Today marks a very important break through, which warrants a review update for Karma. Today, for the very first time, I was able to put my heels on ground in downward dog. I felt a little different and couldn't pinpoint it at first, but then I look back and saw it: my feet, flat on the floor. A wave of an absolutely awesome feeling washed over me. I felt like one million dollars. And now, the brief story of how I got this place where I never thought I'd be: Sarah, Jenn and Karma (the three instructors who's classes I attend most) have been amazing all in different ways, but essentially have been welcoming, helpfully adjusting me along the way, providing a sanctuary of calm, a center of learning without judgment and encouragement when it's needed the most. Though I'm still in my very newbie stages, I've come to learn some terms, feel more comfortable with myself in my practice and even sometimes try the every-so-slightly more advanced poses, though I still always take a spot at the back of the room. Five stars for helping this clumsy gal find her balance! read more

As an aside, some of the KYS reviews are simply mean-spirited, nasty, shallow, and insulting. God, I hope these reviewers aren't part of the U.S.'s future intelligencia: what a heartless, self-entitled, joyless, paranoid, and borderline illiterate group of mutts they are. I'm worried that more education may simply exacerbate the situation and their inflated self-images. And that's my non-judgmental vew. Namaste. But, worse yet, for me, is that these future Beacons of Light may be on the mat right next to me. I'll have to keep at least one eye open during savasana from now so that they don't snatch my soul. What a crew of poseurs. Uh...namaste. Some of the instructors have sadly moved on, only to be replaced by new, equally great ones. I can't comment on instructors who teach during daylight hours on week days, so my comments are about teachers who teach either at night and/or on the week-ends. Among recent instructors whose classes I've taken and like are: (1) Bethania Bacigalupe - yoga at 8:30 pm is terrrific. Bethania avoids amping your nerves by avoiding the poses that are the equivalent of a few shots of espresso. (2) Mickey Barr - his classes have a nice rhythm and are challenging, particularly if you try to follow his lead too far. (3) Jenn Pici Falk - Like other great instructors, she offers variations and options for poses to students who are at different levels. While I always opt for the simplest pose and the path of least resistance, she makes everyone comfortable in whatever asana variation they've chosen. So if you're in child's pose while everyone else is in pincha murayasana, that's the right place for you. BTW: the new sauna is great, although it makes the locker room even smaller. But it's a worthwhile trade-off. I've gone to KYS consistently for the last two years. Class sizes ebb and flow depending on the instructor, time, class, and whether local colleges are in session. While I like small classes, this is a business. The instructors and the studio make more money when more folks are in class. So a class of 6 can't be a happy sight for the studio or the instructor even though the students think it's great. Yet, the instructors, for the most part, are unbelievably gracious about the prospect of working for an hour+ for less than minimum wage, maybe the cost of a small latte (not grande), or a medium BerryLine (no sprinkles though). The most packed class I've been in was 31 in the downstairs room on a Saturday. The front desk will cap class attendance, but at anything more than 20, classes can seem a little cramped. The instructors generally adjust poses when there are space limitations, but full classes are relatively rare. If they happen, it's usually on the week-end and specific to a class, time, and/or instructor. Try to be happy for the instructor when the class is full as that means that for an hour or so s/he may actually make a living wage. Being a yoga instructor and/or running a studio seem to me to be a tough business. I don't see any of them driving a Benz or living the 1% Life. Don't begrudge these working people a living. Just a thought: be nicer to the folks at the front desk. They have a tough, demanding, thankless job. Show some class and respect when you interact with them. They aren't the help even though they want to help you. On a less inclusive note, it's very irritating to have folks roll in after the class has started. It's disruptive and insulting to others in the class and the teacher. My wife's instructor used to lock the door when class started. I don't think KYS will go that route, but it would stem the flow of the self-absorbed late-comers. read more

***Tea room only*** I had seen the tea room frequently on my trips to Harvard square and had been eager to try it. The tea and cookies were good; nothing that blew my mind, but good. What I became upset about was the behavior of the staff. It appeared the woman at the counter was busy, which is fine. So why did she immediately tend to my friend's transaction, and when I stepped up to the counter turn back to what she was doing? I politely said "excuse me" and received and flat "just a minute". I can stomach the worst food if the staff is friendly, but throw in a rude and unwelcoming environment and I would even reject ambrosia. read more

A dear friend visited this place and said he really liked it. So I decided to give it a try for tea. I asked what spices they had in their chai blend, and whether there was a lot of cloves. And also, no vanilla. The young woman behind the counter looked at me blankly. I pressed the point. She said, "It has a lot of spices." When I said I would like to smell the jar of their chai blend to see if it had enough cardamom and not too much cloves, the young woman behind the counter at Karma refused to let me do that. TeaLuxe lets you sniff the cases of loose tea before selecting something to have made, and I told the woman this. She paused. Nothing. I said, "Can you let me see what it smells like?" Long pause. She wished I would just go away. I didn't. I just stared at her. Then holding the glass jar about three feet away, she made a little wafting gesture across the top of the open jar. It was ridiculous. I turned around and walked out. And had a lovely time at TeaLuxe. A lot of attitude, and the prices seemed really high, although I didn't try anything. read more

I love Karma Yoga. I recently celebrated by one year yogaversary- thanks to the studio and its wonderful teachers, I am stronger and bendier in mind and body. Since January, I've been quite deliberately and enthusiastically attending classes roughly 3-5 days a week and I couldn't be happier with the experience. After the initial novelty (and soreness) wore off, integration of yoga into an often hectic and stressful schedule has been profoundly life altering. I am not usual prone to fits of yelping, but after reading a string of negative reviews, I feel compelled. Namaste bitches. I must admit that I don't have much to compare Karma to, as I haven't been to many other studios (esp. in the Boston area). However, my experience practicing at Karma has been so positive, I haven't ever felt the need to try other studios out. It's home. As a sweati-brogi, who could barely touch his shins with straight legs Karma was a fantastic place to start on the path (to my toes). The studios: lovely. The basement studio is quiet (except for the occasional T-train Om) and cozy. The upstairs studio is bright and airy. The folks at the desk: friendly, helpful, with excellent memory retention. I am a chronic just-in-time (late) comer and it's amazing to be waved in because they remember your name! Take that, Cheers. The teachers: enthusiastic, talented, funny, encouraging, non-pretentious, challenging Gold stars for Karma, Rachel, Mickey, and Larisa. They populate my zoo of power-animals. Each offers a unique flavor of awesome. The classes: well populated, rarely crowded. There usually plenty of space and a total mixed bag of attendees. I generally don't look around at who else is around, I am too busy trying engage some bandas and open me some chakras without releasing to many fartas. Yeah the weekend-brunch-crowd classes can sometimes be busy and forget about the waves of new year's or back to school yogis. Honestly, In a year of classes, I think that there were only perhaps two or three classes (new years, saturday/sunday, noonish) that were actually fully fully packed, but even then space was made for everyone who showed up, and I am sure at least someone made a new friend, whether they wanted to or not. haha. Bottomline:There's plenty of room. Karma is the best as far as I am concerned, and I try not to be that concerned, but I don't try too hard to try not to be concerned. That's some yogic shit right there! read more

Signed up on a recommendation from a friend who was going to prenatal classes here, because the unlimited special was less than my local studio, and since I'm unemployed I could afford to focus on actually getting out of the house and into town just about every day (and wanted to!). Just a bonus that this included the sauna access (wonderful in those dark days of March!) and supposedly a gym, though I haven't set foot up there (I prefer to get my cardio outside with the trees). I LOVE this studio. I've had no problems with the financial part and they've been so gracious about everything that I find it hard to believe they haven't worked out the kinks in the auto-bill system. I think occasionally the desk person doesn't have the right permissions and then there's a miscommunication (my unlimited kept not being activated in the beginning and I'd see different staff every day, so I don't know what happened, but they let me in on good faith and it all got worked out!) (I do wish they had a card or number system so I didn't have to give my name every time I go in, though. A few people seem to have numbers, oddly? Hmm.) My favorite teacher so far (I've only had 4 here so far) is Larisa, the M/W/F 10:30 am and noon classes. I really can't say enough good things, from her encouragement and assists to her truly renewing, hip-opening, shoulder-opening, standing-work- and twist- heavy, and both difficult and calming classes... always with the theme of the day and similar sequences, but a little bit different each time. Bethania's night class was different and interesting, less intense to wind you down, with a lot of less-usual prop work. And it's not very yogic I suppose, but lawd is she attractive. A bonus? There are a huge variety of styles and times available, and two studios. (I prefer upstairs; it seems bigger, maybe?) The decor is also pretty cool; a lot of salvaged-looking wood pieces and such. An aside for previous reviewer Jack-- actually some of them do drive a Benz or similar ;) But I won't hold it against them. If I were you, I'd sign up for that unlimited special before it's not an option. 4-month commitment. read more

Went to one class and it's my last. Full of pretentious, wanna-be profound kids and older folks. So profound they can't even acknowledge your presence. Yoga has become very popular in the Boston Area very recently and it shows. It's exclusive to a certain group of people: White with money. No thanks. What pissed me off even more was the intructor. Early twenties and full of herself. Talking about traveling to India to master the practice. She spoke in a whisper, which gives her an aura of wisdom. Shut up! read more

Similar to some of the other reviews here, if i were only reviewing the instructors i would give it high marks. But the management is so bad i cant go back. I was originally signed up for a membership that was supposed to come with unlimited yoga. It turned out that was only for the South End studio - which was absolutely NOT in the fine print. Further the fine print DID say that the membership wouldnt start until i wanted it to. However, they just started charging me right after i signed up anyway. By the time i had gotten them to cancel it i had paid for three months and received ZERO classes in return. I was literally robbed of $150. I then (shame on me) got a 10 class pack because i do really like the instructors there. I was assured that these dont expire. I left 3 of them unused heading into summer (i was going to be out of cambridge for 3 months). By the time i returned home they informed me on my first visit back that my 3 classes had expired. Ridiculous! I wont ever go back. They are awful and at this point there is literally $200 worth of classes i havent been able to use. read more

After a year long membership with Karma, I felt I should take a minute to update my review. The facts are, I purchased a one year membership with them because: - they are conveniently located next to my work (harvard square) -they have yoga classes AND a gym -they were the most reasonably priced in the area AND -they have showers and locker rooms Besides the reasons listed above, their front desk lady (Michelle) is amazing. She's kind, patient and has gone above and beyond to provide a experience. As for whatever management issues people have mentioned having with Karma, I haven't experienced any of that. I bought my membership and that was the end of it. Over time though, I've visited less and less. The main reasons for this are: GYM Frequently the machine I want to use is in use and I have to wait (sometimes 30 minutes, since there's only one) for it to become available. And though out of Karma's control, a surprising amount of men who use the weight lifting equipment lift more weight than they can comfortably lift and so when they drop (loudly) the equipment. I really wish Karma would put up a sign instructing folks not to bang the weights together, or let them crash to the floor. LOCKER ROOM On the topic of signs, I'd love it if they put a sign on the woman's locker room door telling people to please close the door after themselves. After getting out of the shower covered in only a towel to see the door left wide open, or worse being in the process of changing or using the toilet and having someone leave the door wide open is uncomfortable and strikes me as rude. It amazes me that so many women lack the common sense to close the door, since it is directly across the hall from the men's locker room door. Again, not Karma's fault but annoying nonetheless. Come on ladies, have some consideration for other's privacy! CLASSES I've stopped attending many of them because they're overfilled and it makes me claustrophobic. There really should be more of a limit on how many students are allowed in such smalls rooms. It makes that reasonable price I mentioned seem less reasonable and it's frustrating to have arrived early to secure a spot, only to have someone plop themselves down so closely that their derriere ends up in my face or they mistakenly flail an arm or foot at me (which has happened to me more than once), so I avoid the 5:45 classes, and all of certain instructors classes. There are some fantastic instructors there, that really get you to bust your butt, which I enjoy more than spending ten minutes of class having circle time before starting the workout. My main issue is just how jam packed it is. It's coming up on a year for me and I'm not necessarily sure it will be worth it for me to renew my membership. I may want to switch back to drop in status. In theory, it's a wonderful place that gives you most anything you could want in a yoga studio. But in practice, the thought of attending uncomfortably crowded classes makes me put off going... read more

The space is simple, beautiful, and zen-like. But my gripe is this: how (and I repeat HOW) on earth does this place run and stay afloat?! Communication and follow up is verrrrrrry slooooow and inconsistent (if at all). And the "management" (female owner?) seems so scattered, preoccupied, and full of contradictions when I tried to sort some stuff out (but at the same time she seemed nice, so that made the experience more confusing - kinda like a dysfunctional relationship that keeps you guessing at every turn). Boooo for Karma. They have the winning looks and lots of potential to be a great yoga studio, but that aint enough in my book. The lack of follow through and professionalism taints the pic for me, which is too bad, because they offer some great classes. At the very least, they should make an honest effort to live up to their own philosophy and namesake! read more

This review is only for the Karma gym (upstairs at Karma Yoga). I bought a Groupon for a one month membership to the gym and knew going into it that this was a no-frills/no classes/equipment-only place. No problem, I only paid $29 so no big deal. What I learned was that was about $20 too much. The gym is sadly lacking in many respects: fans that blow hot air while you're on cardio equipment, floors & equipment that are rarely cleaned (I left a paper towel next to a machine and it was there for a week), empty gallon water jugs that need to be replaced by members, and only 1 of 3 treadmills fully operable. But the kicker was showing up at 6:30am one morning and finding the gym hadn't opened yet (advertised opening is 6am). Another member was waiting outside and said it wasn't the first time he'd waited for someone to show up. Really?! Who would be willing to join a gym that doesn't open on time?! I wanted to share my experience in the event others are looking to join the gym. Their website says they charge $79/month. Not sure how they get away charging that much without classes.....and given the consistently underwhelming experience and broken equipment. read more

Update: 3 months later folks. Yes....3 MONTHS LATER I receive a response on Yelp from the Studio. Dear Jesse- this issue was resolved after much hounding on my part in October (might I add with practically no help on Karma's part) with a credit and confirmation of cancellation. Please coordinate with your "management" and staff before responding haphazardly to out of date concerns. Apparently the management has not improved in the last 3 months. read more

I loved this place. It's a total sanctuary from the craziness of city life. The instructors are fantastic (Elizabeth and Jesse are so seriously awesome at what they do), the gym is super clean and quiet, and the lobby is very pleasant to relax in. They also have a tea bar which is nice, though when looking for guidance on which of the 40 teas to pick, don't expect much help. There are some issues however with this gym. In the half year I've been a member, the women's locker room has had one functioning stall, one of the scales in the gym is broken, neither of which are fixed. Not a huge problem and never bothered me until I had similar experiences trying to edit my membership at Karma and realized that I just don't think the staff cares all that much. I sent an email notifying them 30 days in advance that I wanted to use my account as a drop in account instead of monthly unlimited. A week went by, I emailed again and called. No reply. Then I get a notification from the same email letting me know my card is expiring and I need to update it. NOPE. I replied again asking for help. Nothing. I'm lucky my card expired by the looks of the other reviews here. It's a shame, but this has kind of ruined Karma for me. I don't think I'll want to go back now with so many options in Cambridge. If you want to go, I highly recommend the classes (especially the Hatha classes), but stick to drop in, even if it's more expensive. You'll avoid a big headache later on. read more

The $7 Karma Class on Sunday nights is the best yoga deal in Boston. Seven bones for a 90 minute class, and the bones are thrown to some animal rescue project to boot! It has been getting rather crowded these days, so you might want to get there a few minutes early. read more

I am not your typical yoga girl. I'm chubby, as is my husband, and because of that we're often nervous about how we'll be treated when we go to a new place to exercise. So when we went into Karma we weren't sure what to expect. I have always wanted to be able to do yoga somewhere regularly without feeling self-conscious and now I have found my place. The Gentle Physio Yoga class was definitely accessible and not at all intimidating. People were happy to point out what you needed and the instructor Jessie was patient and kind. Even my ungainly husband was happy with it. While the class is as gentle as its title suggests, it still gets you moving. I felt confident afterwards that I would come back again for another class. read more

Ok, so now I've moved back to Boston from yoga mecca Los Angeles, where my home studio was City Yoga in West Hollywood. I was pretty spoiled there. I'm giving myself space to mourn the fact that there are very few Anusara yoga teachers in the Boston area. Luckily, Elizabeth B. is a godsend! An Anusara-inspired teacher, she's been encouraging and amazing! Already I've gained more access to opening my heart and shoulders in a way I was never able to do so before. I've had a lot of fun in Elizabeth's classes. She's been really great with tailoring practice to students of all levels. I don't know if the Boston yoga community is just more serious, but people don't really talk with each other in classes here, whereas in LA, I got to know almost everyone at City Yoga. We laughed a lot and encouraged each other too. So I've known Anusara to be very community oriented and friendly. Hopefully as I get to know more folks here, it'll become more like that. No need to be so serious in Anusara :) Regardless, so lucky to have Elizabeth. The one star off is for the limited number of Anusara classes (ya'll Power Yoga types are totally missing out!) and for the weird sign in process. Why can't I just sign myself in? I have to spell my name everytime for the receptionist. read more

Beautiful yoga studio, there's also a tea shop which is a great place to hang out before or after a class. The locker rooms are like a spa or five star hotel, really nice, clean and new.The decorations, paintings and yoga rooms are amazing, very zen and lovely.There is a good variety of classes and most of the teachers are very knowledgeable and friendly. It's a little pricey, but if you can afford it they have a 150 unlimited monthly pass (if its month to month) and it's 15 dollars per class. ah, and the yoga mats are included in the price, pretty uncommon and convenient. read more

Can't believe I haven't reviewed Karma yet. I'm such an idiot! Must spread the gospel! Okay, where to begin... The owner, Jesse, is such an inspiring man. He developed his own style of yoga, blending martial arts, yoga, and modern medicine to create "physio" yoga. There are different levels, depending on what you are looking for, from gentle to the ultra-intense core class. I take the core class every Tuesday night, and it's amazing. Really physically demanding, gets your heart rate up, gets you sweating, but all the while Jesse is cracking jokes and keeping everyone's spirits up with Bob Dylan, Morrison and the occasional Bob Marley on the stereo. The facilities are beautiful, the locker rooms are pristine, the cafe serves all vegan foods and sustainable teas and coffees. Oh, and Karma recently started an animal shelter to rescue abandoned animals. All the proceeds from the Sunday "karma" class benefit the shelter. Seriously, this place is wonderful: great staff, smart classes, awesome workout, and beautiful facilities. Almost forgot about the gym upstairs! AHHH! Get your tail to Karma Yoga. read more

I created an account on Yelp specifically so that I could share the terrible experience that I have had with "Karma" yoga studio in Harvard sq. I requested that my membership to be downgraded some months ago, to which a response never came. Foolishly, I assumed that they handled the matter, as my email was responded to with a "we'll look into this at once." months later I noticed that I had been charged $40/mos too much for 3mos or so. Simple request from my end was, "could you credit me the difference please."......no response. karma noted. 2 follow-up emails to my original...no response. sidebar: my initial membership was promptly handled via email, cc# taken and accepted w/in hours of first contacting the gym. They are proficient at email ladies and gentlemen, they just don't care. Eventually, 4 emails later I received a "we will look into this right away from Doina." They may have looked into it, I'm not sure, I've never heard from her again, to this day. Jeez, I hope she's okay, something must have happened, doubt it. My next step was a phone call and a promise from the other end that the msg would be passed along and handled. Silence for a week. My next step was a pop-in to express myself. Unfortunately, no mgr or owner in sight, just the poor front desk people who appeared quite adept at handling disgruntled customers who have been ignored, they stated as much. I was told the manager would call me later in the evening, it never happened. So I stopped by again, same front desk person, same helplessness in her eyes. Quite clearly I explained that I would be sitting in their living room the following day to make sure all customers were made aware of their extensive customer service program. Endless emails, phone calls and stop by visits later I received a completely unapologetic email dryly stating that the difference in monthly billing would be credited to my account. Not so much as an apology. These people ought to change their name, because they have no idea what that word actually means. They have a decent gym, are terrible business people with pretentious attitudes, and ought to take a little more time taking care of the customers who keep them in business. My personal opinion. namaste. read more

Amazing space. Amazing atmosphere. Amazing instructors. = one fantastic yoga studio! What I love about Karma: 1) the fact that everything in there is green. From the floors to the counters in the bathroom to the paper towels, everything is recycled. 2) the decor. I walk into Karma Yoga and instantly I feel a sense of calm come over me. 3) the genuinely giddy happy grin that comes to my face during a class. 4) the instructors - they are all so knowledgable and they pass their wealth of knowledge onto their students so the students are aligning themselves properly and challenging themselves while avoiding chance for injury. What a beautiful place to practice yoga. read more

So I've ventured here a couple times. I haven't been in a while because I just joined a gym a few months ago that offers classes. Money's tight but I plan to still come here on occasion when I can't make my gym's classes. So the yoga studio is quite beautiful. They've got the zen thing down pretty well. The inside rooms are very minimal to avoid distractions which was a problem I had with previous yoga studios when I would be doing a standing tree pose say and I couldn't find anywhere to focus. And the zen doesn't stop at the locker rooms. The sinks are these iridescent bowls hovering over beautiful wood counters and the lockers themselves are little wooden cabinets. The instructors are very knowledgeable. The amount of talking and stories will vary. I've only worked with maybe 2-3 different instructors. One had good music taste since she opted for a chill out selection of relatively modern music over the stuffy new age compilations some of my previous instructors use. I'll take Gnarls Barkley over repetitive chanting of hare krishna anyday. The tea selection isn't too bad either. Not the best but it does the job. It's nice to be able to sip on an iced tea before class starts if I have some time to kill. The blends are nice and light too. It's also great to have the option to drink out of a glass over a plastic cup. This is also the first place I've ever heard of someone charging for real milk over soy. (and I later found out that the money goes towards better treatment of cows) My friend didn't like that he had to pay more for standard milk but I thought it was great. I kind of hate paying more because I don't digest milk well. Way to punish the semi-lactose intolerant, corporate america. The tides have been turned! Check out the first class for free! The rates of classes aren't bad either from what I've seen but I don't go enough to do monthly. They have $10 class specials in the morning so check the schedule! read more

My favorite yoga studio in Cambridge. Gorgeous space, practice rooms are stocked with mats & props that are free to use, and a great selection of classes at all times of the day. Early bird classes are only $10, and that includes all classes before noon, and regular prices are pretty reasonable for the area. The physioyoga class was basically the best/cheapest physical therapy session I've ever been to. Seriously, I wish I'd known about this before I spent tons of money on physical therapy for various running issues. Very laid back atmosphere - occasionally a class will start a few minutes late if the teacher is running late for some reason, which I'm ok with, but might bother some people. This definitely doesn't have the strict atmosphere of some bikram studios I've been to, which in my opinion, makes it much better. Karma makes yoga fun and non-intimidating for practitioners of all levels and embodies everything I think yoga is really all about. read more

This place has no business calling itself a gym. The only reasons why I didn't make this a one-star review are the friendly staff and the upstairs view of Mass Ave. Otherwise, this is probably the most lacking "gym" I've ever patronized in Boston. My problem with this place wasn't the limited weight-training equipment. That's okay: not every gym has to be a Gold's. Instead, the facilities brought this place down. The lockers are too small for most backpacks and you can't even fit a typical combo lock on the door to secure your valuables. Also, the (three) showers take forever to heat up. I thought this might have just been an issue with the men's room during the month I frequented this place, but evidently, the women's room had problems too, leading the management to *close* that locker room altogether. This leads to my biggest complaint and the main reason why I won't be going back here... Instead of getting the women's changing room plumbing problem fixed immediately, the management decided to close the room altogether and turn the men's room into a women's room after 4 PM each day. If you're a guy and you work out in the morning, no problem. But if you're like me (or a lot of other people) and can only make it to the gym in the early evening, you basically have no means of showering after your workout. This isn't the end of the world if you live close to the gym, but if you're meeting people for drinks or something after your workout and you don't want to smell bad...well, in my case, I just stopped working out here altogether. I'm going to be pursuing a refund for the month that I wasted on this place. It's a shame that the people making the big decisions are so negligent. The staff and customers deserve better. read more

Wow, this studio has improved dramatically. It's gotten a makeover, so no more smelly rooms and props. You now have to rent mats (they used to be free), but at least the mats are new and clean and awesome to use. It seems to have a new general manager, who has an AWESOME attitude and is much more friendly and efficient than the other staff I interacted with previously. I'm so glad I gave them a second try. With the makeover, new staff and the same awesome teachers, this is my new go to studio. (The $10 morning classes and student discount are great too!) read more

I am not a yoga practitioner, so this review is for the new pilates class being offered at Karma that's taught by Beth. About the class: I've taken mat pilates classes before but don't practice it religiously - it's also been a while since it's been a part of my weekly workout routine... so I was relieved to find that their new pilates class was welcoming to beginners too. Beth is great at adjusting the difficulty level of the exercises to suit the crowd on any given day and if you want to target an area in particular she'd try to work that in too. She also pays attention to your form - which is my favorite thing about her class - form is soooo important! I normally go for the Wednesday evening classes, but they've also added lunch time classes: Tues & Thurs: 6:30 am and 12 pm Wed: 4:15 pm If you're in the area and want to either start or continue refining your pilates skills, you should certainly try this class. The studio is clean and has a nice ambiance, very zen like and all - my only complaint is (and the reason that I knocked off a star), for the price that you pay for a membership to this studio, their shower and changing room could be much better - it's currently pretty sparse and basic (the availability of shower/gel is touch and go)... read more

I don't even know where to start. I cancelled my membership in July because I moved to New York. I emailed Karma asking for my membership to be terminated. 6 months later I discovered that they had been charging me $55/month ever since, amounting to $330. I have called and left numerous messages, and not only has no one picked up the phone but no one has responded. I emailed them over ten times asking for my membership to be cancelled and to be reimbursed for the money that I'm owed. I cancelled my card in order to prevent any more money being debited from my account after getting no response. It's been almost three weeks, and I haven't heard anything. I am frustrated and at a loss of what to do. I've also contacted the Better Business Bureau. ***Karma management, if you see this, please respond ASAP*** julieschuerhoff@gmail.com read more

Great minimalist design space that's perfect for yoga drop-in classes. Also, their morning classes are discounted at $10. The cafe counter staff are always lovely. I love when I leave the yoga class, there's always a bunch of happy, pretty girls at the cafe tables being busy bees. It's inspiring. read more

This is for the people looking for a place to try yoga for the first time: Go here. While this was not my first time ever going, it was my first time in years, and I was pretty inexperienced. Walking the stretch between Harvard and Central, seeing all the yoga mats in yoga mat carriers, was intimidating enough that I thought all places in the area were for serious yoga students only. Karma was inviting, not at all pretentious, and they supply you with everything that you will need for that class. Classes are all different levels, and the easy physioyoga is a perfect blend of aerobically difficult but modified for those of us with tight knees. Go here. Often. read more

First Class yoga studio. The studios are designed very well with natural full spectrum lighting and plenty of wall space. They have the full assortment of props at no charge; mats, blankets, blocks, rollers, straps, neck cushions, etc. Also they have the nicest changing rooms that I have ever seen with showers and lockers. They offer a variety of classes and have a few very experienced teachers. I highly recommend any of Jesse's classes, he teaches with deep understanding of both eastern yoga asana integrated with western bio-physical science. Elizabeth's Anusara classes are great for all levels of students. They also have a very reasonable monthly unlimited plan. read more

I haven't lived in Cambridge for a long time now, but I still miss Karma Yoga ! I spent 4 years at Harvard (which I loved), but somehow I miss Karma Yoga more than any other place on campus. Larissa Forman's and Hannah's Emlen's classes are incredible. They taught me so much that I have incorporated into my practice. I still think of them today and they inform the way I do yoga. Jesse Winder, the owner, has a very warm and positive energy that has spread through the studio and made it the happiest place on earth! I also love the teas. (highly recommend the mango ceylon). The studio staff is always friendly and the studio is well-run. It creates the feeling of community and compassion. Will always be grateful for its role in my life. Yogis in Cambridge -- check it out! read more

I don't have a yoga studio in Boston that I can say I call home, but I live very close to this place and basically come here out of convenience. When I worked out of town, the only time I could come to this place was on the weekends, which I found I didn't like. I don't remember the name of the teachers I had on the weekend, but I know I didn't find it spectacular enough to make the crowded studio worth my 1.5 hours. Personally, I think the studio should have a maximum number of people they could admit to a class; I understand that yoga is probably meant to be practiced really close to each other? But considering we have props and all that, having someone's foot in your face when you are doing that pose where you're on your back and you have your right food cross your torso to the left as you look to your right is not that pleasant... especially on a Saturday morning. Now that I am back in grad school, I've visited this place in the morning and took advantage of their before noon classes. I have been quite pleased with the classes, and the teachers, and the studio isn't that bad when you visit it at an 'off' time. The freebie tea is a plus. I don't know if I could comment on the people at the desk. They're really just there to get your name and collect your money. What more do you need from them? read more

Admittedly, I haven't done any yoga here. But if you're looking for the most tranquil, peaceful, calming spot in all of Cambridge to have a cup of tea and relax this is the place. Decorated in traditional Japanese tea house style, with friendly service and dlicious teas, this place is a must for anyone walking between Harvard and Central Square. Also, it's conveniently located down the street from the Buddhist Center, where you can have a guilt-free vegetarian meal and then pull up a meditation cushion for some quiet contemplation. Talk about a perfect ending to a hectic day in Cambridge! read more

Maybe I need to give this place another go, but for now I would call it OK. Looking for some Sunday morning Zen, I made my way to Harvard Square since this place has showers and I could sit outside and have a coffee after. The atmosphere and decor is very nice and has a spa-ish feel. The cafe is cozy, so I thought this would be a great experience. The yoga room was nice, but kind of small. It was OK for this class, since the class wasn't packed. It was supposed to be heated, but I didn't feel any heat until really late in the class. The style was Forest yoga which I had never done before. I don't think it is quite my cup of tea since I'm more of a flow gal. I didn't feel like I had a big workout, but I did feel like I worked out some kinks after painting for the two previous days, so it served its purpose. I was disappointed in the locker room. When you first walk in, it looks very nice, but if you really want to use it, the functionality is lacking. It is a huge plus just to have a shower since most yoga studios don't have them, but there were a lot of annoying things and don't really qualify for the "spa" description that is on the website because I just wanted to rinse and leave. The first issue is the lockers. The loop for the lock is tiny, so I couldn't put my lock through it. The lock loops are so close to the next lock, if you have anything other than a teeny suitcase lock, it's a problem. So I had to bring all my stuff into the studio. The showers are not separate stalls and are separated with shower curtains. All of the water goes to one drain. I had shower shoes, but it feels a bit yuck to be standing in someone else's shower water. The grout on the bottom wall of the shower stalls looks of moldy and needs a redo. The hooks are outside of the shower instead of the area that is right outside of the shower (that has no separation between you and the person you just comingled shower water with). I find it annoying to have to not be able grab a towel right outside where I'm taking the shower. If you need to set anything down to organize your stuff, there's nothing with shelves or a bench, except for some cloth stools. My toiletries were wet from the shower, and trying not to get the stool wet was a challenge. Not sure I will be running over there again soon, but I would probably try one of the other classes if I was staying in the Square after the class. In fairness after this review, I was contacted by them offering me a class to give another try. The explained it is tough to even have a shower there, but they are incorporating some of my suggestions. read more

I just discovered this space and I LOVE it. There's a beautiful lounge area when you walk in with comfy seats and a very mellow, classy vibe. You can purchase fair trade tea & coffee and they sell a small array of fair trade items, local artist works, and yoga props. I love just hanging out there and reading and sipping tea. Though it is a bit pricier and not the deepest flavor, I recommend ordering beautiful bloom anyway just to watch the little tea ball open into a flower in the glass tea pot. The changing rooms are gorgeous and they have two yoga studios which are both very well designed. They provide mats, straps, blankets, and blocks. I've only taken a few instructors but both have been wonderful. They offer different styles, such as jivamukti, anasura, and various flows. They also have multiple classes per day from early morning to later evening. On Sundays they have a cool soul flow and on Thursday nights and Friday mornings they have my favorite instructor, Barrett. Drop In classes are usually $15, though they often run specials where classes before 12 are only $10. Students with ID can go for $12. Monthly membership is possible, though you would need to take at least 2 classes a week to make it worth it. The owners have an animal rescue and use the profits to pay for this. read more

I love this place. The studio itself is drop dead gorgeous. I feel like I'm at a luxury hotel. So many yoga places have skanky changing areas and nasty, small bathrooms. Not this place. Huge and luxurious, and they actually have lockers, a rarity. The teachers are very nice. They adjust, but not to the point of intrusiveness. You always feel comfortable and confident there, no matter what your level. What impresses me the most is their huge commitment to animal rescue. This is really important to me, and along with their commitment to green-ness, I am really impressed, not just by the swanky atmosphere (which appeals to my shallower side) but also by their commitment to their beliefs. It's very convenient to the Harvard Square Red Line station, also a plus. Try it! read more

Five stars is not enough for this place. I absolutely love it here. So far I have only been to the Sunday night karma class, but I am eager to try other classes as well. The Sunday night class is for a wonderful cause - all the proceeds go toward helping animals. Everyone I have encountered at Karma Yoga Studio has been wonderful. The front desk staff is friendly and remembers me by name; the teachers are outstanding - they are super sweet and caring as well as excellent at explaining the poses and giving modifications, etc. I always leave Karma Yoga Studio feeling good both physically and mentally. I would recommend this place (and often do) to beginners and seasoned yoga practitioners alike! read more

Oh my goodness, the cafe... Come. Drink the tea and lemonade. So many lovely flavors, it was difficult to choose, but I was recommended the Hibiscus Elderberry Lemonade. The pitcher had a lemon floating in a swirl of rose-colored delight. I asked if I could try a taste before committing to a whole glass, and I was cheerfully obliged (the girl working the counter didn't seem to think it strange that I had trouble committing to a beverage - my companion did). The drink was lovely. The atmosphere was soothing, calm, and inviting. And the best part was perhaps that, despite the small space, one wall is entirely windows, so you can look out and see the harried folks rushing around and know that you've chosen to take a step back and chill. One extra-nice part - the people working at the counter are generally volunteers, who put in time for discounted yoga and gym rates and a free drink during their shift. These are people who want to be there, and it shows. read more

If you're new to the area and looking for a yoga class, this is a great place to start off. It's very clean and aesthetically pleasing, the staff are very friendly and the rates are reasonable. Jesse (the owner?) is a very pleasant, welcoming sort of chap. My only caveat is that I feel they could be a little more rigorous in helping people into the poses - I like to know if I'm doing it right. read more

Karma's quirky and fun. The variety of classes is really unparalleled in Harvard-Central square. They have lots of vinyasa, but also pilates, hatha, and a low-key gentle class as well. Everyone is pleasant, and the café has tea and kinda pricey vegan muffins. Atmosphere is more bamboo-spa than gym, which is nice. And classes that start before noon are only $10 - a pretty good deal around here! read more

Moving to a new country, a new continent with a different culture, is never easy. Specially when you're on a complete different timezone to your family. My yoga practice is what helps me stay grounded in times of change and adaptation, so finding a good place to practice was crucial for me. I tried many places and teachers before coming across this beautiful studio in Cambridge. It has since then become my home away from home. Oh, and did you know what they do with part of the money they earn? They run the C.A.R.E. (Community Animal Rescue and Education) non-profit. read more