Yogarithm Studios

Melissa is a very sweet, kindhearted person. She’s genuinely interested in remembering names, talking before/​after class, and helping individuals troubleshoot poses. I consider myself intermediate. I’m capable of doing some difficult poses, but I’m not capable of a full scorpion or birds of prey yet (it’s the hammies!). With this in mind, Melissa’s classes are great for endurance if you push yourself to linger in poses while everyone takes a break. I used to belong to a yoga studio in St. Louis and one thing I miss is the time and breath work between poses. At times, Melissa will rush through the poses, which is fine for a more Pilates meets yoga practice, but part of a challenging practice is holding downward dog for five long breaths. The classes repeat a lot of the same poses, which is nice because you practice them so much that you begin to become more flexible in those muscle groups; however, taking requests for muscle groups was a large part of my previous yoga practice and I also miss that. Some days I would request hamstring poses or someone would request shoulder/​chest openers. It was nice to be pushed outside my comfort zone. I think this studio is perfect for beginners and a great workout for intermediate practitioners. If you’re advanced and craving inversions or holds, I would suggest going to Strala where you can inject your own poses intermittently throughout the class.
Caveat: my St. Louis studio was a hardcore practice with Sanskrit spoken for the poses. The only classes that didn’t make me feel like I was pushing myself beyond limits was yin yoga. With Melissa, you’ll never feel like you can’t keep up.

Melissa was my first Yoga instructor and she has been hands down the best. I started going to Yogarithm back when I was attending college in Kenosha (2010). I was hesitant at first, as I did not know how I would like it.
The first time I came into this studio (in the basement level of a salon), they had Aveda licorice mint tea hot and ready. The tea is delish, and automatically warmed and relaxed you.
Melissa’s style is inviting, but challenges you. You will never have the same sequence twice, she always mixes her routines up– which I love as every day after, I would be sore!
Since graduating, I had to leave Yogarithm. I now live in Chicago and have been to many studios in the north side and the South loop, no other instructor can even come close to Melissa. Big plus: the price is very reasonable (get monthly unlimited!) a quarter of what I pay in the city.
The instructor listens to her students, provides a variety, and is very pleasant! I still get her newsletter and Yogarithm always has something new and fun going on (come on Yoga and Live Music.).! Hands down best studio I’ve been to! I wish I lived in Kenosha again…