I'd hope they would be open this afternoon. Talk about a disappointment. Oh well such as life not always do my plans work out when I plan to just relax in the afternoon. Next time. There is always other places for yoga that stay open later on the day before the holiday. maybe open tomorrow? read more

I truly love Niyama. All the teachers are great even though favorites do emerge but you can't go wrong. Every teacher that I have had has been so friendly. The free first class is generous and buying the 10 class pass is a good deal relative to other over priced places. Added pluses are free mat, towels, and equipment rentals (all things that major yoga chains make you pay for). The Hot Yoga class is by far the best style and shouldn't scare off beginners because the teachers offer many modifications. Overall just a very happy welcoming place! read more

Wonderful studio and community that they have built. Love practicing here!

I cannot believe the other reviewer had positive things to say about Mac! My review is QUITE the opposite. I went to Niyama on week nights almost 4 days a week this past summer when I was living in the suburbs. Almost all of the teachers I had on week nights were amazing, kind, patient and everything a good yoga teacher should be. The studio is clean, inexpensive (especially if you're a student) and relaxing. If my rating were based on the weeknight classes only, my rating would be much higher. I made the mistake, however, of attending a few of Mac's classes on the weekends. Mac owns the studio- and therefore, I thought it would be a great experience since I loved the studio so. How wrong I was. Upon the first class I attended Mac made it a point to humiliate a student in class because he wasn't doing a backbend correctly. I decided to write it off as a fluke and attended her class again the following weekend. I realized that it was not a fluke. Mac was obnoxiously phony throughout the entire class and brought a condescending teaching style, constantly showering her students with demeaning comments instead of the uplifting inspirational attitude that you so often find in yoga. The final time I visited Niyama, I made the mistake of not checking the schedule beforehand and Mac was unfortunately teaching. During a posture that I find very difficult, Mac came up to me and said (loud enough for everyone to hear) that I should be in the back of the room because I clearly didn't know what I was doing. When I said that there was no room, she rolled her eyes and snapped "There's plenty of room!" I was furious and humiliated! Though I loved so many of the other teachers I refused to go back after that and support a studio owned by a person like this. When I decide to go to yoga I expect a comforting and uplifting experience led by teachers who foster a sense of support and community. When I told my story to a few other students I realized I was not alone in my sentiments. Others told me of similar situations they had either experienced or witnessed. Mac has no business owning a yoga studio and treating her students this way. If you do decide to attend Niyama- opt for a class taught by any of the other teachers, unless you want to leave feeling badly about yourself and your practice. read more

Niyama Yoga is as good as it gets. Mac is wonderful - warm, sincere, generous and a true yogi spiritually, mentally and physically. The studio is packed because the classes are great and we want to participate and be a part of the Niyama community. In addition, they are extremely philanthropic and I respect and appreciate that very much read more

A lady friend and I went to a Niyama hot yoga class last Sunday..... 12:30pm Niyama hot yoga class. Pros- wonderfully heated, humid conditions, ideal for exercising......... I would love to go there when there are no classes and just do my own flow, by myself, in those humid conditions........... It was just like being in a huge steam room........easy sweating & toxin elimination.... True hot Bikram style environment..........Large studio, tons of yoga mats. Lady teacher had a great disposition............ We both liked her as a person, great vibe, even though we had almost zero interaction with her...... We both found parking right on the street, even though there must have been 50 people in that room........ Sunday's class was by donation...........I appreciate that. Cons- It was packed like sardines in there...... They should have limits on attendees......... When the teacher saw all those sardines, she should have eliminated certain postures, like forward bending triangles or lunges. Then my face wouldn't be buried in the lady' behind, in front of me. We left after about 15 minutes.... We had no room to stretch.. No mention of eyegaze, locks, micromovements, mantra or breath. No flow, no gradual progression, no transition. There was little instuction, no detail...... The soft rock prevented us from hearing whatever the teacher was saying. Distracting music,............Some of the songs were good...........Too good..... Just hard, stenuous stretches & calesthenics without enough warm up. What prevented injury was the hot, steamy conditions......... No pleasure, grace or beauty............Just grueling & sudden movements. I don't consider that hatha yoga......... Good exercises, but not hatha............But opinions vary...... Constant movement & transition.........No time spent in any calesthenic. Nobody answered the phone over there......... I even called in between classes, at 11:30am Sunday, before driving from Rogers Park all the way up there............I called 3x, starting at around 9 am..... I felt they had to answer, considering those overcrowded conditions. We could have been advised that the class is usually too full, Come back another day. We coulda lived with that......... Instead we travelled from Glenview & Rogers Park, respectively. Classes are $18 bucks a shot, for the most part....... Hey, maybe there are other classes are great, but be smart & don't go Sundays. We probably won't go back ever again..... Where there is smoke there is usually fire..... warm regards, Daniel 773.800.2696 read more

Best yoga studio ever! Upbeat classes that motivate and center you. Friendly instructors with great tips on positions. Very nice community of people. Has transformed my body and mind - much needed! read more

So, I just joined yelp today and decided to check and see if there were any reviews of my *home* yoga studios, of which Niyama is one. I am shocked to read Haley's review! I have been an avid Niyama student for almost four years now (averaging between four and six classes per week) and I love Niyama as well as Mac. Mac is an amazing yoga teacher; an incredibly interesting person; and is kind and generous, almost to a fault. She is very welcoming; helpful during class; and is committed to providing a wonderful experience to to all who come in the door. If you've just started practicing yoga or are a seasoned veteran, then Niyama is definitely the place to be. The hot practice is awesome - I've been doing it for four years now and it still kicks my ass on a regular basis. I also attend the flow classes, and there's a nice variety of instructors to pick from. I thoroughly enjoy Kira, Heather, Patti, Nancy Clark, and Kristin. Also, Julie's weekly yin class has changed my practice to the point that I can now actually touch my head to my knee in head-to-knee pose. :-) I would also recommend Niyama not just for the yoga, but for the community. The people at Niyama with whom I practice and receive instruction for me are like family to me. It's a very close and tight knit group that truly enjoy practicing with each other. I get that not every student meshes with each instructor, but seriously, having known Mac for a while now, I strongly feel that Haley's review was way, way, way off base. read more

Great experience! This is a great place to go for beginners. I love that I can learn at my own speed. After every class I feel amazing. They offer many different classes but hot yoga is my favorite. Everything is very clean and organized. read more

The teachers are dedicated, they take time to listen and share their wisdom after class. I can practice with the seasoned and beginning yogis, connect, and show up as my imperfectly perfect self. The fact that they do not have a retail boutique keeps me focused on what I'm there for- my yoga practice and not an object to fill a 10 second need. This is the best studio for devoted yogis. Try you'll love it! read more

We took a class with Kristin and she was amazing! Very clean facility and I felt very comfortable - cannot wait to go back!

Niyama is my favorite studio in the Chicagoland area, and (although I live in the city) I make a point to come here at least once a week. This place offers a nice variety of classes, but this review is mainly just about the "Hot Niyama" classes offered. They. are. AWESOME. I've practiced Bikram and various other hot series (Corepower, Om the Range), and Niyama really does it best. The studio is one room (although there's an office and bathroom in the back), so don't plan on hitting the showers after class. There is a wide variety of personalities with all the teachers here, but I think that's one of the best parts about it. Mac, the owner, is an inspiring and positive woman who I really find gets what yoga is all about. Yes, she will correct you, but that's why you're in CLASS, right? Her friendliness and catch phrases ("my darlings!") may strike you as phony at first, but she is totally genuine! She truly cares about her students, the community, and the practice. She's straight up, no fluff, and does things the way she thinks is best, and I really respect that. I've learned a lot from her and the other teachers here, my biggest lesson probably being to be open-minded. Who knew that dark chocolate is most delicious when devoured after an exhausting 90-minute hot series? In regards to the series: the beginning is seated, allowing for breathwork and the setting of a sankalpa. The meaty portion is standing: warriors 1,2,3, low lunges, wide legged forward folds, high lunges and balancing poses. There's always room for modifications and usually some core work. A unique thing about Niyama is the 2 savasanas -- a mini one after the balancing poses, and then the final at the end of class. It definitely helps to have an understanding of the basic postures if you're heading to the Niyama hot class, but if you're totally new to yoga, you can certainly still keep up -- just make sure to tell the instructor you're a newbie! This is a great place for anyone with an open mind that's willing to work hard and wants have fun. One last thing: The Friday Night Special is seriously my favorite thing to do on a Friday night! $10 for a 90 minute class, great music, a different teacher every week and the best yoga high you'll ever experience. Cheers to Mac and Niyama for creating such a wonderful studio. My only wish is for her to open another studio in the city =) Om shanti! read more

Enjoyed 2 classes at Niyama while visiting my brother over St. Patty's Day weekend. I'm a yoga instructor and both Kara and Patti really challenged me with the Yoga For Athletes practice and the Beg/Intermediate practice. The studio setting is excellent with an extensive inventory of equipment and props. It's a true compliment that immediately after the classes I made notes to remember the excellent cueing and asana variations that we practiced! I will return whenever I visit my brother. read more

As someone who lives in the city, I come up here as often as I can for the Niyama practice. If you can, try Mac's class. Her easy going approach to yoga has inspired me to deepen my own practice and to try to take it off the mat. read more

Love Mac's class. Have no idea what Haley is talking about. Her Mon. morn. class is packed. We are sweatballs when we leave and my body and its joints are healing & strengthening from the effort. She definitely raises the bar for those who want to reach further, deeper, harder, etc., but is naturally and genuinely open to those of us who climb slower. read more

Niyama is a wonderful studio, no frills but great yoga vibe. Hot yoga is my favorite (Kristen & Heather are especially great teachers, lots of individual attention). Yin with Julie on Sunday nights is a great way to start the week, you are almost high when you walk out of there after class. I have sampled other studios in the area and Niyama just feels like home. read more

Went to studio for hot yoga, have been to other hot yoga studios and liked it. The music was so loud couldn't hear directions and instructor was negative and generally, a jerk. As anti-yoga principles as could be. Seems to be a clique of locals who all go together and outsiders perhaps less welcome? read more

I haven't been doing hot yoga for too long, but I absolutely love it. I started at another studio out of town, and it was nice to find a place close to home. Niyama has been great, but the style is slightly different than what I'm used to. The fact that the hot yoga routine is the same every time, besides a few slight variations, is not the ideal method for me, which is why I am not a regular at Niyama. The classes have been very satisfactory when I'm really in the mood for a hot yoga session, though! read more