Let’s face it — I love a small yoga studio. There’s something about the intimacy that really allows you to connect with your instructor, get hands-on attention (if that’s your thing, of course), and develop the feel of community with those around you. Also, I find that boutique studios generally allow their instructors to teach to the beat of their own drum, as opposed to following a script or precise routine.
What constitutes a boutique yoga studio, in my humble opinion? One that is not a chain, is owned and operated by a local New Yorker, is on the smaller side (max capacity of 20 students in a class), and is a one room operation.
Below are 5 boutique yoga studios in NYC I absolutely love and personally frequent.
- Medicine for the Soul Yoga
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Price: 2 classes for $25, one month unlimited $125. - The Happie House
Neighborhood: Astoria
Price: 1 class $18, one month unlimited $120, and new member special 30 days for $30. - (This is the studio I taught community classes at over the summer;-)
- Yoga Spa
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Price: 1 class $19 ($13 with student ID), one month unlimited $160, and new member special one week unlimited $30. - (This is a studio I regularly take classes at;-)
- Stanton Street Yoga
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Price: 1 class $20 ($14 with student ID, or $10 if you are a yoga teacher), one month unlimited $160, and new member special one week unlimited $35. - Three Jewels
Neighborhood: East Village
Price: 1 class $20 (student and seniors 20% off), one month unlimited $100, and new member special 3 weeks unlimited for $40.
(This is the studio I volunteered at a few years back;-)
And a few tips, if you’re looking to get discounted/free classes. Always check Groupon to see if the studio is offering a special. Or if you have a few hours a week to volunteer, many small studios offer karma yogi positions, which allows you to do basic volunteer work (manning the front desk, cleaning the studio, updating social media, writing for their blog) in exchange for free classes. Never hurts to ask!
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
