Ashtanga Yoga Center

Are you kidding me???
Tim Miller, one of the original Americans who encouraged Patthabi Jois to bring Ashtanga to the US owns and teaches here.
We were here for his Improv ⁴⁄₅ class.
It was Tim teaching Ashtanga ‘on the fly’ meaning some primary, some intermediate, some third series over the course of 2 hours, and some kirtan and pranayama and chanting before savasana.
I can’t understand why the classes don’t have 1000 students each time! I we lived here we would be here everyday.

I’ve practiced yoga in many different atmospheres just as many of us have; trying to find yoga that «fits» or a teacher that really embodies what yoga really is. The Ashtanga Yoga Center is one of the best. It’s not just that the teachers there are so well known, but the very real and true connection they have to the art. You can feel the dedication while you’re there. In todays yoga sphere it is hard to decipher what is truly genuine and what is show. This is as real as it gets, and is a great choice for people of all levels that want an authentic experience with an absolutely incredible teaching staff.

Hands down the best place on the planet to practice Ashtanga Yoga. People around the world travel here to practice with owner and founder Tim Miller. This is THE place to learn, advance or master the most difficult and strenuous forms of yoga out there. And he, and his personally trained staff, are the best in the biz. Tim occasionally travels doing workshops, so having assistants that can seamlessly take over his classes when he’s gone is important. My favorites are Otsuro and Holly,
What to expect — If you are new to yoga the level 1 beginner classes are the only way to go. First Series does not mean beginner. Having your own mat is helpful but they have mats there if you need one. If you regularly do gym yoga, or heated (Core, Haut, Tropic etc.) yoga, the beginner class is still a good bet, but you would also be OK in a level 2 First Series Prep or even one of the ²⁄₃ Improv classes. Mysore style are not led classes, so avoid those until you know the sequences.

A wonderful yoga studio! They definitely boast incredible teachers in a beautiful space.
In addition to the world-​renowned Tim Miller (my teacher’s teacher), Holly is terrific! Tim was out of town when we happened to be there, so we took Holly’s Ashtanga Primary Series class and it was absolutely wonderful. She was very welcoming and her instruction was excellent. Her adjustments got both me and my husband into poses that we didn’t fully understand before we came here. She also had two very experienced assistants to help adjust, so all of the students had that much more help.
The group of students was clearly serious about the practice of Ashtanga yoga, but it didn’t prevent this from being a welcoming atmosphere and a fun, energizing class (there was nothing stuffy or unpleasant). I loved seeing students of all shapes and sizes — some were inspiring because they were so advanced, and some were inspiring because they were just starting out and working through all of the brand new challenges.
The studio has a small shop in the front (yoga-​themed clothes and accessories), and a spacious, beautiful yoga room. We’re already planning a trip back (even though we live 6 hours away).

For a well-​seasoned practitioner, I don’t know how anyone canNOT love this place. How can you rate this place less than 5 stars??? Tim Miller is one of the first Westerners to bring Yoga here and make it more mainstream to the American population. That in and of itself makes this center more legit than some of the other fluffy studios around North County. And this place has got to be my ultimate favorite in the North County region.
For a shala, I’d have to say that this place is oddly situated. For me, at least. It’s located within the Carlsbad Shopping Center on the second level, right next to some exercise and wellness businesses. At first glance, you may not even notice it. But really, the best things are never ostentatious, at least that is what I’ve learned. The studio space itself is somewhat small but can fit a decent amount of people. I’ve only taken a couple classes here, but I’ve loved the teachers I’ve had. They were highly knowledgeable and friendly; Tim definitely chooses the right teachers for his shala. And the yogis and yoginis here are wonderful! No competitiveness, just encouragement and love and knowingness that we’re all just into yoga! This is one of the few studios I’ve been to where the energy was overall welcoming and friendly. Although I’m not a regular at this location, the regulars there made me feel at ease and were super helpful. It’s very hard not to walk in here without a smile on your face when your fellow practitioners greet you with a friendly hello.
As for the classes themselves… well, it’s Ashtanga, so it’s going to be challenging. Some of their intermediate classes are harder than some «advanced» classes I’ve taken at other studios. You will go upside down. You will arm balance. And you may find yourself in positions you did not expect you could do. I would not recommend this studio if you are into «workout yoga/​corporate yoga» and are expecting that (if you want that, go to CorePower or YogaSix, the latter just a few doors down). However, you do not have to be an «expert» in yoga to take these classes (and is there really such thing as an «expert» student? I think not!); you just have to come in and understand that the classes are meant to challenge you – not just on a physical level but on a mental level as well. Most classes are an hour and 30 minutes or 2 hours, which is great because it allows you to get deeper into your challenging postures. Mysore classes are available in the morning; I haven’t been able to take these as A) it conflcts with my 9 – 5 work schedule and B) I haven’t fully familiarized myself with the Primary series to feel comfortable enough to do it on my own (although I know that most true Ashtangis recommend doing Mysore first over Led, but I digress). Led Primary is offered 3 times a week and a Led Secondary class is held on Sundays for those who want the ultimate challenge.
Final food for thought… take a class with Tim Miller! You will not regret it. :) Especially the Improv ⁴⁄₅ class, hehe.
If you are looking to deepen your yoga practice, I strongly recommend coming to this studio. Like anything with yoga, come in with an open mind and open heart and just breathe…

I don’t know how you can not like this place. I really wish I lived a lot closer because I would be here at least 3 times a week. When I come here to practice, it brings me back to 2001 (when it all started in college), and I get reminded of the truth (personal reference). All levels are welcomed, and you won’t feel intimated here. The teachers here are all helpful and I never get the feeling they judge you either, unlike some of the studios in SD. I think the practitioners here understand that we are united as one entity– to breath and use Yoga, Ashtanga in specific to live a healthier and better life, so that’s why it’s easy to come back time and time again. Tim Miller is funny and he knows a lot about the ancient practice. It would be a great idea to pick his brain, but i’m too shy to ask any questions :) I just go and do my thang, you know? It brings tears to my eyes sometimes when i’m laying there towards the end of it all. It’s a feeling I can’t describe, and this is the only studio that can get me feeling the way I do when I am done after an hour and half of the Primary series. Thank you, AYC.

As any yogi knows Tim Miller is bad ass and to always look for the good in everyone and everything BUT my blissful, love meter wasn’t going off here. It was my first try at this studio and maybe in the future when I have different needs I would try it again. But for now good vibes, universal love, grace, compassion and awareness while you are being led in practice is my main requirement.

This studio is where you go if you have a little yoga experience already and you want to challenge your yoga practice. It is amazing.
Tim is known internationally. My previous teacher was trained by Tim.
Level 1 is closer to a level 2 or 3 elsewhere.
I was amazed as the people who teach and the students are all friendly. This is the only studio I have been to in awhile where the students are welcoming and happy.
They are located on the second level above H&M in the Forum shopping center. They have a little boutique and then a fairly large yoga room. There are quite clean public restrooms very close by. Take your shoes off before you enter the yoga room. They have blocks and straps you can use.
I purchased the month unlimited after my first visit and have been to the level 1 and 2 classes. I have to say for level 1, Tim’s was easiest. I would suggest that to start with. He talks for the first half-​hour. I was actually a little nervous about Tim’s class as he looks like he could be very serious, but he seems really nice and might be humorous.
Sequoia’s class had the most chanting and she does have a lovely voice singing at the end. Holly and Natasha were super excellent with minimal to no chanting.
Every class helped my practice get a little better. The teachers are really supportive of whatever level you are at currently. Each class has a different turn out week by week. And I was actually surprised by how many men there were in the classes.
I was super sore the day after the first class, but if you can get through that, it is really rewarding. As another student said, one class a week does not cut it, you have to go at least two to three times a week.
I only am in my first month still, but I actually miss it on the days I don’t go. I wish I had started coming here years ago.

As everywhere, some teachers are better than others to fit individual personality styles. One instructor who gets along with all types is Josh Vincent. An amazing teacher for any type of student. Full of details, knowledge, tips, alternatives for various levels within the level, humor, gentle individual, accepting of where his students are on any given day. Sequoia’s Saturday 11am class is just what you need on the weekend. At the completion of class, for a short time, she usually plays an instrument and has a lovely voice.

If you don’t practice Ashtanga yoga and you just find this place accidentally for the first time, you may not like it at all. More importantly, you will not realize that you are at one of the best Ashtanga yoga studios in the country.
Tim Miller was one of the first yoga students in the US. He and a few others helped bring yoga to Americans during the 70s and 80s. So, for ashtanga yoga practitioners, Tim is a celebrity, whether he likes it or not, and we are grateful and privileged to learn from him.
I have been practicing ashtanga yoga for approximately 3 years (practice yoga for 10 years) and I am so fortunate that my brother lives just a few miles from this studio. I go here any chance I get because Tim is one of the best yoga teachers in the world and his students/​teachers are also exceptional. Arguably, this is one of the première epicenters of ashtanga yoga in the US.
I’ve been here a few times and I had the pleasure of doing a mysore class recently and the instructions I got from Tim and his assistant teacher were unsurpassed. I only wished I lived in north county San Diego so I could be his regular student.
The students in this studio are the most advanced and dedicated students I’ve ever had the privileged of practicing with. How do I know? I travel extensively and have gone to numerous yoga studios throughout the country and this studio has the most advanced students, even more advanced than LA or NYC.
If you just picked up yoga recently and have no idea the different between Ashtanga, Anusura, Power or Vinyasa, then the significance of Tim and this studio will be missed on you. As indicated by Kelsey B’s review, she has no clue. Maybe in 5 years and if she stays dedicated to yoga, she will realize she was in the presence of a true innovator.
Fortunately, virtually all ashtanga students are familiar with Tim Miller and his yoga shala is not affected by Kelsey’s review.

The Ashtanga Yoga Center is the place to be if you are serious about your Ashtanga Yoga Practice. Spend the extra money and study with the best because the best in right here in North County. Tim Miller is the founder and main instructor who was the first Western Ashtanga teacher to be certified by the master and creator of this athletic, yet spiritual practice, Pattabhi Jois. Tim has been spreading the Ashtanga love for over 25 years. His wife Carol makes sure that the studio flows just as well as the practice.
The studio was originally located in downtown Encinitas in a modest one-​room space. When they lost their lease a few years ago, it took them a while to find the new location. The Forum Shopping Mall is ideal as it is centrally located to all of Encinitas sitting on the southern end of Carlsbad. The studio is on the second floor away from all of the commotion. It really is peaceful here.
They have enough space here to have a small boutique and a beautiful wood-​floor practice space. Visit their Website for more info: