Laguna Yoga Shala

warning: led primary series level 3 is NOT for the weak.
i just attended my first ashtanga class last night with itay and boy was it the toughest yoga class i’ve ever attended, but i feel like a warrior because i didn’t skip any vinyasas and every inch of my body is now on fire! and the series itself is very challenging to start, right when i felt like we were easing into seated poses we were doing headstand for 20 breath counts. in my head «WTF?», but i sucked it up and did it anyways :)
itay has a great sense of humor to push students to their limits, and his aggressive yet amazing adjustments pushed us further to where he knew our bodies could take us. i’ve never felt my hamstrings so stretched before. thanks, itay the chiropractor.
it aint hot yoga, but it sure felt like it. studio windows were covered in condensation and i felt like i went to a hot yoga class, but nope, all from ujjayi breathing.
such a great intimate studio, simple, and very personable. i can tell there is a strong sense of community here at laguna yoga shala. a fellow yogi brought treats to share after class, and it was the perfect ending to an intense 2 hours of practice.

This was my first introduction into Ashtanga. I’ve been doing Vinyasa for almost two years, but never had the opportunity to try this style out. Alice C found this place through one of her fellow teacher training students who highly recommended that we take this particular class with Itay Dollinger.
Located in a business complex in Laguna, I actually passed the driveway a few times before successfully making it in. At night, the sign isn’t illuminated to let you know you’ve found your destination, so just look for Bank of America and you’re close. The way the street is doesn’t make it easy and if you miss your entrance, you’ll be making u-​turns until you get it right. It’s on the second floor.
The studio itself is on the smaller side and has a variety of statues and candles to set the mood and it has a single bathroom if you need to change. Because the class was full, so was the restroom, so I recommend changing in your car before and after.
As for the class, it was probably one of the most difficult and fun classes that I’ve ever taken. Running at about two hours total, it was a non-​step sweatfest full of challenging poses that I’ve never done or variations that I’ve never thought of. The instructor was excellent and thorough when leading from pose to pose and gave adjustments to ensure you got deeper into the practice. Being a noob in a room full of pretty advanced peeps, he made us feel welcome and if we didn’t know a posture, either he or a fellow student would lend a hand and demo.
I would recommend bringing an extra mat towel or two to help absorb all the water that’s gonna be flushed from your body when you’re done! Things will get slippery and you’ll be doing quite a lot of vinyasas.
I can’t wait to go back. I don’t think I’ve ever sweat this much from a class and this includes hot yoga from time to time. Totally worth it and I’ll definitely be back to take Itay Dollinger’s Ashtanga class again!
This particular class is $ 20 and you can pay ahead of time through PayPal or when you arrive.

Itay is such an inspiring and generous teacher. It was my first time practice there as a guest student. I was warmly welcome in the studio and felt right at ease to start my practice. I got tons of helpful adjustments and instructions from Itay. It made me want to go there more often just to be able to practice at the studio.

Timea is wonderful! I really loved her Ashtanga Yoga classes. I wish I could still go but my schedule changed at work and my car broke down so it s not possible. Please do take her. She is very nice, very competent and professional. I had a very good experience there.

This is a fantastic place to practice yoga. Itay is a great teacher — he gives each student lots of attention and has a keen eye for catching you when you are slacking and motivating you to do better. I only wish the studio was closer to my work so that I could make it to class more often!

Itay Dollinger, owner of Laguna Yoga Shala is the most inspiring and supportive teacher that I have encountered in my 20-​plus years of yoga. Itay, trained in the ashtanga tradition, encourages students to confront and transcend their limits. Each practice at the Laguna Yoga Shala is a deeply transformational experience. this is as good as it gets.