Moksha Yoga Downtown

This is my first time writing a negative review on a business.
After hearing so many positive reviews from friends and peers about Moksha, I was looking forward to a great hot yoga experience to finish my last day of a monthly classpass membership trying many studios in downtown toronto.
I walked into the downtown studio and was immediately asked to sign a waiver (standard). The lady at the front desk actually wiped my last name off the sheet while i was filling it out because it wasn’t on the correct line (i get it, but still could have been dealt with in a friendlier manner). I complete the waiver and hand it back to the lady, who asks me if i want to purchase a first client special for the month — which won’t be available to me after this visit. I explain it’s my first time, and I would like to try the class before committing to a studio. She continues to push me on the package and I continue to explain I would like to try the class, as it is my first time, before committing. I really don’t think I was being unreasonable here. I further explained that I was on classpass and her reaction to this was negative/​unfriendly and essentially made me feel looked down upon and very unwelcome at the studio.
Asking to borrow a mat, locker and towel then seemed like a hassle to the front desk staff. No staff member showed me around to the location of lockers, change rooms or where practice was taking place. (This process is pretty standard at other studios, who know you are new and from classpass).
Another customer ended up showing me to the lockers and the studio, but the overall experience and vibe was quite possibly the furthest thing from relaxing or welcoming and my practice suffered as a result.
The worst customer service I have ever experienced at any workout, fitness or yoga studio in the downtown core, and I actually left the practice early and will never return. Such a shame, as I was so excited to experience Moksha.

It is hard to find a perfect hot yoga studio. I like this one because it meets more than some of my basic expectations of a hot yoga studio.
Positives —
1. Temperature. It is legitimately hot and you will sweat. Too many studios claim to be ‘hot’ and are super-​drafty and only warm at best. It’s a hot box here. Just how I like it.
2. Parking. There is often street parking available in the mornings, on weekends, that is free. There are a few free spaces in front of the studio but they are always full it seems, and you have to be careful which spot you pick (they have detailed instructions on a sign inside the studio, on the back of the front door). This parking availability makes me very VERY happy.
3. Lockers. You can borrow their lock, or bring your own. They are in the hall between the men and women’s change rooms and are cubby-​sized, but at least you can secure your valuables somewhere.
4. Clean. They mop the floor between classes and it is a wood floor, so an easy to clean surface that wont harbor germs like carpet or foamy crap.
Negatives —
1. Smallish studio that can be crowded — peak hours are busy and crammed. So go at off-​hours and early-​bird times.
2. Tiny change room — mess of stuff and people everywhere crammed in there. Lots of naked in my face everywhere. So come and go in your gear.
3. Group shower — two at a time, side by side, scrub-​a-​dub-​dub. I refuse. So I’ll accept leaving dirty in a pool of stale sweat.
4. Dark windowless studio — yes, the lights are VERY dim. I especially dislike seeing my faceless shape in the mirror at the end of the class when they turn the lights down even more and I am dehydrated + light headed. It’s like the start of a bad trip… So just close your eyes more — then its completely dark.
Comment on spirituality —
The classes I have been to have not done chanting and all that. There is not a lot of spiritual-​like pep-​talk during classes. Finding a spiritually-​compatible yoga studio is important to some. This is just too subjective to get into…
Overall, this studio will give you a great hot yoga fix. I do recommend it.

Love this place. It is an escape every time you enter the silence of the studio. Instructors are great and even when the class is full, you still feel like you are practising one on one. My go to yoga spot — Moksha Flow with Music is my favourite and Brendan on Mondays is the best! The only problem is that people need to be more respectful of the no talking and when class is in session the girls at the front desk should try and speak quieter as that can be distracting while in session.

This is one of the studios I really enjoy going to. Most of the instructors are excellent and also take the time to provide individual attention if they see someone practicing incorrectly.
Over the last year they have invested in the expansion of their facilities as their classes were getting really crowded. I wish they would expand their change rooms as well as I often find myself literally queuing to get to the shower or to my clothes. The fees have also taken a bit of a hike. These are the only 2 reasons why I haven’t given them a 5 star.

I’m sorry but I have been to many yoga studios and this one is pretty low on the list. During the peak classes it smells really bad with all the bodies in there — I think they allow too many people in one class. I couldn’t even breathe throughout the class without wanting to gag. The instructors just bring you through each pose without assigning any spiritual meaning to them beyond the physicality of the pose. I didn’t find the poses challenging at all, and every class is pretty much the same.
Not recommended for someone who is interested in expanding their yoga practice physically and spiritually in a clean, spacious room.

I don’t really like this place. I find it annoying that the turn the lights down so low. The last thing I was on a cold winter evening is to sit in the dark. I tried multiple instructors but don’t remember any of them or their qualities, maybe because I never saw their faces in the dark. I didn’t enjoy the classes and felt unmotivated to go back. The change room was decent, as was the entire studio.

I have had some amazing and truly memorable classes at this studio.
The music classes are especially nice.
Each instructor makes the class their own and adds a personal touch to the class.
The workout is intense and sweat always pours.
Expect to grow in your practice and take something from each instructor. This studio got me hooked on yoga and made me a believer that yoga is so much more then just a workout. Great job!
There are a few things that could improve — the shower is a 2 person stall which does not allow any privacy. A big turn off for those who are modest and prefer privacy.
Another thing is the lack of non heated classes/​prenatal class options. Would be nice to have non-​heated classes more frequently on the schedule.
Overall an amazing studio with passionate instructors!

Disclaimer: they just completed a reno with studios added, so the studio may be a bit better in terms of crowded classes. I dunno. but jeeeez do they get packed like there is no tomorrow. I felt as though there was literally no space between any of mats, and that means that quality of yoga poses does get compromised. I do not live in the area so do not go here too often but in case you are going to, be aware — come early go next to the wall so you are crammed only from two sides as opposed to all four!!!

I really wish this place was better since it’s right across from my condo building. And I will continue to go there for this reason. However, it’s a total crapshoot.
Yes, the classes are so crowded that the experience of going to a yoga class becomes stressful. And yes, the whole «book your class online 24 hours prior» is ridiculous for yoga. But they’re opening a 2^nd floor soon so I hope that will help.
Your experience also depends on which teacher you get — there are two I avoid completely. One that gets muddled all the time: «Left, no right, no wait — where were we?» and one that assumes way too much without asking anything: «We’re all tired today so we’ll take an easy class…»
And lastly you’ve got the desk staff. Almost always more interested in talking to each other than to customers, they are fairly nice when they do turn their attention to you. I wouldn’t go so far as to call them rude, except for this one time when the receptionist just cut off answering my question to start a conversation with the yoga teacher. It was really awkward. Even the yoga teacher looked embarrassed.

I was fishing around for a perfect yoga studio for myself. Although the studio is very yoga like, clean and professional I didn’t like that the studio doesn’t gave any windows in it. It is also quite weirdly shaped. Quite often the classes run without background music. They mop the studio after each class, which is great, and the teachers are professional. Also the class ends during the savasana which enables you to stay in the room for as long as you need in your final relaxation pose.

Rude!
I went to try this place today for the first time, was meeting my friend there who goes there often. I was turned away for being a whole 5 MINS late. I’m a newbie and there was construction on my usual route down Bathurst so I didn’t expect a big issue…
Whatever the policy may be for latecomers, there was no «I’m sorry» or «Please join us for the next class» just a rude «we have a very strict policy and don’t make exceptions for anyone» with the blankest stare.
It’s called customer service! Moksha downtown doesn’t have it…
I’ll take my money elsewhere thanks

As much as I wanted to enjoy hot yoga, this location made it kind of a turn off for me. The room was way too crammed — your mat will probably be only 3 inches away from the person next to you. The instructor was really good, but with such a large class, she couldn’t pay attention to everyone.
The prices are also very pricey — not sure if I’ll ever consider coming back.
What a disappointment.

Just started going here and I have to say I’m very happy thus far. I use to go to Uptown and it was great but this one has a better vibe about it (less uptight Forrest hill types who jump up at the end during Shavasana and ruin it for everyone making noise rolling up their mats — and obviously don’t get what Yoga’s all about!).
The space is nicely maintained and the instructors are great but… The only thing I would say is that the classes lack the spiritual aspect of Yoga or when the instructors try to do it it seems false somehow. I have had many Yogis, and I‘ve had a few now that really are Yogis ²⁴⁄₇ as in they live and breath it. I prefer Yogis that can make the connection between the physical and spiritual aspects of Yoga. It makes for a much more enlightening session.
When you leave Moksha you feel good but more like you‘ve had a good workout rather than a spiritual experience.

I’ve been to many Moksha studios and this one is definitely up to par!
The teachers are great and if you go a couple of times, they definitely remember you which is nice.
After going to a few classes, I was lucky enough to have a teacher that helped me with adjustments during classes. They take the time to help out, even if a class is full.
The change rooms get crowded, but that’s like any yoga studio at change time. The space is big and I’ve had no trouble getting a spot to put my stuff or change.
I find the teachers very knowledgeable and each teacher has their own style so every class has something new or some cool variations. Doing Moksha for a couple of years, it’s nice to have some surprises!
Again, I can’t say enough great things about this studio.
Arrive early to avoid the change room crowding if that’s what you dislike. Stay in shavasana a bit longer if you want the shower to yourself — problem solved :)

The facilities at this studio are quite nice… that’s where this studio earns the two stars.
The teaching is unfortunately quite bad.
The teachers are pretty uninspiring, lackluster and I’m sorry to say uneducated. Too often have I heard instructors here refer to muscle groups in completely wrong places, and even cue the room into a pose only to confuse it with the name of another… which ultimately leaves half the room unsure of which pose to hold.
The change rooms are large and clean.
Heads up to newby yogi’s who may not be acquainted with such a hot room — the heat here is quite high so take breaks *before* you get light-​headed!

I forgot how much I LOVE hot yoga!!!
I was post night shift (thus sleep deprived) and in need of some flow. A good friend goes to Moksha in the non-​summer and has always recommended it to me, so I decided to try their 75 minute Moksha Flow class on a Wednesday afternoon.
The location is… interesting. It’s in a low rise building that looks rather like a warehouse. Half expecting to have to go upstairs to the studio, I was surprised to just walk right into it from outside and likely made a little squeal as I did. Greeted warmly by a receptionist, I was given the DL on where I put my things, where I practice, and then was allowed a LOANER water bottle! No buying a plastic one, no mason jar — a LOANER water bottle! Bonus points :)
The change room is very, very spacious — a large open room with benches/​shelves, a shower, and the usual bathroom pieces. One thing I didn’t like: there were only 2 shower heads in the shower, and it’s a hot yoga place. I can envision quite the line up at the busier pre/​post workday classes.
The studio space is quite calming, but small. It’s longish and wide enough for only two mats lengthwise with an aisle in the middle. A few times, I hit the mirror (oops! Don’t worry, nothing broke). And this was a WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON class; I’d hate to see how jammed this place would be at a more popular time. Also, I loved the lighting. While I also love the airy, lofty feeling at other studios with windows, I liked that I got that calm, twilight evening yoga feel in the middle of the day.
Now, the main reason I went: the class. It was LOVELY. The instructor for the afternoon, I believe her name was Rachel, was soothing and descriptive, and allowing of whatever modifications we would make. Moksha has a set series it follows for all it’s classes, and certain ways of doing postures (some of which I didn’t necessarily follow…). My only desire would have for her to be more hands on. There was only one adjustment made during my Toppling Tree/​Warrior 3, though after last week’s class at Yoga Sanctuary, I’m sure I could have used more. Also, and this isn’t necessarily a critique, at the end, the entire class stayed in shavasana as we thanked her for guiding us today. Namaste in shavasana? Just not what I’m used to, I guess…
Overall, I really enjoyed myself. I’d like to come back one the Passport/​my Tula membership is up, as it’s just so darn close to me. I’d also like to check out what one of the likely busier classes may be like.

I haven’t seen this in any other Hot Yoga studio that I have visited, but Moksha Yoga Downtown cleans the practice room floor before a class. I like this a lot. Hot yoga in general calls for major sweat drippage. I’ve seen people leaving puddles and trails as they leave a hot yoga room. I assume that it is sweat.
The woman’s change room is also very large and spacious. This is great in comparison to other yoga studios that have extremely small and cramped spaces, which isn’t good unless you want to be pressing up against someone else’s sweaty labia. However, the showers are communal. Throw soap around and scream in the nude! Tee hee hee!
All the water provided at Moksha Yoga — including the TOILET WATER — is filtered. I don’t know what that means for the toilet exactly, but if you’re feeling the need to drink the toilet water, you’re welcome to.
I like that this place is QUIET. The instructor that I had told everyone to keep their traps shut and respect the space. GOOD. Meditation is all about shutting up and focusing on the breath.
The Karma class on Fridays is a suggested donation of $ 8. All proceeds go to local charities instead of fueling some guy’s coke habit.

I’ve been going to MYD for a while now. I have a favorite instructor, but to be honest, one of the best things about the studio is the variety of staff. Each instructor has a new take on a pose, a different way to help you visualize, even the different tones and tempos of their speech can elevate your practice.
I know some people might not like it, but personally, I love that the room has no windows. At first I didnt, but it really does feel as if you’re retreating from the hectic world outside. That being said, the MY on Danforth is nicely lit and does make for a very different practice.
The change room is quite roomy with a few lockers for those of you who want to keep things extra safe (I figure stealing from a yoga studio is pretty bad karma — as I’m sure most people practicing yoga would — so I don’t stress about that).
One thing I don’t love that I’ve been noticing is that the solitude of the practice room doesn’t extend past the doorway. When you’re lying in savasana at the end of your practice and you can hear people in the hallway bitching about work or giggling about their boy/​girlfriends it gets frustrating.
That’s not the studios fault exactly, but I would like if the serenity of the entire space was held with a little higher regard by staff and visitors alike…

So a year later, I am back with my Passport. I probably would come back more if I lived closer.
Part of my praise comes from the fact that I haven’t done a proper Moksha class in a long time. I really like going back to the basics, After doing hot yoga for over a year, the practice has definitely changed.
The teacher today, didn’t adjust, but I think most of the folks in the class had previous experience.
Her voice was calming and comforting, guiding us though.
Things I like:
— room is cleaned before the next class arrived
— gone is the racks in the narrow hallway for drying mats. They are in a small room now.
— big spacious changing room
— water bottle station
— lots of fun information on the desk
— 2 parking spaces in the front of the buildling /​1 hr parking, free after 6pm on Wellington. Free on the street north of wellington.
Things I don’t like
— the narrow crowded practice room. However, if you go to the front, definitely feel less crowded
ummmm that’s about it!

I used my Passport to Prana for this particular studio visit.
I feel really welcome when I arrived to the reception area. They even comment on what a good deal my passport is!
The change room is small… Yes I kind of expect that. 2 washrooms, 2 showers.
I love the waiting area though, has comfy cushions and the whole vibe is really relaxing.
The class I took is a Kriya class. not my favourite… (it was my first time trying Kriya, don’t know what to expect!) The room was nice and HOT! Yes really HOT. much hotter than my usual Moksha class.
But I really enjoy this nice little studio. I for sure will visit it again when I am in the area!
PS there are tons of street parking during the weekend! YEAH!