Nature Yoga Sanctuary

I’ve been coming to Nature Yoga for a few months because I got a year’s membership via Groupon. Overall, I really like their teachers and the class lengths. Staff is super friendly and teachers usually ask for input before starting class. I like going to the Vinyasa or Hatha classes; I like that there is variety in the type of yoga you can do here.
Two things I am not so fond of is that there are a lot of substitute teachers, so I cannot count on being able to work on certain poses I just learned and/​or having a consistently difficult work out. I do like that the teachers all have a different take on yoga– some are very mind cleansing oriented, some very kinesiology oriented, and some who tell jokes here and there to keep the class light hearted. All are great, I just wish I knew what I was walking into everyday.
Secondly, somehow the times don’t work out for me– 6pm or 8pm are the best options so you either go starving or on a full stomach– maybe that’s just me but I have a hard time shifting my dinner so much!

The teachers sequence was confusing and awkward. I didn’t break a sweat and don’t feel like it was any ‘workout’ at all. On a positive note she was descriptive and clear. I recommend doing another 200 hour tt outside of Chicago. Perhaps Boulder or Miami. Namaste

Got a Groupon for 10 classes and just went to my first class today. Although I had only one class, i would say it’s worth every penny. My teach is very nice and knowledgeable. She also answered my questions after class. The place is clean and the class is in a small scale. I went to a couple different yoga places and so far this is my favorite. The only bad thing is that it’s really hard to find parking nearby. Other than that, highly recommended.

I took yogi Danny B’s class. It was rigorous in a perfect way and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will try to make as many of his classes that I can. He was thought provoking and encouraged you to exceed your own expectations. Great class, great instructor!

The studio owner was my teacher, I bought a ten session groupon and will never return. I am a teacher myself, and was told a few times that I was «doing it wrong» when modifying for an injury, and he had no presence of mind for the actual class. He was very egocentric and it seemed to be a performance for him. He also didn’t shut up once. Good luck if you visit this studio, I’ve never wanted to scream at an instructor and leave a class.

Nature yoga has okay classes and is close to my home so I bought a Groupon for the Metabody pass because they were listed as one of the studios I could go to with my boyfriend. Fast forward two months and we can never get in even when we try to book far in advance. I found out from the owner it’s because they only allow two people each time from Metabody in the few classes they have listed regardless of whether the class is full or not. So it’s never possible to get a class where you can go with someone else. Instead of being helpful, he was rude, insulting the program, saying they were going to discontinue allowing people to sign up through it, and suggesting I buy a different Groupon specifically for the studio instead of using what I’d already paid for. Of course every email, a completely capitalist ploy for him to make the most off of yoga, was signed, «namaste,» hijacking an otherwise beautiful Sanskrit word to stand for a fake corporate thank you. I’m glad that Sat Nam yoga (a studio that actually is high quality) doesn’t have similar issues.

Nature yoga has a great studio and Mark is an excellent teacher, on th other hand i cannot tell the same thing for the front desk worker.
I had a groupon and it was my first time in the Nature Yoga. Just before the class, i approached to the guy on the front desk to sign up and he told me i am already on the system with different phone number. I have never been in Nature Yoga before, i was really confused because there must be some kind of a mix up. Anyways those things can happen, i thought maybe my sisters or a friend used it as me and forgot to tell me (which doesnt even make sense to someone using it 5 times in Nature Yoga that i dont know about) or there is someone else with the same name used it etc so i offered to pay for my session as a drop in if this is the case. Because at that point there was nothing else to do. But he told me in a very rude and threatining way that ‘he is having a hard time believing in me, he will call his manager and figure this out’. I felt extremely bad and told him again that i would like to pay as a drop in if i am in the system somehow but he insisted not to take the money and told me to go to the class and we will figure this out later. After this point it was nearly impossible to relax and focus on the yoga if somebody blamed you 2 seconds ago that you are lying! I understand there must be some mixed up on the system or on my groupon or even on my side but that doesnt mean they can blame you being a liar and get rude and all that especially if you are trying to pay for your class. If i am already on the system why dont you let me pay for it and solve the problem? It was really really annoying on my hand and after the class i insisted and paid for the class, there was no manager whatsoever around and i left the studio with the worst customer experience ever. It is such a shame because it was a great studio and i would like to be a regular customer if i had a better experience! I dont think i will ever going back!

The teachers who work here are incredibly nice and friendly. However, I don’t think I will go back again.

Terrific instructors, great community, and the best tea I’ve ever had.

Bought a Groupon for 10 classes at the Nature Yoga Sanctuary with a friend — my first real yoga class ever. Not going to lie, I was a little nervous it was going to be awkward and really hard. And potentially horrible. Pretty much like this:
. But less funny.
So after the first of ten classes (Intro to Yoga), my fears have been conquered. For the most part haha. The yoga center is smaller than I thought it would be, but I actually like it — I think it’s really personable and welcoming. The front area has a little lounge area, a locker/​cubby area for your shoes/​coats, and some cutesy merchandise for sale (yoga mats and accessories, incense, candles, etc). My friend and I filled out the new student forms the receptionist gave to us, then signed in (after she redeemed our vouchers). We took our shoes and outerwear off and stored them in the locker area. Then brought our yoga mats to the back room where a few people already had rolled out their yoga mats and were stretching or relaxing. They actually have yoga mats you can use (so you don’t have to bring your own), as well as… yoga blocks (not sure what they are called) and blankets to help bridge any gaps during stretches/​poses.
The instructor was really nice — calming and had a good balance of instruction on form and explanation of yoga theory/​principle. She goes pretty quick, but not so fast that us beginners were left behind. The whole experience is very relaxing and ‘go on your own pace’, not stressful or judgmental at all. We went through a lot of what I imagine are beginners poses and stretches — although a few made my weak legs shake and vibrate like jealous girlfriend blowing up your cell on silent.
After the class, the receptionist served really really good tea while the students packed up and put their shoes back on. I need to ask what that tea is next time I go in for a class.
The only con I would say about the experience was that the receptionists were not super instructive/​helpful (although they were very nice) — we had to ask about how we were supposed to sign up for future classes and clarify to the girl that we had purchased the Groupon, and how were we supposed to use the online registration site for future classes. But a very minimal con. Overall the experience was really great — I will definitely be back soon.

I had trouble at this studio because I never really felt supported in learning the ways of yoga. Even though I have done Bikram for 5 years and dabbled in others during this time, after coming here I felt like I knew nothing! All of the classes I attended felt very advanced and not welcoming. Despite this, I really liked the spiritual connection each teacher brought to the class.

Went today for the first time (purchased 15 classes on Groupon.) Very quick and easy check in. There are cubbies to place your items in and hang your coats. The instructor was very informative and friendly. The class wasn’t over packed so she was able to pay us individual attention at certain points in the class. Overall I’m happy with this studio and I do recommend it, especially for beginners as the intro to yoga class was just the right amount of push.
One thing I do recommend for this yoga studio is to install mirrors so that we can watch ourselves and make sure our positioning is correct.

Came here for the first time last week to use a Groupon I had recently purchased. I didn’t feel a very warm greeting when I entered and found that strange for a small yoga business. Sometimes I get that from Core Power or my Gym, but rarely from a place like this. I followed what everyone else was doing and put my things away and set-​up my mat. It was a good class, but I was expecting a different type of yoga. I am not sure if I misread the description, or if there was a sub for that time slot. I didn’t love the type of yoga, but that wasn’t a fault of the instructor or studio. The studio had a cool set-​up and a lot of light which I liked. So, I will try again and see if I can find the right fit for me at Nature Yoga. Maybe they will smile when I am back for the second time?

Very nice and easy to go as an out of town guest. Just sign the waiver and pay $ 12 for an hour and 15 minute class! There’s a safe area to keep your belongings and get dressed. The class was a good combo of on my feet and laying down stretches. I was surprised they offered free mats even though I brought my own. Only complaints were that the studio got very cold, my feet were freezing, and also this is the first yoga studio I’ve ever been to that didn’t have a mirror. All in all good experience, I’d return and I’ll bring my sister when I’m back in town.

Love going to this yoga studio. Discovered through Groupon, has been a blessing so far, Terrific instructors! Mark Lerro and Erica Rumpel are incredible, both. After a class with Erica, I know how how a lemon feels after being squeezed :)
She also incorporates Kundalini postures in her practice, which is a plus.
Mark works also on your emotional state, guiding you through his soothing voice and great life tips.
A class with any of these two impressive instructors will leave you on a zen mood for hours after.

Having just moved from a city where I never found a yoga class that was as good as the one I first started at in Virginia, I was super excited that my first yoga studio that I tried in Chicago is so awesome. The staff and teachers are very friendly and helpful. The reception area is welcoming and the offer drinks and changing rooms, and cubbies for shoes are easily accessible. The vinyasa workout kicks my butt in just the right way. I have only tried a couple teachers, but they seem like the real deal. But the attitudes are open and nonjudgmental, so it is a really good combination.

The yoga teachers here WORK you, in a good way. I leave here feeling like I wrestled a bear in a sauna. Start out all zen with the Oms, work up to a sold sweat with your muscles burning just enough, then cool down to a nice balanced state of mind. The space is comfortable too, people are laid back but professional. They don’t hassle you with a stupid charge for using their mats if you forget yours. Teachers are fantastic, some of the best instruction I’ve received in my four years of doing yoga. Never loses the pace and you always know exactly how to get in the pretzel.

Don’t go here. It’s terrible.
And by «terrible» I mean «great», and by «don’t go here» I mean «don’t go here, because then it will be crowded and I don’t want it to be crowded.»
The space is clean, open, and well-​decorated, with a soothing, quiet atmosphere. the teacher was very knowledgeable, and encouraging and positive toward the less advanced students.

I recently bought a groupon for here, having wanted to get more into yoga. I’m officially addicted now. The studio is very clean, classes are never too crowded, even on Saturdays, they have mats you can use so you don’t have to bring one, and the instructors are great. My favorites are Mark and Tatiana. They are fantastic — I always look forward to class, enjoy it while I’m there, and feel fabulous when I leave. Pricing is less expensive than some other studios in the area, which will likely draw me back after my groupon classes have run up, which will be a sad day.
My only gripe is I wish they had morning classes. I work from home and am sometimes able to come at lunch or to a 4pm class, but I can’t do evening so it’s a little limiting but well worth the effort to make a class with my favorite instructors. Namaste.

I originally bought the AMAZING Groupon deal for Nature Yoga and was extremely happy that I did. Nature Yoga is by far my favorite studio that I have been to in Chicago. Everyone there is super friendly, and yes, they serve the best hot tea before and after class. The overall vibe in the studio is very Earthy and calming. Wade Gotwals classes are challenging and an amazing way to elevate your practice. This is not a commercial yoga studio like Core Power and many others in Chicago. Also, no heated classes which I prefer as well.