Yoga Mandala is this cozy little yoga studio tucked right into downtown Winchester. A great retreat from a long day at work - the gentle yoga sessions with Nicole have been renewing, challenging and a delight! Classes are very personalized so don't hesitate to let the instructor know if you're working towards a specific goal (in my case less tightness in my shoulders and neck). Ample parking is right around the corner, I've never had a hard time finding a place to park. I've heard they're doing some focus class series for pre-teens and teens - wouldn't that have been cool growing up?! read more

I LOVE NICOLE!!!!!!!!! I also like a lot of the other teachers here but I love Nicole. A kind and gentle soul who knows her stuff. Anatomy. Love. Spirit. Gentle moves. A sweet and open space where practitioners usually practice in a mandala (hence the name?). It's intimate yet open. Has an amazing storage space for props so the studio isn't messy. There is a second studio space in back for the more athletic classes so the studio stays a sanctuary with no shoes or dirt anywhere. There is also an office and a massage therapist. This space is beautiful, well thought out and an must see. Get your asana here as fast as you can. You'll heal and open your heart within minutes of arriving. Seriously, go!! read more

Great little studio. Extremely warm and inviting, even for a first timer. Very relaxing atmosphere and one on one attention, even in a group setting. Although one's first yoga class can be quite daunting, all worries and fears are confronted and expelled. Questions are answered and the outcome is great. read more

A lovely small studio. Great teachers, and a great community of students. It's all derivative of astanga style, with different levels of intensity. read more

I haven't been to Yoga Mandala, but Nicole Bacon was my first Yoga teacher and after over 10 years of searching for teachers, I've never - EVER - found anyone better. (for my style of learning, of course) I've met one person who is close, but no one better. I was paying 30 bucks a month at the arlington gym when she was teaching there, so I was sad for myself (happy for her) when she got the studio and I could no longer afford the classes.. :( But if you're looking for a teacher, she's the best I've ever met. I have to amend this a little - I had 2 other very good teachers as well, lauren S. (don't remember her last name -sorry lauren) and rimi chakraborty, both of whom taught at Cambridge Athletic Club, Lauren is still there as far as I know but now Rimi is teaching in Porter Square. read more

Yoga Mandala is a wonderful studio just outside of Winchester Center. When I walk into the studio, I feel transformed, focused and ready to practice yoga. You can feel the positive, good energy of the space as you enter. I attend a Gentle Yoga class on Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00pm. Michelle Heron is the teacher. She has years of yoga practice and has received her yoga teacher training from Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. I have taken other yoga classes in the past and I must admit that Michelle's class is my favorite. While it is a "gentle" class, she will create moments of strengthening and balance, also while making sure that she is reaching all levels of her students. She is extremely mindful of the fact that there are different people/bodies in the room and takes that into consideration. She has a soothing and soft voice. She speaks clearly and takes her time, no rushing like other classes I have attended. She also will explain the yoga pose and also explain the meaning of the pose and tell us the Sanskrit name for the pose as well. I learn a lot in this class! I always leave there feeling rejuvenated and in a sense, healed from the day's disasters or upsets. I always sleep better that night. While I have not attended any other class at Yoga Mandala, I have heard nothing but good reviews of the other teachers there and the classes they hold. It is overall a wonderful experience to be there and in the presence of all the people who teach and attend. read more

I love this place, and the community it has brought together. The teachers are welcoming, grounded, knowledgeable. The studio is comfortable and inviting. The students are happy, and range from total novices to experienced yogis. What would I do without Michelle's gentle Wednesday night classes? read more

My first time to this yoga studio and I was very pleased with Michelle's slow flow class. Excellent verbal cues, creative flow, great environment. Looking forward to more classes here! read more

Yoga Mandala is an unexpected jewel, right in downtown Winchester. Once you ascend the stairs, you are welcomed into an oasis of calm and the chaos of the day melts away. They have a cozy little waiting room, well appointed common areas, and the classes range from pure bliss relaxation to challenging, in depth workouts. The classes are scheduled frequently enough that it is easy to find one that fits yours, and they are never overcrowded, offering plenty of room for appendages to stretch out in any direction. Michelle Heron's class is beautifully guided, and she takes an individual approach to each student, working to their particular level and need. She is a wonderfully gentle teacher who not only flows through the poses, but educates you as to the health and spiritual rewards of the practice. Each time I leave, I am renewed, refreshed, relaxed and ready to go back! read more

I have been a student of Nicole Bacon's for over 15 years, and a student of yoga for close to 20, and I can say that she is one of the top 10 yoga teachers in the Boston area. Her studio has moved to a spacious location on Main Street outside of Winchester center. Her teaching is rooted in Ashtanga tradition, and therefore Vinyasa based, but also tempered by years of study of Iyengar yoga. She has created more than a yoga studio. She has created a yoga community. Her manual adjustment skills are outstanding: with the gentlest of touch, she helps me to find the area that is restricting the pose and release it. Through her verbal instruction I learn more than I can possibly remember in one class. Her teaching includes all aspects of yoga: breathwork, meditation, asana, and spiritual practice. I don't need to travel into Boston to find excellent instruction, because it can be found right here. read more