Yoga Tree Richmond Hill

I signed up with Yoga Tree a month ago having never done yoga before in my life… actually I haven’t done any physical fitness since grade 9 lol.
That being said– Yoga Tree is amazing. I love the fact that there’s multiple studios around the city so it’s easy for me to travel there after work or from home during weekends. Second — I’ve experience 3 teachers so far and they’ve all been great. They’ve each made me feel comfortable in every class though I am a beginner. I never feel judged in class. especially since I have limited flexibility.
The studios are clean, peaceful and well equipped and I love the fresh juices for sale!!!
I would recommend Yoga Tree to anyone considering trying yoga… it’s a great environment and the 30 day trial for $ 40 is awesome.
5 stars all the way!!!

4.5*
I have been trying out different studios are town and this studio is one of my favourites! The staff a very welcoming and they have a diverse variety of classes for all levels. I enjoy the hot and vinyasa class most and at times they do get fairly crowded so do arrive early. The studio also offer mat sprays too which is great bonus as I don’t have to take it back home to clean afterwards
I really like their change rooms as well as they offer lockers with locks. Space does get a little tight when it gets busy, but other than that not complaints there. They have a tea and water station upstairs with a little sitting area so it’s nice to sit and have a chat with other fellow yogis after class.
Highly recommend to anyone interested in doing yoga.

Great staff, great class selection for all yogis (beginners to advanced)!
Very clean facility, and both a hot and normal rooms.
I am happy to say I have found my yoga home and family. Yay!

As an avid yogi who has practiced yoga for over 8 years, I have had the incredible opportunity to visit almost all of the yoga studios in Canada (based on a previous job at a Canadian yoga apparel company). Yoga Tree is a top contender for me and this is why:
1) Variety of classes: each studio offers a wide wariety of classes in progressive levels. Whatever your level of experience or interest in yoga, there is a class for you. I can testify to this as I have introduced at least 10 friends to this yoga studio — from someone taking yoga for the first time, to a yoga instructor who has taught classes for 10 years in Hong Kong. This particular studio in Richmond Hill has 2 rooms — 1 Hot & one room that offers non-​heated classes. Whether you have 9 – 5 work hours or a stay at home mom, you will be able to find a class that fits within your busy schedule.
2) Cleanliness: this is a huge factor for me when «rating» yoga studios. The way a studio takes pride in the appearance and maintentance of their space really shows how much they value their students’ comfort & experience. Yoga Tree really maintains the intergrity of cleanliness. The space is bright & beautiful, with a cozy tea lounge upstairs so students can unwind after their class, a great way to meet new people and connect with the instructor. The changerooms are well maintained, though a little tight when there are more than 10 people in there. Nevertheless, they always take priority in cleaning the studio after class is over so those entering the studio to start their class have a «fresh» start.
3) Locations: While I enjoy the Richmond Hill location, I know that I can rely on a similar experience at their other studios. They seem to be able to identify convenient locations around the GTA. I’m excited about the Downtown East location!
4) Instructors: With a little bit of «practice» you will begin to gravitate towards a style and instructor you connect with. I love that this studio has instructors with different personalities who teach different styles. If I want a killer workout, bootcamp style, I will choose a class with Kate. If my hamstrings are screaming at me from that half marathon, my go-​to instructor is Ramona, who understands how to care for a runners’ needs in a yoga class. Choose a class with Jason if you are not sure what kind of practice is for you — he is a wonderful, authentic instructor that will modify his class for all levels.
6) Community involvement: I love that this studio gives back to their community in so many different ways. They host fun events in and out of the studio and offer free classes from time to time.
There’s a really great introduction package: $ 40 for 30 days of unlimited yoga if you are new to the studio. Give this studio a try and get hooked on yoga!

Been to this place a dozen times and gotta say the locker rooms are super clean. They can use a few more showers in the change rooms though since there’s always a line up.
My personal favourite yoga instructors are Jason (one of the owners) and Zoe. I find that they go out of their way to make sure your poses are correct and they create a better environment.
After a few lessons in hot yoga I feel like my body is more relaxed and I feel lighter as a person. Haven’t tried their warm yoga yet so I guess that will be my next venture there.
Conclusion: Am going back for sure and hot yoga is crazy hard! Well worth it though.

I’ve been to a few yoga studios but this is one of the cleanest in the yonge and hwy 7 area.

In a word — Intense!
Yoga Tree — Richmond Hill is a well laid out, beautifully equipped, spotlessly clean and tidy studio. The change rooms are very nicely appointed with lockers, showers, nice soaps.
The hot studio is spacious, and warm (OK, make that hot!) with a wonderful cork floor that is comfortable on your bare feet.
I’m not a newbie to yoga but had never experienced hot yoga before and let me re-​iterate — Intense! The instructor leads you through a series of basic yoga postures all the while in an intensely hot room leaving you in a puddle of your own sweat — exhausted but exhilarated at the same time. It helps to have a basic knowledge of yoga before attending these classes as the instructor doesn’t so much teach or help with adjustments but just guides you through the series of poses like they would at a gym class.
What Yoga Tree lacks in the meditative aspects of yoga, it more than makes up in the physical aspects. Perhaps that is what the market demands.
For those with a bit of experience behind their practice and are in the market for a very nice space in which to practice, Yoga Tree certainly delivers.
Realizing that every instructor is different, it will take trying out different classes and instructors before settling on one that you are most comfortable with.

The logo on the building was too cute not to be noticed so I got a 2 week pass several months back to see the best class I could possibly attend to on a regular basis. Generally, this place is nice. A little too tight in all the rooms but nice and clean.
The biggest disappointment was the teaching staff. I’ve been to a number of yoga places like The Yoga Studio at Eglington Ave. E, Extreme Fitness at North York (where we used to live), and community centers in Richmond Hill. But never, and I say never, have I felt so anxious and threatened with the possibility that I will actually tear a muscle or damage a joint on the spot.
They pushed for poses at the wrong skill level, they gave too much and unnecessary detail (e.g. this pose actually helps induce the better calcium retention in your bones… and this you don’t have to do but if we do it will benefit your urinary gland…) thus delaying the execution and retention of the pose, and made in-​your-​face criticisms that everyone can hear when some students including myself made a wrong pose from what was told — a mistake that could have been corrected with a nicer and calmer tone. Many of the people in class were beginners and getting back in shape. What were they expecting.
The impression was that the teachers are all new to the practice, are inexperienced, and pretty caught up with the ego which is one of the primary things that needs to be thrown out the door before a yoga practice. Just one of the important reminders I often heard at the other studios. In my opinion, they simply are not well enough to teach. They’re good as practitioners or competitors (yes, yoga is now a sport) but perhaps not as instructors.
One teacher told us of her injuries and tears in many parts of her body from yoga how she was recovering. Was that supposed to impress us like scars from the battle field? No, she did not make warnings and precautions succeeding that story. Another teacher told us to make this pose with the ropes on the wall — to hold on to it from our back as we lean forward towards the floor, hard enough not to damage the shoulder joints then she asked us to deepen more and stepped on one of the students backs to show low it should go. All these she just learned and practiced from her class, where she’s a student, that afternoon. WTF!
With that 2 week pass I was hoping to stumble upon a very experienced and nicer teacher but he or she just wasn’t there. I never came back. Too bad the location would have been so convenient for me.

This place is by far the best yoga studio, especially if you love bikram! Very friendly staff, clean environment, good size studios, great energy, amazing classes! Also Fridays are economy, so $ 7 classes. great deal!

Rookie Yoga Review Warning!
Leaving my shoes at the door, I walked through to the staff and signed some paper that needed my name/​address/​email and stuff (I don’t like reading papers) so I can attend the 9:30 AM session.
Some Candies were for sale at the counter and I noticed some clothes being displayed probably for resale. The girl told me to walk upstairs to the Men’s change room to prep and then to the only Yoga Room upstairs for the class. Walking upstairs I noticed a pretty cool waiting area and the same high class SPA-​feel setting in the change room. I’m so ready to relax now, but here comes the pain…
Once I stepped inside the Yoga Room, I took my spot to stretch and felt the HEAT, did they forget to turn the AC on?!? I later on found out that it was a Level 2 class, but I don’t know what kind of Level 2 class therefore I will refer to it as «Level 2». That information would have been nice BEFORE I went to this class! Thanks Jen K: S
I won’t get too TECHNICAL here because the instructor even spoke of upper spine and lower spine, I thought I only had 1 spine. Also I don’t know what the moves are called, but I sweated a SHIT load of sweat while the instructor had us doing Crunches, Butt-​to-​the-​Sky, Push Ups, Stretches, Flying Crane 1 Legged Poses, while the second half had some Spine Crushers and Floor Kissers.
Only 6 attendees, I could see every move from the instructor and she even gave on-​pace Step-​by-​Step instructions and had an optional pose for beginners (ME). When I couldn’t see her because of someone in my way, that someone had the right moves anyways but the mirror was very useful.
Hitting the showers was a RELIEF. Soap Dispenser in the shower, Lockers with instructions posted, Hair Dryer, Sinks, the WORKS! I felt so refresh after the exercise, never felt so awake in the morning ever.

I asked myself, what is hot yoga?
I pictured a tiny wooden room for 10 people with steam everywhere and women in bathing suits awkwardly stretching.
…It turns out hot yoga is pretty fun, relaxing, and not impossible for yoga newbies!
I went to Yoga Tree today, it was the second yoga class I have ever taken. Yoga Tree offered a reduced heat level 1 class which got up to about 32 degrees (I guess you could call it warm yoga), perfect for someone who wants to ease into hot yoga.
I was spot on time for class (meaning late).
The staff was incredibly welcoming and didn’t make me feel like ass for being late.
The changeroom was bright and clean. I’m still weird about not wearing shoes, so the first thing I look at is the floor.
The studio itself was small and packed full of serious yoga faces old and young.
The teacher was very friendly, funny, and helpful. I found some of the poses challenging. (Note: I know nothing of yoga, I’m clueless most of the time and just do what everyone else seems to be doing).
I did find the space cramped.
I understand that the online registration is supposed to help manage class sizes, but I did bump into the person next to me a few times.
Then again, I was late, so it’s partly my fault I didn’t get a great spot.
And there was a point where other people’s feet were all over my mat.
I’m really not into other people’s feet.
Also, I feel like the old asian dude behind me had his face in my butt, I just focused on holding poses and not falling down.
Overall, I thought it was a good class, but I wish I had more space to stretch! :)

Update to Reply: I’m very glad you’re taking note, since I’m under the impression that Yoga Tree has a lot of potential, with a strong management and exceptional instructors. However, the class I took with my friend had much less space than 2.5 feet between mats, and this wasn’t the class you are referring to as my last.
This update has been a long-​time coming.
It really bothers me when yoga schools go against the basic teachings and philosophies of yoga and turn it into a money grabbing institution.
My favourite? When evening hot yoga classes are greedily crammed in with so many people –yogis don’t have enough space to properly do all positions.
A health hazard? Maybe.
Yes, they have a range of classes by skill now, but it looks like it has come at the expense of a great experience for the yogi.

Still my favourite Studio in the Passport to Prana 2010 list.
I have to tell you that no studios in the area offers such a varieties of classes and with the different in levels.
However, because of its popularity, the classes can get quite busy. So if you do use your Passport, please make sure you arrive at least 15 – 20 min prior to the class start. They did turn people away because the class has been filled up to capacity.

I heart this place!
Love
— cleanliness, eco friendly
— staff (Cari & Lisa — very nice) & excellent instructors (my favs are karin, jason, zoe, pam, ok this list can go on… but they’re all great depending on ur level).
— temperature in rooms are good. i suspect it’s very hot in the mornings with the sun coming up in addition to the temperature in the room. not sure about weekdays but weekends woww… :)
— lockers to hold our things (do not need to bring our own lock)
— COLD water fountain (to fill up or take a sip)
— hair ties, blow dryer, makeup/​cotton swabs avail in changeroom.
— 50+ classes a week at Richmond Hill location, 25+ classes at Thornhill location. lots of classes to choose from restorative, hot, hatha, etc.
— they are innovative & always have new ideas to improve the studio.
— teacher training course available
Dislike
— nothing much. but it’s annoying when newbies come to Level 3 classes. So if ur new. might want to consider sticking to L1 or 2 as some of us want a challenge & don’t want to be slowed down. Most importantly, you do not want to hurt yourself.
— would like more classes on weekends if possible & more Level 3 classes :)