Do you love everything about Ashtanga yoga? Do you love the discipline of it? Then have we got a list for you! We’ve compiled a list of the ten best Ashtanga yoga studios in the United States, so that the next time you’re traveling around, you can find a new studio to call home.
Except on Moon Days, of course.
1. Miami Life Center
Miami Life Center is perhaps one of the most iconic Ashtanga studios in the world. Founded by husband and wife team of Kino MacGregor and Tim Feldmann, Miami Life Center is wholeheartedly dedicated to bringing Ashtanga yoga to students from all walks of life, and from beginner to advanced practitioners.
Both Kino and Tim were authorized to teach yoga by the founder of the Ashtanga Yoga Method, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sarath Rangaswami. So if you are lucky enough to study under the two of them, you’re a part of the direct lineage of Ashtanga yoga. How cool is that?
Find Miami Life Center here!
2. Yoga Workshop
Located in Boulder, Colorado, Yoga Workshop is one of the oldest Ashtanga studios in the States, having been founded in 1987. One of the awesome things about them, is that each year they offer a five day intensive introduction to Ashtanga yoga, designed for beginners and people new to the practice of Ashtanga to get a good grasp on the practice, as well as the spiritual side of yoga.
Don’t worry if you’re outside of the States; Yoga Workshop founder, Richard Freeman, travels to teach this intensive in studios around the world.
Check out Yoga Workshop right here!
3. Ashtanga Yoga Center
The Ashtanga Yoga Center is run by Tim Miller, who was the first American certified to teach Ashtanga yoga by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Tim says about being a teacher, that, “My goal as a teacher is to inspire a passion for practice. The practice itself, done consistently and accurately, is the real teacher.”
Find out more about Ashtanga Yoga Center here.
4. Land Yoga
The founder of Land Yoga in Harlem, Lara Land, recognizes all the good that yoga has to offer. After being authorised by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois to teach Ashtanga yoga, Lara traveled to Rwanda to treat HIV positive genocide survivors using Ashtanga yoga, and shortly after went to India to do the same for HIV positive children there.
Land Yoga continues to serve the community in Harlem, so join them to be part of something great!
Find Land Yoga here.
5. The Yoga Shala
Located in Orlando’s College Park, The Yoga Shala offers “a private yoga lesson in a group setting.” Krista Shirley, the founder and main teacher of the Yoga Shala is level 2 authorized and travels to India every year. Specializing in the Mysore method of yoga, each student learns yoga poses one by one, gradually, but safely, advancing their practice. The beauty of their studio is another wonderful plus of practicing here.
Check out what The Yoga Shala has to offer here!
6. Pineapple Yoga
Located on the beautiful island of Kauai, Pineapple Yoga was founded by Eagle, a professional athlete who suffered an injury that resulted in spinal fusion. He used yoga to recover and enter back into the professional sports world, and now he wants to share his success with others.
The Pineapple Yoga building was built in 1925 as a Buddhist church, and still serves the community today!
Find Pineapple Yoga here.
7. Ashtanga Yoga Room
The Ashtanga Yoga Room in New Orleans was founded by Melanie Fawer, who studied Ashtanga yoga at the feet of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
One thing that’s pretty wonderful about the Ashtanga Yoga Room, is their website has a “Getting Started” page to answer all your questions about Ashtanga yoga. It tells you all about the studio, what you need to know about entering a class, the etiquette expected, and how the class works. So if you’re unsure of how to get started with Ashtanga, check them out!
Find everything you need to know about Ashtanga Yoga Room here.
8. Monterey Yoga
Run by Adarsh Williams and Heleen Zondag-Williams, Montery Yoga is wholly dedicated to bringing Ashtanga yoga to people in their community. Adarsh is a Yoga Alliand E-RYT 500 certified teacher, and was authorized by Pattabhi Jois to teach the Ashtanga method.
They say that, “We are thrilled to share our teachings and love of yoga with the community on the Monterey Peninsula. Our love of yoga comes from a deep desire for connection, community, personal growth, and living a healthy lifestyle. A desire to be fully present in life and acknowledge where we are at each day.”
Check out what Monterey Yoga has to offer here!
9. Ashtanga Yoga Upper West Side
Ashtanga Yoga Upper West Side truly embraces the spirit of Ashtanga, and the individuality of each student. They embrace a nurturing, relaxed, and focused, so that their students can gain everything they can from their practice.
So the next time you’re in New York City, take a break from the hustle and bustle, and stop into Ashtanga Yoga Upper West Side.
Find Ashtanga Yoga Upper West Side right here!
10. Ashtanga Michigan
Matthew Darling is the director and instructor of Ashtanga Michigan. He has been a devoted student of his teacher, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and the Ashtanga method since 1995, and was authorized to teach Ashtanga yoga in 2002.
He hopes to preserve the traditional Ashtanga method by maintaining a daily practice and teaching his students with the same integrity and patience that was taught to him by Pattabhi Jois.
Check out Ashtanga Michigan here!
What’s your favorite place to practice Ashtanga yoga? Share with us in the comments below!