Sonic Yoga

05/07/2008 Posted by blakwdow

Oh my god I love this studio. I've been to more than 20 yoga studios in the city (thank you Yoga Passbook) and this is by far my favorite. The teachers are amazing, there is a wide variety of challenging or easier classes, and they incorporate just a bit of the Far East side into the class. Most importantly, they don't judge you. I've had so many teachers come over and say "we're not doing that" or "You shouldn't do that". Here, you can do a different pose without anyone calling you out. And sometimes, you're just not up to Plow Pose, right? Love love love this studio. For harder classes, check out any Flow 2, especially Johanna, Keith, or Jen on Saturdays. For easier Level 1 classes, I like Shelly, Krissy, and Erin. (I only take day classes so I don't know the evening instructors.) Sundays' Center class with Krissy is an amazing way to end the week too!!

Pros: Great teachers, comfortable atmosphere, offer classses in Costa Rica!!

Cons: I just wish it was cheaper!! But then again, nothing is here.

04/28/2008 Posted by healthyteri

No doubt, Sonic Yoga is the best in the city. The teachers are highly qualified, very energized and helpful. You get great assists when necessary, and laughs in between. They manage to mix the soul and the heart into yoga while really strengthening your physical practice. The atmosphere is very refreshing, with no attitude and people just there to do yoga...and do it well, with a smile on their face. I've been doing yoga for a lot of years, and have taken classes all over the country, and in other countries. This place has more soul than most...and more quality. I want a yoga studio where the owner cares about people, not just raking in the bucks.... They are well known for their yoga teacher training here, too, so I think they've really gotten the teaching down pretty well! AND, there's no need to be intimidated in a place like this. They're just a great group of people who dig doing yoga together. The owner, Jonathan, is probably the best yoga teacher I've ever taken class with, and he is so real - teaches in his jeans. A former lawyer, he is a smart dude who knows what he's doing, and I believe, opened his studio many years ago to get the message to the masses, to make it more accessible to everyone. In the process, he created this amazing place of wonderful people, wonderful yoga without the 'tude....You can't please everyone, but everyone I've sent here has loved it. And while yoga is not about the space, here it's pretty cool. It's really about the yoga. It's nice, though, when you have both, as they do here..

Pros: teachers, attitude, quality of classes

Cons: would prefer a bigger schedule

03/30/2008 Posted by Esteban1978

I've been wanting to try this studio for awhile and wasn't impressed. I felt like they needed to hose the place down. There was hair everywhere. I know there's lots of chicks who do yoga but it was sort of gross. The class was good. The teacher was really great. I kind of wanted less explanation but it was cool.

03/04/2008 Posted by janice33

I prefer this studio over the others I have tried in the area. I strayed and tried another studio, but I won't do that again! I tried three different instructors here and they were all great.

02/23/2008 Posted by breezydc

I just started taking yoga here- and the beginner classes are excellent. Krissy, the instructor for the Sunday Workshop (I recommend if you're starting out) is very patient and manages to adjust and give feedback to everyone in the class. Sure - sometimes the classes are crowded, but that seems to be more a testament to the quality of instruction - and I still feel like I get personal attention no matter the number of attendees. I really didn't expect to enjoy taking yoga, but the nurturing environment is what I needed to not feel self-conscious while trying to learn the poses. This isn't a fancy studio - and the change-over between classes can seem a bit hectic, but if you're starting out like I am, I recommend Sonic. I don't know anything about the advance classes - but, they seem to have a good turnout.

Pros: Great environment & instructors

Cons: hectic changeovers

05/14/2007 Posted by susanschneider

Is it busy? Sure, but show me any studio in NYC with amazing teachers and great classes that isn't! Okay, so first, you walk in and people, not just the person at the desk, but other students walk up and say hey. very cool, unexpected. place is simple, beautiful, kind of zen-like, but with a Hells Kitchen energy to it. I've tried a bunch of teachers and, without fail, have left with a big fat smile on my face. They know what they're doing from a yoga standpoint, but also have great senses of humor. they keep ya growing, but keep it light, too. Prices - probably about average or even on the low-side for a major NYC studio. And, actually, they often have these killer specials - I paid $180 for 3-months of unlimited yoga and went almost everyday. don't know anywhere else where I can do that! Would totally recommend Sonic to everyone, in fact, I constantly do. Love, love, love!

Pros: Love the teachers and real-people community and great prices

Cons: can get busy at night, so arrive early

01/27/2007 Posted by dudde

if you like a dose of flatulence during your practice this is the place for you. very "windy" studio .

01/15/2007 Posted by hannah423

I have been very faithful and tolerant of Sonic during the past months, during which they seem to be having some sort of identity crisis. Whereas they used to have TWO studios and tons of classes, even late in the evenings, and even a level 3 class that I was looking forward to progressing to... now it is nearly impossible for me to make it to class on days that I work due to their cut schedule. They sold their third floor studio, (allegedly because they moved their teacher training program, but it did result in a much more limited schedule) and even if I do get there, the classes are now PACKED due to the reduced schedule. I don't get nearly as much attention and I feel really cramped even doing sun salutations. I miss the old sonic, where Stacey led wonderful Center classes on Sundays, where we could fan our arms out every which way without hitting our neighbor or line our mats against the wall to practice headstands without huge chaos because of the masses of people, and we were content to neatly line our shoes up in the halls. Now they have both fancy shoe holders in the hall, a mat holder in the studio and a new squishy carpets or desk sized rock gardens every week. Soon, there will be a Starbucks in their main office. I wish they would stop painting stuff, renovating, and splurging at Ikea and get back to the things that students actually care about- SMALL classes, a variety of times and levels that are flexible for students' schedules, and lots of teacher attention... And most of all, I miss the neck or foot rubs during shabasana (This is actually what got me hooked on yoga, especially when Laurie used some sort of scented oil during my beginner workshop!) ... Sonic, do you not love me anymore? You're breaking my heart! Maybe if you stopped charging so much, you would have more self control on your next Ikea trip. I miss the old you!!!

Pros: good workout, good location, many very great instructors

Cons: classes are too big and schedule has shrunk considerably, too much attention paid to interior design and not enough to yoga!

01/19/2006 Posted by ssb922

Love the classes, teachers and studio. And the fees...so reasonable, it's un-NY!

01/16/2006 Posted by yogashmogayall

Teachers that are not only great at what they do, but make me feel totally accepted, even when I feel like a complete dork. makes my whole body feel awesome. People are soooo friendly, actually walk up to you and say hi if they don';t know you. fun space, very chill, simple. always doing cool new things, not just your straight up vinyasa studio. oh, and flow 2 classes, amazing, best sweaty flow in new york, if not east coast! love sonic

Pros: teachers, yoga, friendliness

Cons: busy