Yoga To The People

Nice, spacious studio — I live near Lincoln Center, so it’s really great that I don’t have to go downtown and/​or east to take a class. First visit was the Friday night 6pm class — everyone had lots of space, but it wasn’t like the class was deserted. Our instructor had a microphone, so even though I was in the back (and he was walking around), I felt like I could hear him the whole time!
No showers, but a bathroom and two little things that look like changing rooms. (Curtains in the corner of the room that you can close around to make a little room thing.)
Normal prices apply, $ 10 suggested donation, $ 2 for a mat rental, and $ 1 for a water.
This studio only does Power Vinyasa, which is a Vinyasa (flow) that will make you WERQ! The studio is not heated, but it wasn’t cold during my mid-​February class.
Will be back!

I would recommend this to anyone new to yoga or anyone advanced in their practice. I have been several times in the last month. Always a different teacher and it has always been an amazing experience. Beautiful space.

Tried this studio for the first time today for 2pm Sunday class. I very much enjoyed it! The teacher had a calming voice and gave great instruction for the poses. The pace was good, and he frequently encouraged practitioners to listen to our bodies and adjust the flow accordingly. The classes are probably best for people who have been introduced to yoga before. The donation model is amazing. I highly recommend!

Most beautiful yoga studio in NYC. Teachers are educated and inclusive. Love the donation based, pay what you can business model. Great & timely addition to the NYC yoga landscape.

This place is fantastic. Beautiful new studio, great teachers, great location.

Today was my first YTTP class. I haven’t done yoga in a while and was excited to get back in.
I am picky about my yoga, and was evaluating the experience across several parameters:
1. Location & Space
The room is so… breathtaking. Huge ceilings, wooden floors, very open and airy. Not intimate, but this allows for a large number of people and personal space.
2. Cost
YTTP is donation/​pay-​what-​you-​want. Definitely more inviting, comfortable, and reasonable than a lot of other options out there. You can only donate by cash, no card. Besides wanting a card option or even the opportunity to donate/​pay online — I understand that level of coordination is difficult based on the business model — I really enjoyed the atmosphere and comfort that this system creates.
3. Style
I like that it’s not hot yoga, which I find difficult for breathing consistently. I also like that the lingo wasn’t religious or pedantic. We didn’t end with Namaste, which surprised me – I think this was a first for me – yet it was also very welcome. The teacher’s language was a bit intense at times, using «always» and big generalizations about life; it reminded me of a poetry slam. It was all aligned though with the mission of YTTP — that yoga is for everyone.
4. Pace & Inclusivity
These were really the highs and lows of the class for me. The teacher spoke very quickly and since the room is so vast, I had trouble hearing him (even with the mic) over the AC in the back. Next time I am going to sit elsewhere and see if I can hear the teacher better.
On the other hand, the teacher encouraged us to do what was good for us, especially to stop and do child’s pose if we didn’t have the breathing down. I really liked having that invitation since I haven’t done yoga in a while, and balancing my breath and the flow was a challenge.
Overall it wasn’t perfect, but I was satisfied with YTTP and am excited to try it again.

Love yttp down as st. Marks although this location is convenient due to the proximity to my neighborhood. Pretty spacious but different vibes if you know what I mean, somehow not as inviting. For the first time a teacher showed a bit of passive aggressiveness which is something I’ve never experienced at st Marks. It was over a month ago and haven’t been back since. I’ve recruited many people to yttp but I always recommend st Marks now because I’d frankly be a little embarrassed if they didn’t like this location.

I went to my first YTTP class a few months ago at the St. Marks location and fell in love with the concept. How could you not? Donation-​based yoga is both a simple and brilliant idea and I’m thrilled that it’s thriving nationally at this point. Now that I’ve experienced the UWS location, I feel like I need to knock a star off my first review or petition to make a «5+» rating on Unilocal.Everything about this space is fantastic!
Same deal as every location — you can rent mats, buy waters and the class itself is donation-​based. The first thing you’ll notice upon walking in is how MASSIVE the studio is! Not in a cold, cavernous way. It’s got that «classy industrial» look that seems to be very in these days — wood, metal, minimalist, and absolutely gorgeous. And TONS of natural light — makes it all the more serene. I’m still completely baffled by how YTTP, a donation-​based organization, can afford these pristine studios. And this one is far nicer than the EV studio. I won’t question their methods given that I’m just getting to reap the benefits in a very affordable way, but it really is shocking.
Unlike the St. Marks studio, you likely won’t need to worry about shimmying your mat into a space that’s just a biiiiit too small. Everyone here had plenty of room. I came at noon on Sunday so I’m not sure if this holds true for other days/​times, but I can’t imagine this place being packed like sardines — it’s just too spacious. In the same vein, I arrived 15 minutes before the start of class (YTTP’s recommendation) and I was one of the first people there. This place just doesn’t fill up to the same degree, so don’t worry too much about being overly punctual (though they do lock the door at the start of class, obviously).
Onto the class:
–I’m fairly new to yoga, and I felt totally comfortable to experience this practice in my own way. This is really encouraged here, which I appreciate. They’re not lying when they say these classes can appeal to people of all levels. There are always variations of poses, and there’s no pressure to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. What I will say, though, is that you’ll be surprised at how much your body is capable of.
–This is Power Vinyasa Flow, so you will likely sweat. Maybe that’s just me. But depending on your level/​confidence, you can definitely challenge yourself here.
–The instructor for this class was fantastic. Very zen, very spiritual, very accepting. Not sure if this is uniform across most YTTP studios (not the case at St. Marks), but the instructors here have microphones — very helpful in a big studio such as this one. This particular teacher walked around for most of the class, but she stopped occasionally to hop up onto a ledge at the front of class to demonstrate the more complex poses (nothing crazy, I promise). Nice touch. At the end of the class, she gave us a quote of the day (Confucius) and sounded a gong.
I have no doubt that I’ll soon be a regular here. As I’ve said before, this service is such a gift.

Love the big open space with beautiful wood décor! Even when class has a lot of attendees it doesn’t feel cramped. It’s nice to have a location so much closer to home, as I’ve always been a fan of YTTP. I’ve had four different instructors so far and each have led wonderful classes where I’ve learned something new and important about my practice. Definitely come to this location!

I’m so glad my friend told me about YTTP and we went to a class together! First off, I was surprised by how big the studio was. It’s the whole floor of a warehouse-​type building, and it could easily fit 30 – 40 people in it, maybe more! It was really nice, too. They had shiny wood floors, and there were fans on the ceiling that they blasted at the end of the class to help everyone cool down. They have mats to borrow if you don’t have one, and the classes don’t have a set cost, so you can donate whatever you can afford. I think $ 10 is the recommendation, but if you’re a student or struggling financially, a few bucks is totally fine! My friend and I went to a Vinyasa flow class (or at least that’s what I think it was called). At first, I felt the instructor was talking a little too fast for me (my friend felt the same way), but soon we got used to it and appreciated all the suggestions she made to help us with the poses. Surprisingly, even though it’s a huge class, the instructor still has time to walk around and help people with their poses. She helped me at one point during class when I was struggling. And for those of you who don’t think yoga is a workout, you should definitely try this class! It works your core a lot because you spend a good chunk of time in plank (kind of like a push up). And it definitely works your arms, too. I was pretty sore the next day, and I definitely want to go back to build up my strength!

I have been a long time goer to YTTP on St Marks, but it is SO FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE. I’ve tried spending a little more and going to studios that are closer to me, but for some reason I really enjoy YTTP classes above all others. Now granted I’m a beginner, not a serious yogi by any means, but I feel that YTTP is the only class I’ve taken where I feel like I’ve broken a sweat while feeling deeply relaxed and just all around good feeling.
So now lets talk about this location. Holy shit it is BEAUTIFUL. It is like a hidden gem, you look around and you think… is this really donation based? How is this possible? Is someone sleeping with DiBlasio to keep this place running? I don’t know, I don’t care blahblahblah.
There is WAY more space in this location, you don’t feel like you are on top of one another. I feel that every other class I’ve taken at YTTP people are struggling to fit their mats in, and while it’s nice that everyone is so friendly and cozy, its nice not to have people’s feet practically kick you in the face during poses.
A lot of reviews are complaining that they don’t get one-​to-​one attention. I’ve taken tons of classes at the St. Marks location and I think I was given attention one time? I don’t think this location should lose out on that. It’s too big a class to get individualized attention, if you need that, then pay more and go to a smaller class it’s pretty simple. Also some people complained that the teacher didn’t do the poses with the class. I’ve never witnessed a teacher do this at YTTP so who cares?
This teacher was great! She played nice relaxing music, talked on a microphone so everyone could hear her, walked around, got me into shavasana, read a quote, rang the bell, and all was right with the world.
I think this will be my new go to studio! Check it!

This review only pertains to this location — I’ve been to other YTTP locations downtown that I preferred much more.
The UWS studio is beautiful — large windows and spacious loft. However, some of the teachers are lacking in professionalism and experience. I’ve attended two other classes which were fine, but they don’t push you and there is no individual attention (half expected, I’m okay with this).
What I’m not okay with is my class today, which I can safely announce is the worst yoga class I’ve taken. First, the instructor started 10 minutes late. He was chatting with someone before class and the studio got very noisy. Everyone was getting antsy and wondering why the class was so late. Not relaxing at all.
Second, he played upbeat, noisy music that was not conducive to the environment at all. I’m talking about mariachi music! He played quick tempo jazz, and then a mariachi song, then would switch to a classical song. It was all very bizarre and jarring. I struggled to focus and instead just got a headache from the loud music, you couldn’t even hear his instructions.
Not only was the music bad, but he didn’t push AT ALL. I get that YTTP can be beginner but this class was so boring, easy poses held for way too long, with very little challenge. There was only 1 sequence during the entire hour that was tougher.
Really disappointing class. The risk is yours — you might get a good teacher and have a great class, but the issue with YTTP is you cannot see who is teaching beforehand. For a consistently quality experience, I would recommend finding a regular studio elsewhere.

This place loses a star because where’s the sanskrit?! Maybe I’m being a snob but the teacher I had never said a single pose-​name in sanskrit. I’m glad it wasn’t yoga to house music though! And this is a good place to go for experienced yogis who are too lazy to go all the way down to the studio they are members of (like me, today), but you don’t get any individual attention so I don’t think your practice would grow in this setting.
But like I said: it’s good for yogis who just need a quick and cheap class.

Come to Yoga To The People! I have been practicing yoga for 5 years and always make it a priority to find a studio when I am traveling. I came to the YTTP Upper West Side location because I was visiting my nephew at Columbia. Before finding YTTP online, I researched other yoga studios and I was not impressed with the inflated egos and prices they advertised. Yoga To The People’s mantra reflects the essence of yoga: no scripts, no egos, no pedestals.
The studio itself was gorgeous, clean, and peaceful. The fantastic instructor guided the class with a mix of mindfulness and purpose, giving challenging options for all levels of practitioners. He had an assistant helping him adjust students when appropriate. The donation system shows that YTTP walks the walk, something rare in this day and age. I can’t express enough how impressed I am with YTTP. If this review speaks to how you practice yoga, go to Yoga To The People and support all people, all bodies, all yoga.

A long time YTTP-​supporter, I visited the new location on the UWS for the first time yesterday and I must say it is absolutely GORGEOUS! So much natural light and a huge space with lots of room for yogis.
Our instructor was lovely — a good guide for beginners and advanced alike. She used a microphone to make sure we could hear her above street noise and music.
As a low-​income artist in NYC, YTTP is one of my favorite resources. As a donation-​based studio, it is accessible to everyone and I’m so thankful for that!
My only criticism is the lack of class times. I’m hoping they’ll add more afternoon classes once the studio has been open for a little bit.

Great location– the room has incredible light and a calm feel with old builidng detail.
Experienced yogis– yes, this donation-​based yoga class WILL give you a work out! Newbies– I wouldn’t suggest it as highly. The instructor doesn’t do the poses and doens’t walk around, so you will be a bit lost for a while and possible doing poses incorrectly.
On the downside, it was extremely difficult to hear the instructor (he had a headset next to him but didn’t use it) and the music was loud. And it was really hot with the heat on. Man, maybe I’m just getting old. ;)
I likely will stick to YogaWorks and yoga at my gym, but if you don’t have that and are looking to change things up, then I recommend it.