Maya Yoga

I was in town for a weekend and dropped in here for their led intermediate series class. It’s a tough one meant for people w experience doing ashtanga yoga, and damn was it incredible. The space is big and flooded with light. The prices reasonable. The teacher had a deep and resonant knowledge of breath, bandhas, the philosophy behind all of this. Was totally encouraging about the harder postures and helping give people options if they weren’t quite able to twist and tie themselves into every pose.

Let me first point out that I am not a «Gumby». With that disclaimer I will state that I was a skeptic from day 1. I am prior military and we used to poke fun at these people, one day I woke up and literally couldn’t get out of bed after all the damage I had sustained to my body. I went to the Dr and as usual he was quick to want to put me on pain meds; I refused and demanded an alternative. That brings me to Yoga, I will not try and gloss it over. At the beginning it is painful as SAS tryouts. But if you give it time, the pain won’t go away, but your body will adapt and you will feel 90% better than if you hadn’t gone. I am not one to give positive reviews, but should you wish to put yourself out, you will feel the benefit. If you are glutting for a drill sergeant type, I recommend Melissa as an instructor.

I have been attending Ashtanga and Vinyasa classes at Maya Yoga for several months and it is such a wonderful addition to my life. I finally feel like I’ve find a missing piece as a regular practice enhances my life in countless physical, emotional and spiritual ways.
The instructors are wonderful and even in classes where more advanced poses are being practiced, I always feel comfortable and never intimidated.
Maya is definitely a community and I felt that peaceful energy from Day One.

Check in was simple enough and I was shown where to store things and where the (clean) restrooms were. The space where we practiced was spacious with lots of natural light.
The session I attended was a self-​guided Mysore class watched over by Kim Johnson. She was very approachable and had a pleasant way of offering adjustments. Her input was not only insightful and useful for my practice, but was clear to me that it was from many hours of practicing and training. Next time I’m visiting KC I won’t even look at other studious, and will head straight to Maya Yoga

Excellent experience. Clean, friendly and welcoming. Perfect schedules. Qualified and unpretentious staff.

I have been going here since October last year and these last few months have been fantastic! I attend the Intro to Ashtanga and have had a few different teachers, all of whom are amazing — the 2 owners (Kathy and Wade) are terrific.
I have had Lisa a lot this last 2 months and she is fantastic as a teacher! She pays attention to how we do poses, corrects it if needed and is just a very gentle teacher. I always walk out of her classes feeling phenomenal!
Some of the poses that the more experienced folks in the class can do is pretty amazing — overall a great Yoga studio and conviniently located close to my office. 5 stars!

This place is my second home. Not only do the owners, Wade and Kathleen, provide a comfortable and secure environment to practice in, they also welcome and encourage a community outside the studio. There are numerous events, gatherings, and pot lucks to hang with fellow students.
Kathleen is one of the best yoga teachers I have ever had. She pushes you, which is expected (just like you’d expect a personal trainer or coach to push you), and demands excellence, but gives excellence in return. And you really see results.
This isn’t some yoga studio that practices structured nap time. Expect to work hard, have fun, and see results in a safe place. They also offer tons of resources off the mat, which is helpful as well.
Love it!

I’ve taken Ashtanga I with both Kathleen and Wade and I can’t emphasize how impressed I am with both of them. Kathleen is great at adjustments and Wade keeps a wonderful energy level throughout the session.
I was a bit skeptical about finding good yoga instructors in KC after attending sessions with world renowned instructors in San Francisco. But during my first session, Kathleen gave me an adjustment during bridge pose that made me realize I have been doing the pose incorrectly for pretty much my entire life. Not a single instructor has ever caught that. I’m sold!

There really aren’t enough words in the world to express how grateful I am to have Maya in my community :) Wade and Kathleen are the definition of what an Ashtanga teacher should be, kind but firm, they’re understanding but they will absolutely hold you accountable, push you and test your limits daily. In your first class, you should expect to feel like you will never be able to do it all or do what the person next to you is doing, but if you continue to practice, to just show up and try even though its hard and you suck at it, you’ll be amazed at not only what your body can do but the incredible turns your life will take. Come with an open mind and heart and if you feel intimidated but determined, you just may have found your practice! As for the instructors, if you are looking for warmth and community, invest yourself in this studio and your practice and I can promise you, you will be repaid ten-​fold. Kathleen and Wade take a personal interest in anyone who chooses to seek and commit to their practice (at whatever level you’re at). If you’re looking for a casual class to lose 10 pounds, this may not be your studio, but if you’re looking for a lifestyle overhaul, you’re home :)

Much gratitude to Maya Yoga! They are incredible — their adjustments are joyous!!! Awe inspiring. Wade and Kathleen have such a vast knowledge in the ashtanga world… Highly recommend Maya Yoga for those that practice ashtanga regularly and for the beginner (great intro to ashtanga classes available too). They also have enjoyable «vinyasa flow» classes… Huge thanks to Maya Yoga — wonderful yoga community open hearts and open minds!!!

Ill keep it short and sweet: this is as good a Yoga studio as you will find.
I’ve read some of the reviews here and as far as the less positive ones go, I don’t understand what they expected going into it. Ashtanga is not some lazy, relaxed exercise where the teachers coddle you, it’s an intense practice! I can certainly understand if you went in not knowing what to expect but simply put, it’s a difficult form of yoga which requires tremendous discipline. I barely knew what yoga even was when i started last fall, but i was so inspired by the teachers there and the advanced students that i stuck with it and am now an addict ;-) Over the past 9 months I’ve gotten close with the owners (everybody does because they’re so warm and friendly) and the community of yogis that regularly practice there. I can’t stress enough how much Astanga has changed my life for the better, and I owe it all to Maya Yoga.

Maya Yoga helps one expand the body and mind in a soulful way. The ability of Kathleen, Wade, and other yogis who teach there to intuitively and kindly persuade your yoga practice to a level previously unimaginable, is astonishing. The results are a sleek, yet stronger musculature, as well as a calmer state of being. This calm not only stems from the physical practice, but also from the spiritual focus of the studio, which brings you closer to the essence of God. This agnostic follower has found healing, enlightenment, and spiritual well-​being from both the Ashtanga practice and the meditation classes they lead. I encourage anyone who is feeling disenfranchised with the cardiovascular and weight-​training workouts offered at gyms to come try Ashtanga yoga at Maya Yoga.

Tucked away in downtown KC Maya Yoga is a bit off the beaten path. My daughter and I bought a groupon to give it a try since we enjoy taking Ashtanga classes from a variety of teachers since everyone is a bit different.
The studio is warm however the instructors were not (which surprised me). Maybe it’s because we had a groupon and are not regulars? who knows. We positioned ourselves in the back row since we were not familiar with their sequencing or how they ran their classes. The instructor was pretty intense for a beginner class and was a bit too serious for me. Don’t get me wrong it was a challenging class and she knows her stuff but the yoga vibe of love, peace and Namaste was not abundant as at other studios.

This place is amazing. I’ve yet to find a studio comparable anywhere I’ve been in North America. What makes it so amazing is that as soon as you walk in you’re greeted by a teacher (all of whom are friendly and helpful). There’s a light smell of incense in the studio and an all-​around comforting vibe.
The owners Kathleen and Wade make it a truly special community and take an interest in their students and their learning process. If you are serious or would like to be serious about yoga, this is the place for YOU; if you show an interest in learning, they will guide you every step of the way!
Come with an open mind: there is opening and closing chanting (don’t be scared, stay quiet and listen, you will learn!), sometimes added philosophical readings (love when kathleen does those!) and sometimes even beautiful music from Wade’s harmonium to end in Savasana.
I have never felt like that after a yoga class, EVER. They are passionate and cater more to ashtanga but there are other styles offered if you prefer more creative Vinyasa. Lots of Intro classes to choose from too. Just check the schedule before going. I didn’t particularly like Ashtanga the first couple of times but I quickly got hooked after 3 – 4 visits.
I was only in KC for 6 months but there will be a piece of my heart there for long to come at Maya Yoga ;)

I really wanted to love this studio. A friend told me she would drive up from KU just for Maya Yoga. The next day they offered a Groupon; I thought it must be a sign.
Although I’ve only taken 3 classes so far, I am not excited to go back to class like I have been at other local yoga studios. The instructors are definitely talented and passionate about ashtanga, but I don’t feel welcome as a new student. Thank God for Scott, the student next to me, for coaching me through some backward bridge somersault when I thought I was going to break my neck.
If you are an experienced ashtanga yogi, I think you would love this studio. After my last class, the instructor announced that she requests students to attend at least 3 times a week. That is great, and all health centers would want that and should encourage attendance. However, the way Kathleen said it and elaborated on it, made it pretty clear that she doesn’t want to see you at all if you can’t come consistently.
Maybe it was just a vibe I got, but as a frequent traveler, I don’t think I will be signing up for more classes.

I’ve taken classes with three different instructors now at Maya Yoga and I can safely say, I’m a fan!
Housed in a building that was once part of Kansas City’s film row, I had a good feeling as I walked over Joan Crawford’s and Jean Harlow’s stars on the sidewalk leading into the building. (both screen queens spent their formative years in KC… wow, I have a way of fitting that into many reviews, don’t I?)
The studio is on the second floor, down past the check-​in desk and hallway where you’ll find the bathrooms and an alkaline water system. The studio itself is lovely, with bamboo floors and all kinds of wall hangings and statues around the room with Ganesh and other Hindu deities, which automatically makes me feel happy. The room has lots of windows, which allows for natural light and they like to keep the temperature to 80 degrees. No, this is NOT hot yoga (not a fan, personally), but you will sweat. Personally, I do like having windows open, letting in fresh air and fans, but I think I’m in the minority as I haven’t found any studios that have this kind of thing.
Most classes are taught by Kathleen and Wade, the husband and wife team that own Maya Yoga and both are approachable, strong instructors that will push you as far as you need to be pushed, while not going too far. It’s noted on the schedules which classes are more for beginning students, by the way, so take note of that if you are a beginner.
Having fallen out of regular practice, I mixed it up a bit to get back into it. I’ve taken a combination of classes, although not those in the morning or evening (ashtanga) which are really for those who have some background in yoga. I don’t love ashtanga, but I did take two intro classes with Wade and he really does a great job of easing you into this challenging practice, for many of us, would take years to be able to do a lot of the asanas to their fullest benefit. Keep in mind, yoga is a practice and it’s not about who can do this or that pose or asana. It’s hard for most Westerners, as most of us are looking to be «good» at it (myself not excluded). What I’ve always found interesting is that you can be an absolute beginner but able to do some challenging poses with ease, like from when I started yoga many years ago, I found ankle to knee pose to be a piece of cake while a good portion of seasoned practitioners struggle with this. Meanwhile, I’ve still yet to be able to put my hands flat the floor when doing a forward bend.
Kathleen’s Tuesday midday Vinyasa class is perfect and definitely challenges me (hello splits! Still can’t do those, either), while keeping me in good practice for those poses that come easier (Yay, backbends!). Today we had a really fantastic sub named Gwen and I need to see if she teaches other classes, because she was a blast– really down to earth, really helpful, but again, it’s not gentle yoga (which she teaches as well, to seniors. How awesome is that?!)
I come from a Vinyasa and Kundalini practice and ideally my practice combines both. Maya doesn’t offer Kundalini, so I’ll probably be going elsewhere for that, but I am really happy that I found a yoga studio that I love for Vinyasa!

I won’t be back. The instructor was militant in her vegan beliefs and while I’m very supportive of that choice, I don’t need to be preached to or given a guilt trip while I try to focus & relax.

I love this place! Very supportive and helpful staff, and a wonderfully challenging yoga experience.