Sacred Sounds Yoga

Thank you Sacred Sounds for adding Kajuan Douglas to your teachers. Mannnn! We always liked SS but it was missing that FLOW. You see, friends, finding a good yoga teacher in NYC is hard work. It takes a lot of studio-​hopping to find the realness. But Kajuan is just that. His flow is informed, challenging and makes you feel like a boss. As he cues you through your poses he’s also challenging your mind by constantly throwing some yogi knowledge your way and you’re like: wait, this is just what I needed to hear!
In the age of yoga teachers that only care about looking good, Kajuan goes way beyond that and you can tell by just looking at the people who hit up his classes, they’re from all walks of life. He also plays the best music (hip-​hop, radiohead (!), pop, indie… it’s always on point). Anyway, fangirling over! Get your butt to one of his classes at SS.

Love this studio! Great classes with great instructors. I love the Yin yoga, which I find to be very meditative and I leave class feeling refreshed. I commute over an hour to go to this studio!

I’ve taken two classes here– candlelit flow yoga and candlelit unnata aerial yoga. I like that the class is small and intimate. Very clean studio with lockers in the bathroom area, along with cubbies right outside one studio. The place is quant and receives plenty of sunlight in the aerial studio it seems. Instructors are very kind and welcoming. I usually find yoga studios to be boring. But there was something about this place that felt like a gem. I will start making this one of my go to yoga places.

So, aerial yoga is actually really, really interesting. I took the «candlelit yoga» (not really candles, sad. it’s those fake candles in a dimly light room). The instructor was very helpful and I loved being upside down. Aerial yoga really helps you open your chest and heart, because you’re using gravity to aid you in your stretches. I DID get a little sick towards the end of the class, since being upside down can be a bit strenuous. Shavasana is a bit unique while suspended in the air… Also, my hip bones (where a lot of the aerial poses start out) were aching the next day.
In short, I’m excited to come back and try out their ²⁄₃ level class and yin yoga. They fill up super fast though. The only thing I wasn’t too thrilled about is the street noise (I mean, they ARE on bleecker st), and as a new student, they make you pay for a mat rental (even for first time visitors).

I absolutely love this place! Started going because I snagged a gilt voucher for 5 classes (yay!) but will definitely continue to practice here after I am done with it.
The studio itself is small but just a really nice, unassuming place to practice. And I have gone away not only really enjoying the 3 classes I have taken here but truly loving the teachers who have taught them (one of which was a woman! which is almost unheard of for me!).
I have taken the lunchtime express with Caprice twice who is really just lovably quirky, funny, but very calm and accepting of everyone and I appreciate that her modifications help you tweak your alignment to avoid injury rather than pushing you too far into a pose. I have also taken an open class with Ikaika and he is just amazing. He works you incredibly hard but is so detailed about how to do poses and will work with everyone individually even if the class is big to help you know where to put your hands for crows and modified handstands. The personal attention he gives is so unexpected but so appreciated. And he somehow makes it fun the entire way through. And like Caprice I find that Ikaika is really open about making sure you listen to your body and do what is right for you and emphasizes that it is totally ok to take a pass.
I am looking forward to taking more classes here. If the first 3 I have taken are any indication I know I will love it here.

I’ve been taking yoga classes for quite some time, and I’ve never been astounded by such a positive and uplifting environment! Normally I dread working out, but I absolutely love coming here. I even signed up for the one month package!
I’ve only taken two classes so far, but everyone I encounter, from the front desk, to clients, to instructors have been incredibly kind, friendly, helpful, and easy to talk to. It’s literally like SSY went to a NYC’s Nicest People competition and employed all of the winners in their studio. I took Unnata aerial yoga with Cynthia and absolutely loved the class, cannot wait to go back. Cynthia is very down to earth, sweet, and funny. She made sure to help each person in the class and definitely created a safe environment for everyone, especially because most of us were new to aerial yoga. I had a really awesome experience! I was very nervous going in, but ultimately had such a fun time. Very relaxing, but also very fun, not your average quiet and solemn class! Doing our final pose in the silks was heaven, awesome experience. I recently took an afternoon flow class with Christine. She is personable and makes sure to introduce herself to each client and inquire about any injuries. She’s great with helping people who need fixing in certain positions and offers so many modifications. A very gentle, kind, and approachable instructor! I’m so impressed and happy with the staff here! I love that the instructors have totally different, but equally enjoyable ways of teaching.
The moment I walk through the door here I am in a total blissful, tranquil, state. My shoulder relax even before the class begins! Really positive environment. My FAVORITE part of SSY that sets it apart from the rest is the variety of classes offered, you’ll never get bored here! Everything from aerial yoga to candlelit yoga! I so look forward to coming here each time! My happiness!

Came here today for a class at noon with Jill and I must say, it was awesome!
The studio is a lovely space and the woman that checked me in was wonderful. So far, so good.
And then, it got even better when I took the class with Jill. She is tremendous! Very knowledgeable and encouraging! Her voice is so soothing… I wish I could just hear her speak all day long!
Cannot wait to come back and practice again!

I have been attending the prenatal program classes for a little over a month now and I only regret not coming sooner. The teachers especially Juliana have so greatly assisted me in shifting my energy and learning to relax into the amazing transformation my body’s going through while carrying my child.
I literally look forward to going to class all week and connecting with other women who support me and nurture me in this journey.
Each time I leave class feeling loved, understood, prepared and in control of my body and mind: all of which are difficulty feelings to attain & hold onto during the stages of pregnancy!
I am in gratitude for this program and do recommend it to all of my fellow moms to be.
Namaste.

I bought a monthlong Groupon with the sole intent of trying «Unnata» aerial yoga here, but ended up liking the regular yoga far better!
Ring a doorbell outside to be buzzed up to the 2^nd floor. The studio itself is small but pleasant, with 3 practice rooms. Front desk is super friendly. The locker room is clean and has 2 private bathrooms. There are cubbies for your bags, but valuables may be brought into the classroom if you don’t have a lock for the locker room. Mat rental is $ 2.
Aerial yoga was a little disappointing. Stretchy blue fabrics hang from the ceiling (and are knotted together like macramé to keep them off the floor when not in use!). Generally, it feels soothing to have gravity working in different ways on your body. But I tried 3 or 4 classes and never got into it. The classes are slow-​paced, which is fine. But certain ways you’re told to move (which lead to hyperextending joints or bloodflow being cut off, etc.), the focus on getting into a position over breathing or stability… the program just doesn’t seem very attentive to safety or posture. Aerial yoga sounds and looks cool, but the classes here still felt like novelty.
Disenchanted with the aerial yoga, I also tried nearly every kind of non-​aerial class they offer. Level ²⁄₃ is their highest level, but more than manageable if you’ve taken at least 15 vinyasa classes before. Otherwise, poses are usually explained in other classes and students tend to be beginner level. The one weekday afternoon class I took was very quiet, only 4 students in the room — but even during peak evening times, the rooms never get too crowded, with plenty of space between mats.
My favorite class here was Flow ²⁄₃ with Fergus. He’s on the talkative side (a matter of preference!), but always fostered great energy and included a good mix of poses. I also really liked Caprice, who doesn’t lead the type of class I’m used to liking, but was totally atraditional and funny and down-​to-​earth.
I’m sure Sacred Sounds is capitalizing off their aerial yoga offerings, but I think their regular classes are better. Compared to other vinyasa studios, the instruction is less intense than I prefer (I rarely broke a sweat, but maybe that’s related to the air conditioning?). Still, it’s still a great studio with a good vibe in a fantastic location.

One of my favorite yoga studios in the city. I particularly enjoy Masako’s Stretch and Relax class, The studio is clean and staff is very friendly. They offer Areal yoga that I haven’t been brave enough to explore but looking forward to challenge myself.

I’m pretty new to yoga and took a Friday night candle light class, which had live music.
At the beginning of class, the instructor asked us to talk about our experience with yoga and what we wanted to work on with the group. As a beginner, I felt that was very welcoming.
While I am normally skeptic of live music, it was very relaxing and complimented the class. It wasn’t distracting or overpowering.
Overall, an excellent way to spend a Friday night.

Having practiced constantly in this studio for 1 year and a half, I was really bummed that I had to move to another neighborhood where I had to walk 35 – 45 min to SSY for my yoga fix. Good thing is since I am prepping for the July NY bar, I have a pretty flexible schedule and am able to continue my regular visits at least throughout the summer. With little over two months left before I start working, I thought I should take time to write something about my favorite studio in the city.
What is special about SSY is its community. Yeah I know. You probably are giving me eye rolls for saying that since almost every yoga studios claim they have the best community now. But SSY is unique in the sense that it does NOT preach a certain school of philosophy. All is welcome is not just a slogan in SSY. The community is such that a competitive person who likes fast paced, almost a workout-​like yoga can make friends with someone who enjoys slow paced, stretchy classes. And they can take aerial class together to explore the inner 5 year-​olds.
If you are your starting your yoga journey or just want to revisit the beginner’s mind, Jill, Joe and Caprice are great for that. Caprice sometimes even brings essential oil and gives you awesome massages during savasana. How great is that! If you want non traditional but super fun flows, try Hunt. Cynthia incorporates a lot of pilates movements, which is always fun to do. Ikaika breaks down the poses in a way that is easy and helpful. The tip he gives us about how to engage pelvic floor in certain poses really helped me get the gist of those poses. Masako also teaches a solid open/​beginner class. I enjoy her stretching part most because god, being surrounded by those boosters/​blankets feels amazing.
If you are more level 2/​3, Liz and Lindsay teach the hardest flow classes, which are my personal favorites. Fergus’s classes are not as hard but I always love how he makes yoga classes so much fun. I don’t know about you guys, but I appreciate the moments when I can let go of the masks that I have to wear every day to make myself look professional, lawyer-​like, and just boring and serious. I like when I can laugh at those goofy, sometimes a bit inappropriate jokes without feeling judged. Yanoula also teaches a hard class. She has a lot of ashtanga elements in her class. If you are an ashtanga practitioner and want to try out some flows, you might want to sign up for her classes.
I can’t really say a lot about slower classes like Yin/​relax & stretch because I prefer my practice like how I like my coffee, strong, bitter with a splash of milk (deep stretches) but again this is really your personal preferences. I also don’t have much experience in aerial because I like my practice more grounded. But hey they always seem to be having sooooooo much fun.
And I want to re-​iterate that at SSY, no matter what kind of yoga you are into, roll out your mat here and you will find your inner peace. Namaste

I want to give this place more stars, but I did not enjoy my class with Fergus, and I have a hard time avoiding him on the schedule. I find it interesting that lots of others here on Unilocal seem to like him.
His class was okay, but seemed very athletic without much focus on mindfulness; also, the sequencing was not very creative, nor did it involve many good stretches.
In addition, I did not appreciate his jokes about religion — if you have to start a joke with a statement to the effect of «no offense, but…» you’re basically excusing yourself from offending people so that you can say what you want to say. People who practice yoga believe in a lot of different things, and that is their right, and in my experience at various studios across the city, no one creates an atmosphere of condescension or making light of others’ beliefs — so I was surprised that I experienced this here. I’m not saying there isn’t a place for jokes about religion (on your own time, with your friends) or that I don’t sometimes find them funny, but I just didn’t find it necessary, funny, or helpful to do that during class.
I did, however, very much enjoy an open level class with Gretchen; she was fantastic. And the staff in the welcome area are always very nice.

I bought a monthly unlimited pass to Sacred Sounds for only $ 43 on Groupon (an incredible deal given the regular prices), and I’d say I got pretty good use out of it, so get ready for an insanely long review–
I wanted to try Sacred Sounds specifically for the aerial yoga classes, and I was able to go to about 9 aerial classes and try a bunch of different teachers (Michelle, Micaela, Cynthia, and Stephanie). My first piece of advice on the aerial classes would be: don’t limit yourself to just one introductory class. I personally found my first class really uncomfortable and a bit awkward because I wasn’t used to the feeling of hanging from the silks… but after going to more classes it became really fun! Aerial yoga is a great way to help stretch in ways that you can’t necessarily do on the floor, so I would also recommend having some initial flexibility in order to get the most enjoyment out of it (for example, we did bound angle pose on the silks a few times, which I’d imagine might be uncomfortable if you don’t already have some hip flexibility.) Of the classes I took, my favorite was Micaela’s — despite all the core work we did (which is always a struggle for me), her personality is hilarious and awesome!
Aside from aerial yoga, Sacred Sounds also has a good variety of other types of classes. These are some of the other ones I’ve tried (along with the names of the teachers):
— Open level (Ikaika, Fergus, Christine) — The class intensity really varies depending on the teacher. I got my butt kicked in Ikaika’s class where we happened to focus on shoulder work that day, doing crow, forearm stands, and a million chatturangas. Christine’s was a much more straightforward vinyasa flow, better for beginners. Fergus’ was somewhere in between these two (and he is also hilarious so I recommend his class).
— Candlelit flow (Lindsay, Hunt) — Open level flow with minimal adjustments. Freestyle Friday with Lindsay was especially athletic and fast-​paced, and they bring in a live musician during class which is lovely!
— Yin yoga (Narisara) — Restorative class where you hold each pose for several minutes. Personally not my cup of tea, but it’s great if you’re looking for some slow stretches.
— Stretch & relax (Masako) — Easier, more laid back class that’s good for people new to yoga.
There are a couple of downsides to this studio, the first being that it’s fairly small and doesn’t have much of a waiting space, so if classes are back to back then sometimes people just kind of crowd in the hall waiting for the previous class to finish. The heat in the winter is also a little wonky so a lot of times I found that the room used for aerial yoga was freezing — so wear socks and/​or a long sleeve shirt! Also, there’s a 10 minute grace period for latecomers, which I personally find annoying squeezing people in when class already started.
Some other random tips:
— There are a limited number of lockers (BYO lock) in the bathroom /​changing room for day use.
— If you’re doing aerial, try to show up 5 – 10 minutes early to class so you can stake out your silk, since you have to find one appropriate for your height. You also don’t want to be stuck in the corner because there’s less space to stretch out.
Overall, Sacred Sounds is a really nice, clean, and welcoming studio. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re able to use an introductory or Groupon deal.

[Review is based on pre-​natal yoga]
I started coming here when I was about 20 weeks (currently 34 weeks). I went to another yoga studio for pre-​natal before trying SSY. In comparison to the other studio, I love love love SSY. The classes are small, at most 6 people, and the instructors are great. I try to go on Fridays with Juliana b/​c she is amazing. Everything about her screams zen. Her voice alone makes you feel relaxed. She always starts class asking people to introduce themselves and if there’s anything in particular you want to work in. If so, she will do some moves and stretches to address your problem areas. I’ve also taken pre-​natal with Caprice on Tuesdays and she also if fantastic. You can’t go wrong with pre-​natal here.
I recommended pre-​natal yoga to any woman out there that are expecting. I have no major complaints this entire time and I feel a big part of it is b/​c of yoga.

This studio mainly focuses on aerial yoga, vinyasa flow yoga and Yin yoga. They also provide kids yoga and Prenatal yoga. The owner Stephanie sitting in the counter is always nice. She remembers regular’s name and smiles all the time.
Aerial Yoga
Michelle: she is the founder of Unnata aerial yoga. perfect for beginners! Take her class for entering into the world of aerial yoga.
Micaela: fun and active class, she integrates pilate and pole dancing movements into aerial yoga. good for intermediate and advance.
Cynthia: happy person forever, you can feel her energy through her class. she integrates pilate and TRX movements into aerial yoga. good for beginners and intermediate.
Vinyasa flow
Fergus: popular teacher here. he is fun and cheerful all the time. good for intermediate and advance students.
Hunt: personal favorite, he shows respect and care to every student. he integrates dance poses into his class and expresses it in a very unique way. good for all levels.
Liz: strong and dynamic flow class. good for intermediate and advance.
Yanoula: it would the most dynamic flow class you ever imagined in a yoga flow class. be prepared to sweat and exhausted for the next day. she integrated bodyweight training focusing on core into yoga practice. good for advance.
Juliana: more spiritual and focuses on the correcting your poses. good for all levels.
Caprice: happy angel! her class is the best for beginners.
Lindsay: traditional power flow. good for intermediate and advance.
Yin yoga
Masako: very knowledgable and nice. the class is very different from regular flow class. Yin yoga focuses on the deep tissue of our body. will hold each pose for about 5min. Strongly advice runners to take the class for relaxation. Good for all levels.

I absolutely LOVE this studio. Yes, love is a strong word, but I believe I truly do! What other studio has 10 minute late cancel policy?! Not many! Like many other studios in the city, clients book classes through MBO (Mind Body Online) and you can book weeks in advance! The cancellation policy is only 10 minutes prior to class! How sweet is that? PLUS they roll over your expired classes at $ 1 each when you buy a new package! HOW AWESOME is THAT?! They have a HUGE range of classes for yoga and I’ve only taken Aerial Yoga here, but it really is great. I was introduced to this studio by my dance instructor Micaela and NO it isn’t because I take her for Aerial classes here that I am biased. I’ve taken Aerial classes with Michelle too and both are truly great instructors although they are very different. Micaela teaches ACTIVE FLOW aerial yoga whereas Michelle teaches SOOTHING FLOW aerial yoga. By the title you can already differentiate how different these two classes are. SOOTHING FLOW focuses on balance, stretches, meditation and fundamentals. Active is… well… much more active. I am more of an active person, so I’ll review the Active FLOW more thoroughly. In Micaela’s Active Flow class, the first 15 minutes or so are stretches to warm up. Then you’ll be doing more stretches on the silks. There are some core exercises built into it. And there are also some stuff that she teaches that require more active training (I personally LOVE the challenge, but it’s not for everyone. So don’t push yourself!) You’ll also be hanging upside down from time to time and it may get overwhelming! So come out of hanging if you feel nauseous! Your body also needs time to get used to the pressure from the silks and the teachers and this studio is very well prepared for that! They provide blankets as cushioning for you (you’ll see when you take the classes). At the end there will be about 5 – 10 minutes to sleep like a mummy in the hammock/​silks and then an extra 5 minute shavasana. I personally REALLY love their Aerial Yoga class and haven’t tried their yoga classes, ONLY because I am not a fan of regular yoga. However, I definitely recommend this studio whenever any asks me where to do yoga (I’ve been asked on the streets when I was holding my yoga mat, and this is the place I tell them to go to). PLUS IF YOU WANT TO TRY AERIAL YOGA, PLEASE visit this studio! They are the best of the best for Aerial Yoga in NY and have the most credentials! Furthermore, the instructors are all very friendly and have a good sense of humor I’m sure you’ll love them!
PS: Bring your own mat to both aerial and regular yoga classes! Mat rental is $ 2 otherwise. Take off your shoes by the shoe shelf when you walk in because it’s a shoeless studio! OH and there are male and female locker rooms with bathrooms!

This was SO much fun!
My friend and I got a giltcity deal for 5 aerial yoga classes and came to the 1215 class on Saturday. Mat rentals are $ 2 and the locker rooms are pretty spacious and clean.
I was a little nervous about the beginning of class because I wasn’t fully convinced that the fabric would be able to hold my weight, but got over that pretty quickly. We started class by basically cocooning ourselves in it and getting a feel for the sway and stillness in the room.
Class was really cool. We did a lot of traditional poses with a spin on it — downward dog, pigeon, child’s pose etc, with the harness. It was really fun but I could see how if you hadn’t really done yoga before, it could be a little confusing. My favorite poses were the ones where we were completely in the air and upside down, even though it gave me a little bit of a lightheaded feeling. Afterwards it was a great feeling of accomplishment and just something different. Ending class in the harness also was extremely calming, and made me feel a good sort of isolation for a couple minutes.
I will definitely be coming back (not only because I have to finish my package, but also because this studio is offered on classpass (although not the aerial classes))

One of my favorite yoga studios! I’ve been to a lot of studios now cause of Classpass but Sacred Sounds is the one I return to the most despite being completely out of the way.
The studio itself is clean, airy, and serene. Both rooms are full of windows and peaceful light. It’s not hard to find focus in your practice here. There’s both a men’s and women’s change room complete with multiple restrooms and lockers. No shower. There are also lots of cubbies for temporary storage. Nothing feels crammed here as it can with other places.
As for teachers, it’s all about preference and finding the ones that work well for you. Deanna’s Open classes offer a steady pace with a focus on alignment. Her classes make me sweat but not tired. Yin Yoga was too too slow for me and I’m anxious to try an aerial class. No class I’ve been to have I felt like there were too many students. I need my space to breathe!
Highly recommended.

Sacred Sounds is a top-​notch studio with warm, intelligent, and skilled instructors that will improve your yoga practice.
The front desk also deserves a shout out! The staff is so welcoming and friendly, always genuinely asking me how my day is going.
The «open flow» classes are for all levels and I find the sequences very creative and fun. I’ve been doing yoga for about 3 years and consider myself intermediate/​advanced but with plenty of room to improve, of course, and SSY is a perfect fit. A lot of yoga studios have very predictable sequences that can make your mind go in autopilot mode, but it’s not the case here. The instructors craft original sequences that set your body up for a peak pose or focus on opening up a certain part of your body.
The only reason why this isn’t my «full-​time» studio is because it’s not very convenient location-​wise, but I’ll still happily go out of my way to take a class here whenever I can. This is among my favorite studios in NYC, and I’ve been to many.
If you’re new, definitely take advantage of the unlimited monthly deal ($ 50 excluding aerial yoga, $ 60 including)!