Prior to the pandemic I did Baptiste style power yoga for several years, but when my studio closed…read moreI fell out on any exercise except dog walking and just couldn't get it back. I started to feel my age, lots of aches and pains. For some reason, this March I decided to purchase an introductory pass to I am Yoga - a studio I had had my eye on for a while, wanting to try 26 & 2 style yoga. Just shy of 4 months later, I can't get enough of this studio or this style of yoga. The studio itself is very nice - I enjoy the setting in the Williamsville village, there is plenty of room to navigate entrances and exits and they have a nice locker room. The hot yoga room is large and comfortable - never feels crowded despite good attendance. You can either choose a dark corner to really settle inward or put yourself near a sunny window. Everyone is very friendly and low key - you never feel any pressure of any kind. The yoga is HOT, but I love that. I know it's not for everyone. I was surprised how much I like the regularity of the 26 & 2 sequence - strangely I never get bored as there just seems to be an infinite journey in each move - hard to explain. I can't believe how much I have strengthened - old injuries (knee surgeries) seem to be healing, aches and pains disappearing, feeling younger and with increased body positivity. The best result is in the area of mental health - my anxiety is much better. This style of yoga I find very meditative. Teachers are great - I take most of the classes from Madeline, but they're all great - they transmit the traditional dialogue, but oddly it never feels scripted. I LOVE that they have 6am classes - really a game changer for getting me there as I have trouble making it after work. I enjoy the Forrest Flow class on Tuesday nights but have trouble getting there regularly. Another factor - the participants are very diverse - from age, to gender, to "ability" level, everybody can be on their own journey, but together! Highly recommend trying out this studio!

I have a love hate relationship with yoga in general…read more It was trending towards the hate until I tried Bikram in NYC about 15 years ago. I don't know what got me in the first time. May have been as simple as a place opened on one of my regular walking routes. Not sure. But back then they offered unlimited classes for a few weeks for "newbies" for a very reasonable price. That studio was small and cramped, it's NYC after all. The changing rooms were sparse and not very nice, have to say. So I did the yoga for the time I had bought, and even got a few friends hooked with me. It was hard work, but so is living in NYC, so we were ready for the challenge. I didn't re-up when my trial ran out for a few reasons. Not the least of which was I heard about Bikrams behavior even back then. And I just didn't want to support that. But flash forward 15 years. And I'm looking for something to help me stretch more as I clearly need to do. With a shoulder that's been bothering me for ages now I remembered that Bikram had made me stronger for sure, even in the short time I did it. So I came here to try them out for a month. It's a friendly place. The ladies locker room is ok, certainly better than NYC. They have showers. I think you can rent towels too. Bring your own mat or use one of theirs for $2. They have bags in the locker rooms for your wet sweaty clothes after class. Bikram is done in over 100 degrees. It's 90 min. They really ask that you try to stay in the room the whole time. Especially your first few visits. But if you are feeling the heat, you can sit out a pose. This location offers 75 and 60 min hot classes too, which I was not familiar with. I like the 75 but find the 60 min a little fast paced for me. But remember, I find yoga very difficult. The yoga studio is huge. There are some posts that do disrupt views in the room. The mirrors are not aligned with each other so make sure you are aware of that when picking a spot, since the mirrors are important in Bikram classes. This is not a place that's easily accessible for the disabled - up a long flight of stairs to the second floor. They sell various types of water and EmergencE etc. all for reasonable prices. But you can also just bring your own. If there were things to think about - the ceiling lights are harsh to look at, and you are supposed to have your eyes open for the class, and you spend time looking at the ceiling. Another reviewer said it didn't have that "Bikram scent" - but it does. Just be prepared for it. I'm giving 5 stars because the environment is just so welcoming. And the "newbies" month unlimited is a great price. If you haven't tried Bikram, you need more than one class to really "get" it. If you've tried but not here, come try it. Great studio. Street parking, but watch the signs. Or there's a lot in back.

This studio has all the makings of a great place but has a few areas to work on. First, there is a…read morelot of chatter in the yoga room itself (and a few cell phones going off during class). I prefer a quieter experience when I enter my yoga space, but that's me. The class itself was hatha so I wasn't expecting an experience where i would be dripping sweat, but this was a very gentle class...yes you can deepen the postures as you need to, but that was challenging when there were so many people in the class that we had little room to accommodate. There is a really beautiful alter that adds a lot to the atmosphere, along with plenty of props for use. There was restrooms and changing areas available as well.

I've been looking into yoga for a while now and was so nervous, being a beginner. I didn't want to…read morespend tons of money to feel uncomfortable in a class with "yoga professionals." But Rising Sun is exactly what I needed. It's welcoming and catered to any experience level. Plus it is incredibly affordable and it doesn't lock you into a set number of sessions. I also like that I can do it online or in person. So happy to have found it!

I found my favorite yoga class! In the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes we don't take the time…read morewe need to slow down our thoughts, minds, movements...but the slow vinyasa class here accomplishes that! It's taught by Michelle on Thursdays and I believe a few other times. I went at 7:30pm. It was beautiful. Slow, but purposeful flow in a gorgeous venue on the West Side. It was exactly what I needed and just writing this review I'm thinking about how much I need to go back to something like this right now. We all need to slow down a little. Shakti Yoga helped me accomplish that. I look forward to more trips back.

Love this place. Been a regular over 2years. Visit every chance I get (2-4 times a week)…read more Beautiful building inside & out. Nice changing room. Friendly staff. But most of all fabulous class and diversity. Every class is different from the one before. Go! You won't be disappointed.

The downtown Barre Centric might be the second location out of the current three, but it's where I…read moretook my first official Barre Centric class (my true first class was at Wilkeson Pointe Park, and I liked what I saw, and here we are). Now that the new year has started, I'll be spending plenty of time at the location that kicked off my experience. This location is at the corner of Main and West Ferry, so it's easy to get to from most directions. There is off street parking, which can fill up quickly, but I've never had an issue with street parking and finding a spot right in front of the building. It's easiest to enter through the back entrance in the parking lot, that door is closer to the storage area and restroom, and there's more room to switch out of your shoes and into those grippy socks. If you forget your socks, never fear, there are socks and other gear for sale, just like the other locations. Downtown is definitely the smallest of the three locations, so classes fill up early here. Do yourself a favor and sign up in advance, especially if you're trying to go to Barre Resist. As always, the taller barre is in the front. Don't fear the tall barre, some moves are just easier on it. I promise, you'll be fine. This studio has all four classes on the schedule, although as of this review, there aren't any Barre Bounce classes at Downtown. I tend to go for standard Barre Centric (also in 45 minute express format) and Barre Resist (for those PT friendly stretches). Barre Bounce originally debuted here, and I preferred it here with the high ceiling, although the chances of actually hitting the ceiling were low. If it's your first time, consider choosing a class with either co-owner, Gia or Rachael. Both ladies are wonderful teachers and truly enjoy what they do, and it's obvious to anyone watching. Now that I'm in the middle of a barre challenge, I know I'll be spending lots of additional time at the Downtown location. Barre Centric is a great place to make big changes with small moves. Take it up an inch and down an inch downtown!

This may be the best run studio business in Buffalo (2 locations, one Buffalo, one Clarence). Ive…read morebeen coming back to the Buffalo location since they offered a special with Revolution, just down the road on Main. If you don't know what Barre is, here's a layman's explanation: Ballerinas are the result of hours, days, months, years of practicing the art over and over. At Barre the instructors are all ballet trained, and the classes are based on the moves they did millions of times in the past. Anyone can do the moves, which is great. You see people of all shapes and sizes here, its friendly to all. No matter your past ballet experience, you will see results here from day one, and you'll see improvement over time if you stick with it. I know this from personal experience. You arrive here to a clean and well lit studio and parking lot. Even when its dark, the parking isn't. Gotta love that in the winter. You can come in either the front or back doors, but the "changing area" is in the back. They do ask that your outside shoes come off right at either door, don't track that salt and other wet stuff in. You wear socks or Barre socks (which many wear for yoga too, those footies with little grippy things on the bottom). I wear regular gym type socks and they work just fine. But you can buy the other kind here, and I think that's what most people do. At this location they offer 4 classes - Barre Express - 45 minute Barre class Barre Centric - 60 minute Barre class Barre Bouce - Barre on the trampoline. Yep, on a trampoline. Everyone has their own small, low to the ground, trampoline. There are various moves done on it, interspersed with some other floor work. Its a whole new ballgame from Barre, but lots of fun and challenging in a different way. Barre Cardio - Barre at a faster pace with some different moves The class most people take is Barre Centric, and its offered the most as a result. The Barre Express is often offered at lunchtime I have found. The classes remain more or less the same for a few weeks at a time, so you are not spending each class trying to figure out what's going on. For someone like me, that's great. If I had ballet training it might not matter as much, but I appreciate the consistency. The other location in Clarence doesn't have Barre Bounce, but does have Barre Stick, which uses Pilates sticks in class. You can go to either studio, and I gather that many do mix it up depending on where they will be that day. Classes here start right on time. As a result, its rare for anyone to arrive late, so everyone is pretty focused on the class from the start. I love that they start and end on time. Makes things easier to plan. There is a changing room here with cubbies for your things. Its got plenty of hooks for the winter coats too. The rest room is large with a shower that's fully stocked with shampoos and lotions etc.. Some people do use the shower and facilities Ive found. They must bring their own towels as none are available here. But the facilities are very nice and always so clean. There are even some men who are taking Barre here these days. Nice to see that in the mix. ** The reasons I think its the best run studio in Buffalo - The owners have created a schedule and color patterns that's consistent with the two studios. They have the same themes running throughout. The owners teach tons of classes themselves, but they also hire women who are well trained and consistent in temperament with each other. There is no visible drama here in the workplace. Its a fun place to be as well. As a studio junkie, I have plenty of experience with studios, and this is a well run, well organized, very pleasant place to "get your exercise on".

This was my first time here and I guarantee it won't be my last! I lucked up and got a gentle class…read morewith Molly and I'm soooooo glad. The space is small and clean with heated floors, it's peaceful and welcoming. I love it and I can't wait to try some other classes!

This past year, especially during the height of COVID, virtual Yin classes with Melissa or Steph on…read moreTuesdays and Thursdays truly kept my life together. Yin is a special kind of yoga that typically stays low to the ground, and involves staying in deep stretches for longer amounts of time. It's a really beautiful, meditative experience, and definitely requires a special kind of teacher. Up until about a month ago, I had never actually been to the studio in person. When I finally did go, I was met with a warm, clean, and cozy room on a rainy day. The instructor was welcoming and gave modifications for every move. I felt very comfortable, and will definitely be back for more!

I started taking barre about 3 years ago and it continues to make a positive impact on my fitness…read moreroutine. Attending barre during and after my pregnancy's helped to accelerate my recovery and get me back on track with my fitness journey. I would highly recommend barre to anybody! Try it out, you won't regret it!

Best barre studio around! All of the Instructors are friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and very…read morehelpful. It is always a really good workout, and they show you how you can make modifications if necessary. I love the matted floors and overall setting as well.

I love yoga and especially heated classes. The 915 yoga classes on Saturday are great and always…read moreleave me ready for the weekend.

Great boutique yoga, pilates and barre workout studio in the village of Orchard Park. I found this…read moreplace because I was always interested in taking reformer Pilates classes and they offered a 5 week series to learn. I really enjoyed it and have been coming ever since. All the instructors are amazing and give you a great workout. There is a larger upstairs studio with heated wall panels for yoga, barre and mat Pilates. And a smaller space downstairs for Pilates reformer. There is also a boutique with a beautiful selection of athletic wear and accessories. Sign up for classes, view the schedule and buy a packages on the Mind Body app. I highly recommend if you are looking to check out a new studio.

My first time at Symmetry Pilates and it was a great experience. I was impressed with the quick…read moreresponses and communication from the owner and instructor about signing up as a new student. They offer small group classes, 5 to a class, so the instructor and check on everyone and help as needed. The class was familiar yet challenging to what I'm used to and I was able to keep up without a problem. They have a lot of equipment that they rotate into the classes to keep it fresh and interesting. I'm excited to try the tower and chair at future classes.

I joined Symmetry Pilates 6 months ago and the results have been amazing…read more With the guidance of Judi Donner, I have lost 14 pounds and several inches off my waist, hips and thighs. I have strengthened my core and toned and tightened my muscles. With multiple pieces of equipment and countless exercises, there is always something new. I enjoy going to my Pilates sessions because not only am I getting a total workout, but Judi also makes it fun. The studio is always exceptionally clean and so relaxing with Zen music in the background. Having tried other types of workout programs, this is by far the best thing I have ever done for my body and mind.