The Shala Yoga | Fort Greene — Local services in New York

Interesting studio. As a male I felt uncomfortable and not very welcome. The class was lined up with two rows going down either side of the room. You did your poses directly in front of the other row. A lil weird. In the beginning I had mixed up warrior 1 and warrior 2. The instructor told me loud enough for the whole class to hear ‘don’t worry buddy, what counts is you are here’ which felt condescending. Towards the end we were going to do a partner stretch. I was one of two males in the room. Felt uncomfortable doing it with a female I only briefly made eye contact with especially considering it was a more - uhh how to say this- intimate partner stretch.

Do not smell the blocks or put them by your face. I don’t think they are regularly cleaned. Maybe ever?

It was a vinyasa class but it was maybe more ashtanga which I suppose moves faster. I’ve done over 100 vinyasa class, this class moved so fast that I couldn’t really get into the poses much or find a flow. Especially considering you’re also trying to avoid eye contact with the row of people directly in front of you. Also seemed a little dangerous with how deeply we were going and how quickly. At one point I heard someone fall out of a pose. And she said she had a leg cramp, the pain in her voice was audible. It made me wonder how many people have gotten injured at this studio.

Kinda seemed like giving instructions rapid fire was a power trip for the instructor. 🫤

The studio is beautiful though with...

The Shala is the best yoga studio in NYC. My fiance and I have been practicing here since we moved to Clinton Hill in May, 2022, nearly two years ago. We had no idea what we were getting into and started attending the Mysore classes with Kristin, Barbara and Sherry. Since then, we have been guided along the Ashtanga Primary Series with so much guidance, patience and kindness. Both my partner and I have a lot of sport related injuries and all of the teachers there have been so mindful with us. I always had an idea about Ashtanga yoga that it was too difficult or intense, but practicing regularly at The Shala with these ladies has broken down all my prior ideas. The Shala also offers Kirtan, Buddhist Studies, daily online (FREE!) meditation, vinyasa and restorative classes. From time to time they have workshops and they host yoga retreats in beautiful locations. The studio is cozy and everyone is accommodating when it comes to making space, especially in the Mysore room in the morning. The Shala and all of their instructors are a gift to Brooklyn and NYC. They sincerely practice what they preach by contributing to the community via donation classes and their individual volunteer efforts. An absolutely...

Thank goodness for The Shala in Brooklyn! As a blind New Yorker who has been on a mental health journey, this studio has been a safe space for me. I try to go daily in the early morning for mysore ashtanga. I am quite physically inflexible (I can’t do a full lotus and am getting toa half lotus, as examples) and have had iliotibial band and other areas of limited stretching for decades. The instructors I have learned from, Barbara, Kristen, and Sherri, all are patient, helpful, and encouraging to me as a beginner. They also help me with my visual impairment and create space for me by the window and help retrieve props like yoga blocks and blankets. My time at The Shala enhances and accelerates my mental health efforts, including speaking with kindness to my protective parts and build Self energy. In addition, I have time to do activities that enhance my quest to build unconditional self love, including Tonglen during savasana. The other members are welcoming and helpful as well. In addition, as someone who is gender non conforming, I find The Shala community to be a wonderful place where I...