Yoga Garuda

As a dancer with scoliosis, finding a yoga class that doesn't cause pain is rare, even in NYC. I tried many yoga studios before finding Yoga Union, and I am ever so greatful I did. I have been attending scoliosis classes with Alison West for just 6 months and the difference it has made on my body is remarkable. Classes at Yoga Union are the one thing that has helped me understand how to work safely with my anatomy. If you want to improve your strength, flexibility, alignment, and understanding of your body, Yoga Union is THE place to go.

After visiting several yoga school in Manhattan and Brooklyn, I came across Yoga Union and was in love with it literally right from entering it! A warm and welcoming vibe, very clean and peaceful it gave me a sense of tranquility and belonging. I was also attracted to the school because of their special back care classes which is why I desperately needed to work on. I've been practicing here for months now and many of my friends have noticed a huge change in my posture - I am incredibly happy about it. I enjoy working out at Yoga Union a lot - variety of classes and plenty of teachers each with their different teaching style make it fun & exciting to practice. Each and every one of them really puts effort into checking if you're doing the move right, unlike in other places where there are tons of students and teachers don't really check on you. I love working out with slings and ropes and take restorative class Friday after work - the best! I highly recommend this yoga school to those who want to have a great quality yoga teaching! last but not least, people are very nice! Namaste!

I just completed the Yoga Union 200 hour training, and I give it the highest recommendation. If you are serious about Yoga as path towards physical alignment and mental clarification, then look no further. That said, if you are looking to be coddled and/or told how “awesome!” your advanced postures are, you might consider a different training. The YU training is academically and physically rigorous. The standards are high, and it is challenging, but I am grateful that I put myself through it. Alison has a laser-sharp capacity to analyze the body, assess structural imbalances, and then she will make you practice the right way. Every. Single. Time. In the first 2-hour class I took with her, she helped me more with my postural alignment than anyone in my 15 years as a yoga teacher. If you earnestly want to study Yoga in order to know & refine your body, develop your ability to recognize structural imbalance in others in order to similarly help them & you want to delve deep into the Philosophy of Yoga: study at Yoga Union. Additionally, price-wise, this training is an excellent value for the money

THE go-to yoga studio for intelligent, illuminating teaching. I’ve been going for several years now, after many years of practice and teacher training in vinyasa yoga. The focus on alignment has transformed my practice, enabling me to correct imbalances and practice with a deeper awareness. Alison’s teaching is a continuous source of delightful insights and inventive use of props to help students develop their practice in whatever way is best for them. The classes are rigorous and require students to think about and fully integrate what is being taught, not just imitate the teacher or go through the motions. Truly a complete mind-body practice! The studio has a calm, soothing atmosphere, and is equipped with rope walls, slings, and many other props.

If you are in any kind of back pain or just interested in actually learning yoga, Yoga Union is the place to go. I took Alison West's Yoga Teacher Training back in 1998 and I've never felt as though I needed anything else. Her Teacher Training is well rounded and extremely comprehensive and I'm sure it's even more mind blowing now than it was back then. I am eternally grateful for Yoga Union's yoga teacher training as it has served me so well for so many years. I have been a full time yoga teacher for 18 years and am the proud owner of Fuller Yoga in Glastonbury, CT. The quality is high at Yoga Union and you will never have to worry about injuring yourself. Yoga at Yoga Union is a practice for life and not just a fad. Don't miss out go take a class today!

I have been attending the scoliosis classes with Alison West for more than a year. This training has helped me understand my back and how to move in ways that counteract both the lateral curves and the spinal rotation that occur with scoliosis—knowledge I carry with me throughout the day. If you've only done endless sun salutations and ashtanga-type yoga, you'll be in for a surprise. At Yoga Union, it's all about getting the posture exactly right. We use a lot of props, which allows you to achieve positions that are impossible in any other way—and feels incredible. Everyone's favorite part of class is when we hang upside down from slings. It's easy once you get the hang of it ha ha and it decompresses the spine, which feels great. Alison is a gifted teacher with an incredible knowledge of the skeleton and musculature. And she never repeats the same class twice. I have taken her class dozens of times and every session is different.

Andy's class, restorative yoga is fantastic. It is great for alignment and lengthening and he is able to help those who need it while challenging those who can do more seamlessly. The class flows perfectly with the right pace and a positive momentum! #BestYogaNYC

This jewel box of a shala set in the midst of Manhattan’s flower district offers the novice as well as the expert sadhaka instruction in yoga at the highest level. Studio director Alison West insists on exacting standards in teaching as she offers workshops in back care, anatomy and yoga philosophy. Air and light illuminate the tastefully appointed studios. You will delight in the Iyengar rope walls and revel in the support, comfort safety and versatility when ensconced in the parachute grade slings and carabiners. The props meet Alison’s exacting standards – heavy gauge, linearly bifurcated mats and mirrored walls provide proprioceptive feedback to students with scoliosis, herniation and spondolilothesis. Luxuriate in the deep pile blankets. The dedicated staff make even the most intricate asana accessible with patience and perseverance Teacher training exceeds industry standards. You will find Yoga Union schooled teachers at studios throughout the city and around the world. Be sure to attend regular workshops by visiting expert teachers. Guest teachers’ experience, passion and compassion prove a boon to the student at every level. After years of compression, misalignment and traumatic injury my back has begun to sing again. Jeffry Solomon

Jamison Steinke's Friday night back care class made me wish I was in NYC more regularly! Thank you for the excellent class!

Kristen Woods is amazing! I love the class and she really care about her students!