The Studio

Love all the class options, especially TRX, which isn’t offered in too many other places in town. They have so many class times too, so you can always work yoga into your schedule. Two locations so I can go no matter what side of town I’m on. Wish it were less expensive though. I’m currently going on a special.

This is where I learned yoga, and I am lucky for it. The instructors have an amazing focus on form and I can trust them to correct me when I am not doing it safely. Each teacher has their own distinct style that varies greatly from teacher to teacher, and students are able to pick the instructors that fit best with their own practices.
Many of the flow classes have a theme that the instructor chooses to follow — it could be focusing on a specific chakra, a muscle group, or building the strength and flexibility to get into an advanced pose. No two classes are alike, and although I often find comfort in routine, the teachers create such a safe and inviting environment that I now look forward to trying something new each class.
I recently tried a month at another studio closer to my house, and quickly found that the quality I see at The Studio is not universal to all yoga studios.
The students and staff have formed a great community. I have been attending for a year and don’t speak much while I’m there, yet the staff know my name and I feel welcomed every day.

While I was living in Madison I enjoyed and utilized this space. Unfortunately, I had to relocate out of state and was unable to utilize this space anymore.
After I moved out of state unexpectedly I was very surprised with how unwilling to cancel my membership they were (or even consider it). Given the high costs associated with this Yoga studio you would think they would not nickle and dime you at every turn, but that was my experience when trying to cancel my membership.
When I sent an email asking for more explanation about why I could not cancel my membership I got a return email with a picture of my contract and very minimal response. I thought this was unprofessional and quite rude of a response. For a yoga studio who tries to promote good will, good health, and community– they aren’t very accommodating when members of their community have emergencies or life changes.
Even if I move back to Madison I will never utilize this studio again.

Classes available all day long. Many different choices of classes, some include: TRX, barre, yoga strong, hot yoga, yin. Beautiful location and beautiful rooms. Sign up ahead of time because many classes fill up quickly. There are special deals for first time members. I highly suggest trying the 6:30 hot yoga class on Tuesday evenings and then staying around for the 45 minute savasana class at 7:45. The savasana class is their «signature» class and takes place by candlelight and includes a short massage with aromatherapy. If you’re looking to build strength and want cardio check out yoga strong.

I love coming here. The staff and teachers are all very friendly and just has a great feel. The barre and yoga strong classes are my favorite.

I’ve been in the yoga community from both sides of the check-​in desk around Madison for quite awhile, but currently I just attend classes as a paying member, which is new to me. I have heard and responded to every possible complaint and concern that a yoga client can have, in the past, and find myself now in their shoes (or bare feet).
The Studio is undeniably the finest physical studio I’ve ever taken classes in. The high, rough hewn wood-​beamed ceilings, the huge windows overlooking the lake on one side and a historical lake side area on the street side. The dimly restful lighting. The blessedly superheated classes that melt the winter chill away. The couches, floor pillows, the tea, it’s all very beautiful.
But here’s the thing. For a lot of people, yoga is an expensive, carefully-​budgeted-​for extravagance of self-​care. It’s a serious thing, and over time most practicing yogis do develop more of a rapport with a certain instructor or instructors styles, energy and vibe. The body attunes to it, the spirit releases with it. Yoga instructors encourage and depend upon a loyal following to some degree, as well.
For non-​yogis, think of yourself setting up a haircut appointment with someone who ‘gets’ your hair, someone that you’ve been going to for a long time. You arrive for your appointment and surprise, it’s a stranger. You have prepaid and you cannot cancel or get a refund, even though you didn’t know about the substitution.
This is how I and many others feel when we sign up in advance for a certain instructor’s class, look forward to it, prepare for it, and then are expected to stay and pay/​use a class pass when someone we don’t even know appears to teach. It’s *not* that that person is a bad teacher, or incapable or any of that. It’s simply not what we signed up for.
If a substitution is last minute due to some emergency, clients should be allowed the option to reschedule and not lose one of their passes. But to leave the well known teacher on the schedule when there is a known, pre-​arranged vacation, and then not update the schedule with that change in time for people to be allowed to change or cancel the class, seems disingenuous and unfair.
The result is that I cannot register for classes in good faith that I will get what I signed up for. I will have to make a second visit to the website each time I plan to attend, before the cancellation window expires, just in case they’ve switched it at the last minute.
The other thing that astonishes me is that there is no one else assisting in the huge classes, just the teacher is there alone. No one comes around to offer adjustments, no one is going to notice if someone needs help to avoid injuring themselves. As a longtime yogi now dealing with some limitations of movement, I expected some simple guidance. Despite how beautiful The Studio is, there are things that could be done better.

This place rocks.
Go for a sweaty vinyasa class in a gorgeous cream city brick converted warehouse overlooking lake Monona. Great teachers, and friendly vibe. Not too crowded (yet!). They have 3 studios in the building so lots to choose from.
Do your practice!

Great space and instructors. Terrible «front desk» service. The receptionist is either completely disengaged and incapable of providing good customer service or someone who makes up rules about coupons at will. They can not be trusted to honor coupons, etc. Be careful! If you join and don’t have to deal with punchcard… you’ll be fine. If not, good luck!

Amazing space on the water and great teachers like Ken Kloes with tons of experience. In addition, the Briohny and Dice workshop earlier this year was a special treat!
The new studio on the West side is very convenient, but the thermostat needs to be adjusted as it gets way too hot (i.e. the floor sometimes gets so hot that I actually don’t want to do savasana!).
Some of the younger teachers could use a little more experience

Tried this studio visiting Madison from the Chicago area, and I really enjoyed my experience. First tip, read the class descriptions! I made the mistake of signing up for a Flow Yoga class not reading the descriptions and was quite surprised to walk into a heated room at 95 degrees.
I used to do Bikram a lot and was really nervous walking into a hot room for the first time in quite a while. But the studio and the vibe is beautiful. I thought the instructor was very nice, and I thought it was great that he would really take time to help students make sure they were practicing safely.
However, it became slightly problematic when he seemed to forget that the rest of us were there. I wish the instructor could’ve been better about critiquing and helping students as well as continuing to help guide the rest of us through our practice.
I did enjoy my class though, and would like to come back on my next stop to Madison.

I have practiced yoga for 16 years now. I have visited yoga studios all over the country and enjoy yoga tourism. I think I have visited at least 200 different studios over the years.
I have attended roughly 150 classes at the Studio — Madison this year. I only attend the Yoga Flow Classes. I joined for the 6 months for $ 99 a month.
The good? If you want to do a lot of yoga, you cannot beat this deal. The space is gorgeous and every single person who works there is polite and nice.
The bad? Many of the instructors are still pretty new to yoga, and the classes are generally large (more than 40 people in the evening). Consequently, advanced or experienced folks receive very little assistance. Instead, the instructors are busy stopping newbies from hurting themselves.
There’s also a pervasive new-​age, faux-​buddhist, crappy existentialism that permeates this place. As a Buddhist who just want to exercise, it gets on my nerves. But, hey, this is also a common problem in yoga studios… Yoga instructors 15 years my junior giving me spiritual advice — completely unnecessary. Today they cancelled my class to discuss the «art of Feng Shui with local decluttering queen, Jane Antonovich.» Seriously? What does that mean? WTF
I love yoga, but I gotta admit, much of yoga can be pretty douchie.

The best yoga studio in the country, as far as I’m concerned! Gorgeous interior and infinitely helpful yoga instructors. Hanna is a gem.

Visited madison this past weekend from NYC. Absolutely loved Ken’s Sunday AM class. Relaxing, challenging, and instructional. I practice regularly and always appreciate a teacher who helps to immediately deepen my practice through careful instruction. And the space. It was incredible. So peaceful with great tea, beautiful views and friendly staff. Love love love.

I’m loving my time at The Studio. It’s such inspiring and relaxing space. It’s truly beautiful and very, very clean. The view of Lake Monona is great, as is the meditation space. I’ve met some lovely people and had fantastic instructors.
One thing I particularly appreciate is the on-​line scheduling process. You pay by credit card in advance and register online. I bought a 30 pack of classes for a GREAT deal they offered via email in July. Now, when I want to take a class, I go to the website, click the icon next to the date and time I want, and my account is auto-​updated. This alone is reason enough to take classes here.
Also, I’m taller after yoga barre class — ha!

I’ve been going to The Studio on and off for about a year now. Make no mistake – it’s a beautiful space. The front desk staff is wonderful and welcoming and ohmygod THAT TEA. It’s so delicious that I went and bought myself a box one day after class. I love the atmosphere and it’s so close to where I live.
But, there’s issues. Instructors seem to rotate in and out constantly. Don’t fall in love with someone too quickly – they may disappear off of the schedule. Classes are constantly packed – not bad for business but bad for members who might want to perfect that side plank without hitting someone in the face.
So, it’s a wash. I love taking classes here but I don’t think I’d buy a membership.

I recently bought the unlimited month groupon and I am absolutely in love with The Studio. I want to live in the building it is so beautiful. I am especially fond of the Yoga TRX classes, they are mainly TRX with some yoga thrown in too. I am thinking about buying a class pack even though it is pretty expensive, it is well worth it. I always feel so good when I leave and the instructors have been amazing and welcoming.

Very beautiful studio space and really intense vinyasa classes. The room is heated to a slightly lower temperature than bikram, but bring lots of water (and hydrate beforehand) or else you’ll pass out. Hand towels are great because your face will be sweating so much (unless you are one of those people who never sweats, and I hate you). Yoga mat rentals are $ 2, and they also rent towels ($ 1?). Before or after class you can partake of sweet chai tea in a sitting area overlooking the lake. It’s really nice. Classes are on the expensive side, but new members can get a 2 week unlimited class pass for $ 30. Don’t be intimidated by those people who can do headstands. Most of the classes are for all levels, beginner to expert.

My favorite yoga place in town. I got to know this place from a one month unlimited groupon I purchased last year. They began in a smaller space in the same building but always had that comforting yoga berry tea to warm their patrons before and after yoga. This year in end September, they expanded their space and you can access it from both Williamson Street and the Sardine parking lot.
Kathleen is the owner and I love that she is very innovative and comes up with classes for all interests and skills. For beginners, you can start with a beginner workshop that lasts 4 weeks to gain the confidence you need in yoga. For couples, there are occasional 2 hour workshops that let you explore practicing yoga together and achieving further limits. There’s also yoga barre classes which look very interesting but I’m probably not athletic enough to try out. For people who are looking into getting fit, there are also 8 week workshops to help you achieve your goals.
My favorite classes are gentle flow and the restorative yoga sessions. John on Thursday evenings has a really good series going on and Kathleen’s classes are also very relaxing on Sunday evenings. Most of these classes except beginner and restorative yoga are in a heated environment, which provides a great workout and sweat loss! In the current location, the basement also has shower rooms for people who need to get refreshed before heading out for their activities!
Love the variety of programs and place to hang out before and after classes. Students get discounted rate; the 10/​20-​class package works the best for me, about $ 11 – 12 per class and lasts me for the one or two classes I attend a week :)

New and improved! The Studio moved into a substantially larger space in June and it is stunning! In addition to bringing on terrific new instructors for the expanded (slightly) schedule, the studio also added showers/​changing rooms.
The atmosphere is nearly identical to the old space (in the same building), and the new amenities are wonderful.
Get your sweat on.

Well. What can I say.
I got a groupon as a complete newbie to yoga in 2012. I thought the location was beautiful and some of the instructors really nice and approachable so I was excited. However, as I continued practice there, other instructors were on the snobby side and customer service was lacking. I don’t look like a «yoga pro» and I don’t have cool gear, but I don’t think that warrants eye rolls or people ignoring me. I don’t think this was a good place for me to go as a beginner. While the website said they «welcome all levels» I have not felt as welcome here as I have at other studios in town. I also felt judged for having a groupon by the desk staff.
In June 2012 I had run out of groupon sessions and decided I would not like to return alone to classes as I felt uncomfortable and judged. However, I signed up for the yoga for marriage workshop thinking it would be good to bring my partner with me. Unfortunately, the day before the workshop there was a severe incident with a family member who almost died. Needless to say, I had to be attentive to my family’s health and couldn’t make the workshop, which was quite pricey. I let them know that same day, even though I was extremely busy, and I was assured not to worry. First I was told I could get into the next scheduled session of the workshop or get a credit toward classes. As I said, I really didn’t want to go back for individual classes given my experience, so I thought I’d wait for the workshop they said would be in February.
Nearly a year later, this workshop has not been offered again. I recently contacted the Studio requesting they please refund my account. I was told I could get a class credit. When I asked for a refund again explaining the situation I was emailed the cancellation policy that does not permit refunds stating they were already giving me some flexibility by offering a credit to my account.
I really understand having policies and thank them for the account credit, but I am very unhappy with how I have been treated and I just don’t even want to deal with them anymore.
Given all of this, I can’t say I recommend them, especially compared to the flexible, nice, and non-​snobby studios that exist all around Madison.