Pure Yoga

It’s a beautifully designed space, with a zen feel and beautiful modern fixtures. The studios are very nice, especially for hot yoga, and perfectly air conditioned/​heated, with great ventilation (IE no smells) The mats are set up for you, the towels, you are pretty much taken care of but there is a downside, it’s expensive. Monthly memberships are pricey, this is owned by Equinox after all but I really enjoy the space and the classes. Restorative and yoga nidri was very helpful in helping me recover post-​surgery, Hot yoga and flow are great for exercising and stretching. I am a fan but I wish there were more classes back to back, i.e. like hot yoga than meditative but I guess they want to keep the traffic moving.
PS the shop doesn’t take anything back, NO refunds, only store credit WITH RECEIPT, don’t like that policy. I bought Lululemon pants and came back to return them, with the tags on, of course, I just didn’t want to try them in the store, all sweaty. They wouldn’t give me store credit ;(Thank gd i found a receipt, what could be worse than getting stuck with $ 120 YOGA pants that don’t fit, that should teach me not to splurge on athletic wear. Nothing special about Lululemon or this shop, sorry to say…

Practiced here a few times because the location was convenient for me, but reverted to my regular studio. However, if you:
…think that yoga is just a form of exercise
…put a lot of thought into your «yoga outfit»
…use overpriced beauty products
…like to look in the mirror a lot
then this place is definitely for you!!! :)

Oh man this place is heaven. Dana’s Prema class on Tuesday night was the perfect customizable intensity. Spiritual and technical instruction without being militant or cult-​like. If only I weren’t a starving student… I would join this studio in a heartbeat!

Pretty. Relaxing. Not impressed for the prices.

This place is beautiful and zen. However, beware of injuries. My real estate broker had her arm in a cast when I first met her from Pure. A couple years later I started doing classes and I know have my first formal injury-​a labral tear in my hip. I have done yoga and gym workouts all my life without an injury. The classes are an advanced athletic spin on yoga and poses are held way too long in some instances.

DO NOT JOIN PURE YOGA.
I joined as a trial in March and the membership specialist promised that if I cancelled before April 1^st I wouldn’t be charged for April. When I arrived to cancel at the end of March I was told that you need 30 days notice for cancellation. I had joined less than 30 days prior. I have never, ever felt so ripped off. They are a total scam.

Pure yoga is just an amazing studio to really progress your practice and the facility itself is so beautiful ! Price is super high even with a commitment, I wish it could be a little lower being that I also pay for a gym membership outside of Pure but the yoga just doesn’t compare anywhere else (I’ve tried).
I’ve never had a bad instructor so I recommend everyone and all classes, I love that each instructor offers a particular area of expertise/​focus. My favorite instructors are Serena, Issac, Dominic and Dana!
Also I just returned from a surgery and Pure gave me no issues when I had to cancel my account for a couple of months (no crazy fees or charges like other gyms). It’s pretty simple, if you move or have a medical issue arise they work with you immediately to cancel or suspend membership.

First you will notice that this place is absolutely beautiful and I think that is what made my buy a membership.
One star for atmosphere. One star for number of classes available. One star because I’m being nice.
I bought a regular membership which did not include the barre classes or other, so i cannot speak for those.
I have been doing yoga for 5+ years and must say I was disappointed by the lack of challenging classes.
I know my body is capable of so much more and I need an instructor who will push me and move me into deeper poses.
I didn’t get this. I tried every instructor under the sun and I think the only one who challenged me was Terrance. Highly recommend him. But he doesn’t teach everyday or even every other day. If I could pay just to learn from him, I would. But unfortunately you have to pay $ 170 plus almost $ 100 for enrollment fee to be taught by whomever is available.
I do yoga in my free time at home, therefore I don’t need to pay this much for someone to not teach me anything.
Also, I’ve been doing inversions for years and when I asked a couple instructors to just make sure I look ok, they refused. I understand people get hurt doing this but people get hurt walking up stairs. For this amount of money, teach me something!
If you get bored of doing warrior or baby pose and want a challenge, this is not the place for you.

I did a trial with a friend here a week or so ago. I have been an athlete my entire life and consider myself active. I also have been a member of various gyms, including Equinox and crunch, thus have attended various classes. That said, this class was one of the most challenging I have encountered !
We signed up for an intermediate barre class together. The environment of this establishment is Equinox meets a spa. It’s luxurious! In the class, our instructor (I believe her name was heather?) was extremely talented and helpful, and experienced as well us newcomers were able to work in unison unbothered.
I have rates Pure yoga ⁴⁄₅ stars due to the high price point. It’s hard to justify spending over $ 30 for a class. However, it was worth to experience — I may be back for a treat!

Since I enjoy fitness and dance classes more, I really wanted to take the «Figure 4 Barre» classes, but I stopped myself from chickening out and ended up taking two Vinyasa ½ classes with my Yoga Passbook pass.
Pure Yoga is an immaculate, spacious studio with a beautiful lobby filled with luxuriously large couches. The shower and locker rooms (bring your own lock) are also gigantic. The amenities provided in the shower room (shampoos, conditioners, body wash, lotion, towels… but where were the hair dryers?) make it seem like any high-​end gym: it’s the perfect place for those who live or work close by to quickly get in a workout. The most amazing thing about this studio is that they provide mats and towels to everyone so it’s really perfect for any on-​the-​go New Yorker. You basically just need to bring a comfortable set of clothes and yourself.
I haven’t taken enough yoga classes to really say whether the classes here were better or worse, but I did enjoy them. I took a class in the large room on the main floor. Mats were already laid out evenly leaving little empty space. This was good because it eliminated the awkwardness of having to ask someone to make room for you, but it also meant that it felt crowded and I couldn’t extend my legs and arms as much. Both Vinyasa ½ classes were basic and challenging at the same time because the instructors gave us multiple options for poses that accommodated the variety of levels even within a ½ class. The lights were dim except for a glowing blue circle on the ceiling that really calmed me every single time I was on my back. I didn’t take any hot yoga classes here, so I wasn’t able to indulge in the eucalyptus towels, but I heard they were a great perk.
Likelihood of another visit:
This studio is, of course, members only. Membership is at least $ 150/​month and I just don’t have that kind of money to spend. When I first signed in with my passbook I didn’t get bombarded with information about membership, but I’ve been getting emails ever since. Even the holiday promotions weren’t enough to entice me.

I am a member in Pure yoga over than 6 month. this is my first yoga studio experience and i love it!
the teachers are great and there is a variety of classes every day.
It is underground but its actually better! who want to have windows and see all the people walking outside and be destructed?!
I gave it 4 only because of the high monthly price and the fact that you need to sign for at least half a year.

Ah, if I were a rich girl.
It’s hard to miss Pure East’s distinctive building — a bamboo-​slatted façade and round picture window amongst 86^th Street’s roundup of big-​box retail chains. Actually, Pure Yoga is an international chain as well, with locations catering to clientele in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei.
This East side location is the same as their West side location. Just like PY West, the ground floor is an empty lobby, with the actual studio occupying the lower three levels. Just like PY West, it feels like a luxurious, sprawling sanctuary. Just like PY West, sticky mats are already laid out in the practice rooms with towel and block, so you only need to bring your body.
Pure Yoga is membership-​only, but they leave space in each class for non-​members. I had a Yoga Passbook pass but when I called ahead, the membership office put me on the guestlist for the class I wanted to try. When I showed my pass at the front desk, they told me, «Oh, since you’re on the guestlist, you can save that for next time!» Yes! Just like at PY West, no one tried to «show me around» or pressure me into membership.
— Hot Power Yoga (Level 2) was sexy as usual. (But really, what’s hotter than a bunch of strangers in a dark room breathing and sweating together and no one giving a shit?) At 4:30pm on a Tuesday, the room was ¾ full. The instructor was fine and class was well-​sequenced, though the room could’ve been hotter. Maybe it was due to the chilly weather outside, but I’d rather my first reaction when walking into hot yoga be «augh!» instead of «ooh, nice and balmy.»
— Sunday evening «Hot Slow Flow» (Levels ½) was much warmer… but I was very disappointed in the instruction. This was supposed to be a slow, focused class but the instructor rattled off a bunch of poses that had zero continuity. When the room is filled with the thumping/​squeaking noises of people struggling to transition directly from lizard pose to downward dog, you know it’s not working out.
I hope that class was a fluke, but I get the sense that Pure Yoga’s instruction, aside from a few star teachers, is only average. Their selling point, really, is the amenities — I’ll never get over the gloriousness of cold eucalyptus-​scented hand towels (rolled neatly in a cooler outside the hot rooms)! And of course, just like PY West, the locker room is huge and clean. There are tons of showers, all spotless and so large you can hang a towel on the door without getting it wet. Shampoo/​conditioner/​body wash/​shaving cream are provided, along with razors, cotton swabs, lotion, hairspray, deodorant, and hair dryers.
A word on pricing: Since Pure Yoga is an Equinox company, they have a whole mess of membership plans, just like at any gym. Don’t forget the $ 95 initiation fee (they may be «running an offer to waive that fee for you, but it ends today»)! Here’s a snapshot, but numbers may vary depending on who you talk to:
— Regular unlimited (with 6 month commitment): $ 175/​month
— «Limited» (only 6 classes per month, wtf): $ 135/​month
— Student unlimited: $ 130/​month
I know what you’re thinking: You could feed entire villages with the $ you’d spend on membership! If you’re not thinking that, you probably should be.

Took a complimentary class here with Issac — the Vinyasa ²⁄₃.
The instructor was great, the flow challenging, and the facilities are gorgeous. I enjoyed the fact that a mat and block were already set up in the room. What I didn’t like was how the studio #2 appeared to be packed to the gills to the point where it was a bit hard to visualize the instructor from the far corners of the room (I was front row, last mat on the right).
The lounge area and locker rooms are absolutely immaculate, more than enough sink space, showers, and lockers for everyone. Wish I could also try a barre class for a more well-​rounded review… This place is definitely worth checking out!

My only wish for this studio is that I wish it wasn’t a «members only» facility. $ 250 to become a member, a month, VERY pricey. — well for me that is, coming from las vegas where my studio back west is very similar, I only pay $ 299 a YEAR (vegas hot)!
I took the free PXT2 class and it was amazing. I wish that the rooms were a tad bit hotter, but I still sweat a lot! Did some cardio, circuit training, worked every bit of muscle in me, it was great.
VERY nice studio… very clean and spa like. Everyone is friendly, especially Anita, shes wonderful!
If it wasn’t so pricey, I’d definitely sign up!

After reading Ju L.‘s review, it jogged my memory about the days when I was in Taipei and went to their studios there, so I decided to give the New York location a try and I was not disappointed.
This studio is top-​notch. Definitely would call this a «boutique yoga studio» and well given the location, of course it makes sense.
I arrived close to 6pm for the Vinyasa ²⁄₃ class, and within 5 minutes, they had me checked-​in and ready to some serious yoga poses. I used my New York Yoga Passbook and they only gripe I had, was that they someone come from sales come meet me and try to show me around. But since we were in a time crunch, the sales lady let me off the hook pretty easily. She showed me where the ladies locker room was and pointed me to the direction of the class studio.
This place is huge. Everything is located downstairs. I would say a poor use of the first floor, because nothing was on the 1^st floor. I mean, come on, you are paying exorbitant rent to be in this convenient location, at least make the 1^st floor something cool. You could have a Pure Yoga Café or something, whipping up juices and possibly chia seed pudding and having yogis hanging around and creating a blissed out atmosphere or sumthing… sell books and apparel and get people inside the business right?
OK, so I told you everything is downstairs. You check in at the desk and there is a nice locker room equipped with showers, hair dryers, towels and even disposable razors (if you need to shave your legs). They also have a store that sells yoga equipment and apparel. You can get coconut water and regular water (it is behind the counter) and also fresh pressed juices (No. 5 was so good, but a bit pricey for $ 10, but worth it).
The Vinyasa ²⁄₃ class was exactly what I needed today. Something that made me work and kick my ass. This studio is great because they have all the yoga mats laid out for you, so no worries there. The studio was huge and maybe only 8 people in the class, so plenty of space to do whatever you want. No sweaty bodies right up against you (not that I mind). Vinyasa is high energy and intense. We went through many poses and didn’t hold each pose for that long, but we got in so many poses, that by the end of the class, I was definitely warm and very stretched out. I was able to do a few headstands and almost even achieved a forearm stand. That was good progress. Tons of great hip openers including pigeon, we also did dancer’s pose, floor bow pose, different variations of triangle pose, lunges, crow poses, camel pose, and a few sets of wheel pose. I was so sweaty by the end of class, but it felt so good to work so hard. I needed that.
Thanks Pure Yoga for being one of the best boutique yoga places in the city and the world over. Definitely top 5 for upscale yoga studios. I’ll be checking out the West Side studio soon!

Beautiful space — the review is solely for the flight school «workshop» offered by Raghunath on ⁴⁄₂₆.
Advertised as an all levels class– incorrect. advertised as a workshop– incorrect. the class was entertaining but no instruction on how to get up– more like look at me and how easily I get up. left a lot to be desired but for $ 40 for two hours it wasn’t that bad– just wish I had left with a little more knowledge — technically, anatomically, something…
Nice dude but it felt more of like a concert than a workshop — false/​inaccurate advertising — hated that it left so much to be desired :/

Recently joined as a member here and definitely think this is a great addition to the UES. Definitely feel like you can get good value out of it if you really use your membership.
Pros
In a city of $ 30+ fitness classes, the value is unbeatable, especially if you go 3−4+ times a week.
The instructors are fantastic — also really down to earth and friendly. Not pretentious at all.
The class times and varieties are pretty convenient — I’ve never had trouble fitting in a class after work (can’t get myself to wake up early for a class in the AM sigh but these also seem to be convenient and offered in abundance!)
The hot studios are immaculately clean. They also have these awesome cold eucalyptus towels — love.
The locker rooms are AMAZING. Clean, BEAUTIFUL and plentiful showers, and lots of little touches to make your post-​workout routine easier — obviously Equinox as a whole gets the value of amazing locker room amenities.
Great location — close to the 86^th street subway.
Mats provided — easy to fit in a workout and not lug your mat around allll day
Cons
It’s 2014 — you still only have bring-​your-​own-​lock lockers, Pure? Seriously? Please please pretty please install electronic code lockers!
The website you use to sign up for classes can often be seriously slow and frustrating. Hopefully they’ll upgrade this soon.
Totally worth a try!

This review is for HOT POWER with JESSICA CAPLAN
I really hate that this yoga studio is members-​only. That’s the only reason I won’t be back here (tear).
I took my first trial class with Jessica Caplan; it was hot vinyasa flow in studio #5. I love it. Jessica was great and kept me fully engaged and motivated throughout. She also offered help with corrections or modifications. She has such a calming personality. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed that class!
Now, the studio… is impeccable. It’s so beautiful. Staff is friendly, it’s clean, doesn’t smell, the hot room felt really serene with the pillars. It’s like the Flywheel of Yoga.
I’m already committed to a membership somewhere else and was hoping to be able to take a hot class here and there, but unfortunately this center is members-​only. 3 Stars only because I’m so sad about it and wish they would reconsider…

First class at Pure today. I belong to Equinox and since Pure is part of the same company decided to try it out. I also had a free class pass from my yoga pass book that expires 12÷31÷13 so figured I should finally use it!
Took a noon hour long vinyasa class. I found myself not loving the class and thinking that was the longest hour ever. I’m used to hour and a half or hour and 15 minute classes… So I am surprised I felt that way. The instructor was good, she came around the room and corrected form, and music was ok. I just didn’t really get into my yoga vibe during class, wasn’t horrible but wasn’t great either. Could just be I took the wrong class.
When you check in, they tell what studio your class is in, mine was in studio 1. The mats are already set up with a block on each mat. It was nice but a little confusing to a first timer at pure. Also, the mats were so close next to each other, probably about 5 inches on each side of you. Luckily the class wasn’t full so we weren’t on top if each other, however it worries me if the class had been packed it would have been miserable to be that close to your neighboring yogi.
Overall it has a gym vibe with a yoga edge, being yoga is essentially the only exercise done in the building. That I loved. Still didn’t get a studio vibe. I’ll probably be back to use up my other free class and find out what the monthly membership would cost. Apparently you get a discount if you already belong to equinox, we’ll see if it’s worth while or not.

THIS STUDIO IS AMAZING.
It’s so freaking beautiful inside. They have an impeccable waiting area with fluffy coaches and comfy chairs — I was left wondering if I could hide in the pillows after class and take a nap!
The lockers/​shower room was very large and they had sufficient number of showers to accommodate everyone after my hot yoga class. They have a weird system for actually attending the class, including checking in at the desk where they give you a token to hand off to an attendant in front of the studio. Sounds like they have a big issue with people sneaking into classes that they perhaps did not sign up for/couldn’t get into?
The class itself was pretty strenuous. I was semi expected Bikram yoga but instead had vinyasa in a heated room. Luckily, I knew the ropes and parked my butt right next to the door where it’s least hot. An hour later, I felt half like I was dying and half refreshed.
Great studio, if I lived closer by I would def return!