Alive and Shine Center

They have good classes. The instructors have to go through many many hours of training and a very good at what they do.

I went to Alive and Shine because my wife suggested it as a way to deal with lower back pain. It’s the first time I’ve ever been to a yoga studio in the U.S., although I did study yoga intensively in India 35 years ago. I took the «Healing Lower Back Pain Workshop» with John Davie. To be fair, I’m hideously inflexible (physically, though my wife might argue that I don’t like change of any kind, but she’s wrong about that) and surely yoga should be good for me. I figured I’d give it a try because I’ve been doing what the physical therapist told me to do for a year and, while it works pretty well, it hasn’t banished the pain. Basically, when I lift my 38 pound bass speaker, or sleep on the ground, or sit in an unsupportive chair, my lower back hurts. I want to be able to do at least the first two things, so I’ll work on it.
John started the session, a scheduled 3 hours, with breathing and OM. Then he gave a lecture on the cause of lower back pain. «Fear and uncontrollability are the programs that we are dealing with in chronic lower back pain. The interververbral (sic) muscles tighten when your subconscious mind is in a state of fear or uncontrollability.» That was part of his lecture. He handed it out, and then read it to us. He also read «The average person is ruled by others. They do what the TV tells them to do.» One of my classmates said that her back hurts because someone ran into her when she was driving her car. She said it wasn’t her fault. John said that if she had really been self aware she wouldn’t have been in the accident. Clearly, my back should have started hurting more, because my conscious and subconscious mind isn’t tolerant of this kind of metaphysical pap. But it didn’t. And, by the way, the TV tells me to do a lot of things and I rarely do any of them. Maybe that means I’m not «average.»
John ran us through a series of asanas for the lower back, followed by six moves to open up the hips. He’s right on about developing the musculature on the front of the abdomen and about the relationship between proper stance with regard to hips, knees and feet and the back. He’s clearly a Yogi, though not quite up to the Yogi Bear standard, and I was impressed with his flexibility and mastery of the nomenclature. He put on a sales pitch for some of the products they sell for adding to your water to improve hydration.
On the whole, though, that was my first and last time at Alive and Shine. I got an immediate headache from the aroma of the place. They sell all kinds of «essential oils,» basically medicine show nostrums without the laudanum, and the place stinks of it. The religious element was way too heavy for me. I don’t need to be lectured on metaphysics. I was looking for some moves I could practice at home, and the jury’s still out as to whether John gave me anything that will actually work.

THIS is the place for those aspiring towards a true yoga practice, as opposed to just getting some asana in… and even if that’s all you want, it’s still a great place. I noticed some other reviews felt that the classes were not physically intensive enough. When I first came upon Purna yoga, I thought the same thing, but I also couldn’t deny how GOOD I felt after each class. So I kept going, and as I did, I realized that there is an integrity in the teaching that I have not found with any other yoga teachers in my 13 years of yoga practice. These teachers want to keep students safe, so that they may practice yoga that facilitates the rest of their lives– for as long as they live. They are not going to recommend more advanced poses until they KNOW that students are ready, and if you are a drop in student, they just don’t know you well enough. THAT said.
That said, I have had killer workouts here. As previously mentioned, it’s all about integrity, and even in Mana’s level 1 prep, I have received a great workout– not because the poses were so advanced or fast paced, but because I could sense the integrity of the teacher and her attention to the nuances of even simple poses, and so I gave those nuances my full effort.
Also, the meditation is wonderful. Having come from an ashtanga background, I initially thought the meditation techniques were funny and not my «cup of tea” — but again as previously stated, I couldn’t get past how good I felt afterwards. I know practice them regularly, and I like to visit Alive and Shine on a regular basis to keep my inspiration fresh. I regularly attend an affiliated studio near my home, but it is worth the 2 hour drive to visit Alive and Shine as regularly as possible.

Wonderful studio. Both the asana and meditation are impeccable. I’ve practiced there for 3 – 4 years. I feel like the studio follows traditional yogic practice and philosophy more than other places I’ve been. The classes have really helped me be more centered and energetic. As a contractor my body looks forward to the asana and as a business owner the meditation calm and focus my mind. The teachers have a minimum of 2000 hours training with one of the world’s master teachers. They have a decent retail with clothes, books, nibbles etc.

I’ve been looking for a yoga studio on the east side since I moved here 13 years ago. Over the years, I’ve mostly experienced cliquish, trendy, self-​absorbed places (which come & go, it seems) that didn’t have time for me and that were nearly all focused only on the perfect pose. This studio breaks out of that stereotype. The physical classes (level 1 — 3) are based on the Iyengar tradition, with alignment being important and well supported. But they place a lot of emphasis on meditation and bring it into the «regular» yoga classes, too. I find this very helpful and more holistic than a typical hatha yoga class.
They have a large staff and offer many classes each day, every day, at all levels, plus some specialty classes, like chair yoga and restorative. The variety and the timing options for classes help keep me motivated and it all fits into my schedule, even if my own calendar changes. The equipment is in good shape and is plentiful.
But what I really appreciate about this studio is the other attendees. Everyone is warm & friendly & helpful. I’ve rarely experienced that at other studios. Here, people (of all ages) smile and say hello and they help each other gather props etc. Some people, even in the level 1 classes, are clearly very experienced, but there are no «show offs» and I don’t get the feeling that there are teacher’s pets, which is pretty common elsewhere.
This studio seems very good for students new to yoga (or meditation) or in the early years of practice – or for those recovering either from trauma or years out of practice. I notice that they do not have many very advanced classes. If you are very advanced, you might prefer the teacher certification workshops and/​or the private instruction.

How refreshing to receive instruction for strengthening one’s inner voice, rather than biceps and abs. The yoga taught here has a spiritual core, and works wonders for connecting one’s intuition. I feel calm and centered after every class, and free from aches and pains. Highly recommended!

They offer great meditation techniques. Thank You!

I wish I liked this studio better because the class times and location are so convenient. But now that my unlimited month pass is over, I probably won’t be back. The class pace is slow to the point where I feel like I’m barely getting a workout after an hour and fifteen minute class. Part of that is because there are frequent pauses to «center your mind» during class with a meditation. If you want more of a meditative experience than a physical workout, this place might work for you.
Pro’s:
–3 rooms and many classes offered all day and evening
–mats and props are provided (but see Con)
–easy to find parking
Con’s:
–the pace is slow
–mats and props aren’t washed after use — they go right back on the shelf
–the focus is meditative vs. physical

Alive and Shine practices calm, meditative yoga rather than the athletic yoga I am used to in Los Angeles. John, the teacher of the level ²⁄₃ class informed us that his class was really level 2 and not too difficult. He was right, it wasn’t too difficult. John was patient and clear in his instructions and asked that you not deviate from them. He circulated around the room to assist all students. I appreciated that he clearly demonstrated the positioning of the body. If you are looking for non-​strenuous yoga with props this is the place for you.

Oh this place sent me their monthly email a few days ago and all I could think was how much i want to go back! I don’t live in bellevue anymore and don’t want to drive that far for relaxation but it really would be worth it.
I have taken their begining yoga class twice now from two diferent teachers and have loved it both times. I felt relaxed durring the classes and quite energized afterwards. Their begining classes are a fabulous introduction to yoga for beginners and are reasonably priced. Their studio rooms are equipped with beautiful hardwood floors, matts, curtained space, calm lighting and suspension walls.
That’s actually what sold me on this place was the suspension walls. You only do it once or twice in begining yoga but actually suspending from a wall and doing asana’s is amazing, it makes your entire body feel new after you are done and yes you feel good.
The staff are quite friendly and more tehn willing to work with you, I had a schedule conflict with a class once and they allowed me to drop in on that class later on. I would definitely go back here if i wasn’t poor right now and could find a good calming playlist for the car on the way there and back.