Soulage Baltimore — Local services in Baltimore

In Mount Vernon's architectural tapestry, Soulage Baltimore occupies a sweet spot between preservation and innovation—an unheated yoga studio where the city's past and present converge in mindful motion. Established in 2022 in response to post-pandemic spiritual hunger, this first-floor sanctuary at 9 East Franklin Street trades manufactured heat for architectural warmth, allowing practitioners to sink into alignment beneath soaring ceilings rather than sweat through distraction.

The name itself—French for "to relieve"—telegraphs the studio's purpose in a city where relief comes in many forms but rarely without effort. Unlike zealous hot yoga evangelists, Soulage embraces room temperature practice, suggesting that Baltimore contains enough heat already without artificial augmentation.

Sarah Cook's Sunday morning sessions function as secular liturgy for those seeking communion without creed. Her 500-hour Jivan Yoga training informs classes that balance rigor and accessibility, creating sacred geometry without dogmatic constraints. For many, these unheated vinyasa sessions offer a contemplative alternative to church pews—equally ritualistic but mercifully devoid of collection plates or conversion pressure.

The studio operates as a cooperative rather than kingdom, housing independent teachers instead of cultivating guru worship. This distributed authority model feels distinctly Baltimorean—pragmatic, unpretentious, but no less committed to excellence. Classes range from traditional vinyasa to Katonah Yoga's esoteric geometries, each offered with equal legitimacy beneath the pressed tin ceilings.

Sunday's 8:00 am and 9:30 am sessions establish an alternative sabbath rhythm, drawing practitioners who seek embodied meditation rather than passive sermon consumption. These classes create communal reverence without theological requirements—the perfect spiritual compromise for a city whose religious architecture often outshines its contemporary religious participation.

The space's preservation honors Baltimore's architectural heritage while its programming acknowledges modern seeking. Original windows filter morning light across vintage floors, transforming practice into something between restoration and prayer. This adaptive reuse feels metaphorically aligned with yoga itself—honoring ancient lineage while meeting contemporary needs.

Mount Vernon's ongoing renaissance provides fertile context for Soulage's thoughtful approach. As surrounding blocks balance preservation with innovation, the studio similarly bridges traditions—offering timeless practice in a space that respects history without being imprisoned by it. Street parking challenges (particularly on Sunday mornings when competition with churchgoers reaches biblical proportions) remind practitioners that urban spirituality rarely comes without worldly obstacles.

For those seeking movement without evangelism, stillness without stagnation, community without conformity, Soulage offers distinctive sanctuary. The unheated approach suggests confidence in natural processes—a refreshing counterpoint to wellness capitalism's frequent insistence that transformation requires expensive technology or extreme conditions.

In a city where authenticity remains the highest cultural currency, Soulage's straightforward excellence feels appropriately Baltimore. Like the city itself, the studio balances reverence for tradition with unsentimental innovation, creating space for practice that acknowledges both architectural grace and human limitations. The Sunday gatherings in particular offer something increasingly rare: collective contemplation without ideological demands—each class a temporary congregation bound by breath rather than belief, finding sacred space in the most secular...

If I could give Soulage 10 stars I would... wow just WOW. When I arrived, I was greeted by the owner, Elizabeth, who gave me a tour of the space. The healing energy that she and her husband have captivated is absolutely incredible. The space is full of both history and life, bringing in beautifully salvaged pieces from Historic Baltimore. They truly paid attention to every small detail. I was at Soulage for the Healing Movement and Meditation class on Friday's at 11am guided by Elizabeth. Elizabeth has created a safe space where vulnerability and authenticity is encouraged. Not only was safe, healing movement incorporated, but also breath, sound, vibration, and myofascial release. Elizabeth also promoted a space where you were encouraged to find your comfortability by getting uncomfortable leaving you feeling extremely blissed out and brave by the end of class. She thoroughly explained each movement, pose, and the reason for doing everything we did. If you are looking for a yoga class to heal from the inside out, Soulage is the way to go. After class, Soulage provided all natural infused tea from Sweet Tea & Cornbread due to it being "First Friday." This was the exact refreshing feeling that was needed after releasing what no longer served us during class. Like I said, every detail was thoroughly thought out by Elizabeth. I could not have had a better experience at Soulage. Parking was super easy right across the street for only $0.50/hour. I loved that they provided a video ahead of time on their Instagram page to show you how to access their studio! Such...

Soulage is a warm hug. You walk in to a beautiful lobby and are immediately put in a good vibe. To your right, you have a sitting space and clean bathrooms and changing rooms. To your left is the practice room.

Inside the practice room there are plenty of cubbies for keeping your items - the cubbies are out of the way of the practice space but in eye sight if you’re worried about that sort of thing.

The practice space itself is stunning. There is a mirror, exposed brick, and plenty of plants that back up to a beautiful arched window - the architecture is stunning in here. My first time at Soulage was on a snowy day and it was magical.

My teacher was Liz, and she was incredible. She made sure everyone felt welcomed and safe. The class was so good - an extended slow flow for all levels. She offered incredible hands on assists. She also has such a poetic way with words that invoke emotions at the end of class. When you shed a tear, that’s when you know it was a good class. 🙂

I would recommend this space to any practitioner of all levels. There are plenty of classes on the schedule, so you are bound to find something...