Jivamukti Yoga School
841 Broadway
2nd Fl
(between 13th St & 14th St)
New York, NY 10003 (212) 353-0214
- Nearest Transit:
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
14th St-6th Aves (F, V, L, 1, 2, 3)
- Good for Kids: Yes
16 Reviews for Jivamukti Yoga School
You haven't done yoga until you've don Jivamukti
classes hourly and they really challenge you. amazing music, great atmosphere. I'd def suggest for true yogis- great meditation sessions and cafe too!
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Jivamukti Yoga School is incredible. It is a gift to have a school with such dedicated and knowledgeable teachers. It is not just a work out, it is a way of thinking about the world and our relationship with it. This school provides me the opportunity to challenge and expand the limits of my body, mind, and heart.
That being said, this school may not be for everyone. If you are looking for yoga butt and not interested in being challenged on a multitude of levels then maybe this would not be a good fit for you. I think it is worth a try, you may be surprised at how much this yoga school has to offer.
I am extremely thankful to have found Jivamukti!
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I found Jivamukti after trying out many other yoga studios in downtown Manhattan that were fun, but didn't hold my interest. I arrived being sort of lazy and half-assed about my yoga practice. But after I saw how many people were serious about their yoga at Jivamukti, and the level of practice the instructors expect from you, I became a believer!
If you are looking to get serious about your yoga practice and really develop more strength, flexibility, balance and peace of mind, Jivamukti will help you accomplish that. I've been coming here for 2 years and now I don't know how I ever lived without it! The classes have brought me to a level of fitness I have never achieved before, and they have made me a better problem solver at work and a more compassionate person in general. Because each Jivamukti class begins with 15 minutes of chanting, ancient Sanskrit readings or personal stories about dealing with life's challenges (before you embark on an ass-kicking asana practice), you are constantly reminded that yoga is about improving your inner self above all else.
There are many other good things about Jivamukti. One, if you are into the hardcore, sweat-til-you-drop open classes, they have them scheduled every hour on the hour between 7am and 9pm, and they even have "busy people" 45 minute open classes if you really can't stay for an hour and a half. There are also a variety of instructors there. Some are truly challenging, and they have followings of groupies who take their classes religiously. Other instructors there are a little easier -- it just depends on what your personal preference is. Because there are many instructors that work there, you have to take classes from a lot of them before you know which ones you like the best. But overall they are very helpful. If they see you there week after week, they get to know you and go out of their way to help you improve on those poses you just can't get. And you will respect them as instructors because they go to India to study under gurus and take books like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika seriously.
Other amenities -- The cafe serves tasty vegan food if you want to grab a healthy, satisfying meal after class, and it's also a comfy, quiet place to study or work. It never gets too crowded and you can stay as long as you like. There are showers there but you need to bring your own soap and shampoo -- unless you want to pay $$ for them at the cute little yoga & natural products shop near the front desk!! The changing rooms are a little small, but they do have them and also some lockers that you can rent long term if you really don't like to carry your yoga things around. And if you really want to spend some time there, they offer massage and meditation practice too.
If you are a newbie, remember to bring a towel to collect all your sweat during class, or $1 to rent one. Be prepared to work hard, and you will see results if you just keep going week after week!
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If I could give Jivamukti more than five stars, I would. The classes are quite simply amazing. Dechen and Monica are superb teachers, the best I've ever had. The Union Square location is lovely, with large airy classrooms and a yummy vegan cafe. The massage is the best in town. I cannot think of a better way to spend a Sunday than with an open class and a massage afterwards. I LOVE JIVAMUKTI!!!!
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I've only been once so far, so I don't want to rate the instruction, etc., just share some practical information I wish I'd been able to find:
Facilities: There is a shower (just one for each sex, I think, or maybe a small gang shower), but no real space to get ready, just enough for maybe two people in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Probably enough for most people most of the time, but women shouldn't plan on going straight from an early class to a job that really requires you do hair and makeup. Pulling out a hairdryer would be obnoxious in that space. There are lockers, but I forgot to ask if you can rent them. I don't think there are places to leave mats.
Classrooms: Fine (on a Tuesday evening). Other reviews have noted overcrowding, but I didn't think it was too crowded. I never had to make room for the person next to me. Then again, I'm used to mats two inches apart at Baptiste.
Boutique and cafe: Wonderful! They have tons of clothes, books, mats, body care, etc., and they are all the best of their category (harmony mats, simple hip clothes). The cafe has a mellow vibe that sucks you in. Some guy was nooding around with his guitar while talking to friends, and the lighting is inviting. I could've sat there all day.
Class: I love the class format that I understand is pretty standard. The initial chanting/lesson really brings you into the moment, then an intense practice that moves energy in all the right ways, followed by a long savasana. They even allowed us to stay and meditate afterward, which is pretty much the perfect yoga class. Oddly, I LOVED the rock and hip hop music played during the most intense part of class. I would have expected to hate that, but somehow it really works since there is plenty of time devoted to quiet and centering too. The open class includes an intense flow that would be impossible for a true beginner, or probably even someone new to vinyasa, to follow, but they have a good schedule of beginner classes as well.
Overall vibe: Friendly and respectful. They do kind of hit you over the head with the vegan thing, and as a non-vegan I'd rather have it presented as something to grow toward, but it isn't as though anyone scowled at my leather bag.
Schedule: Extensive. Very early and late classes, including a 45-minute early class and daily meditation on weekdays. I'd like to see meditation class on weekends too, but they are already way ahead of most other studios.
If there were a real place to get ready for work, I'd add the fifth star to my review and pretty much move in, I think.
I go here to find my bliss and I've been finding it at Jivamukti for 10 years now. From the old Lafayette location to Union Square, the vibe has remained constant: Peace, Peace, Peace.
Jiva is not for everyone. The classes and teachers will push you out of your comfort zone mentally and physically and help you meet yourself. Not everyone wants to do this.
I didn't want this when I first started practicing yoga. I come from a sports background and most sports focus on the physical effort only. Yoga is a slow process that takes patience and quiet. I never knew how to be quiet until I met Yoga. And believe me, I found it kicking and screaming! :)
All of the teachers here are skilled and strong, but if you can take a class with Shannon and/or David-do it. They are so incredibly powerful (in a good way) to be around.
If you're looking for a life change, go here. If you just want a workout, take a class at your local gym.
Ommm........
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I have been going to Jiva for three years now!
I think I found out about it in NY Mag, and I absolutely love it. The classes make you SWEAT, especially during the summer. They really work you out, and if you go there twice/ week, you can see a change in your body.... although I rarely went that often due to my laziness (-_-;)
I also like the spiritual element of it; the whole idea of spending 90 min with people you don't know and sharing a very meditative moment... so New York.
Now it has been more than a year since they moved to Union Square. I loved their old studio because it was so retro and cool, but I love the new one for its bamboo floors. I always come back here when I am in NY, even though I have moved far, far away...
O----MMMMMMMM
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the fact that i'm standing at the elevator every weekday morning at 7am speaks for itself, I suppose. It is about a week from the one year anniversary of my first class at Jivamukti. It has been wonderful for me on so many levels. I can't even begin to describe...
Each teacher has something different to offer. And each class brings some new inspiration and new challenge.
I'm so thankful to have found it.
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Gannon and Life's style of yoga definitely deserves the hype--a perfect blend of physicality and spirituality that we westerners can swallow. It's the shit.
As for the studio itself, they go overboard with the marketing (for all the bad press they get about this, though, it's not as bad as Om). Still, my friend calls it Karma-mart.
Also, there is definitely an "i am the guru and you are the student" vibe there. This is traditionally yogic IF a student is cultivating a relationship with that particular teacher and IF that teacher is self-realized. But when I'm just going in to take a class with a random teacher, I'm not too keen on them giving me intense physical adjustments (without a knowledge of how my particular body works), lengthy dharma talks, and slathering me with holistic Bengay without asking.
Also, the new studio can feel like a factory.
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I can only say the best things about their Union Square studio so that pretty much says it all. I love the studio. The practice gets my ass, ego and stress kicked right out of me. What can be healthier?
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I am lucky enough to work at a place where a couple of the teachers from the Jivamukti Center come to my work once a week for a small intimate class. I randomly received an email one day at work, "Do you want to join yoga"....I thought to myself, " hmm, yes, why the hell not?"
I have only been taking it for two months and already my body is transforming. Not only that but it is such a positive experience, I sincerely wish I could give it 1,000 stars. I have taken yoga in the past- but this surpassed all and I am definitely dedicated!
The flow of the class starts with chanting and a dedicated lesson, a focal point that directs you to release something that is of negativity in your heart and mind. Then it goes into a great hard work out, followed by a cool down and a wonderful peaceful meditation period. I leave every time feeling lighter, like my heart has been lifted. Estelle and Rema are both amazing teachers.....I just cannot praise this practice and it's teachers enough!
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Rumors about underpaid instructors notwithstanding, Jivamukti is still the most popular yoga place in the city. For my money, the Iyengar yoga institute in Chelsea is more precise in its style and instructions.
But therein lies the value of marketing. Please dont get me started on why Bose speakers sell more even though ... (you know what).
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I actually went to a location off Union Square not on Lafayette. This type of yoga--as in super sweaty--was a revelation for me. I had really never sweat in yoga classes before I started checking out studios in NYC. (At the same time I am not attracted to hot yoga--when things slow down I want to be able to breathe freely). Both classes I took were with Jules who keeps the class fun, plays hip hop and other music that I never imagined working for a yoga class, and does adjustments to the extent that he can in these crowded classes. That is why this is four rather than five stars--very tight space. If I could afford to I would definitely practice here regularly. Stress just disappears after an hour and a half here.
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This has to be one of the best yoga classes in town. The studio has consistently good teachers - great curriculum - and an overall vibe that is pretty spiritual. I feel like I"m walking on clouds after a jivamukti class - need to go back soon!!!
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I am new to yoga but have had really positive experiences in the classes I've taken at this studio. I leave feeling really loose, limber and relaxed. My only complaint is that the classes sometimes feel too crowded.
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The open classes are packed, so reservations might be a good idea. I love the combination of meditation and chanting before the practice with the rigorous vinyasa flow style yoga - the class will leave you exhausted but really relaxed. Buy the class packs for the best value.
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