Yoga Union Baltimore — Attraction in Baltimore

I can only speak to the one class I took, which was labeled as a pilates class, but really operated more as a calisthenics class. While the instructor was very entertaining and playful in her approach to teaching, utilizing silly visuals and frequent profanity to lighten the mood, I would be curious to know if this instructor is actually certified in pilates. As someone who has been classically trained and certified in Pilates, I feel the need to express that the class they advertised as Pilates was very far from the actual method. She did pull from pilates breathing briefly at the start of class, which I did appreciate. Otherwise, this class completely abandoned the principles of Pilates, especially the elements of control, precision, and isolation.

This instructor heavily emphasized pushing past ones own physical limits, which was a welcome challenge and a good workout for someone who is already body-aware; however, one individual in the class had never ever taken pilates before, and was given no particular attention or care throughout class to ensure she understood the breakdown of movements or the intended targeted muscle groups.

The instructor's cues lacked anatomical specificity and her class flow lacked modifications and progressions. One of the things that makes Pilates such a wonderful and unique movement practice is the way it warms the body from the inside-out, targeting the deeper stabilizing muscles first, before recruiting larger global muscles. This workout immediately progressed to high-intensity movements, with no build up or modifications offered.

Pilates is a practice that was entirely rooted in and created with the intention of offering movement accessibility to all bodies, and this class severely missed the mark in that regard. I think it should be marketed more as a HIIT training and calisthenics or mixed movement fitness class. I want to emphasize that it was truly a good workout for someone just looking to break a sweat and work really hard, but I would not consider it pilates at all, and I would hate for people to get the impression that this is a true...

I've been attending classes at Yoga Union for the past six months and have loved every minute of it! I regularly take classes with Sherri, Cadie, and Stephanie, but have also taken classes with Christen, Myriam, and Naomi. My favorite class is the rocket yoga with Cadie! Every instructor is fantastic and has a unique approach to their practice. What has really stood out to me is the kindness and care displayed by every instructor.

The environment of this studio is very welcoming, and there isn't rigidity or pressure during your practice. Above all, you're reminded to listen to your body and take breaks or make modifications to make the practice work for you.

The physical space is great, too. There are high ceilings, old wood floors, and plenty of natural light filtering through an abundance of plants in the window. Their new space is bigger and has a dedicated room for props!

The pricing is also great, compared to other studios in the area. You can get your first class for $5 (regular drop ins are $20, but there are community classes throughout the week for $7) and your first unlimited month for $60 (after that the unlimited monthly fee is $120). I've run out of friends in the area to take with me, so this is me spreading the good...

So, so glad Yoga Union exists. Every teacher has a unique style and all are welcoming for students of all levels. I've never felt judged for one second, and I look forward to coming back each time I leave. I tell people that you could honestly lay on your mat the whole class. Someone would likely ask you if you're alright but other than that, you are truly free to use your mat space as your own. The studio space is cute, the rates are affordable. A wonderful place to practice yoga and mat pilates!

Update to add that it's super easy to bring a friend/guest to a class and introduce someone to yoga...