My class with Linda was literally one of the best classes I have ever taken! She gave detailed verbal cues, helpful visual cues, and effective tactile cues. read more

I didn't find Amara to be welcoming to me as a newcomer A huge lack of hands on corrections- the classes felt more like what one might experience at the YMCA. I had a hard time hearing the instructor due to the large space and poor acoustics. read more

I decided to try out this studio while visiting my parents over the holidays. The studio is beautiful, however, the classes were a much lower intensity than I'm used to. The "hot yoga" is only heated to 80 degrees and there is no humidity system from what I could tell, the classes I'm used to are around 110 degrees with at least 80 percent humidity. The instructors were not friendly towards me at all. From the 3 classes I went to the instructors all talked to new students but for some reason never me. I assuming that my modification to make the classes more challenging annoyed them. The classes didn't have a great a flow and the instructors didn't use terms that I was familiar with. I have been practicing on and off for 10 years and have been practicing daily at CorePower yoga for 2 years. If you are a beginner I think you will be happy at this studio but if you practice regularly at a high intensity level don't waste your time. read more

I bought a class pack and will be seeing it through. I've been a yoga regular for years, primarily hot studios. These classes at Amara have no flow. I'm confused if the teachers have to go through training/ are certified because I've seen more than one of them doing poses completely wrong. The "flow" and "vinyasa" classes utilize 0 transitions and are a random series of poses. The teacher usually adds one very advanced move that they themselves struggle through and then the class attempts. Not conducive to relaxation and also dangerous. If you are a beginner, I do not think this studio would help you better your practice. And I want to add that I do think certain instructors are great and I enjoy their class, but I find myself avoiding many classes a week because I know it will be a waste of time. My main suggestions would be for the people who run the studio or the more seasoned instructors to sit in on the newer instructor's courses and give suggestions. read more

An absolutely wonderful yoga studio for all levels of ability! Truly a peaceful haven during the pandemic. Kind, skilled and creative teachers. read more

Went there for the first time today after signing up for the intro month which seemed like an amazing deal! $30 for your first month, unlimited classes, go check it out! I have never done yoga before so after signing up I went today for the Hot Flow session, AMAZING! I train for powerlifting meets so I thought I could handle some yoga. Wow, I was surprised by how difficult it truly is. You will certainly break a sweat. The teachers seem very very friendly and oh so welcoming also, they're sure to take it slow and be specific in instructions when there are new members in the class. Go give it a try! read more

Umm, I read them articles about these yoga spaces being particularly stressful for people of color. And this place is no exception. I mean I walked up in there and there was no space, I mean there was space, but you know, people couldn't be bothered to make room for one more person. I am pretty sure that I was doing some wrong shit and instructor couldn't be bothered with correcting me, though she could be bothered with correcting others. Like for real, y'all -- rolling up here was more stressful than rolling up to a Boston Bruins game in Boston. I can't see myself going back here. read more

Walking into Amara is like strolling into your best friend's house. There are shoes by the door, comfy places to sit, a pot of tea (I highly recommend the fairy tale tea,) art, books, and people happily chatting. It's very warm, welcoming, and wonderful! My first time there, my card declined (how embarrassing,) but the woman behind the counter, who I now realize is the co-founder and art director, Kathryn, let me hop into the class anyways. I highly recommend any class by Kristin. Her flow classes are tailored to the needs and level of the participants, and every time I attend, I learn something new. Additionally, they have a full collection of free-to-use props, mat cubbies for members, changing rooms, ashtanga classes, workshops, teacher training, and programs for children. All in all, well worth the five stars. read more

Disclaimer: this is the only yoga studio in the Champaign-Urbana area that I've visited. That said, there's a reason it's the only I've needed to try! I attended classes sporadically since January 2014 before becoming a member in September 2014. My first love at the studio: herbal tea brewed every day ... delicious. Other first impressions: a plethora of mats/blocks/blankets/etc. available for use and cool artwork (some for sale). The Amara community and instructors are welcoming and inclusive, and they have great energy! Amara introduced me to Ashtanga and Mysore, which are more challenging and fulfilling than any yoga I had tried before (power, Bikram). Now I keep a semi-regular Ashtanga practice, but I still appreciate the variety of classes sprinkled in between. The workshops are also great - I tend to travel on weekends, but I've learned a lot from the few I have attended. The studio has a few flaws - I wish there were showers, as well as better humidity control (in the winter, cold dry air is not particularly comfortable). Adjustments/assists also vary from teacher to teacher, but that would be true anywhere. It's also expensive on a student budget, especially in comparison to ARC/Mettler/some other places that offer yoga. It's difficult convincing other friends to keep a regular practice with me, but I like the teachers enough to keep coming! read more

Wonderful yoga studio with lots of great classes! I moved from SoCal to Urbana last December and stayed for six months. This yoga studio definitely became my go to work out place! I used to do lagree Pilates so this is an alternative to me. I love going to heated yoga on a cold snowy day! Btw their fresh brewed tea is amazing! Although I moved back to CA in June, I will always come take class whenever I'm back to Champaign Urbana are! Miss this small town so much :( read more

I frequently attend the yoga fundamentals classes and also have tried Ashtanga, Candelight Flow, and Disco Hot Flow. All the teachers have been very professional and seem quite experienced. I'm impressed with Kelsey, Laura and Christine's skill. They've always provided modification options for those, like me, that aren't nearly so flexible. Some classes definitely seem popular, but that's hit or miss and I've never had a problem with finding a place to put my (large) mat. I don't have a ton of other yoga experiences, but the ones I've had at Amara definitely leave me recommending it for aspiring yogis -- particularly those who want to try a variety of styles. read more

Amara Yoga & Arts - New beautiful artwork by Sasha Rubel - Yoga Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

I have been coming to Amara regularly for about a year now, and it is a welcoming, peaceful place to grab a cup of tea and find a quiet workout after a long workday. Amara is a small studio with a friendly community and a variety of reasonably-priced classes (hatha, ashtanga, yin, etc). Personally, I have learned an immense amount from Linda Lehovec's wonderful alignment-focused classes, but there's many options and great, caring teachers. Special classes, art events, and workshops (for example, partner yoga and yoga 101) rotate through the schedule, too. I would love to see a greater variety of morning classes, but that is my only (small!) complaint. read more

I bought a 10 pass of classes and went to several classes before wasting my money and letting the rest of the sessions lapse - that's how uncomfortable I was. Every class I went to was crowded, and the "regulars" have very little interest in making room for newcomers. There was also a discrepancy about being allowed to bring a guest on my pass -- whatever your policies, that should be reflected in your online registration system, which as of 2/15 allowed you to sign someone else up for a class and use the 10 pass to pay for said class. Instead of arguing with me before the start of the class, the system should be corrected. Also, I must second what previous reviewers said -- Blonde G. is correct about the lack of guidance and adjustments - Kathryn in Gentle Yoga is the only one who took time to really monitor her students. And Wilma E. is also correct that this space is not welcoming to people of color. Nor is it welcoming to people with bigger bodies. In a restorative class I took, there were 3 people in a packed class who were plus sized and the instructor made an exasperated comment "there are soooo many different body types here today, so just do what you can." Are you kidding? First, body shaming is not cool, and second, many plus sized people do yoga with and without modifications and props. [YELP has removed content here, but there are lots of websites that deal with education and the importance of plus sized or curvy yoga]. Some additional education and compassion would go a long way. If I leave a class stressed and angry, then it's not the place for me. I won't be going back to Amara. read more

This is the only yoga studio in town that I go to. Grace Giorgio and Lauren Quinn are amazing yoga instructors. Grace is the most caring and thoughtful yoga teacher I've ever known, and watching her practice is very inspiring. Lauren is the teacher who introduced me to ashtanga, which is a style that suits people who want to replace jogging (bad for your body) with something that will get similar results (endorphins, sweat, muscles). read more

I love this studio. The teachers are wonderful and the studio is spacious and lovely. This studio has really helped to build my practice. I am so grateful we have it. read more

Overall, I will continue to go to Amara to take beginning classes. I've been on the $30 trial and have been taking lots of different classes with different instructors. Some are terrific and very talented and others are more disappointing. Linda and Billie are both amazing, for instance. However, I'm really disappointed in some of the practices here too. There's one instructor who runs her own business selling essential oils in addition to teaching yoga and she is constantly pushing her product during her classes. She's so eager to sell the oils that she put some on my arms during a pose without asking me first. I'm actually slightly allergic to some scents, so I was trying to hold back a sneeze while doing downward dog. She overall seemed more interested in making more money supporting her oil business than actually doing yoga instruction. That's really not cool and I would prefer not to be pressured into buying items based on pseudoscience in the future. read more

I adore Amara Yoga.I have tried yoga at other places and not been a fan. I went to Amara the first few times just because my friend wanted to go. Now, three years later, I go several times a week. The atmosphere at Amara is calm and welcoming. If I am grumpy at work my boss will say "is there a yoga class tonight?". He knows, my partner knows, heck everyone knows I am happier after an Amara yoga class.My body is in much better shape. I enjoy the workshops as well as the classes. Amara is the greatest. read more

Amara Yoga is and forever will be my yoga home. The yoga community at Amara has been an integral path of both my yogic and personal growth for the past 2.5 years, and I attribute that to its caring teachers and students. Amara will help you to find the right yoga for you. The teachers come from a variety of styles (Ashtanga, Vinyasa Krama, Hatha, Iyengar, vinyasa, Rocket), and they all bring unique experiences and perspectives to their classes. Talk to the teachers after class- their goal is to share yoga and help every person develop a yoga practice that fits his/her individual needs. In addition, teachers will go out of their way to help you and to make you feel at home. All you have to do is ask and they will go out of their way to get to know you and help you in anyway that they can. I started attending classes there in 2013, and decided to complete their inaugural teacher training program that same year. I have taught yoga at Amara in the past; however, I am currently a student at the studio. I recommend both their group classes and their teacher training. The anatomical and philosophical knowledge that each of the teachers possess in addition to the genuine care that each of them shows to their students is what makes Amara stand out from any yoga studio that I have ever visited. read more

Just to give you a brief view of my position in life, I am a recent M.S. graduate of the U of I, farmer and a competitive water skier. Thus I love and live in Urbana, make an ok income in the fields of stubborn-old men, and have an exceptional and dedicated physical strength and endurance training regimen. That being understood, I began yoga per the suggestion of a friend who knew my need for a restorative/recovery type of training...i had a mid-back injury from skiing practice and stretching beforehand wasn't fixing anything. So I went to my first class ever at Amara, more specifically a free teacher-trainee-debut-class. I liked its physical aspect well enough, but i loved the yogic mind-body connection that that teacher addressed. Doing yoga and learning my body's limitations helped me recover from my injury! Many classes later, I have finally found my yoga niche that encompasses the focus, dedication, strength, and motivation that I needed more of in my current training program; Asthanga. Amara definitely falls in the population mode in terms of price per class. Honestly, passes (10-class pass) there have been gifts to me from family, so that helps :) And as for men who's response to a female or male friend's request for them to try yoga mirrors, "i'm just not flexible enough, isn't that for women, i want a real workout," go to Amara and experience the mental and physical intensities of their classes. After achieving a good sweat, tension release or peace of mind, you may meet some great person from where you're from, from another continent, from another religion, or from small-town IL with dirt under their fingernails daily. Over the past year and a half, i have been to yoga in many locations on 3 continents, a certain place in Miami and at Amara, and I can tell you that every teacher I have experienced and every yogi on a mat next to me has been extremely welcoming and inspiring! One tip to navigating Amara, there is one classroom and one well-stocked waiting room. At the end of each class, few or many people exchange these rooms. Know this ahead of time and it won't interrupt your time spent there. Again, that advice comes from someone who fights changing wind and water conditions daily, but you'll learn!! read more

First, I had not done yoga for a long time when I took classes at Amara, so I was a little worried that there would not be a lot for my level, but there were plenty of accessible classes. I've taken some from Kathyrn who does a gentle yoga that's good both for beginners but also for anyone looking for a calmer class. I've also done the flow classes with Kristen. It was nice since the flow classes are much more of a workout than I thought you could have with yoga, but without being excessive and the instructors are always good at showing how to use props to avoid pain and keep everything safe. read more

I've been practicing yoga for the past five years and this is definitely one of my favorite studios. They've got a great staff of teachers with classes for all different levels. I love this studio because it also doubles as an arts studio. The art on the walls changes about every month, usually displaying work from local artists. My experience in Urbana wouldn't have been the same without Amara. The studio not only provided me with great yoga classes but it also provided me with a community of amazing, caring, likeminded people. I would highly recommend this studio to anyone living near Champaign-Urbana. read more

Amara is the best. I have been to many yoga studios over the past 6 years and Amara is hands down the best place I've been to. The teachers are excellent- highly qualified and very talented. The space is beautiful and I always enjoy checking out the art before and after class. The best part of Amara though is the nurturing, supportive environment- on a bad day, or even on a good day, I always come out of Amara feeling a lot better. read more