Ananda Yoga Sangam

I absolutely love this studio and Ananda! Three years ago as I kept driving by on the way home from work I finally decided to stop in. Ananda was so welcoming I went to a class that night. I had only tried yoga once before when I was much younger, but didn’t keep it up. I always exercised (Zumba, Pilates, treadmill, weights) but now at 69 I wanted something a little less strenuous. Ergo, yoga. Well it is definitely calming, but Ananda really works you. I have come a very long way in 3 years under his expert tutelage. I feel stronger, more confident, have more energy and sleep better. The insights I have gained about myself and my life are invaluable.
I can’t believe some of the negative reviews he has received. He is warm, funny, skillful and gives each student individualized attention. He will never push you further than he thinks you can go, but does challenge you so that you can definitely progress.
I would urge those of you who have tried his studio before to give it another chance. The studio itself is quiet, calming and restorative. How can you do better than having a teacher who has traveled with Depak Chopra! This studio is a hidden jewel in Douglaston!

Amazing studio. Ananda is a wonderful instructor who will figure out what level you are at and tailor his classes to your level. He also creates a welcoming atmosphere for all students. He has taken the time to get to know me and there is nothing intimidating about his studio. I cannot believe how much I have improved with my technique since going here.

PHENOMENAL! Great classes, terrific instructor, friendly clients, immaculate studio. It doesn’t get better than Eddie and his yoga classes. I thought I wasn’t going to like it because I previously found yoga boring and didn’t think it was a good workout. Eddie changed my mind about that. He always mixes things up so I am never bored. And God help me if I forget to bring a towel! I definitely work up a sweat in his classes. I always leave feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the rest of the day. I would highly recommend this studio to beginners as well as advanced students.

I originally found this place through a Unilocal review (See Lenna’s above) and kept telling myself that i’d get there eventually. Then I saw a deal online and realized that this was my chance to try the place out. At first I felt intimidated but I quickly found that there was no need for that. Ananda introduced himself and actually took the time to get to know me and to learn what I was looking for in my practice. This is not something that I have often run into in my travels.
I often tend to feel self conscious in some of the bigger studios but I do not get that yoga diva vibe here. The people who come all seem to be down to earth and I think thats in part because of the environment that has been created there.
Ananda offers a more authentic kind of practice, this place is a must try! Ananda is the only one teacher and also happens to be the owner! He knows his stuff and has trained all over the world… pretty impressive.
I love that there is only one teacher because you really develop and foster a relationship with the person teaching you which in my case helps me to find some deeper meaning in my practice, something that is sometimes harder to attain in larger studios. The practice here also tends to be a bit more physical and you walk out feeling like you have done something for yourself.
The place is a bit smaller which is kind of awesome because you get more attention. Ananda has broken poses down for me that I never thought I’d get and I now at least understand how to get there. Now to build the strength.
I am glad that Unilocal brought me to this place… it has helped me physically of course but also very much mentally and spiritually. Namaste!

I go to classes at various times, and in every class, the instructor has a connection with everyone. He pushes everyone to surpass their expectations of themselves. His feedback is helpful and he is always willing to help you go further. He explains the true meaning of yoga to help each client receive the fullest mental and physical benefits of their experience.

I bought the 20 class for $ 20 groupon. I’ve used 8 classes but it’s taking me forever to finish them up. Why? Well, if I loved a place, I would go all the time. I do not love this place. I don’t even like this place.
This place is small. They can fit about 12 ppl comfortably, but sometimes they have more. There is a bathroom you can use & if you forget your mat, he has some available for you to use.
With that being said, I’ve taken the Athletic Yoga & the Gentle Yoga classes. He seems to do the same moves for his classes. He doesn’t really change it up & his voice is actually really annoying. I hardly ever break a sweat here. Sometimes he’ll show you the moves, but mostly, he just tells you what to do in his annoyed voice. I can see some of the newbies getting lost. Sometimes he’ll walk around to correct your posture.
He makes jokes before, during & after class. He talks a lot about things that do not pertain to yoga. Honestly, I don’t care, nor do I want to hear about how fat you’ve gotten & how unhappy you are. He definitely plays favorites. Those are the people who he addresses by their names.
I give it 2 stars because it is clean, he lends out mats for free, there’s a clean bathroom & there’s a small parking lot out front. I would not be coming back after my groupon is over. I’m also not motivated enough to finish my 12 remaining classes. And anyone who knows me, knows I would finish anything I’ve started, but this yoga practice is a joke for anyone who has actual experience with a good instructor.
Not quite sure why there are so many good reviews for him. Maybe they are newbies who don’t know any better.

I’m suprised that everyone gave him good reviews, he was so rude I will never go back, I can’t believe he teaches yoga, had the groupon but was having trouble logging on to his website to book a class, when I called to ask for help with it he told me that he couldn’t help me it wasn’t his website it was an outside company I told him that I just wanted to make sure that my classes would still be valid (if it wasn’t recognizing my name it obviously wasn’t recording the number of classes I had left) he got defensive and said «what do you think I’m trying to take your $ 20 I don’t need your money that bad?!» I was shocked that a «yoga maste» was so defensive, conceited and negative. He can keep my $ 20 he’s gonna need it more than me

I have been to different yoga studios all over Manhattan and Queens the last couple of years and I have to say Ananda is now my favorite one.
Lets start by saying that the studio is not huge like others but big enough to accommodate 13−15ppl max I would say. It is extremely clean and the music playing during the classes is peaceful and relaxing.
There are different classes like hatha, vinyasa, power, athletic and even classes for seniors, cancer care and teenagers. The instructor is pretty good, he loves what he does, knows what he is doing and is very professional. My favorite part of coming to this studio is that the classes feel personalized. I have never been to a class with more than 10 – 11 people and the instructor certainly pays attention to everyone. If he sees you doing something wrong, he would tell you and show you the right way. Some of the classes are harder than others so I would recommend calling in advance and get some info to make sure you book the class that fits your needs.
Pretty much everyone that comes here lives in the neighborhood so its also pretty cool getting to know people that live in the same area. Everyone is super friendly and every time, before and after the class, there are people talking with each other. When I get out of class, I feel refreshed and happy with myself. Since I started to come here, I have had a mayor physical improvement than while going to other places.

Tried to use a groupon. I have never been so demeaned or disrespected by someone from a business in my life. The words «I don’t need customers like you» actually came out of this guy’s mouth. I think he was pissed that I was using this towards the end of expiration, he said «I don’t need to do the extra work… it’s only a $ 1 a class». I’m really surprised he’s received such great reviews. He must be an excellent instructor — with poor character.

Great studio with an amazing instructor!

I drove by this place several times and was wanting to try and kept forgetting. Then bam, I saw the amazing groupon deal he posted for 20 classes for $ 20. Umm. sign me up. But then again so did many other people. Thankfully classes haven’t gotten unbearably crowded yet and that may be when I stop going because nothing annoys me more than an overcrowded room full of people that have NO clue how to do yoga. But I must say that Edward is great. He is a nice guy, very knowledgable of yoga and aims to maintain a safe practice for all. This is great for the newbies since he does alter his class based on the average level. This is not necessarily a bad thing though (for the intermediate/​advanced yogi), since I get a different work out each time and don’t know what to expect, which is challenging and exciting. I would buy a package when my deal runs out. ALso, for Olivia — the heavy breathing and grunting is VERY indicative of a traditional yoga class. Many instructors actually persuade the class to do this type of breathing — called Ujjayi — which is done only through the nose — and can be noisy. Seems that someone who has been to 10 studios in 2 years would know this.

Got the 20 classes for $ 20 Groupon deal.
I’ve bounced around/​dropped in to at least 10 studios between Queens and Manhattan in the past 2 years, and never bothered to stick with a studio past my coupon/​trial term (whether because of screaming instructors, pretentious sheep yogis, feeling worse than before I took the class, packed-​like-​sardines-​classes or gross studios). I may just stick with Ananda Yoga Sangam.
Classes are a great mix of exercise (you break a sweat), zen, and ability to advance your practice («look ma, I can touch my toes!» But seriously, only after 3 classes, I feel like I’m more flexible than when I have taken a month’s worth of classes elsewhere).
My constant back pain is pretty much gone for a few days after each class as well. Edward is attentive and fixes/​gives tips on fixing your posture. He is also able to show examples of how postures are done (I’ve been to studios elsewhere where the instructors would make excuses about why they can’t do poses. Psh.).
The studio is located right off of the LIE but it’s really quiet inside, and there aren’t any disturbances during class. Classes also cap off after a certain amount of people, so it’s not uncomfortably packed.
The only part I dislike is the crowd. I feel like everyone just jumped on the Groupon, and the customers are all there on the deal for exercise and have never done yoga. It’s just unsettling to me when people stare at me during my practice because they don’t know how to do a pose. There’s also this woman who I’ve encountered during my visits who has random outbursts of apparently how hard and strenuous the class is with «Oh my god. OW OW OW’s!» and loud breathing and grunting (as if she’s entered REM sleep). She also tipped over and pretty much just «melted downwards» off the wall (think: how cereal wet with milk would drip down a wall). Yeah…

I get it!!! I finally get it!!!
Let me explain… I always wanted to be that chick that practices yoga. Oh, c’mon you know what I mean ;)
You know, that physically fit, cool girl that totes her yoga mat everywhere she goes, and tells everybody in that ultra sexy voice «I practice yoga daily.» No… It’s just me then? Okay, so for years I’ve been going from studio-​to-​studio, and I’ve taken classes with some great teachers, but I never stuck with it. Until… Ananda Yoga Sangam.
Yoga? In Little Neck? I don’t know what made me go in. I just assumed it was another overpriced studio with some pretentious jerk teaching the class, but from the moment I walked in Edward (instructor) approached me with a big smile, and something about him clicked, but I was still not sold until he mentioned the FIRST CLASS IS FREE! That’s all I needed to hear :)
It’s a small studio. You can comfortably fit 15– 16 people. I really like it that way, it’s so much more intimate. Edward is super attentive, he gives everybody one-​on-​one time. He is really encouraging, and never makes you feel like an idiot. Oh, and he’s sooooo funny! He really makes every class so much fun. He emphasizes the importance of breathing and that’s what I mean about getting it. It’s all about the breathing. I feel so relaxed, yet so energized after every class.
And boy, what a work out! Ananda pushes you to the max. The abs and core class is insane! And its free as long as you stay for the class right after that. I can seriously see a difference in my body. My body feels and looks much firmer. Move over Miranda kerr! Plus, I feel so much better emotionally, and it’s really being reflected, and manifested in my day-​to-​day life.
He has some great packages, and I find it cheaper than many other studios. Whatever class package you buy, it NEVER EXPIRES. Do you know how many studios have ripped me off because of this!!!
Just take one class, you have nothing to lose. You definitely wont regret it. Expand your consciousness. And, get in touch with yourself.