Y2 Yoga

Went here for hot yoga. The studio had the worst smell of odor, I considered leaving because it was so pungent. I've never even smelled a locker room that bad. It was also probably the hottest studio I've ever been in. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I swear the floors were heated or something because I was slipping on my mat which never happens and I've attended hot yoga all over. As for the flow, it definitely seemed to be more about strength than about restoring your body through poses. It was incredibly fast and made me think that it could make someone prone to injury if they didn't know what they were doing. There were minimal cues and poor transitions - like going from a mat pose to a standing pose within seconds. There were many times I felt blood rushing through my head. The instructor herself seemed very nice. There were a lot of "new age" commentary embedded into the flow which felt a little too hippie for my taste. When entering the building, it was very congested with people and gave off clique vibe. It did not seem welcoming to newbies. I had to ask someone to help me - where do I check in, where do I go etc. Most places staff are very enthusiastic to show newbies around but this place they were uninterested. As a POC I felt very out of place here too, like the vibe just wasn't for me.

The general manager was quite rude when I entered the studio with a class pass and I asked to borrow a towel not knowing there was a fee. She commented you can rent a towel with a passive aggressive voice and asked if I had a card on file. The studio was over 120 degrees and it stunk!! It was too many people to breathe properly. I saw the response to the last post about the smell and I’m sorry I’ve worked in hot yoga studios with 50 students and if it is cleaned properly it will not smell for the next class. Also my $5 mat and towel had an odor. The music was extremely loud so don’t go trying to focus too much cause you will have to get through the looseness first. Customer service is key If you want repeat customers and being kind. To offer a towel as a courtesy would have been the right thing to do without the smart comment.

First time in a studio in years and the Not Hot Single Shot led by D today did not disappoint. Great class *and* the floor is soft so knee friendly regardless of the thickness of your mat!

This studio has great staff and great instructors. I love the massage & chiropractic amenities. I didn’t commit to Y2 though because ALL their classes are heated, plus they only have 1-2 standard flow classes a week, often during 9-5 business hours. Unlike other yoga studios, they don’t prompt yogis to clean borrowed blocks. Hopefully the staff cleans them after each class.

Nice studio. Unfortunately far from being a body positive or POC friendly yoga experience. I’ve been here a few times I’ve gotten a lot of strange looks, as if I didn’t belong. The front desk never greet me, I remember my first time walking into the studio I said “hi it’s my first time.” The person at the front pointed to an iPad and said “you check in here, towels are there,” and then proceeded with whatever they were doing. I gave a few instructors a chance, mixed bag here. Some are better than the others. I noticed that some assist everyone that walks in the room others only assist those whom they know, all instructors I have taken have never asked permission to touch me. I’m okay with assists, but I think it should be standard to make sure the student is okay with the teacher touching them. I gave up last week when the teacher just “called poses.” No cueing, no alignment cues, no breath cues. At that point it’s just a workout class, and not worth 29 dollar drop in fee. I pay for the experience not the yoga I can get for free on YouTube. They definitely market to a certain kind of person, and unfortunately I am not that yogi.

What a great service already provided. Victoria was understanding and heard my pain! She was able to convey that and get me in for a session!! I’m thrilled!

Y2 is amazing. Now that they've moved to a larger space, they have both heated and unheated classes which is wonderful. Whether a yoga class is good or not has a lot to do with the energy of the instructor. I've never had an instructor at Y2 that wasn't great at what they do, although I prefer some over others. I think it would be difficult to try Y2 one time and judge the studio; one really has to go for awhile to figure out which classes and instructors they prefer. With a deal like $39 for the first month for new students, it's easy for someone to try different classes and find what they like. Y2 has the best pricing in Charlotte, especially if you are a teacher or service person. I get screwed over with pay as a public school teacher in NC and normally would not be able to afford to take classes at a nice yoga studio. But I feel so loved by Y2 and the discount they give me as a teacher which is not something I found was true of any other studio in Charlotte. They also have a great cafe with yummy smoothies, wine, salads and sushi, and all kinds of other healthy goodies. The Downward dog smoothie is amaze balls. I personally prefer Tanner and Jen's classes - they are amazing, but so are Adam, Johnna, Shanna, Dana, Dori, and really every other teacher I've had at Y2. Yes - you sweat and it can get stinky in the studio - it's a hot studio so it's not going to smell like the perfume department in Nordstrom. But once you get over that and see how amazing and challenging the classes are, you'll be fine.

Y2 has been my absolute favorite home away from home for self care, movement, challenging “workouts”, inspiration and learning. The instructors are fantastic, highly experienced and the atmosphere with music and challenging flow is an awesome fit for me. The fellow students are also what inspired me from the very class. Chris and Joy are so encouraging. Dorie is my absolute favorite instructor at Y2. Since joining a couple of years ago, she has been the primary “force” that inspires me, and supports me. All the instructors are wonderful. I particularly like Dorie’s flows and sequences because while they are definitely challenging, I never feel rushed. Dorie is also down to earth and open, shares about her yoga practice in life experiences, and reminds us all to meet ourselves where we’re at, while also being willing to change it up and take healthy risks into something new. Ooh! Also I love the music she chooses for classes! Rian is also amazing, along with Kari, Jennifer H, Buffy, and of course Tanner! Rodney also gives the best assists! Every single time I walk out of Y2, I’m stronger, more centered, more light and joyful. Thank you, Y2 family.

I love the flow, intensity, and challenge at Y2. I can't find those same qualities at other local yoga studios. While some might say it doesn't offer your traditional slow yoga, this is what I like and works for me. I've been a member for over 2 years and it has helped me lose weight and maintain my core strength for my physically-demanding job. I appreciate the package deals buy 10, get 5 free because it keeps the classes affordable and comparable to other studios. I also appreciate instructors emailing me after class!