Yoga Bhoga

This morning I attended my third ever 90 minute Vinyasa class. Kimmie is the instructor’s name and she is fantastic. Welcoming to everyone from the start — gives instructions to beginners and advanced and has a peaceful and strong voice that I find myself really responding to in a positive way.
The space is nice and open and I love the view out the big windows. It’s right upstairs from Boke Bowl and I’m just glad my class is over before they open because I would probably be gettin’ my steamed buns some steam buns!
Ok. Seriously though I really like this place and I believe the tone is set by the instructor and the fellow yogis so I will update if necessary after I try a different class or two.
Tip: make sure you leave an extra 15 minutes to get there and set up just in case the freight trains are going by… it’s easy to get «trained» in that area of town.

Wonderful experience for my first yoga class. I attended Kris Olson’s Vinyasa class and was blown away by how comfortable, welcoming and rejuvenating both the class and the space were. The extra half hour really makes a difference, allowing time to both settle into the environment and practice as well as generous recovery time. I will for sure go back, highly recommended.

Yoga Bhoga is one of the friendliest yoga studios I’ve been to. I always go to Emily Light’s Vinyasa class, and boy, the vibe here is so different from that of other places.
In many other places the yoga practice feels stupidly competitive. Yoga Bhoga is welcoming to beginners without watering down the intensity of practice for the others. We always do a healthy mix of strength, balance and flexibility postures. Ooh, and there’s a neat headstand stool for people to learn the headstand on.
They do a mantra chanting at the beginning, which feels weird the first couple of times, but I just go with it now. It’s a five-​minute thing and is strangely calming. The studio is spacious and has nice large windows. And thankfully, there’s no music during yoga practice here. I hated that at another studio.
Highly recommend to anyone looking to get into yoga or just get more regular with their practice. They also have classes late in the evenings on weekdays.

I love this studio because of the large spacious windows that can open, the relaxing interior that is clean and the laid back attitude. A huge bonus that really makes me love the place is the one hour and a half long class. I LOVE getting deep into the practice. Certain yoga instructors use to come while we are in savasana and give mini neck rubs to help you relax but i think those teacher have left. Please do more!!! They have a lot of turn over but the owner is nice.
Ok, well I love a «strong» led class, but it is so hard to find, seems like the classes are getting weaker? .or is it just me. Tonight tonight, sigh!
So I come to class a bit before 7:30pm on a Tuesday and the instructor was sitting up front talking a about her father and the topic of death and peoples fear of death… and and… for a half hour! I mean come on, please process you stuff outside of class. Some people were trying to be very respectful. She was asking people to talk and share too.
She also had passed out this VERY Long chant that she wanted to us to chant. At 28 mins in of this lecture, and my body «desperately wanting to stretch», no one is yet chanting… I packed up my matt and started getting dressed, she was still talking about death and peoples fear of it when I left at 8pm. Still didn’t start the yoga! I had thought I walked into the wrong class,… like this was some lecture class.
I’m respectful of death, but I got over my fear of it 19 years ago. I see it as a beautiful release, but what it really has to do in a yoga class is… well in a way it is disrespectful to the students who came for vinyasa «active yoga»!
If you want to make it a yoga immersion into death class please say so BEFORE the class. I think, us just lying in the savasana (corpse pose) would be more effective. ;) Otherwise, let us breathe and move and find our way to connect to our peace.
Update: I went back and had a class with a new teacher she lead a very strong 1 ½ hour full vinyasa class. I’m a fan, she didn’t miss a beat, was very professional and held a smile the whole time. No lecture, no chanting, no singing. My body felt great afterwards.

Yoga Bhoga is a beautiful, warm inviting studio with great instructors. I appreciated the individual attention I received and the instructor seemed knowledgeable and was friendly and encouraging. I will definitely go back even though it’s not the closest yoga studio to me.

Yoga Bhoga is one of the best studios here in Portland! Such a beautiful bright and open space. I have taken classes from all different teachers and each class has been extremely positive, energizing, uplifting and inspiring. I leave the studio feeling encouraged and optimistic. Again, the setting is so beautiful… definitely check out their website and FB page since there are also lots of great workshops-​not just regarding the physical practice but the philosophical practice as well. Just love you guys!

I’m in Portland for just a few days and decided to get a ypga practice in. Yoga Bhoga is warm and inviting. not only was the instructor great, the other students were friendly.

I feel like yoga studios really need to be compatible with the yogi. This studio was great and so was the instructor! I liked the humble, no mirrors environment and the close proximity to downtown. Tonight was my first time attending this studio and it’s already one of my favorites (along with North Portland Yoga). I took Betsy class and really liked her; She gave lots of options for poses and was able to correct my form several times. She also didn’t talk too much or go too into religion or spirituality. Even though I came to class feeling sore, I felt a great deal of tension and stress relief from taking this class and was actually less sore when I left.

I attended two classes while visiting my brother and sis-​in-​law in Portland. Jennifer Oechsner and Meghan Maris were awesome instructors. I’ll be back next time I’m in town!

Really nice 75 minutes of yoga.

I’ve been to a lot of different yoga studios in both the Seattle and the Portland area and yoga bhoga is by far the friendliest, creative and intelligent yoga studio. I’ve been going here for the last couple of years (on a semi regular basis) and I love the variety of classes they have.
I’m a huge fan of vinyasa and they have a lot of different class times to choose from, their prices are very reasonable (especially for students, like me!) and the teachers are happy to answer any questions you might have about trying new poses.
I also love their space! When I first saw that it was in an office building right near the freeway I was skeptical, figuring the urban sights and sounds would be distracting, but the walls of the studio keep the noise out and the studio is high enough up that you can’t see the people below. Also the cute little yoga figurines in the windows are so cute!

Love it love it love it! Even the trains passing noisily by in the middle of shivasana don’t rattle the peaceful vibes. Moved to Portland March 2011, found the «All you can take for 30 days for $ 30» deal — and now am a regular. Great variety of classes and instructors. I’ve found my favorites and you will too — Kimi Marin is a gem in vinyasa and Leigh Drake is an angel for Yin. I read someone’s comment that the instructors don’t give enough personal attention. That certainly has NOT been my experience. I feel very welcome, very much a part of the family. Oh and by the way — my body range of motion improved about 50% in three months. Only great instruction can make that happen for someone who’s been yoga-​ing for a few years!

Yoga Bhoga was the first studio I visited when I moved to Portland 3 years ago and I now consider it my second home. The welcoming energy of the studio makes it a great place whether you are new to yoga, to Portland, or looking to reinvigorate your practice. The teachers at Yoga Bhoga are extremely knowledgable, kind, and will take your body, mind, & practice to new levels.

I go to Sarah’s All Level Vinyasa class on Sunday afternoons. Sarah stands out because she spends time going around to every person, adjusting and challenging them with respect and attention to their body and needs. When I leave class, I always feel relaxed and ready to take on the beginning to my new work week!

Rae’s morning 0615−0730AM is excellent! She offers modifications for any level and is patient and kind! I grumble about waking up so early but am definitely rewarded for my efforts! Conversely, I pay for it when I don’t go. Rae is very knowledgeable about the human anatomy and history of movement. Yoga Bhoga is an excellent studio.

My husband and I did the once week introductory special and went to three classes over the weekend. They have a nice space — when you get there you have to call up to be let in. The first two times we had to call several times to be buzzed up (the third time we were buzzed in on the first try). We went to the Saturday morning class, which was packed, and then to the Friday and Saturday classes at 4:30 which were much less crowded. If you are newer to yoga or looking for more adjustment you might want to consider one of the less crowded classes and request adjustment from the instructor prior to class. If you are looking for a good yoga studio in Portland I definitely recommended this one.

Yoga Bhoga:
The Chi, Prana, Energy, Vibration, or Feeling, whatever you choose to call it, in this studio is warm, inviting, comfortable, and inspiring. True this may be in a new location then the studio that I used to frequent daily for years but the Energy moved with it and there is no denying that. I travel and am always trying out studios and few have the feeling that Yoga Bhoga has. I also love the natural light in this new studio.
The teachers that I know there are all very amazing teachers, the ones I do not know I am certain are as wonderful. They all come from a wide range of backgrounds and teachers, are always continuing their education and experience in their practices making this a very special Yoga Studio.
Denise, Meghan, Amy, and Heather, whom I have taken many classes with over the years all provide excellent instruction, fun sequences, with variations that make all levels of Yogi’s feel comfortable with.
Their energy, guidance and adjustments are always enlightening in helping one become a better practitioner. Their emphasis is on the fundamentals of The Hatha Practice, as well as the Pranayama Practice and the Meditative Aspects of the Yoga practice be it Hatha, or Vinyasa. There is definitely a passion for their practice and it comes through in their classes. Not one aspect of the Yogic practice is left out at this studio.
Portland you are very fortunate to have such a space, full of positive energy and intention. My Trip to Portland was so wonderful as a result of investing my time and energy into going to Yoga Bhoga for classes. I encourage you to do the same.
Om Shanti!

Good chi in this space. We went on a Saturday morning and the room was jammed packed. Yvonne was a decent instructor, but as some one mentioned previously, there is virtually no personalized interaction. For a first timer like me, that would be a good thing to have as well as making the instructor aware of any injuries you might be dealing with.
We’re doing the one week pass, so looking forward to seeing how this turns out. I’ve definitely felt some muscles that I haven’t felt for awhile, so on that front, it was a good 90 minute session.

I have to reiterate what previous reviewers have said already; this place is lovely, it has plenty of space, fantastic teachers, and a pleasant unpretentious atmosphere that allows you to just focus on your practice. They even have not one, but SEVERAL changing rooms! You can also store your mat there so you don’t have to tote it to & from class every time. I got a new student one-​week pass for $ 20, a great deal, and have been to 3 classes so far. My only regret is that not one of the teachers asked me my name, or more importantly, if I had any injuries they should know about at the beginning of class. Perhaps I was spoiled by my old studio in LA, but I miss that personal touch. I still plan on coming back here — the Sunday evening restorative/​yin class with Jennifer is especially nice if you’re looking for a mellow way to prepare yourself for the new week.

I love the energy in this studio.
It was the first studio I visited in Portland, and it is still my favorite. I am trying to force myself to expand, experience other studios while I am still new here, but I am aching to go back!
Denise is an amazing instructor, so motivating and inspiring. My jaw drops at the moves she puts us in, and I love the challenge!
She fills her studio with talented instructors that really have a connection to the spiritual side of yoga which is a priority for me.