ensō yoga — Local services in Montreal

Not a trauma-informed space. Policy enforcement felt invasive and inconsistent.

I came here after being invited by another parent from my child’s school, who recommended hot yoga to support my healing journey. As a survivor of narcissistic abuse, I’ve had to relocate multiple times for safety. I’m cautious about where I go, who I trust with my personal info, and what boundaries I set.

I arrived just a few minutes before the class started. The front desk asked for a credit card. I politely explained I didn’t have one (financial abuse is part of my history), and offered cash. I was told they don’t accept cash and again pressured to “just give” my credit card. When I repeated that I don’t have one and only have debit, the receptionist kept pushing for a credit card, saying it was “better.” I left my debit card and business card (which includes my full name, email, and phone number), thinking that would be enough.

I took the class. While I won’t evaluate it fully — it was my first — I appreciated that the instructor let me move at my own pace and didn’t pressure me when I had to modify or pause. Women in the locker room said not all instructors are that sensitive.

But the real issue came after class.

When I went to pay, I was told I had to create a profile and was handed a tablet. I explained my information was already provided on my business card. I was in a rush and asked to just pay. Then I was told I also had to take a photo for my profile. I clearly said I wasn’t comfortable with that. I was met with insistence and told it was “policy.”

Here’s the part that felt especially unfair: in the elevator, I spoke to another woman who said she had been coming for a while and was never asked for a photo. That’s when it became clear the policy enforcement is not consistent — which aligns with what I’ve seen in other reviews.

When I refused the photo, the staff called a manager. She told me that if I didn't comply, I would not be welcome back, and she would put a note on my file. That was extremely upsetting. Any calm I had gained from the $25 class was erased.

This experience left me feeling disrespected, dismissed, and unsafe. As a trauma survivor, I was hoping for a space that would meet me where I am. Instead, I was met with pressure, inflexibility, and ultimately exclusion — all over a photo and a payment method.

If you're a survivor, or simply someone who values consent and consistent, respectful service, please be aware that this studio does not appear trauma-informed in its intake process or interpersonal tone.

If anyone knows of a hot yoga studio in Montreal that prioritizes emotional safety and informed consent, please share. I’m willing to travel to feel...

Having completed my 2-week trial, I must say that my experience at Ensō Yoga has been incredible! My goal was (and continues to be) increasing flexibility, reducing stress, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. In total, I signed up to 8 “Ensō Hot Flow” classes (all on weekdays at 4:30 PM).

My only gripe is the inconsistency between classes. Some teachers were great at guiding members through the movements, offering alternatives for beginners and experts. Others would go through each move very quickly with little to no time to get into the pose or to hold it for even 1-2 breaths. Personally, I preferred the classes focused on meditation and relaxation, during which poses were held longer. The 4:30 classes were all labelled “Hot Flow”, so there was no way of knowing the difficulty level prior to booking the class.

As a beginner, I really appreciated when the teacher would explain that it’s more important to do what we can given our physical range, than to hit every single pose. It was reassuring and removed the pressure to compare myself to the others around me. Occasionally, the teacher would also remind us to focus on our breath and remain in the moment. In classes where this wasn’t explicitly told to us, I found it easy to get distracted, let my mind wander, or get frustrated with certain poses.

In any case, the hour-long classes always flew by. Here are a few more quick thoughts:

The heat in the room was excellent. I found it a lot more comfortable than Bikram, yet still challenging enough. The entrance, locker room, and fitness room were incredibly clean and well kept. I was very impressed and pleasantly surprised. The staff at the reception was very courteous and helpful. There are towels and mats for rent if you forget to bring your own. The space between each person in the room seemed a little tight at first, but I didn’t find it to be much of a problem.

With my 2-week trial at an end, I decided to purchase a bundle of 20 classes. I look forward to continuing this new journey and I strongly recommend you give it a try, regardless of your...

I've been to many hot studios and this is by far my favourite one in Montreal. Not only is it well located and well-priced (works out to 10-11$ per classes if you get the 40 class package) but the customer service is outstanding. I saw the other reviews about some experiences but I find that the staff is super attentive and friendly (shoutout to Isha, Lily and everyone that makes me feel so welcome). I find it easy to communicate with them through email. They respond quickly and I have never had issues. For the classes, the temperature of the rooms is ideal, although sometimes if there are less people I actually find it not hot enough. The instructors are great! My recommandations: Pilates/barre (Emma, Leina, Dana, Patricia), Yoga (Oriette, Dalia, Angela) and HITT (Marina, Sarah).

Suggestions/downsides: please rotate out the green mats; they are slippery, a bit small and most of them smell like sweat! Otherwise, the studio is generally super clean. For barre, the bars are really low (I'm 5'8") which makes it harder to have proper posture. It would be great if there was another water fountain in the girls washroom - the line during rush is too long. I think there needs to be way more spray bottles in the rooms to clean our mats - would get people out faster. For yoga, it would be great if you offered a few extras at everyone's disposal like straps, knee pads or bolsters. It would also be great if there was a descriptive of the types of classes so you know what you are getting yourself into (ex.: beginner flexibility class vs intermediate flow). Pictures and bios of the instructors on the website and mind body app would also be great and would make it feel more studio like.

And I don't know if you have the space but it would be amazing if you guys started offering small group classes of reformer pilates.

Overall , I...