studio; YogaWorks is boutique yoga (plus barre, TRX, resistance training, and mat Pilates). Boutique yoga comes with pluses (amenities, good teachers) and minuses (corporate vibe).
I have taken some awesome, challenging, athletic classes here. My first class was more stretchy/​beginner-​friendly/​spiritual (but I still broke a sweat!). All the instruction has been highly competent. Front desk staff sent me way too many emails about coming in for a tour after I signed up online– but they’re very nice.
Some reviews described this place as a «windowless basement» which did not make me excited, but now that I’ve taken several classes I’m surprised at how much I LOVE it, mostly for totally shutting out sounds from the street. That kind of peace and quiet is hard to find in NYC… feels kinda like being underwater, and I’m able to focus so much better, which means a better workout. Lighting is nice warm and low in studios, which are spacious and pretty, as are the restrooms, waiting room, and reception area.
Minuses: 1. Slanted walls make lining your mat up mildly confusing. 2. These big pillars in the middle of both studios make it difficult to see/​hear the teacher at points. 3. That vaguely unpleasant corporate vibe. Doesn’t mix well with yoga. But I guess that’s the price we pay for cheap intro offers, convenient location, high ceilings, and free towels. And, again, really good teachers.

I came here on June 3, 2015 for the TRX level ½ class.
Studio: I didnt get a chance to explore the studio very much but I can say that it was spacious, clean, had a large locker/​change room and was overall very nice.
Class: Since this was a beginner level, I’m sure one works up more of a sweat as they progress. That said, I think this is a really great class to throw into your normal routine that provides for a great arm workout and overall conditioning.

I just finished my free week trial and when I signed up, no one gave me a tour, didn’t tell me what studio the class was, etc. very rude and unwelcoming, the sales guy was texting on his phone when I walked in. Tonight I finished my free week trial and I was curious in finding out more about the packages and drop in prices because I actually liked the classes I went to and the times of classes work well in the evening.
The girls at the front desk were so rude and said we don’t do drop ins, you have to sign up for a membership. Thank goodness I have a membership at another studio in the neighborhood for half of the price and don’t ever have to go back to this place. I’ve never been to such a corporate money hungry studio. The girls working at this place are only concerned about signing people up.
This place is not like any other yoga studio I’ve been to. So unwelcoming. From the other reviews I’ve seen, I guess I’m not the only one who thinks this!

I was apprehensive to visit this location because of the negative reviews. I am so glad I attended a class anyway. I attended the Fundamentals of Yoga with Nicole on a Saturday. I had such a great experience. Even though I attended yoga classes at other locations, I learned a lot about my breathing and posture doing the various poses. Nicole was very attentive, hands on, and informative. Myself as well as other yogis really enjoyed the class.
Definitely give this studio a try.

I was a huge fan of YogaWorks when I lived in the Upper West Side. So I was SO excited when one opened up on Brooklyn Heights… that excitement didn’t last long.
The management of this location is horrible and very unprofessional. The classes were good, but I had such a horrible feeling after what I went through, that I couldn’t even step foot in the place anymore.
Long story short, I was charged for months I was not a member and it was like pulling teeth to get that money back. In fact I never got it back. The manager and the salesperson who sold me my membership completely ignored my many phone calls and emails. I finally was able to talk to the regional manager, who told me they would give me a credit for the next month’s membership. This is not what I wanted, but at this point I was exhausted from fighting with these unethical people and gave up. As soon as that month was up, I canceled my membership.

I came here for the free week of yoga. Within that week, I only attended two yoga classes, and one barre class. I must say, I was extremely disappointed. I felt the yoga classes weren’t spiritual at all. I had a cold vibe as well. Instructors weren’t helpful with adjustments, and were not approachable after class (they were quick to run out).
I was also a little grossed out by the technique the membership advisor used to sell a monthly membership. I think if this were a little different, I may have gone to more classes. They make you feel like they are doing you a favor, but tell everyone the same story (I saw, and heard it). Not to mention, they had a groupon deal going for $ 39 for a month.
Membership does not include mats. You pay a membership fee and they still charge for mat rental. Totally weird.

As person who lives and works in Brooklyn and is a complete novice to Yoga. I’m finding YogaWorks Brooklyn a great place. Conveniently located from both home and work. As a true beginner and starting in January I went in based on a recommendation of a friend.
I was given a strong sales pitch but I went in knowing what I wanted and quite frankly was an easy sell. As a person who is pitched to constantly I did not find the sales pitch overly aggressive but it was strong and I was impressed that she (forgive me her name fails me at this time) greeted every person that she signed up personally. The staff are friendly, the place is modern, and kept very clean.
For all that it is a lovely setting where YogaWorks shine is in its teachers. As a beginner I feel the need for a lot of hand holding. I will admit that it’s hard to be so attentive when you have a full class with advanced participants who want a challenging class. So I started taking the fundamentals class regularly and that’s where I got the individual attention I felt I needed and the instruction to start understanding Yoga and it’s benefits. I felt cared for and gently pushed to do more.
In particular yoga instructor Cathy Lilly whose main forte is in restorative yoga was really able to modify positions and movements that allowed me to become stronger. Given my size (BBW) and my height (5’6) these are attributes that takes a skilled instructor to take into account, not all instructors are able to do that. So overall I’m quite pleased with my purchase and what I’m able to get out of it.

The management of this YogaWorks studio is spectacularly unprofessional.
My husband and I signed up in June but we let the staff know that we’re leaving the country in a month and for us it was just a 2 month membership (July and August). They assured us that that was ok, and they would suspend our membership, when we left. So we reminded them a couple of times about the arrangement (including our last day in the studio) and were reassured that we would not be charged again.
I guess you understand where all of this is going to.
In October we discovered that we were still being charged. My husband called and explained the situation — again they said they would fix everything. By December there were no refunds and they were still charging us. After the second reminder I was referred to the studio manager Regan (finally!).
Regan asked us to prove that the arrangement was made, because it is of course our fault that the staff didn’t follow through properly. Then eventually they agreed to refund 2 months. I had to remind them twice about it before the refund was actually issued. And even after that the refund was issued for only one month!
Very disappointing experience. Which is a shame because Yogaworks in LA, for instance, was very nice

I signed up for the complimentary free week online and wanted to take advantage of this location (super close to my hood). But the first day I was planning on coming, I caught a stomach bug. Thankfully the woman I spoke to on the phone (Alyssa) was really nice and said I could just start the week following (your week starts ticking once you take your first class).
The staff member that greeted me that first class? She pointed me to the wrong room (at first) and couldn’t step away to give me a tour. I ended up asking someone else how to use the locker.
Sherman is good. His class is on the hard side, so you’ll need to be able to keep up. I personally felt like I wasn’t quite there (yet) level-​wise and was definitely struggling. I’ve never successfully executed a headstand/​inversion and I think I overestimated my experience.
I thought it was strange how someone just walked into the darkened studio (he was from the next class) and interrupted us. Also, I wish there was a way to get some sunlight into the studio.
I don’t know that I love yoga enough to sign-​up for a monthly membership. I really enjoy a variety of workouts.

It’s just all kind of gross.
A friend from another yoga class had said she signed up for a special pre-​open price. I was no longer working near my favorite yoga place in the city, so I thought this wouldn’t be a bad location to go to.
I had gone in, and it had a corporate, sterile feel, which I was originally okay with. But when the girl tried to «sell» me I was a little grossed out by. I had already decided I was going to get the package, so she didn’t have to try too hard. But something about her valley-​ish vocal fry, her passing the city of Pasadena like an obvious «you should know where that is» vibe, the «get it while it lasts»…all those were signs. Trying to bring SoCal to Brooklyn was irksome. Oh? You need more flags? Okay.
Then I was told, the pre-​open special was only going to last until that weekend. They weren’t nearly open, so it wasn’t a huge shocker to me when I passed by the place a few weeks later, and they were still advertising the deal. They also told my friend the same thing when she had got the deal a week before me.
More? Okay.
Before I left, I asked the guy when they would be open. He said June. They weren’t open in June. I let that slide, because shit happens, you know?
Then in July I got the email saying they were finally open. Their website listed a new student week-​free deal, so I brought my partner. At the front desk, they only offered only a three-​day free trial. I told the girl at the register that he’d like the week deal I saw online. She inexplicably offered me the three-​day deal. I then reiterated, we’d like the week deal we saw online. Thanks. Why there is even a discrepancy between online and in person, I don’t even know. Taking advantage of people who aren’t tech savvy was the only thing I could come up with. And that’s disgusting. Furthermore, why would I want fewer days free, when I already said I wanted the week deal?
So we go in, and in case you don’t know, the studios are in the basement. But they don’t really feel like the basement. Just don’t expect any natural light to be streaming in. And the lockers are lovely, which is the only saving grace of this place.
The yoga instruction was fine. It was just fine. The instructor was sweet, but it felt like she wasn’t seasoned at this yet. What irked me the most, with my whole experience at Yogaworks, was that in the middle of class, one of the girls from the front just came into class, stood by the door and counted the number of students in there. There were like 5 of us. Why she couldn’t stand in front of the door outside and peer through the window… or you know, count the number of students you checked in at the desk was beyond me. And I’m not a devoted to the yogi or anything, but it really pissed me off.
Admittedly that was the only class I took, but honestly it was enough. Everything up to that class had told me I wasn’t going to like it, I was just hoping the class would be strong enough to save the whole experience, and it wasn’t.
So I looked online on how to cancel, and it says you need a written note. I knew something this corporate was going to try to make it hard for you to quit, so I wrote a whole thing, signed it, and went in person to cancel. Another girl this time, made it pretty easy. She didn’t need the written note, but I pretty much insisted she take it, just in case.
What I thought might happen: when I registered, they signed me up for six months of online membership for free. After the 6 months, it’s a $ 15/​mo fee. Which I never used and practically forgot about. So past my 6 months, and past my cancellation of membership to the physical location, I got charged twice before I remembered/​noticed what was going on. Not that they have it in screaming neon lights, but they do just enough to tell you it’s a separate thing.