Attended a class using class pass. So many good things to say about this studio. It's beautiful…read moreinside. The staff were so friendly. I attended a class led by the owner and WOW it was like nothing I've attended in Baltimore. I can't wait to go back!

This studio is really a home away from home. It's where I go whenever I need to reground myself and…read moregive me new perspectives. The studio is beautiful but it's really the staff that make this place so special. Each instructor is down to earth, passionate about yoga and most importantly in my opinion are deeply dedicated to the study and practice about yoga. Every class I've taken has teetered perfectly on the line of getting a good workout in and interpreting the teachings of yoga.

I've been searching for a new Bikram yoga studio since several locations in the Baltimore area…read moreclosed and recently tried Bikram Yoga Catonsville. The class was decent overall, though I personally prefer studios where instruction is spoken in Sanskrit--especially when paying around $40 per class. It's possible this was specific to the instructor I had that day. One major plus is the free parking, which was always a struggle at the studios in the city. While the experience didn't fully click for me, it may be a good fit for others. I'm still continuing my search for a home studio.

So glad to see another Bikram studio in the area! I used to be a member at BYC in Columbia and have…read morebeen missing Bikram in my life. I had a great experience here and Lynne was a great instructor - she has a very relaxed approach to the practice and everyone at the studio is so welcome. If you are new to Bikram and are looking to give it a try, I can't recommend Bikram Yoga Catonsville more! Can't wait for my next class.

The process to redeem the gift certificate is not clear and there is a lot of text communication,…read morewhich I was not a fan of, but beyond that it was a good experience. The massage therapist was great, and I really enjoyed my massage. I wish they gave you a heads up if you are not a member that it is a shoe free space.

TL;DR: Don't buy a gift certificate/card from this place…read more Zen and the City really appears to be set up for members and isn't equipped to interact with outsider customers. Unsurprisingly, most of the negative reviews are from people trying to deal with their gift certificates or gift cards since they are not able to provide reasonable service to people unfamiliar with their procedures. Throughout the process, I had to chase the owner, Gary, repeatedly over text and phone in order to get any information. A list of things I wish I knew before attempting to use a gift certificate here: I was alone in the building, not just the room, with an unknown man. Zen and the City is a therapist-owned establishment that has appointment-only booking for services. In light of this description, I probably should have known that I would be alone with my massage therapist. Except the website contains none of that information, which I only learned about after the appointment, so I was blindsided. My massage therapist was a very nice man who did his best to make me feel welcome and taken care of (Thank you, Anthony. You were the only good part of this whole experience!), but it was hard to set aside how uncomfortable it was to be alone with a strange man without knowing before that no one else would be there. The gift certificates (physical) and gift cards (e-cards) are redeemed in different ways. The website doesn't make it clear (either in the description or during the purchase) that physical gift certificates are only redeemable for a specific service, and that the gift certificates and gift cards are considered two different products. When I got the certificate for Zen and the City, neither my father (who bought this as a gift) nor I knew there was a difference between the two until after I had my appointment and was told otherwise. If you redeem the service-specific gift certificate for the wrong service by mistake, Zen and the City will not inform you of the mistake when you book your appointment and will instead pocket the remaining money without further services or refund, even after their error is pointed out to them. I suspect they would have prevented me from redeeming the gift certificate for something that was MORE money than the one I used, but when I accidentally used it from something that cost LESS, I was only told afterwards when I couldn't fix my mistake, or receive a refund for the balance. The initial confirmation text message is meaningless. It doesn't accurately reflect that an appointment's successfully been made (because you get a text regardless), and it does not result in you being correctly signed up to receive text messages. Instead, they will contact you by email, no matter your indicated preference (which they don't know anyway because they never ask for your preference). If there is a problem with your email address, they will not use your phone number to follow up. There will be no further attempt to contact you. I'll be honest and admit that I made quite a few mistakes in attempting to deal with Zen and the City, and I accept the responsibility of those mistakes. However, I think it's important for future potential customers to know beforehand that this is the kind of business that is happy to take advantage of your confusion, your mistakes, or your unexpected illness (check out their sick policy). It's up to you whether you want to risk giving this place your money and time.

Don't believe the CLOSED yelp sign. Recently I had a private meditation session with Jana, so I can…read moreconfirm the studio is not closed. I am intrigued by the idea of herbal remedies and meditation as a form of stress relief and, thankfully, had purchased an Amazon Local coupon for an introductory Ayuvedic Self-Care session with Jana. Before my appointment, we spoke by phone and she asked me what part of the workshop I was most interested in as she would do her best to cater the lesson to my interest. Jana was gentle and considerate as she guided me through several forms of meditation from which I could select a practice that I felt most comfortable exploring on my own. I really appreciated how Jana approached the lesson by offering personal stories of how she developed her own meditation practice. I find that with slow, introspective activities such as yoga or mediation, it is always helpful to hear how there isn't a perfect "approach" but of continuous trial. Jana is patient and genuinely interested in helping you (the person, not the customer) learn a practice, not a routine. If you are curious about mediation or learning how to decrease your mental/emotional stresses, I recommend you take some time to make an appointment with Jana. If not for the practices, the go to sit and speak with her a while in her beautiful studio and to mingle a bit with Mingus, the cat, while sipping strawberry-infused water and listening to the smooths sounds of silence, chants, and jazz.

I have been a client here for nearly two years and feel the massage therapists working here are…read moreoverall very skilled and professional. You can't go wrong with any of them and they're the real reason to visit this massage studio. The massage rooms and tables are extremely comfortable, the bathrooms are sparkling clean, and the float tanks are a really cool experience as well. There is a beautiful sauna area that's very Instagram worthy. All of the areas where you receive a service feel very serene, spa-like, and upscale. Meredith is a lovely person and makes really good use of aromatherapy and long holds or pauses in her massage that make you feel super relaxed and zen. She is certified in pregnancy massage and does a great job. Marcus has super strong hands, is ideal to see if you're looking for deep tissue massage, and makes good use of hot stones and warm towels. Ben is great as well, did some passive stretching along with the massage for tight areas. Karen seems to intuitively know the perfect amount of pressure to use and does the best head and face massage ever. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that the entrance and waiting area you sit in prior to your massage/float doesn't really match the atmosphere of the other rooms. I think it's a little too kitsch and cluttered and reminds me of walking into a small store that feels very casual and doesn't have the ambiance of the massage rooms. Unfortunately not very "Instagram worthy". There's a lot of stuff for sale that isn't directly related to massage or even wellness, such as bohemian style clothing, silver jewelry, wind chimes, etc. The Speakeasy room has relatively uncomfortable seating (there are two firm, backless benches and just two chairs with a low back), more displays of non-massage related things for sale (such as non alcoholic refrigerated drinks, candies, books, artwork, etc.), large displays of business cards and fliers for other local businesses, and dark furniture which just makes the room feel small and cluttered. You sort of feel like you are waiting in a shop rather than being a member at an upscale massage and wellness studio. The self serve tea display is really, really nice but just gets lost in the clutter/decor/fliers. And my only other gripe is that the infrared sauna is preset to a really, really high temperature (maybe higher than spa saunas I have used elsewhere) and I was told it doesn't allow for adjustments. I was excited to use the sauna but couldn't tolerate it more than a few minutes at a time. During my sauna session I simply had to exit the sauna every few minutes to cool off a bit. I realize this is maybe because I am a sauna newbie but I do wish there was an "intro to sauna" setting for those like me to use. In summary: great services, great massage therapists, kitschy entryway/waiting area design which is absolutely not a dealbreaker

I discovered this place because I was looking for a local float tank. I had my first float July 1,…read more2021 and I'm looking forward to my next! Today I went in for a chair massage because at $20 for fifteen minutes and no tip- it was the perfect fit for my lower budget and immediate need due to a strained muscle in my back. A big thanks to the always welcoming staff and especially co-owner Bob who gave me a tour my first visit! Without it I wouldn't have known about the massage chair and all the other great services as much as I do now. See you all soon TMB! :) -Tina

Che Yoga with instructor Dea is the best yoga experience I've ever had. Her classes include…read morestudents from the ages of 18 or 19 all the way up to the 60s-70s. I take the Neo-Soul class that is mellow/chill. Dea takes her time, watches the students to see what their limitations are and works within those parameters. Some students are more flexible, others are better with balance. She deals w/ each of us one-on-one and as a group to keep us moving, stretching, and getting us to use muscles that hadn't been used much (for some of us). When I walked into the class, I couldn't balance on one leg at all. I'd fall over. Now, I can stand on one foot, I can touch my toes, I have become more flexible. I give my highest recommendation to the Che Yoga Mobile studio. Dea is personable and extremely kind and fair. She makes everyone feel welcome.

If you have never tried Reformer Pilates before, I highly recommend rushing to sign up for a class!…read moreLast night, at the invitation of Yelp, I attended my first Reformer Pilates session at The Village Well Baltimore. The Village Well Baltimore is a very charming and clean studio, and the instructor is extremely motivating. There were some really cheerful products in the retail area, so I bought myself a pair of socks... Right now, my muscles feel as though they've had a massage; I'm experiencing a pleasant soreness and can really feel that my muscles have been worked. So, what exactly is Reformer Pilates? What makes it different, and what are its benefits? Essentially, it is a Pilates method that utilizes specialized equipment. Built around a unique spring-based mechanism, the Reformer machine works muscles in a versatile way and is suitable for individuals at any fitness level. Fundamentally, it promotes body flexibility, engages all muscle groups, improves balance, and facilitates fat burning. It aims to alleviate muscle, joint, and back pain while enhancing flexibility and coordination. It helps reduce spinal issues, strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, and tones and shapes the body. It increases muscle density and improves mobility, helping to prevent pain in the shoulders, back, and lower back. It engages sluggish lower abdominal muscles, boosts concentration, and regulates breathing rhythms. It also corrects posture and issues like slouching. In short, you notice your muscles working from the very first session, and with continued practice, you can see the body toning and lengthening. By the way, did you know that Reformer Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates during World War I to aid in the rehabilitation and recovery of soldiers?

I've been to literally every Pilates studio in Baltimore, and this one's my favorite for so many…read morereasons. There's such an authenticity to the people, including the owner, Emma, who is so warm and welcoming. The space and community feels so intentional and genuine, which I think is lacking in other studios. The classes and instructors are great, and I love that you're not on top of the person next to you. Go to the village!

I tried Pilates in the park and couldn't be happier I did. Toby was the breath of fresh air I had…read morebeen looking for. She was bright and full of energy while she guided myself and the group through an intro class. She really made the practice enjoyable and I would highly recommend coming out to her classes.