OM Yoga Center

09/10/2008 Posted by NYCgirl1210

This studio is great for relaxation. It is so clean, lots of different rooms and space. Many classes to choose from and at different times so OM is east to fit into my hectic schedule. The teachers are friendly and very attentive. I will definitely continue to take classe here. I get everything i am looking for in one spot! Perfect :)

08/29/2008 Posted by yogalia

The studio itself is quite large, with lots of winding hallways and rooms with cutesy names (every yoga studio in the world is guilty of this...oh, that will be taking place in the sky room...you'll be having class in the love room...just leave your mind right outside the earth wind and fire room...) and the dressing rooms are practically palatial compared, which was actually really nice, as I'm so used to bumping elbows (and all kinds of other things) with my fellow dressers. After getting dressed I lined up with my fellow classmates outside the earth room (sigh) where we would be taking class. Again with the silence! No talking, no laughing, no groovy chant-y music playing...we all just kind of jammed ourselves against the wall and pretended we were alone. Other signs of chilliness: a full-size model of a skeleton staring at me from down the hall. (I mean, I get why it's there, but really...necessary?), and a large-size note next to the perfectly organized rolled-up mats declaring over and over that if you are NOT a member or a teacher you are NOT to touch these mats. Mats for you (oh, non-member peon) are hanging up in the studios! Finally, the doors opened and we were allowed in to the studio (also huge), and all beige, which I was not super fond of...though the light was nice and because of the monochramatic thing going on it felt kind of ethereal, which I like...and stocked to the brim with mats and props. I found what I thought would be a nice hidden spot, one row from the back, and set myself up.... For more, visit my yoga blog at shanti-town.blogspotdotcom

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

08/28/2008 Posted by eli41

I was not especially impressed with Om. The studio does not seem as clean as many others I have been to, and the classes are far too crowded. The classes themselves are decent, though I found the instructors tend to spend a LOT of class time talking.

Pros: lots of classes on the schedule

Cons: crowded classes, chatty instructors

08/09/2007 Posted by bendybroad

Beautiful, super-clean, and HUGE space with great rental mats and all sorts of props. Like another reviewer mentioned there is a lot of branding and Cyndi Lee is an amazing businesswoman. I had no idea what to expect from her as a teacher and as a human being (rather than the face on the books, DVDs, toothpaste, etc.) So I finally took an immersion with her and was so surprised. Her vibe is like she's your bestfriend's mom who's a Buddhist and way cooler and more fun than your own mom. She's incredibly warm and down-to-earth with a wealth of knowledge about asana and meditation. Putting aside my misgivings about overly commercializing those things, I really enjoyed practicing with her for a week. As for other teachers, check out Joe Miller, Frank Mauro, and Brian Liem.

Pros: Best space in NYC

Cons: Cyndi's in town infrequently.

07/26/2007 Posted by atomicyente

Om has solid Vinyasa classes, with sweet teachers, set to music. But I never feel connected to this place. It's huge and the giftshop, with lots of branding, is a little off-putting. Gotta hand it to Cyndi Lee, though. She is an amazing businesswoman.

02/11/2007 Posted by yogagirl76

I attended OM Yoga Center on and off since 2003. They used to consistently offer the best yoga classes in the city, and teachers like Brian, Margi, Sarah, and Christie still offer amazing instruction. These teachers are some of the most knowledgable in NYC, especially when it comes to alignment and adjustments. However, over the past 2 years, OM has added several sub-par, inexperienced teachers to their regular staff. A few of these uninspiring teachers are now teaching several classes a week! This has hurt the overall quality of instruction at OM. To make matters worse, OM does not disclose in advance when a class will be covered by a sub. This makes it impossible to avoid the worst teachers, who invariably end up subbing for their more talented and experienced co-workers. After several experiences paying $16 to take a class with one of my favorite teachers, only to be taught by someone who needs to spend a few more hours in teacher training (one of whom gave me a sloppy adjustment that had my back aching for a week), I'm saying goodbye to OM forever!

Pros: Beautiful studio, some great teachers

Cons: uneven instruction

12/20/2006 Posted by pjc118

I've just moved downtown from midtown and was really excited for all the supposed great yoga studios in my new neighborhood. I decided to try OM yoga with my friend and we each bought "trial package" where you get 2 classes within 1 month for a slightly discounted price. This is where the problems began: 1) We went to one class and the class was just ok. The teacher was super nice, but the poses were very mundane & repetitive as if filling up time. 2) The class was way too crowded where even placing us head-toe and side-ways, we would still bump into each other. 3) After doing more research, I found that Om's prices are 20% more than others for NO justifyable reason 4) Worst of all, my friend travels for work a lot, and found out that he can't make it to the 2nd class (that's within the package) within the month. The manager was only willing to extend 5 days, or give him a $7 credit for purchasing a 3-class+ package - meaning more money for Om! When we asked if he can transfer his 1 class to me, or even transfer his credit, the manager was absolutely inflexible. He had no problem saying "no" to us, essentially just taking our money. By now, we are too upset about this, not because of the mere money, but the studio's attitude and inflexibility to their clients. Don't they know they're dong business in NEW YORK CITY!?? Aren't we all busy? and Stressed enough already??

Pros: friendly instructor and receptionists

Cons: poor & inflexible management, high price, way too crowded

06/09/2006 Posted by ravineave

This is one of those great funky Yoga places in NYC as you enter an old office building, get on the elevator and start to smell the incense on the way up. I made sure that I took a class with Cyndi Lee and since I was new to Yoga, was not sure what to expect from a well known Yoga teacher. It is only now that I was impressed that she took the time to know everyone in her class, asked our names and Yoga experiences. Her class was hard, but she is a funny, funny person. I'm impressed that she continues to do an intermediate class as if to place herself right in the middle of her students abilities. What a great place as I took another class there with another teacher, Tania, left briefly before the class began and when I returned, she asked if I was Mark. How amazing that no one knew me from Adam as I dropped into that studio and yet the teacher actually looked at the student list of her class to welcome new students. If I lived in NYC, Om Yoga would be my Yoga home.

01/15/2006 Posted by linda_nyc1

Om Yoga is fabulous. I've been going for over two years and love love love the classes and the studio. Teachers are stellar - they are in love with yoga and teaching it to their classes. The studio is clean and offers a lot of information on yoga programs and other related information.

Pros: hours, teachers

01/12/2006 Posted by aheller2000

About 20 minutes into class I looked at my friend--she got up and left. 5 minutes later, I left the class- she hadn't come back. she was sick. We went to front desk to tell them there was a problem with the room-- front desk was very nice. About 10 minutes later the manager showed up. He was a total jerk. He treated us like we were making up everything. by now, we missed a lot of class and wanted money back. The manager said, "no." He told us that we would have to email some other guy who works there. We asked for the email address- he said, "FINE! GIVE THEM THEIR MONEY BACK!" We heard some talk about "adding two schmos to the class" and he walked away. Anyway, I've never gotten such attitude from a yoga studio over something that shouldn't have even been a big deal.