YogaWorks Back Bay

Came to this studio for the first time because a friend had recommended the Hip Hop yoga classes. While I loved the concept and the music, the studio experience was a little icky. A couple areas for improvement:
1. Cleanliness — My mat was near the corner of the room and I was getting distracted by the dirty baseboards. Furthermore, the studio smelled funky. Other studios I’ve been to in the area (in a similar price range) are much cleaner and have incense or a fresh scent.
2. The class was SO CRAMMED. I bumped into the girl next to me at least 3 times over the course of the class.
3. The level of instruction seemed lazy — there were very little modifications or description given to correct alignment in certain poses. Minimal breathing instruction.
I understand that coming to a themed class, I shouldn’t expect a wildly enlightening practice, but for a $ 15 drop in, I did expect more than what I got.

I love the teachers at this studio, I love the studio, I love the location. It is great that classes are 1.5 hours long and there is a great variety of classes. But… Since the studio changed hands and became YogaWorks, it also became dirty-​dirty-​dirty. They have beautiful wood floors that now have deposits of stray hair, threads and dust. Bathrooms — same story: I’ve noticed some trash in the corner and I say hi to it for more than a week now. New people are not told about no shoes policy. I don’t want to walk barefoot when someone is walking around in their boots.
I hope the new ownership notices these issues and addresses them (yes, I did bring it up more than once to the ladies at the reception). If it remains as it is now, after I use up my classes, I’m out. I’m tired of plucking random hair that are not mine from my yoga mat. Gross!

I’ve stayed loyal to this place because for the most part I like the classes and the teachers — however, once I use up my remaining classes we’re going to have to take a break…
I don’t think the switch to Yogaworks was necessarily the impetus — this place has been getting more popular for a while — but classes are becoming INSANELY crowded… and only ONCE have I actually seen on the website that I couldn’t sign up for a class because it was full. I don’t want to know what that class was like… I have been to too many that are uncomfortably packed and the experience really suffers because of it.

Just got back from another yoga class and I have to say I am impressed. So far I have done both $ 5 drop in community classes and normal scheduled classes and I have enjoyed both! I was able to get a Gilt City deal here and probably wouldn’t be willing to pay full price given the fact that I have a few favorite studios more convenient to me but I would certainly drop in for future community classes! The flows at this studio are very interesting and unique but be aware they can be a little on the advanced side. I have been doing yoga for a little over a year and some of the poses they incorporate into class are out of reach for me (arm balances etc). Music here is great especially for hip hop yoga.
Only gripe I have with this studio is the locker room space needs a lot of work– it’s very small and cramped and quite messy– not a great space to get into a calm mindset for yoga. It looks like it could use some TLC and a fresh coat of paint! Besides the locker room the rest of the studio is very nice especially the main lobby which has a lovely boutique area.
Overall a good studio, not my favorite in the city but I will definitely be adding it into my rotation especially for community classes!

Been here for a few classes over the years. Nice facilities and some really interesting classes, but one thing that really irks me is the class size. I just don’t understand how you can practice comfortably with mats almost touching. There should always be a size limit for yoga classes. Even the beginner level ones. A room full of 30 people leads to short instructions and a lack of attentiveness given to each student.
Yes yoga can be fun, relaxing etc but above all it should be safe and poses modified for each individual. I never saw the benefits (except profit?) of jam packing yoga classes, and call me a stickler, but that does not lend to safe or proper practice. If possible, maybe assistant teaching should be implemented above a certain capacity and this is not a comment just for BackBay Yoga.

YOGAWORKS is finally in Boston!
I’ve attended a few classes at YOGAWORKS in California and loved it.
Now that YOGAWORKS is in Boston, I am all the more committed and excited.
This particular studio in the Back Bay location is on the second floor. There are only 2 rooms, which are moderately heated. However, because this studio packs each room to maximum capacity and you will be drip sweating in no time.
I love that they have showers to use. They also have lockers avaliable and a place to leave your yoga mats IF you have purchased monthly or yearly passes.
I’ve tried basically almost all of the classes — except the advanced vinyasa classes. I love the heated core flow classes! I love the Hip hop vinyasa class!!!

Boo, YogaWorks. It broke my heart to see our locally-​owned yoga studio be sold off to a national chain. «Nothing will change!» they promised. Unsurprisingly, the first part of that lie to unravel was the prices. YogaWorks upped the price of Back Bay’s classes from $ 15 to $ 17 a class– and the increase is worse at the Comm Ave location, where prices went from an affordable $ 10 to *sigh* $ 15. So much for that.
I supposed diverse class offerings are nice, but I liked that there was at least one studio in town where you could just do yoga without YOGA-​CORE-​FUSION-​PILATES 10,000X! That, too, is changing. Enter: Core flow, heated core flow, and «Yoga for Emotional Resilience» (?).
Perhaps some changes will be for the better. One change I would really like to see is the studio become less clique-​y. When I started coming here, I thought, cool, this yoga studio has such a tight community! But it seems like that community is just for unlimited class holders and teacher training students/​graduates. Nobody is interested in making eye contact, let along talking to, anyone outside of that tight knit group. I have been coming here at least once a week for nearly *five* years– it would be nice if the teachers or desk staff made an effort to know the names of people without $ 3K to fork over for the teacher trainings.
Disappointments aside, I still can’t give this place less than 4 stars, because the classes are still the BEST in town. The sequences are interesting, unique, and thoughtful. I never feel like I could have just done this in my living room with a YouTube video. I’m never bored.
My favorite teacher is Caitlyn. Her vinyasa flow classes and hip hop classes are both spectacular. I also like Matt and Cameron’s classes. The $ 5 Saturday night community class that Cameron teaches is a great deal and one of the few opportunities you have in the studio to enjoy a little space to yourself. Meghan’s Monday night classes are also great– she is really fun and lighthearted.
As some of my old favorite teachers have moved on or cut back their class load, I tried some of the other instructors, but I haven’t been «wowed» enough to make the trip to Back Bay to return to their classes. Caitlyn in particular is really adept at reading the class and making minor modifications based on the needs of students. I wish some of the other instructors could learn that from her. In the dead of summer, when it’s 80 degrees and humid, Caitlyn would emphasize that it’s ok to skip some of the chatarungas and that you are here practicing for YOU and what feels right tonight. Other teachers looked at a class of completely exhausted, sweat-​soaked students who have taken child’s pose and be like, «Come on you guys! I have another standing sequence planned!» Encouraging students to push themselves is one thing– but being able to read your students and modify a class on the fly is a skill I really appreciate in Caitlyn and some of the other more experienced teachers.
Bottom line: like I said, it’s still my favorite studio and you should check it out, even if though it’s super crowded and pretty expensive.

I first came here three years ago and by the end of the 2-​week new client special, I was hooked.
I usually get antsy and bored in the typical lame yoga class with the corny yoga music offered at gyms. That is not the case here. I LOVE Hip Hop and Blacklight yoga, and even the regular Vinyassa classes as well. It’s challenging, it’s uplifting, and the instructors are top notch. My favorite classes are taught by Meghan Rozanski, Caitlyn Graham Visconte, and Erica Bornstein. But all the teachers are wonderful! The space is a little cramped and not a luxury spa-​like experience, but the actual yoga is awesome and the location is very convenient.
To save a little money, I haven’t had a membership for the past couple months but I really need to go back… my mind and body miss it!

One of the saddest things about moving away from Boston is not having the amazing classes at Back Bay yoga at my disposal anymore. I took my first ever yoga class here 4 years ago and have been hooked to yoga since. My favorite class is hip hop yoga, a modern, fast paced take on the traditional vinyasa routine. The instructors here are innovative and fun. The routines never fail to kick my butt. If you’re looking for a slower, somewhat challenging, and meditative-​focused class, the open level class serves the purpose.
I’ve tried yoga classes at other studios in Boston, Cambridge, and New York, and honestly none compare to the ones here! This studio looks, smells, and feels exactly what a yoga studio should be like. Sounds simple but surprisingly hard to achieve in a city.

you’re not going to get any better quality yoga: that’s a fact. Most of the teachers are awesome/​helpful/​caring/​knowledgeable (if you can take a class with Caitlyn /​Jess /​Izzy, they are your best bets). The class times are frequent and easy, and they have a sweet little online system to book your spots.
The downfalls: They cram you the hell in there on peak hour classes, and man it gets crowded. You literally have some chick’s smelly lulu’s in your face during ¾ of the class.
They also run through teachers a lot… you’ll get into the groove with a teacher, and the next thing you know, they don’t teach there anymore.

I came to Meghan Rozanski’s 7:30pm hip hop Beyonce yoga class and wow was it really great. I have come to classes here in the past and have felt its normally really culty/​collegey but this experience was really great. Her voice was awesome, her humor was actually funny, and she gave really good direction. I loved the flow & felt like she was non-​pretentious and actually really enjoyed teaching, too. I will give 1 star off because it felt like the only people who got assists were people in the front row/​people she knew, which is a bummer because everyyyyone wants to be assisted in child’s pose obviously!
I also really love the 7am – 8am yoga class with Cara Gilman. She is a really nice, supportive, and planned teacher. Her flow is always GREAT and I enjoy the Friday AM class a lot she teaches; her quotes are always timely & her vibe is really great.
I also LOVE the Thursday night restorative, too, it’s very relaxing & the teacher is really great. Not sure of her name but it was a great class, too.
This place loses a star because they don’t do student price although their monthly membership is just 99 which is crazy good.

Took Erica’s one-​hour drop-​in class a few times and it was great. Some new sequencing I haven’t done before and definitely a good combination of rigorous movement and breath. I normally don’t like music played during class, but her choice was a nice complement to her sequence and technique — overall a great class. People and staff were somewhat friendly. And the studio was relatively clean. Will definitely return next time I’m in Boston.

This place is amazing. Each instructor I had was dynamic and real with their own style. Classes are 85 – 90 mins in length and makes such a difference for the practice. I was here a few years back and returned last week and I fell back in love!!!

I’ve moved from Boston and I still can’t find a studio that matches Lindsay Graham’s Friday evening Vinyasa with Deep Relaxation class! Loved this super relaxing class. Plus Lindsay is an awesome instructor!

I tried my first class here a few months ago, and it is one of my now, favorite yoga studios I have ever been to! It is in the heart of downtown Boston, but makes you feel that you are on an escape from the city, a passport to your mind. The studio is calming, peaceful, and spacious. I loved the décor in the studio– making it opportune to many different types of yoga (ie, black light, disco balls). I loved all of the exposed brick. It truly was a calming, peaceful oasis in the middle of a city.
An additional benefit is the lockerroom/​showers. It has several showers, as well as shampoo, conditioner, hair products, blow driers, and lockers. It makes it very easy to work out and continue your day.
I tried the hiphop yoga class– and I was so surprised how much I was still able to be in my yogi mind, but also enjoy the class. The teacher was enthusiastic, realistic, but still mindful and spiritual. It was a fun, exciting approach to yoga. I loved it! Overall an amazing, inspiring, peaceful, studio.

Surprisingly mediocre. Disappointing. Studio is conveniently located on Boylston Street in the Bay Bay.

I was in Boston for a week at the Taj Hotel. Back Bay Yoga is a few minutes away, walking, so I signed up for a 2 week pass for $ 25. This has to be the deal of the century. I took 8 classes during the week, and most were excellent. When I read the reviews, how large the classes tend to be, I didn’t think I would like it, but the teachers are so good. A couple of the classes were too advanced for me, and since the class sizes tend to be large I didn’t get any special attention. But most were a good level, and I learned something new from each teacher. My favorite was with Ryan (I don’t know his last name). I went to 2 Yin/​Restorative classes taught b him that were just wonderful.
As another reviewer said, the front desk staff is very nice and they were very hospitable.

I’ve been practicing at BBY since i moved here in August 2014. So far this studio has been my go to spot during the week. I usually go to the $ 5 community hip hop classes (a perfect price for a poor grad student!), but I’ve also been to just the regular vinyasa flow classes. All the instructors are very friendly, motivating, and fun. AND have pretty great taste in music (Especially Kim who teaches on Friday! Please share your spotify mix with the class!). They are really good about going around and making adjustments to students when needed. My only request is a little bit more variety with the flow, sometimes some of the routines feel repetitive. Other than that, the facility is pretty clean and the front office staff are great and very welcoming. I always enjoy being greeted by my first name when I come to check in. :) I really do adore this studio and I think you will too!

I’ve been coming here on and off for a couple years now and it’s the only place I go, mostly because I love the teachers and the classes are great and I am not a fan of that hot yoga shit.
I’m partial to Renee and Kim (my music soul sister) for Vinyasa Flow and Flyin’ Vinyasa (though I have yet to achieve any flying personally). Erica is fun also, and Lori is great for posture.
Classes are reasonably priced ($ 15 for drop-​in), facilities are fine — there’s a locker room and showers, small but functional, water machines, mat storage, etc. My one big gripe with this place is that there doesn’t seem to a cap on classes (if there is, it’s way too high), and any evening weekday class — even some of the weekend classes — gets extremely crowded. I get that it’s because the instructors are awesome, but when you’re packed in mat to mat and you can’t extend into a pose any amount without kicking your neighbor in the face — and consequently getting someone else’s sweaty foot/​ass in your face — it really detracts from the experience. As a result, you have to show up at least 15 minutes early to avoid being the asshole who has to squeeze into a half-​sized spot between two already-​situated yogis.
However I will continue to keep coming here as long as I live in Boston because it’s highly convenient for me and the instruction is solid and dependable.

I went to a post Christmas Day «Vinyasa» class with Ryan Hill, a self professed Yoga geek. And that he is. He has a profound technical knowledge of the body and postures but I was expecting an entirely different class. I live in NYC where Vinyasa suggests flow and postures organically lead into the next. This felt more like a Basic class which in my experience is taught for technical advancement. Considering the amount of turkey I ate yesterday and the coming new year, I would have preferred to flow, sweat, and most importantly connect to my body spiritually.

This is my absolute favorite studio. Yes, they pack 50 – 60 people in a room, yes you can smell/​touch the person next to you, and yes, you drip swimming pools onto your mat. I want to run out of the room sometimes when there’s sweat dripping into my nose/​eyes, but the way you feel after these classes makes it all worth it. You’ll be sore.
This studio is probably the only real STUDIO I’ve seen in Boston. They have 2 yoga class rooms, a small stand-​up shop with apparel, mats, accessories, filtered water stations, bathrooms/​showers, and «locker» storage for mats. The rooms are so hot all the time I’m not sure how clean the studio is, but honestly I walk in there knowing I will sweat my body right off so I really don’t mind.
After trying the new member special ($ 25 for 2 weeks), I really enjoy the Vinyasa Flow, Flyin’ Vinyasa, Hip Hop Yoga (depending on the instructor), and Black Light Yoga.
I definitely recommend taking a class with Renee LaBlanc if you aren’t a new yogi. She will literally kick your ass/​abs/​arms into shape and you will be sore after her class. She also has a great sense of humor and is really approachable if you have any questions.
Other teachers to take classes with:
Goldie — She always has really great sequences. She tends to include long Shavasana’s.
Kim — Some days she works you really hard, some days she’s more chill.
I’m hooked, and now determined to be a inverted yogi.

Because of BBY, I am a snob. I feel like I can’t properly enjoy other yoga classes because I expect the quality of BBY classes but never find it elsewhere! The teachers are wonderful.
I am extremely upset they haven’t offered Forrest yoga in awhile, but their two previous teachers who could teach it are no longer at the studio. Home in NY now I am craving BBY and can’t go!
I do NOT recommend any busy classes. Post work M-​Thursday vinyasa flow classes are packed and like hell. No zen to be found. You’re better off taking a smaller classes like restorative or alignment at the same time so you can get the teacher attention more, which my horrible form requires.
If you have a flexible schedule, obscure times are the best to go! Or weekends. Sunday evening classes aren’t very packed at all!
BBY is incredibly clean and everyone is always so nice and courteous.
And their desk people have gotten better over the last couple years for sure! Much nicer.
Keep an eye out for Gily city deals!

I should have known from the excitement in our instructor’s eyes when she told us the new cap for her class was 65 students that my session at Back Bay Yoga would not be the most intimate experience I’ve ever had. I can’t imagine what a cap higher than 65 could possibly look like as, with numbers as they were, I was already competing for space with a row of identical-​overpriced yoga bags, the extremities of an aggressive-​twenty-​something blonde girl to my right, and the back wall…
+2 stars for the cheap new-​member special and the front-​desk staff. –3 stars for the fact that I can’t even bring myself to use the last three sessions I purchased from a 5-​session Groupon deal. Big business at its worst. Win some, lose some.

I was in Boston recently and found this wonderful studio not too far from where I was staying.
I signed up for a one hour 7AM Vinyasa class. I did all this online and the class cost $ 10.
The studio is centrally located in the Back Bay area and easy to find. The studio is very spacious (compared to NYC). The receptionist was very nice and oriented me to the studio. The changing room is huge, tons of locker space, bathrooms and showers available. You can also rent yoga mats and buy juices and water here.
The Vinyasa class filled up nicely and it was a nice workout in the morning. The instructor was easy to follow and slowly built up the poses for us. I definitely worked up a sweat and it felt good to stretch out the hamstrings and the psoas muscles. Those are areas I am most tight.
When I come back to Boston, this will definitely be one of the studios I will be visiting. I like the nice, friendly chill atmosphere. They also have tons of yoga gear for sale here, so if you need mats, books or apparel, you can find them here.

After many return visits to Back Bay Yoga, I need to update my review and give a higher rating. It turns out that for me, a lot of falling in love with this studio was getting to understand the offerings and instructors so I could attend my favorites. It also helped to be introduced to the huge fourth floor studio room, which is my favorite of the three spaces at Back Bay Yoga.
My favorite classes are the ones taught by Goldie and Caitlin. Both instructors offer challenging flow classes that get me sweating, and both take the time to correct common mistakes they observe. I like to take Lynne’s class occasionally; while she doesn’t offer as active a flow, I feel like I always walk away with a better understanding of how to move my body for a particular pose or sequence. I also, against my own expectations, really enjoy hip hop yoga, which is essentially regular vinyasa flow with a great soundtrack.
There are also a number of classes here that I’ve learned to avoid; I won’t call them out because it’s not a problem with the classes or the instructors, just that these ones are not to my taste for whatever reason. It’s made a big difference to my experience to figure this out and get pickier about which classes I attend.
I still dislike the flimsy foam blocks. I’m also not a fan of the general traffic jamminess of the common areas between classes (and sometimes in the classes themselves), but such is life in the Back Bay. I do like that BBY offers frequent promotions on five class packs (although be aware they expire 30 days after purchase), and I’ve grown to like the online reservation system too. I’ll keep coming back.