Downtown Yoga

Any studio that offers free community classes automatically gets my five star.
The class I took in Pope Park Hartford was so relaxing and hypnotic, while still engaging muscles and presence.
Can’t wait to delve deeper into this great place.

I go to this studio almost solely for John’s «Relax and Renew» class on Fridays. He is one of the best yoga teachers I’ve ever had, combining a great attitude with a great physical practice. He’s a very no-​nonsense, no-​BS kind of guy, but somehow manages to bring an incredible empathy and acceptance into the room. Everybody is different so his style may not resonate the same way with some, but I think he’s an incredible teacher.
Now to the actual studio… I love the ambiance and décor of the place, but I don’t think the studio is very well run. First of all, they are kind of ignorant about the type of clientele who come to their lunchtime sessions. Hartford is full of professionals (like myself) who only have an hour for lunch. To make the whole class an hour is very impractical– they are not considering the time it takes to walk to the studio, change before and after the class, and walk back. If they made their classes 45 minutes, I think they would get a lot more customers. Sometimes it’s even a struggle for me to get there at all because of the time constraints. I read another reviewer who wrote that people «dashed in at the last minute»… They wouldn’t have to do that if the classes were shorter.
For example, I just texted my friend (who also works at an insurance company) to ask if he wanted to go to the class. He said he would have loved to, but can’t take that much time for lunch. You just missed out on getting a new customer, DTY!
Secondly, one time after class, I wanted to remain in the studio to do a few poses that we didn’t have time to do in class. I asked the guy at the front desk if I could stay in the studio for a couple extra minutes. He said it was «fine», but he seemed to be in a rush to lock up (since they close between lunch and after-​work sessions). When I thanked him for letting me stay, he said disdainfully, «Yeah it’s fine… I just don’t want other people to get the impression that this is an open studio.» Okay then.
So I have mixed feelings about DTY… they have some room for improvment, but altogether they are a pretty good studio.

DTY is pretty neat
In the last year, I have come and practiced with friends who had been teaching at the time. Truth be told, I have probably been to more of their events than their actual yoga classes.
Last I was here to practice was probably summer 2012. At that time the area designated for yoga was relatively small. After a quick tour, you can clearly see that they recently renovated and the space really is beautiful. With only one room designated as a studio, there are a few minor set-​backs.
Classes aren’t heated! As someone who has trained and practiced for the last 3 years in bikram and power vinyasa, I have learned that this can be very dangerous. Practicing yoga with heat has all kinds of benefits. The one that’s touted most often is detoxification: heavy sweating is said to help flush toxins from the skin. The heat allows you to go a little more deeply and safely into the postures so you know you’re really warming up the muscles and you can really approach the postures from a safe place. There is no changing room — which can be frustrating if you’re coming directly from work. There is also no area to store your personal belongings either besides going back to your car.
One thing I was excited to get into was their green cycling studio. Exercise bikes that would take the energy of the pedal power and cycle that back onto the grid, wicked cool concept right? It turns out that the company the cycles were sourced from and serviced went under so, yeah. :(
Parking is no longer validated and the lot directly across from Jojo’s charges $ 5/​hr. Although parking on Pratt St is free after 6pm, I’ve never been fortunate enough to snag a spot so be prepared to circle the block like a maniac and or walk a few blocks.
Grievances aside, I really dig what DTY is doing. In recent years there has been a campaign that has been motivating and inspiring locals to identify with Hartford, to feel good about and to feel a sense of pride and optimism about the city and the Greater Hartford Region. With its emphasis on the community and city-​wide events, DTY truly is a great example of how an organization can show that Hartford does have it.

No.
I don’t like to give negative reviews, so I’d been sitting on this one for awhile, but here goes.
The location is fine. Being able to walk there means that I don’t need parking validated, though I know they offer it. The décor is fine.
But the class that I went to during a weekday was not. Having practiced yoga for over ten years now, I have been exposed to a range of teaching styles and studio practices. Usually people fill the studio during the minutes before class, stretching and getting centered. Here, people dashed in at the last minute. Every other place I have ever been to starts off slowly, whether it is a beginner’s class or something more advanced. The one at DY, however, began at breakneck speed, giving nobody proper time to warm up to avoid injury. Then, the hour was filled almost exclusively with sun salutations. Then, it ended abruptly. This felt like nothing more than a glorified aerobics class. The whole purpose of yoga is to connect mind with body. Well here, the mind was totally disconnected.
I actually felt worse physically afterwards, which I’ve never experienced with yoga. While I’m not someone who can do crazy inversions or run a marathon, I’m definitely more active and should be able to take on an All Levels yoga class without getting totally winded.
The whole place has a bad vibe to it.
No thanks… I’ll go out of my way to travel to West Hartford or Manchester for a better experience.

Good spot! First class great. No bike racks on Pratt St, which is kind of nuts as its the most bike and walk-​friendly street in the city, but other than that… all good.

Ah, I needed this.
Excellent location on Pratt Street (and validated parking) plus a range of classes from power yoga to spin to gentle yoga for those days I just want a good stretch.
i bought a ten class pass and took my first Relax & Renew noon class with Sarah and it was a perfect mid-​day treat (especially for a Friday). I’m really looking forward to taking some flow classes. As long as I stay away from Bikram I should be A-​OK.
Downtown Yoga also hosts frequent events from yoga in the park to a «go with the glo’ yoga rave. This is my kind of studio…

Downtown yoga is incredible!
Ive been to quite a few yoga studios in the area and chose to try downtown yoga shortly after they first opened. I called up and spoke to Emily about the yoga classes. She is usually always there and beyond friendly and helpful. In fact, every one of the staff and instructors is awesomely sweet.
Although small (they only have one yoga studio room), they manage to fit in quite an array of classes. The best part is that it really is judgement free. They make everyone from beginners to advanced yogis feel comfortable, confident, and relaxed. Whether you want a typical yoga class, or one infused with dance, or a power class to bust those abs, you can find it all at downtown yoga.
For those who want a little more cadio in their day, they also opened up for cycling classes on the other side of their space on Pratt St. Its a green cycling studio, so all that peddling leads to energy production which goes back out onto the grid!!! How cool is that? Talk about peddling for a cause. Plus they have a cool TV that shows your your output. They have cycling movie nights, or great classes that just pump to motivating dance music. I had never cycled before, but i loved it! And its all good for the envirnment.
One thing Ive noticed about the business as well is that it really cares about its community. If you know hartford, you know we need more of a sense of community downtown. They participate in city events and are active in the community in many different ways. I think having pride in Hartford helping to insure the health and wellness of it’s residents are two of its best qualities. I only wish they were bigger! Hopefully one day they wil expand as their business grows!

Downtown Yoga is DA BOMB! I’ve been going there for a month, and have had 4 separate instructors, (Cyndi, Sarajean, Emily & Becca) all of whom have been great. The studio is comfortable and has huge windows overlooking Pratt Street. Currently, they are working on expanding & reconstructing their space, which means that there is only one studio space for practice and class times are slightly more limited, but the vibe is amazing, and soon they’ll be offering cycling classes as well! Baller! They have a new student one month unlimited deal for 50 $ (which they offered at ½ price for college students in January…25 $! Awesome!). Unfortunately, parking kind of sucks in downtown, but there are places to lock up bikes & DTY validates parking if you ask about it. I believe that drop in classes are 12 $ (not 17 $ like they are at West Hartford Yoga) — check it out! Everyone who works there makes a real effort to get to know the people that practice there, they’re friendly peeps. The space is clean and nice — they have light fixtures made with mason jars!!! Who doesn’t like mason jars!!!