Sonic Yoga

Almost going on a year of Sonic membership and just realized how obsessed I am. I used to live across the street and work in the area, but I just moved to the LES and am still commuting all the way to Hells Kitchen for classes. To keep it simple, unlike some other studios this place is not a «scene» and you instantly feel welcome no matter your skill level or how often you go.
I just started to shift my schedule and try more classes with different teachers; I prefer the morning but all the instructors I have tried have their own style and are all welcoming in their own way. Rian is a wonderful instructor that always does something a bit different — he gets you to think or move in a way that somehow challenges and relaxes you all at once. Stephanie is also great and instantly makes you feel like part of the community just by walking in – she remember my name from class #2! Jeffery and Tacquice are also great and clearly part of the awesome Sonic clan.

My favorite studio in NYC, such a breath of fresh air to get off those hard city streets to find peace and community! The teachers, training, atmosphere and community are the best. And I can’t recommend the Tropical Teacher Training immersion in Costa Rica more. Lauren Hannah is someone I look up to my yogi mentor!

I had a really hard time finding a studio in the city. My instructor who I practiced with for years back home in California was so amazing, I wasn’t able to find someone as inspiring and great as her. Then I had a professor at school recommend Sonic Yoga, as it is where she did her YTT, and I fell in love. I’ve yet to take a class with someone who I didn’t enjoy but Joanna’s 1 – 2 intermediate class reminds me why I love yoga so much everytime I go. Even if you’re just beginning, it’s a great place to start. All of the instructors have fun personalities and are so helpful and accommodating. I wish some of the class times were different but I have a weird schedule. I absolutely recommend biting the bullet and investing in the classes here. They’re pricey, but have good deals for monthly renewals and the classes are so worth it. There’s even a student discount package!

Sonic Yoga is possibly my favorite place in NY. Since moving away, I miss it often. Never a bad class– each teacher is at the top of their game and has tons to offer. Great for a beginner, intermediate or advanced yogi. Also one of the best yoga teacher training programs around. And a heartwarming sense of community it makes you just want to hang out and drink tea all afternoon.

Wonderful studio. I could not offer a stronger recommendation. Advanced classes are truly advanced, not just the postures but the focus. All level classes are truly all level and great for new students and longtime yogis. Teacher training seems to be in depth, and the teachers have much to offer.

Its little packed for everyone to fit in, but great instructors.

I love sonic. It is a great studio with great teachers. My favorite teachers are Johanna, Jefrey and Keith. I like the fact that they combined the spiritual part into the practice. I have been taking classes here for about 2 years now and consider them part of my yoga family.

I’ve been a loyal sonic member for 3 years and cannot imagine going anywhere else. I started as a complete beginner and it was great to experience different teaching styles as i developed my practice. But equally importantly, Sonic is a great community and I’ve made many friends here.

A lovely relaxing space with great teachers. Clean by all accounts. If you live in the neighborhood, this might be your best option

I am so grateful to have found Sonic Yoga. It is a haven in the midst of New York City. There there is no judgment or animosity — only acceptance, positivity, and serenity. It is absolutely wonderful. Both studios are spacious, clean, and vibrant, and all of the teachers are so thorough and passionate about what they’re teaching, no matter what the style or level of the class. From the moment I’m let in from the street 2 floors below, I can smell the traces of the yummy incense, and I can feel the energy welcoming me in. Sonic is a wonderful place, I love being there, and I would highly recommend it to anybody who’s looking for light and meaning in their practice!

After finding Sonic Yoga back in 2012 I haven’t looked back since. The two floor studio includes a small boutique, a lounge area, and two studios for classes.
Each teacher brings their own energy and individuality to each class, making the search for the right teacher and the development of your own personal style that much greater. The energy in the studio is familiar, as if this little place was your hometown. The community that gathers here is always willing to give advice and help, even if it’s your first encounter.
I’ve practiced in other studios around the city but haven’t found a place like this yet and I don’t think I ever will.

Sonic is a wonderful studio. A very positive atmosphere and knowledgeable instructors, Great for beginners and experienced yogis.

Sonic Yoga is one of the best studios in NYC. I did their yoga teacher training in July, and fell in love with each teacher, the studio and every student. Everyone has such incredibly open and warm hearts, and I felt that I was a part of a community. They are dedicated to teaching yoga safely but with plenty of challenges and opportunities to grow in your practice. They are doing it right, and you can’t say that about many studios.
Each teacher has years of experience and are still attending teacher trainings to grow as teachers. They aren’t just about teaching you how to fly into a handstand, but they will teach WHY you should want to handstand and how to safely do so. Sonic has a lot of respect to the ancient texts and practice of yoga that seems to be so disregarded by other studios.

I live about 50 feet away and walk past Sonic EVERYDAY. I finally caved and signed up for their $ 99 — two month unlimited and quickly found myself there every morning. I was only used to Bikram before so the vinyasa flow was new to me. I was hooked after one class. I like how they have so many instructors who all have their own unique form of teaching and not one class is the same. So far I love every instructor.
My favorite class of the week is Center Yoga with Tania. It is seriously so relaxing and meditative i’ve even had out of body experiences.
If you’re looking for a powerful yoga studio… look no further than Sonic.
Mx

I signed up for the 2 months unlimited for $ 99, for how expensive a single class is here — it’s definitely worth the money.
I had 4 different instructors and only 1 i didn’t gel with.
My biggest complaint, and why i’m not continuing on as a member is the timing of the classes. there is a gap on most weekdays (except 1) from 3−6pm of no new class that day.
It just doesn’t fit my schedule.
Also, every class seems to run late which makes your class start late etc etc etc
For someone who is anally punctual, this was very hard for me and most the time i’d have to leave a class early to make time for the other parts of my day.
If you’re not to a set schedule and their times work for you — i definitely recommend.

Love this studio! Discovered it during a Groupon or Living Social deal in the winter of 2013 and always go back when I am in NYC. Positive and welcoming energy. I always feel better after taking a class at Sonic Yoga.
p. s. the donation classes are a great deal & taught by AMAZING teachers

Incredible. I signed up for the $ 99 for 2 months unlimited as a true gamble, and I will be coming back multiple times a week. Sign up for the Unilocal offer though if you’re unsure you’ll make it two months — it comes up when you check in for $ 30 and 30 days unlimited.
Sonic is on the 3^rd and 4^th story of a walk up, so it’s easy to miss. Just look to the right of Vynl and it’s right there. I instantly felt comfortable walking in when the woman behind the desk walked me through the different options and actually figured out for me which package was right for me. I live around the corner, so the unlimited was perfect, but they have a lot of different choices for a newcomer. They have cubbies for your coats/​shoes, but you take your valuables into the room for you. You can rent a mat for $ 2, but most people bring their own. You can buy a mat there for around $ 60. There’s only one shower, and it’s on the 4^th floor level, and it seems pretty clean, but I would still just wait to shower at home (since they don’t offer towels/​toiletries to use).
Signing up is easy — they have an online option, I think a mobile app, or you could just walk in and sign up. The classes don’t seem to fill up that easily so you don’t really have to sign up early.
I tried the Fundamentals class, even though I hadn’t done yoga for a good 4 – 5 years. It was completely do-​able, honestly I would skip over the beginners classes and go straight to this. You learn the poses in an accelerated fashion, and you don’t feel uncomfortable for a second. I took my class with Mariel who was the sweetest — she never made me feel insecure about my MANY mistakes, and was always there to help and compliment. You get a real workout out of it –or maybe that’s just me — and there isn’t a lot of rest time, just so you know what you’re getting yourself into. The ambiance is super cozy and serene, and I really felt at home. It wasn’t too crowded (I went on a weeknight) — there were about 12 – 15 people in my class, but I can see how these classes fill up.
Overall, if you’re willing to try out yoga, this is the place for you. I’m instantly obsessed and cannot wait to go back tomorrow.

This review is for an open-​level class I took with Elizabeth Rossa which I found disappointing.
I was shocked when she was adamant that the class not use props (no blocks!) and to avoid modifications (no knees, chest, chin) which I find completely outrageous in a yoga practice, especially an open level class when you have lots of people at different levels. Um, hello, that’s how people get injured. On that note, she never asked if anyone had any injuries.
There was no flow aspect (the class was extremely slow), which doesn’t coincide with how the class is advertised (vinyasa 1 – 2).
No music, either. Since a lot of practitioners enjoy music, I would recommend a notation on the schedule that it is a no-​music class.

Okay, I’m giving Sonic 4 stars because it’s a great studio, but I’m not going back.
I’ve tried yoga before in the past, with various forms of vinyasa and bikram. Yoga just isn’t for me.
I signed up for the introductory 30 day class and it is an excellent way to get into it. the instructors are pretty good. I went EVERY SINGLE DAY for a few months to see if I would feel better. I gotta say I did become a little more flexy and limber, but that is some serious time commitment. I feel you have to go all in with it to get the most out of it. I’ve done yoga before in the past once or twice a week, and it’s not enough because you get all stiff again when the next class rolls around.
I couldn’t keep going because the classes are way too long for my tastes. The weekday morning classes (flow 1 – 2) classes are the best compromise, but some of the instructors go over the 60 minute limit — good if you’re looking for bang for your buck, but if you gotta get to work, it’s hard to just leave before the class is over.
I didn’t enjoy all of the chanting and breathing exercises. Is there any way we can skip those and cut the class time down? Normal classes are 1 hr 15 min, so add the time it takes to prepare and walk there, that’s like a 2 hr commitment out of your day. Longer classes are 1.5 hrs.
Weekend morning classes and evening classes are crazy packed. You cant fully do some poses without touching people.
I do like how I don’t have to sign any long term contract and can cancel anytime (with 30 day notice).

Pros:
— $ 30 for 30 days is a great intro rate to try it out
— Great variety of instructors — some are more intense, some more spiritual, some more Hatha, some more Vinyasa.
— The front desk staff and instructors are super welcoming and friendly
— Classes get crowded, but not as crowded as some other studios
— Props (blankets, blocks, etc.) are in good condition
Cons:
— During the summer, it’s unbearably (for me) hot. The studios are on the 3^rd and 4^th floors, and it gets HOT. Most of the instructors turn on the fans and AC, but some don’t. The AC is set at 78 degrees, though, so it’s still super hot and humid in the studios. It’s hard to concentrate on your practice when you’re sliding across the mat.
— The floors are pretty dirty. There’s a shoes-​off rule, which I love, but junk still gets tracked in. I haven’t seen anyone sweep the floors between classes or anything. I always leave class with a solid amount of floor crap stuck to my feet and my mat.
— The studios are fairly noisy. There’s a lot of street noise (although I don’t know where in Manhattan you could avoid this). When you’re on the 3^rd floor, you can also hear tons of noise from people stampeding up and down the stairs.
I’ll probably continue after my 30 day trial is over, but I’m going to wait until the fall when the weather cools down. The prices for unlimited are reasonable ($ 69 for students, $ 99 regular, each with a 3 month commitment).