Powerflow Yoga Bloomfield

Where’s Erin Barry??? I started going to Garden State Yoga back when it first opened. «Hot yoga??? And it’s not that Bikram stuff? Sign me up!» Immediately myself and a few hundred others were hooked. Each class was unique. The teachers offered their own style, personality, and skill set to each class. So what if parking sucked? This was worth it. One particular Tuesday, I walked into the 6:15. The teacher was a tiny girl with a huge smile. She stopped to talk to every student, knowing them by name; and she took the time to introduce herself to the newbies. At start time, she sat on a block, looked into the eyes of every single person in the room, and began to talk. Welcome to Tuesday. Over the next 7 years, myself and probably a thousand others looked forward to Tuesday. These were not just «power yoga» classes, they were experiences you could not get with any other teacher at this, or any other studio. You got energy, laughter, knowledge, honesty, and above all, authenticity that rivaled any other teacher at GSY and beyond. By the time you were into your backbends, you were thinking about how your fears hold you back, how your relationships are affecting who you are, or how your choices were impacting your life… you were in savasana silently feeling courageous and ready to be real. One day the GSY sign read PFY… OK. Maybe you couldn’t get the Erin Tuesday vibe in Bloomfield, but you could easily find Erin «at a location near you.» The hot yoga revolution had begun and everywhere you look there were discounted specials and TT programs spitting out novices left and right. «In-​and-​Out Yoga.» No problem. It’s good business. Now, to get to an «Erin class,» it just took some schedule maneuvering and a GPS. Cut to today. Erin is off of all the PFY schedules? Why??? A great many of us are disappointed. Shouldn’t there be an explanation or announcement? So many students have built their practice on the foundation of what they’ve experienced in Erin’s class. This is not a bashing, but a concern for the integrity of a studio. So to all aspiring yogis, go this studio, get your workout, om until the cows come home. The teachers are good. You will feel better and you will look better… but if you want a class that will bring you literally and metaphorically to your knees, unfortunately you will have to search elsewhere.

Kind of a strange location in downtown Bloomfield wedged between ethnic restaurants and random little shops, but once you’re up the flight of stairs and in the spacious studio, you’ll likely forget. Lovely practice space with big open windows and no mirrors or clock. The temperature was perfect for flow — about 95. Sweaty but not trying to kill you. The instruction was great — a nice flow with appropriately timed breaks and inversions. Drop in is a little pricey at $ 20 a pop, so I’ll probably get a package next time.

My absolute favorite yoga studio! I love that there are no mirrors, it lets me stop checking how I look and just concentrate on what I’m doing. The studio is spacious and I’ve never come across a staff member who wAs anything other than lovely.
The construction in the area is annoying, I suggest giving yourself an extra few minutes. But the studio and the staff are worth it!

I started attending this yoga studio at least 3 years ago, back when it was garden state. I must say I fell in love and have not been able to replicate a love affair with another studio.
My first hot yoga experience was at a different studio which was pretty decent. Mirrors on the walls, good teachers and good music. However, after they changed up their instructors I needed to get out of there. So I figured I’d give GSY a try.
I was judgey at first that everyone seemed so cliquey and there were no mirrors on the walls. However, once class started and I was getting my ass kicked (in a good way) I knew this was way more my speed. The room was super hot, the instructors went around making adjustments on everyone and at the end I peeled myself off the mat and slithered home with a smile on my face.
I can honestly say I cannot find a yoga studio with better instructors after having moved to central jersey. So sad. I still go when I can and its still the same great experience regardless of the changeover to power flow yoga. For the most part many of the instructors are the same, so if I want to be pushed to the brink of death I know which day/​time to go and if I want a less blissfully sadistic experience I know when to go for that too. Miss this place !
Tip: make sure you pay the meters during designated times! The meter maids are a bitch !

I love this place. I went earlier this year for the first time with my cousin. We both tried the Tuesday night 7:45pm class with Allie. I have to say by far she is my favorite instructor ever.
I’ve always wanted to try the Bob Marley Friday night class but my schedule never allowed me to.
I am now part of powerflow yoga at Clifton. I went with them because I was hooked. I was so happy to find out that GSY is now powerflow! Yippie!
(Thank you iPhone app)
The team of instructors from both locations are amazing. Give them a try.
Why not gift yourself the power of fitness
Namaste…

This place is tucked away in a busy shopping center but immediately stands out by its orange door. The moment you walk in you feel the calmness of this space take over. You walk upstairs and you find the front desk. I was greeted by their receptionist who was gracious enough to let me join the class even though I was 6 mins late. They also have some really cute yoga tops starting at $ 30 and up.
Since I was traveling I borrowed one of their mats at no extra cost which I must say its a nice surprise since most places charge.
The studio was a medium sized space that fit comfortably 14 ppl. This was supposed to be a hot yoga class and the room was heated to a luke warm at best I was disappointed. Also this is the first studio that I’ve ever been to that has no mirrors!!! This made it very hard for me because I just took yoga up again after a 3 yr. hiatus due to an injury and to not be able to see if I’m aligning myself correctly or if my poses needed tweeking was a real detriment for me.
Our teacher was lovely she was funny and graceful. She showed a few poses I’d never seen before like flying crow. I personally would have liked a little more instruction and to be able to hold certain poses a breath longer especially going through our chaturanga but that’s my persobal preference. For me the class was just ok.
I’m from Fort Lauderdale Florida were the average class at a great studio cost from $ 13-​$ 16 for a single class. This studio came at a whooping $ 20 for one single class! Maybe that’s how much all studios in the area charge but it was definitely sticker shock for me.
After my first class with them I think I’ll keep looking to find a studio that fits me best for the remainder of my trip and for my future travels here.

I can not say enough good things about this studio and the community that attends. I began practicing hot yoga here 4 years ago and have not looked back. The teachers are challenging while still keeping true to the essence of the yoga practice itself and focusing on the mind/​body connection and breath. The heat may not be for everyone but i believe it provides a level of difficulty mainly in the mind that only strengthens me to push through the uncomfortable moments and raise the bar on my practice. Not to mention, it is a natural and sure cure to any hangover ;) I tend to enjoy the 6:15 time slot if I can make it during the week after work or the 6am is a convenient choice with showers and changing rooms available. They have mats, towels and props all free of charge. And most recently, the cool Eucalyptus towels they give at the end of class has locked me into GSY for good. If you enjoy practicing vinyasa style yoga in the heat or are just looking to try yoga for the first time, I highly recommend Garden State Yoga.

This is a great place with amazing staff and great instructors. I love this studio and if it were closer to home Id go more often. The owners are great people that really care and have a passion for yoga and their business and it shows. They offer classes for everyone at all levels of yoga. I especially love taking Seth, Allison or Becky“s classes.
Love their energy and feel great after taking their class.

I attended the Bob Marley Flow class on the coldest night this winter. The studio was nice. It had changing rooms, showers, a water station, and free mats. The actual class was extremely full. I’ve never been in such a tight class before. The class was challenging for me (a good thing) and I was feeling it two days after. The lights were low and candles were placed on the window sills. Bob Marley was the soundtrack and it was fun singing Marley during the flow. The instructor (I think he was the owner) was great. He didn’t get to existential with his message to the class and really focused on the breathing. It was a fun experience!

I having been practicing yoga for over 10 years and was in search of a «yoga home» here in New Jersey when I stumbled upon this lovely gem! I was very pleased with the consistency in quality of instructors, and the owners, Allie and Seth, are so personable and welcoming! I LOVE how mats and towels are complimentary which is very convenient for me since I love taking the 6:15pm class right after work. Very clean showers and changing areas, and the staff clean and mop the floors after EVERY class. I have only taken the hot classes, but I cannot wait to try a non-​heated yoga or bootcamp class soon!

I am not a yoga devotee but try to go once a week to keep my body stretched and my mind clear. I needed an alternative to my usual studio (Yoga Montclair) for schedule reasons. Friends recommended so I thought I would try it. What a disappointment. Rooms are cramped, classes are ridiculously crowded and there is no attention to body alignment or technique. I worried that people who went there without prior training would get injured. Not sure what all the hype is about. It’s the puppy mill of yoga studios.

Yuk! I’ve decided that I’m not a hot yoga person. I don’t like the unnecessary heat. The sweatiness, the smell. Too many cons. After returning from India, I thought the heat would bring back the memory of doing yoga in a natural environment. What is offered here in the states is simply disgusting. For the sake of some marketing twist, we either freeze, or get cooked, by artificial means. Yoga should be done in moderate temperatures without manipulating the temperature to extremes. The teachers at this studio are okay. Nothing to write home about and nothing spectacular. Definitely nothing brilliant, or inspiring. They are more into barking their instructions out at the top of their voice. They kill you with unnecessary chatter and detail that they confuse with good instruction. Very unpleasant experience overall. Write this one off as well from my list of potential certification programs.

This review applies to the Glen Rock location, which maybe doesn’t have a separate Unilocal entry. What makes this place so special are the instructors — they are really first rate: friendly, peaceful, super knowledgeable and welcoming! The general practice here is different than bikram-​style hot yoga — not nearly as hot, different poses each time, and usually inversions and some more advanced poses. The instructors are skilled at talking novices into (and out of!) some crazy poses — which would be intimidating with less-​skilled instructors, and while people take their yoga really seriously, it’s a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Other students seems pretty friendly. The yoga room itself is nice and they clean it after every class. They have mats and blocks for you to use. Love these guys!

I used to love coming to this place. I am not an expert at yoga by any means but when they were at there original location in Bloomfield, it was much better. I felt the instructors cared because they would actually help me with the poses. I felt my practice and body evolved. The studio was always clean and it never smelled. Parking was much easier and they weren’t about the money.
Now at this new location it just doesn’t feel the same and I feel the focus has shifted over to the money. I’ve attended packed classes and attended empty classes at this new location. It’s just not enjoyable. I rerember taking one class and I believe there may have been 10 people tops and most were instructors. My last time attending there was horrible. It was mid-​morning and the first thing I noticed when I walked in was the smell. It was horrible. I could see if it was packed class right before but there was at least an hour of downtime. I am not a skinny girl by any means and have issues getting into some positions. The main instructor was more into talking about himself and not looking at the people in the room. The other instructors didn’t even offer a smile or good job. It was probably the most unfulfilling session I have ever had. The love affair with this studio is over for me.

Quick info about me: I’ve been practicing yoga for 10+ years, pretty intensely. I tend towards Vinyasa/​Ashtanga most, but originally fell into it after a 5 year love affair with Bikram. Started practicing in NYC originally, then moved to Europe and practiced there for 4 years at a very loved studio, with a warm community, and huge following.
I wanted so, so badly to like this studio; it’s close to my home, offers so MANY time slots… but alas, not to be. The place itself reminds me a lot of the St. Marks Yoga to the People venue — small-​ish practice rooms, with no mirrors and a couple windows at the front. Depending on the class time (I took a couple at night, during peak times, and some during the weekday, which had a handful of students at best)), the experience could be totally zen or totally chaotic.
I was nonplussed about a couple things. Originally I wanted to sign up for the intro month special, but wasn’t entirely sure — I fully think you need to try a very broad sampling of classes before you know if a studio is right for you. So I asked the girl checking me in if I could sign up for the 2 week intro first and then if I fell in love with the classes, upgrade in the middle of that time. She was adamant that I could not, that I had to make up my mind after my first class. Definitely have never experienced that kind of rigidity from ANY yoga studio before, but fine whatever. She says to try out my first class and then let her know after. The class itself was fine — but TOTALLY packed, like Yoga to the People East Village at a Monday 6 pm class. The postures and the Vinyasa was merely okay — it was a lot slower paced than I am used to and I barely broke a sweat.
Here’s the kicker. When I finished that class, I checked in with the girl who’d originally helped me and told her that I wasn’t interested in doing the month trial. When she asked why — I told her the truth, the class was too packed and a little too basic for me. Seemingly, she wanted to close the sale, so she asked if I had tried other studios, and I mentioned one that I had tried in the area and loved (PowerFlow Yoga in Livingston — AMAZING) and one that I was considering trying. She then grimaced and said that the one I was considering trying was NOT a good studio, that because the yoga community in North Jersey was so small, everyone knew most of the teachers, and that the competitor had *bad* teachers and a *bad* venue. SERIOUSLY?! What yoga studio talks sh** about the competition to their potential clients?
That sealed the deal, I considered it such bad energy and totally unprofessional. I continued on with the original 2 week trial deal and tried the other classes and thankfully didn’t have any other encounters like this one, and to be fair, the daytime classes were quite peaceful and good energy — but again, not as challenging as other studios I have been to both in the city and in the area.

I love Garden State Yoga. It smells good and there are always clean towels:)) I started yoga about a year ago at a studio in the city and loved it, but knew something was missing for me… heat and more flow! I found it at GSY! Everyone is so friendly and generous. There are always interesting workshops to take and a wide variety of instructors. I love every instructor I have tried there… they are all great in their own way:)) The only class I have yet to try is Zen Strength. It is yoga with light weights… and it is next on the menu for me.

I started with Garden State Yoga about two years ago and I have not looked back since. The staff is super friendly and always very attentive. Service is great and the facilities are fantastic. They provide mats, towels and showers. The owners are constantly changing things up and are always creating various workshops which I always try to attend. They have two rooms, a hot room and a not hot room. I prefer hot yoga myself, especially after a long and stressful day at work. I have yet to encounter anything that would make me rate them anything less than five stars. And I don’t think that will ever happen. I tell everyone I know to try it out and so far I have had two friends try it. One is thinking about signing up for a full membership.
Try it, you will love it!

I LOVE this studio, its the reason I fell in love with hot power yoga! I tried 2 other places which are closer to me, one in Jersey City and another in Hoboken and neither can compare to Garden State. I live in Bayonne so the other places would clearly more convenient, but I did not enjoy my experience there as much as I have enjoyed each class at Garden State, so I make the drive to Bloomfield.
The new studio is gorgeous, they have 2 rooms one for hot and one for not hot. There are plenty of classes available in the morning and evening so that no matter what its easy for you to make a class. The staff is AMAZING, they are so nice! The teachers are very knowledgeable, helpful, and push you when you need it, which I LOVE. There are always fresh clean towels available, a little retail store if you would like to get a new mat or clothes. There are also showers and changing rooms if you need it, everything is super clean and definitely taken care of.
The $ 50 for one month is an amazing deal, and they always have some type of a promotion going each month.
My only wish is that they open up a studio closer to me! =)

I started off on the wrong foot and wasn’t eligible for the $ 50 for 1 month special because 8 months ago I had taken a free class that I had a been given a pass for. Of course if I used a fake name, how would they have known?
But I digress. This place isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. They have a hot studio and a regular studio. However the Beginner Classes I found to be too easy and many of the other classes, too demanding. There was no «intermediate» class. Also the teachers teach the classes at different levels. One instructor for a basic class might be totally different than another. I understand the uniqueness of yoga and the different styles teachers may have. But it’d be nice to have some consistency to it.
My least favorite part about this place is the setup. Classes are only 15 minutes apart during the week which makes for a sloppy cleanup. I got 2 separate colds within 4 weeks of class because of all the germs and sweat that’s present. What they should do is space the classes out by more than 15 minutes, to allow proper sanitization to occur as well as not making the entrance area too crowded. At that point it’s impossible not to bump into anyone. I literally would try standing still and found it impossible NOT to be bumped and pushed out of the way. Imagine upwards of 50 people in a space that should be for 15 tops!
Also if you’re not in Bloomfield it’s not very convenient. Going south on the Parkway after work makes you pay a toll. And you have to pay for parking at all the meters in the area up until 7 and on the weekends.
I’ll happily resume heading back out to Brooklyn for my yoga class or try to find something not so germ-​infested.

Before coming to GSY, I was never into yoga. I took a couple of classes at gyms or other studios but never got into it nor went back. My mother told me about GSY and from day one I was hooked. They specialize in Hot Vinyasa Flow yoga. I love the instructors and the studio is cute and cozy.
For new students, they offer an incredible special of unlimited yoga classes for $ 50 for the first month. Hot yoga is a bit challenging but I really love it. I cant imagine doing any other type of yoga. The only downside is there’s only one room and it holds about 35 people. Sometimes it does become a bit crowded. Overall I recommend GSY.