Jaya Yoga East

Sep 2023

I’ve been going to Jaya for at least 10 years. I’ve learned so much, and have had so many heart-felt belly laughs along the way. I recommend the classes to my patients all of the time. Grateful that it’s part of the community.

Apr 2021

The Jaya East location is reopening! They've done a lot of renovation inside to make the space fit COVID-19 era public health recommendations. In the meantime, over the past year, Jaya has offered online classes every day, which they're continuing to do. The great thing about zoom classes is that if you just want to watch and/or hear your instructor, you can turn off your camera and do yoga in the privacy of your room. And if on the other hand you want guidance, leaving your camera on is amazing. Not only have I learned a ton just by being able to see myself on screen, but also the Jaya instructors sometimes make suggestions to individual practitioners during online classes. And the other great option is that if you sign up for an online class and can't take it in real time, they email out a recording (of just the instructor!) that's available for two days after the class. I really don't know what I would have done this past year without Jaya. The continuity of practice, and the community of online yogis has been invaluable.

Sep 2019

So I have been to all of the Jaya locations, this one I have frequented the most recently since it is close to me. I have taken multiple classes there and truly wish the offerings were more satisfying, but overall the studio is pretty lackluster. The quality and content of the individual classes, regardless of description, is highly inconsistent depending on what teacher is in the room. I do appreciate a diverse range of styles and practices, but I have taken a Basic where we flow the whole time, a Flow where the poses are held for long periods of time. I took an Open Level in the evening which was essentially a Pilates class. Very few teachers here seem to grasp basic modern biomechanical principles, the teachings seem to be stuck in the late 1990's. Some people sing a lot and use the harmonium, nearly every single class had some sort of cheesy new-age music playing. Not once did anyone offer me a modification for my bigger body. I think one may have attempted to learn my name and ask half-heartedly about injuries. Any hands-on assists I received were timid and uneffective(like a creepy touch on the back in childs pose). I don't mind being touched, but there should be a better protocol on how to deliver hands-on work. I have left more than one class with back pain because of excessive forward folding. The overall vibe is pleasant without much longlasting impact. You witness a lot of the same people coming to the same class with poor alignment just kinda doing their own thing and teacher saying things without truly observing. You can tell a lot of folks appreciate the community aspect of the space but the actual yoga being taught/practiced here is just mediocre. Just like generic, unspecific cues like: "feel your energy" are incredibly unhelpful. And the sequencing in most classes just doesn't make sense. Even in flow classes I expect some small details of alignment and structure. The studios, especially the Church street location, are all nice and peaceful. The front desk staff is always highly positive and pleasant. I would say if you want to move a little and pay for a short nap, it's as good a place as any.