YogaStream

I recently purchased a 30 day unlimited trial and it really has not been a very good experience at all. I went to a a Sunday afternoon move class. It was very warm in the room and the sequences were very challenging with many inversions. I found this to be refreshing especially since they had put a nice almost cardio and weight training twist on the class. Then I went to a smooth class hoping for a more relaxing class. However, it was nearly the exact same sequences at a slower pace with too many inversions and too much intensity. When I asked them when might there be gentler classes with fewer inversions, I was given a long rationale about how important inversions are and a suggestion of a class. I found the attitude a little condescending. I have been practicing yoga for many years (20+) and lived in Los Angeles for nearly a decade where there are many excellent yoga studios and none had classes with so many inversions, with such intensity, that reflected a philosophy so discongruent with anything I had learned about yoga. Even in Bikram yoga studios there is real heat and humidity for a purpose (not just dry heat) and the flows while challenging are very balanced and do not have so many inversions. I guess this place was a very poor fit for me and I am sorry I cannot recommend it.

Yikes. Never been to a choppier class. This is good for folks who want zero flow and are inversion obsessed. Actually that is even too generous of me to say– more like hand stand obsessed. Add to that odd cardio sequences. One second warrior poses? No attention to breathing — first class I ever went to where that is the case. This about sums up the 2 – 3 level class I went to and teacher had the gall to suggest I go to a lower level when I have been doing yoga for quite some time.

I have been shopping around to yoga studio after yoga studio in the Princeton area taking advantage of the unlimited yoga for $ 40 deals that are in superabundance. (Take advantage, friends– I have been yoga-​ing it up for months!) Yoga Stream is one of many Power Yoga-​esque models. Thus it is hot (but not Bikram-​hot, a 85 – 90 degree glisten-​enducing heat) and flow-​oriented.
If you like to luxuriate over long stretches and meditative breathing, this studio is not for you. It IS a workout, and this particular studio is fixated on arm work and moving you (all of you) towards handstands. Thus, in my month with them I gained a lot of upper-​body and core strength — but I tired of the single-​mindedness and goal-​orientation of the flows. (I am a process-​oriented kind of girl, and a gemini, so I need some play and diversity in my yoga experiences.)
Teachers all acceptable, not too crowded– many different options in terms of class times. But recommended only if you self categorize as type A and/​or are motivated by working towards a specific physical end goal, OR are just really interested in dabbling in handstands.
One exception to this rule is Eunice’s class. She is a delight and deserving of a haiku, because she was my favorite part about Yoga Stream.
Eunice elevates
Brings playful to Yoga Stream
Exercise plus joy.

Best yoga in town! It’s a small studio so you get attention during class and correction for off postures. They offer drop in, monthly and ⁵⁄₁₀ class packs. Be prepared to sweat and feel the workout in the morning! Keri is amazing and full of energy!

FANTASTIC power vinyasa with extra attention on building up to a multi-​pose flow or ‘stream’ throughout the class. Some plyometrics and ab work added in (but not over the top). Don’t miss it!
Dozens of Princeton students (particularly in the Ivy/​Cottage/​Theta scene) go to Gratitude, the donation-​based studio nearby. The classes there are taught at a lower level and are packed, though, so if you really want to improve your practice and get personalized attention from top-​notch professional teachers, go to YogaStream. It’s DEFINITELY worth the $ 15 student rate.
I have been practicing yoga for about 6 months at YogaVida in New York, and at Reebok (Sports Club LA) on the Upper West Side before that (with some drop-​ins at Pure Yoga and YogaWorks). Both YogaVida and Reebok have well-​known ‘celebrity’ yoga instructors with large followings and packed classes. At YogaStream I felt like the quality of instruction was as good if not better than at the best New York studios, but with about 100x the personalized attention. The teacher who taught my Level 2 – 3 class, Ashley, was clearly very well-​trained and gave multiple hands-​on adjustments to help me improve my alignment. She also gave me a number of individual tips and demonstrations to help me with my inversions, all while leading a really fast-​paced class. I got an incredible cardio workout AND can tell that my practice improved!