be. in Union Yoga

Great Power Flow class!

Holy smokes. Holy SWEAT. This place is awesome.
Came here for the first time last night — took Norm’s vinyasa class. Super welcoming students, SUPER friendly staff. Norm was actually greeting students in the lobby, and directed us to the studio upstairs. The space is large (really large) and when a late arriver squeezed in next to me, I still had plenty of space to move, which is great — no one likes to feel like a sardine.
The studio is warm, and then they crank up the heat. I didn’t realize this was a heated class (shame on me for not doing my homework), and so didn’t have a towel, and spent the last half of the 90 minute class on my slip-​n-​slide of a mat, but it was totally fine. I took child’s pose when I needed to (or just stopped mid-​pose to clean off my mat with my sweatshirt) and didn’t feel disruptive or distracting at all. This was definitely a «come into whatever place yoga is for YOU» class, which is so my jam. This place is my jam.
Clean bathroom, space to change, a cooler to fill up your water bottle, space to stash your stuff. And Norm. Really like his vibe. Will be back!

I must say, this studio is by far the most welcoming, positive, nonjudgemental community I’ve experienced in a yoga studio. I wanted to make an edit to my previous review and say that they DO have changing areas. Either they added it since I first came here or I just didn’t notice the first couple times. In any case, if you’re on the fence — just go! They are a lovely studio with many different teachers who each have individual teaching styles to suit everyone and every body.

I’ve been a regular yoga student for 3 years now and have been to multiple yoga studios. The thing that stands out about this yoga studio is that all rooms are HEATED; but they don’t call themselves hot yoga. The temperature of the class depends on the instructor, I know the owner Blanca likes to keep it really hot. I’ve been to 4 other instructors class and I think Tegan’s class is least heated. She teaches an amazing core & restore class on Mondays.
All the teachers I had taught a great yoga sequence that flowed and they spoke calmly. Everyone of them encourage students to listen to their body and it made me feel really comfortable to take a rest in child’s pose. This place is a complete no judgement zone; I once spent ¹⁄₃ of the class in child’s pose because I was exhausted from something else and the teacher didn’t question it. She let me be.
Different teachers have different degrees of interactions with their students. I like Blanca and Jacklyn’s interaction; they give you massages when you’re in child’s pose or in savasana (sometimes). And there are some teachers who gives only verbal adjustments.
I have only been to non beginner classes and they are quite vigorous. The classes can get full and the teacher doesn’t slow down for anyone. Thus, if you’re a beginner, I highly recommend finding a beginner/​basics class where the instructor will tell you how to get into a pose and it’s modifications.

I’ve dabbled around in other yoga studios, but be. in Union is consistently my favorite. I’ve never had a bad class here — the instructors do a good job at building you up to more difficult poses. In other words, I feel ready for them by the time the class gets there. Great space, and the instructors generally set a great vibe/​tone. I highly recommend it.

This is my favorite yoga studio in the area!
All of the classes I’ve been to have been great. Especially Norm’s vinyasa class. It’s challenging but a great work out and norm is really great.

As a drop in student the atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming. I did the 1.5 hour vinyasa class with Norm and was surprised but enjoyed the high temperature if the studio. Was the perfect detox I had been craving after the holiday season.

This is by far the best yoga studio in the area. Also, conveniently, it is one of the most affordable! How often does that happen?
I’ve been coming here for quite a while now (I think I’m on my 4^th or 5^th 10 class pack). I usually take one particular class with one particular teacher, but I’ve been to several others and they are all great. I never felt anything but welcomed, encouraged, and safe – even when I was a beginner (I took my second ever yoga class here). The studio is large, bright, and pleasantly heated.
I’ve purchased a couple of groupons for other studios because of the great deals you can get, but I’ve given up on doing that because this studio is so much better, and I’d just rather come here even if there isn’t a groupon deal. I’ve recently moved out of Somerville, but still drive past 4 other studios to come to classes here.
Also, and this may just be a personal preference, I have a soft spot for business names that are puns.

I’m in like, but not love, with Be. I truly dig the community vibe and find it a comfy-​cozy, warm, and inviting environment. This is a studio where people smile, casually chit chat, and there’s just no pretense, stress, rushing around, or anxiety to be found. It really is special in that sense. Also, the instructors are very real. Unlike some yoga studios where the instructors have a cult following and are treated like celebs, at Be, the instructors are super down-​to-​Earth and just really approachable, calm, cool, and collected.
I’ve been to over ten different classes, with a bunch of different instructors, some who I enjoy more than others, but overall it is a similar vibe for each. Classes are heated, so the sweat is dripping and sometimes splattering around you, and the flow is pretty similar with the same mix of poses. I’d like to see some more creativity in the sequences and some more teaching of the poses. Instead of simply offering the more advanced poses, it would be nice to spend some time breaking them down and giving us a few minutes to try them out. I say this as someone who actually does most of the advanced poses but notices that most other people don’t.
Also, and I say this about most studios so it is not just Be, I would LOVE some more hands-​on adjustments. These classes are small, with less than 20 people usually, so it would be great if the instructor could make the rounds and give us little adjustments here and there, even if it is just a gentle push on the low back in down dog or child’s pose.
I also have this nagging thought in the back of my mind during any hot yoga class: Is the heat actually good for me, or is it fooling me into thinking I can go deeper than I really should? And another thought as the sweat is dripping into my eyes: Am I really getting my heart rate up from moving, or is it just that it is 90 degrees? That’s a big reason why I find it hard to make a place like Be my regular, go-​to spot for regular practice. I’m just a scaredy cat about the heat and fear that it masks what is really going on in my body.
It also kind of bums me out that most of the instructors don’t play music during class. This shouldn’t be a big deal since it doesn’t have a big impact on the actual practice, but I like some groovy tunes to help get me out of my head, especially after a long day of work.
Overall, I get a lot out of Be and I appreciate who they are and what they do. I love that they have such a full schedule and I can make a last-​minute decision to pop over for a class. I’m always happy when I’m there, I just don’t leave with that yoga high that I get from other classes. It is more like a yoga grounded, so maybe that isn’t such a bad thing after all.

I’m new to yoga and feel very welcome at be. in Union. The instructors have all been welcoming and helpful and the classes have all had very friendly people. This is the first studio I have tried that makes me want to come back!
If you are worried about parking I suggest making sure you get to Sunday classes. No parking restrictions on Sunday so you can park in meter spots and resident spots.

Good instructors, good at giving fundamentals and being positive and inspirational. I have been to a few classes here over the past few years and found this to be one of the more consistent schools as far as variation between teachers goes, in a positive way. If I lived nearby, this would be my go-​to yoga studio. Definitely worth giving a chance.

I joined in with the, BE community, a little over a year ago. Until then, I had attended only maybe 6 other studios. From my first visit I experienced the harmony that Be works hard to create and maintain. This is a community with soul!
Each of the BE instructors embody his/​her own unique understanding & expression of yoga practice. As well, BE provides diversity in the class schedule, giving opportunity to join for a a slower/​mindfulness structure or something a little more physically challenging. Schedule is up online so you can always plan ahead.
Another great quality of BE is how our instructors seem to always know when the class is calling out for a different flow than is on the schedule. Instructors recognize the needs of their class and find a way to be amazingly present with and supportive of where we are each at. This is an impressive strength of BE.
The studio is a super clean, open, warm space. Price packages are really reasonable and sometimes a package comes up that’s just awesome! You can rent matts and get water & or towel each for just $ 1.
BE is awesome in so many categories. I encourage you to try BE and see what you think. I honestly think you will love it. This is a truly special space.

LOVE the new studio! I can’t wait until all of the space is finished/​built (showers, etc).
Checking in is a little confusing the first time if the downstairs office is locked. There isn’t a lot of space to just sit and hang out while you’re waiting for your class to begin if the downstairs is locked. However, I do like that they lock the office space where I stash my bag since the front door to the building remains unlocked.
Parking is rough — let’s be honest. But it was rough before. Union just kind of sucks, sorry.
The instruction/​classes remain welcoming and unpretentious. That is the hallmark quality of Be and reason alone to come and practice here. Blanca and Jackie are wonderful teachers and leave you wanting to come back for more. I’ve been practicing with them for some time now and love their energy and warmth. I also love that Blanca makes her practice about exercising not just your body but your mind too. You can go as deep as you want, which I love and find very restoring and energizing.

I am a yoga novice but I have loved all of my experinces at be. in Union. The classes are affordable and the teachers are kind and helpful, especially for a beginner. The space is clean and welcoming and the slightly heated studio is great during the winter. The offer a variety of classes at different times throughout the day. Check them out!

i’m writing a review for blanca’s classes at be! after moving to the bay area in september, i sorely miss blanca’s teaching style and presence that she has while she teaches. blanca is fun, genuine, able to guide helpfully through poses, provides proper adjustments, and truly teaches in a way that is encouraging, challenging, and accepting… love her!
blanca’s saturday morning classes are impossible to replace. blessings at the new studio location, to the yoga family, and blanca’s family!

The Good :
~Instructors are not hit or miss, they’re all fantastic.
~All types of people come to classes. Whoever you are, you’ll feel welcome.
~It’s fun. I don’t know how to convey that in a sentence but it is.
The Bad:
~Parking is hard, unless you’re comfortable parking in the grocery store lot next door.
~There’s a dead tree in one of the smaller rooms that if it ever moves will shed more leaves/​needles than a Christmas tree in May.
~Honestly, the location. if you’re looking for some place close to the T it takes a little longer to get here.

I fell in love with be. after my first class. I’ve been a member for three months and I’m still motivated to go multiple times per week. I’m totally hooked!
— PROS: The studio is completely unpretentious, inviting and wonderful. The teachers make it a point to remember my name, offer personal assistance, and tailor the classes to all levels. There are 7:30pm classes so I have enough time to commute back after work. Weekday and weekend classes are not overcrowded.
I highly recommend teachers Norm and Jill. I always leave their classes calm, energized and very sweaty. That said, I haven’t come across a teacher I didn’t like.
— CONS: Parking can be tricky, especially on the weekends. I also love to experiment in classes and it’s always on offer, but I’d love to see more time spent on learning totally new poses.
Overall, I highly recommend this studio no matter your experience level. The teachers are truly fantastic and welcoming to everyone.

I don’t write reviews very often — if at all — but I think it is necessary to write a review about be. yoga studio as they are definitely worth it. Amazing studio for beginners and no beginners as well.
I had been to a few yoga classes here and there, tempted by family and friends, and it had never clicked. Either the classes were too full, the levels were to high or the instructor was way into the class and not so much into the students. However, this year I wanted to change my workout — when I say change, understand start — and introduce yoga into it, just to check it out. Looking at the different options around the area, I found that the Foundations class could be a good fit for my necessities and sure enough it was. The instructor, Blanca — also one of the owners, — not only cares for the positions and all the things that go into yoga but also makes you forget about the sometimes uncomfortable positions you are at by humor — yeah, I know, humor in yoga, amazing — and by kindly but effectively coming and helping you to get into the positions without hurting yourself.
I highly recommend this studio.

I joined as a total beginner and found Jaci and Blanca’s laid back approach welcoming and effective. Their approach is shared by the other wonderful teachers as well. I can take my own pace but also have the option to challenge myself. I started going occasionally, but soon moved to a monthly membership. Well worth it!

Whenever I’m back in the Boston area, these guys are the only yoga place I’ll consider going to. Absolutely amazing instructors, with a vibe that is supportive of beginnings as well as advanced students (I fall somewhere in between).
When I lived in the area, I would go there at least a few times a month, and every time was amazing. «Be» definitely has a distinct style that is passed along to all their teachers. Any class is a great class.
I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. And, believe it or not, I have yet to find a yoga studio in my new home city (San Francisco) that matches the community and general feeling of Jacqui and Blanca’s amazing studio.