This is a great place for yoga beginners. I've taken both the Monday and Wednesday night Yoga Basics classes. The instructors are both easy to follow and helpful to the beginning yogi. The studio is great -- clean and soothing. Just as I imagined yoga would be. I'm looking forward to practicing yoga at Yoga Now for a long time to come. read more

Honestly I've only participated in TWO enjoyable classes here but I'm definitely going to make every effort to enlist in many more classes because I definitely notice a shift for the positive after participating. Yesterday I attended a class on activating the divine feminine with Jennifer Goodman. We were a small gathering of women all seeking to awaken our inner feminine through the use of sound healing or bija mantras, muscle lock exercises called bandha and mudras which are hand gestures to help activate and heal our chakra bodies. The class was 2 hours in length and we enjoyed dance movements, hugging exercises and yoga postures with the bija mantra chants. I truly recommend all women take advantage of these classes and keep an eye out for Jennifer Goodman. The fees were reasonable and I received so many genuine compliments from strangers on the street about my after class "glow". I'll most definitely look into future classes at yoga now. What a great group of instructors! read more

This is a fantastic yoga studio. Great teachers, great facility. An overall positive experience for me from the online scheduling process to the workout towels they provide. The class packages are a great deal and they run specials frequently. As a 20+ year yoga practitioner, I highly recommend Yoga Now. read more

Yoga Now is not Equinox in terms of being fancy. However this place is a five-star studio in my heart. The staff is extremely friendly, the teacher (esp Jessica's ashtanga class) is very on point in terms of her teaching and the community is what you expected from the yoga community. Class is not expensive and is a good way to close your night/weekend. read more

I took a yin class with i don't remember but i really enjoyed it. it was part of the yoga meetup group back in the day organized by Miguel. The studio is lovely. I don't like Amy, the owner. her energy is negative and cold. I have had several (attempted to) conversations with her and it's like pulling teeth. I know lots of great teachers work there so for classes sake, go. read more

highly disappointing-I called ahead of time to try to move up my massage appointment and was told that they were fully booked and could not change my appointment. No problem, I found parking in the street, put plenty of time in the meter and went upstairs and checked in. It would have been nice if I was informed that they were running behind schedule and I didn't figure it out until 15 minutes into my appointment time when I was wondering "what is going on?" Taken into the back room, dimly lit and soothing for my massage. I wish I could remember her name because the massage was AWESOME, I was deeply relaxed and my mind totally clear. Only thing is that she didn't tell me when the massage was over, she just left the room. um...are you coming back? should I get dressed? is there a towel to wipe off all the body oil?? needless to say, I was over on my meter and issued a ticket. Not the greatest experience! read more

I love these classes, especially Tuesdays with Rich. He's humorous and enlightening at the same time. It's a great class as are the others. It's a wonderful, calming atmosphere and they all care about everyone. I feel at home here and I always feel renewed when I leave. read more

Yoga Now is the premiere studio to practice yoga in Chicago. It has considerably deepened my practice and enhanced my knowledge of the system and philosophy of yoga. No other studio can compare to it in terms of the expertise of the teachers and the seriousness of the students. Classes here are transformative. When you walk into the center, you are immediately transported into another worth. Amy Beth has thoughtfully constructed the space so that the stress and hurry of the streets of Chicago are (literally) shielded from the yoga practitioners. The studios are warm and inviting and smell of light incense. The classes themselves are carefully designed to move the body through blockages while simultaneously engaging the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The result is that you are energized while simultaneously calmed and soothed. After savasana, I literally feel "high" for about an hour afterward. It's the most incredible feeling to walk in with a terrible mood and leave feeling that no negative energy or thoughts could possibly enter my body. I only fully experience this under the guide of intelligent and thoughtful instructors - and this happens every time at YogaNow. Three teachers in particular stand out: Amy Beth Treciokas, Jessica Aiken and Tina Ward. Amy Beth, the owner, teaches a wonderful traditional Ashtanga Primary Series led class for serious yogis. I appreciate how the breath and asana sequences are called out in Sanskrit and the otherwise silent room (other than ujjayi breaths!) is conducive to concentrated meditation. Jessica teaches classical ashtanga classes as well as one of my favorite classes of all time, Jivamutki yoga. Jessica brings a sense of lightness and play to ashtanga-based methods and also infuses the course with uplifting music and thoughtful philosophy (through the form of readings) each week. Tina Ward, whose Wednesday VInyasa class I just recently started attending, is a very pleasant and uplifting class. The sequences are an excellent mix between challenging and restorative poses and at the end of class during savasana, she brings you out of meditation by singing a lovely quiet song. She has a beautiful voice but more importantly is a thoughtful, well-trained and caring teacher, always looking out for the students' particular trouble spots. I really appreciate that. More than just the classes, YogaNow is a community. You get to know people by name here, since it has such a dedicated following. There are several non-class offerings that compliment yoga practice, such as workshops on several different spiritual, emotional and/or physical practices as well as a Spa. The spa offers the most beneficial massages I've received here in Chicago - all the thoughtfulness that goes into hiring yoga teachers is just as reflected in who they choose to hire for massages. The massage healers are incredibly knowledgeable and aren't afraid to work into areas that most masseuses won't - like deep into the piriformis and illiopsoas. I particularly recommend Carleen. In closing, this is the most thoughtfully run yoga studio that I have ever been to. No matter where I have lived in the city (and I've lived about an hour away), I make sure that I get down to YogaNow at least once a week. Now that I live closer, I make it several times, and it has been a real blessing in my life. read more

If you want the real yoga experience, go to yoga now. I did teach training with Amy and truly had an amazing experience. She is such a great teacher ! All the teachers at yoga now are amazing !!!!! Every time I go there I have a great experience . This is not your core power, gym kinda place , it's a real yoga studio with experienced professionals. I highly recommend !!!! Best yoga studio in Chicago . read more

I have not had a yoga class here. My review is solely on the massage. I cannot say enough good things about Kira. She is an excellent masseuse, and knows what she's doing. I checked this place out on a Youswoop, and would definitely go back to have Kira work out my achy back. I've had a lot of massages from a lot of different people, and would put Kira as one of the best. Highly recommend. read more

I have always expressed interest in trying yoga, although for some reason or another I never actually tried it. Well, this changed after I received a gift certificate for Yoga Now for Christmas. I stopped in last week for my first "Yoga Basics" class, and I really enjoyed it. The movements and breathing techniques put me in a very relaxed state and relieved some of the stress in my shoulders. On Saturday I tried another class, "Yoga for Athletes" which I found to be quite challenging. This class moves at a much faster rate and involves more strength training. I enjoyed both classes and the instructors and can't wait to attend more classes. Yoga Now offers a variety of different classes which run at numerous times throughout the week. This yoga studio is relatively new to the area and I highly recommend it! read more

Not happy with this place, but I bought a Groupon here, so I'm going to use it up anyway. Basically, don't go here unless you're already a human pretzel yogi who knows everything. I've had two classes so far, and I didn't like either of them. For one thing, this place has a hippie/overdone vibe to it. It's very new-agey, and that gets on my nerves, because that is not how India is (the birthplace of yoga). The other students coming to class seem nice and non-competitive, which I appreciate, but I haven't really liked the staff much. My first time coming, I barely got so much as a hello from the front desk guy. It would've been nice that since he saw that I was new, to explain a little about the place and maybe point out where the stuff is, which room my class would be in, etc. Nope. I went to a Mindful Vinyasa class with Rich that everyone raves about. I agree that he seems like a cool guy, but I didn't like the mixed messages I got from him and the other instructor, Callie, in the Basic course. In each of their classes, they said not to push yourself too much, not to make yourself feel pain, and then when they would go around the room, they tried to make me push myself harder to the point where I'm feeling pain and about to fall over. In the case with Rich, my leg was shaking badly and visibly, and he still tried to get me to go farther. I finally said, "I can't" and he backed off, but it made me feel really frustrated. Do you not see my leg already shaking violently? I then took the yoga basics class with Callie, and wrongly assumed it would be something akin to an intro course. (Since I clearly wasn't cut out for Rich's class). It was only an hour long, so that didn't sound so tough. Well, the website doesn't have course descriptions for everything listed, and apparently Yoga Basics is just a plain yoga class where the instructor assumes you already know how to do everything and doesn't ask anyone if they are new or try to assess who is at what level. Perhaps they knew that would become blindingly apparent soon enough, but again, I felt frustrated, because I wanted to learn yoga, and instead of learning it, I was led through a class full of new age talk about the moon and it was presumed I knew what I was doing already, and the instructor gave vague descriptions of what I should be doing, like "breathe in your lower back" and "tuck in your chin"...which I did, but she came over and pulled my chin back out to the regular position, which is apparently what she meant by "tucking" my chin. Huh? Now, you might be thinking, "JoAnne, if you're new, why not take a true intro course?" Well, for one thing, they only offer one intro class per week, and it's at 4pm on Mondays. I work in the burbs, so that won't work for me. Which is why I've been trying classes that include level one in them...which do not actually seem to include level one. Sigh. This place is not my style at all, but I will continue to embarrass myself through my remaining 8 classes I paid for and bite my tongue. If anyone out there has a suggestion of a better yoga studio on the north side that is not full of new age chatter and where it is possible to get good instruction, please message me. PS--there is metered street parking here, but expect to pay at least $5 to park your car for a 90 minute class. read more

This review is for massage, and for Susana. Bought a Groupon and luckily had Susana all three times. SHE IS AMAZING. She has consistently been good every single time. I have done a fair number of massages searching for the right therapist at the right price point, and Susana is the best (especially given the price). Yoga Now is not fancy, so if you are looking for a more spa-like experience, go to Bliss. While there is some charm to the decor of the rooms, you should expect a comfortable, lived-in location with tiny showers and lots of live plants. But even Susana's Swedish massage (not the deep-tissue) was more engaged, thoughtful, and well-done than some deep-tissues that I have purchased. Again, she has worked with me three times, and has been consistently good. I have also tried Heavenly Massage (Gold Coast), Spa on Oak, Bliss, and other spas in the area hoping to find The One. Clearly, I've made Groupon a ton of money. But now that I've found Susana, I'm going to stop buying them (she gives discounted prices that bring me close enough to a Groupon), and I don't have to deal with the variation. Comparatively: Bliss - way nicer location, everything is ridiculously amazing including the shower and the products; but of course you are paying Bliss prices ($120 for 49 minutes). Heavenly Massage - nice facilities, but I've gone there twice; the first time was great, and the second time was so bad it was embarrassing. I left early. Spa on Oak - similarly, two massages and two facials. Consistently low prices, which is nice, but impossible to book. One great massage and one terrible one. Facials have always been great. All in all, I'm glad I found Susana. read more

The Yoga Now space is great. The main yoga room is spacious - I never feel cramped. There's always plenty of supplies (blocks, straps, bolsters, etc). Their small yoga room is super tiny, but there's never more than 4-5 students, so it doesn't feel cramped. I appreciate the complimentary towels and cups of water. The instructors are also great. While they are all mindful, each of their practices are different. I will definitely keep going to this studio, because I enjoy the practice and the space, and know what to expect depending on which instructor I have. read more

You HAVE to get a massage here! I have had multiple massages here now, a couple of the therapists are good, but Todd Ramsour is the BEST! Most of the time when I get a massage, I leave feeling like I need a couple more areas attended to. I don't know if Todd has super human body intuition or if his hands are just that good, but he always applies the right amount of pressure and works out kinks I didn't even know I had. He is super professional and obviously very experienced. I would recommend him to anyone! My husband (who won't typically get massages from males) is even scheduling an appointment with him after my rave reviews. BTW, a massage here is going to be WAY cheaper than most any other place, and the quality (at least with Todd) exceeds anywhere else I've been. The facility isn't super fancy, but they have warmed massage tables, nice music, a sauna/steam room, and area to shower afterward. For the price, I can sacrifice fancy things that really don't make a difference. read more

Yoga Now is an independently owned, non-corporate feeling yoga studio. The main studio is spacious and brightly sunlit with windows. Like any studio, the teachers are hit or miss, and you have to find teachers who offer the style and level of challenge you seek. A wide variety of classes are offered, from traditional ashtanga to more flowy vinyasa. The studio also offers a variety of workshops, from asana clinics to more spiritual topics. I always stop by here when I am in town. read more

I enjoyed my first experience of Forrest Yoga this morning with Antonella, who graciously shared her passion for and knowledge of the practice with the class. She created a comfortable space for me and gave individual attention to the students. As a visitor to both Chicago and the studio, I appreciated the warmth of the staff and the zen vibe of the studio. Thank you! read more

As I haven't actually been able to take a class here yet, this is only a review of the parking information on their website and how helpful it was. I planned to attend a 6:45 class on a Friday evening, and arrived 20 minutes early, assuming that since their website said "plenty of street parking" this would be fine. Not the case. I circled for 15 minutes trying to find anywhere to park before calling the studio to ask where parking is available as I was trying to attend a class that started in 5 minutes and the woman said only street parking is available. I circled for another 10 minutes (5 minutes after the class would have started) before giving up. I'm not sure where "plenty of parking" is available but I couldn't find it in the five block radius of the studio that I searched. Planning to try a Saturday morning class as a friend gave me a 10-class package, maybe that will be better. read more

Syndnie was FABULOUS!!!!! I have never felt this good after a massage. I will be back!!!

We found this place via some sort of groupon or youswoop deal and have kept coming back. It's a hardcore yoga place (not River North or Gold Coast yoga), and the massage therapists know what they're doing. We've seen Glen, Amanda, and Colleen. We continue to come back because of the quality of the massage and the good deals/prices they offer even if you don't have a deal coupon. Checking out can take a little long, but it's really not an issue if you know what to expect. Give it a try! read more

This is only for the massages I've received at Yoga Now, and I almost hate to post this because I'm afraid I'm giving up Chicago's best-kept secret, but...Alina Parada is AMAZING. Best massage of my life, and my father said exactly the same thing when I booked him a session with her while he was visiting during his birthday. She is so kind and wonderful! Thank you, Alina!!! read more

I took the ashtanga class with Katie and LOVED it. She provided adjustments and feedback and made me feel welcome. I was greeted by the owner, Amy, who was very friendly and courteous. The studio was warm and inviting and conveniently located. I look forward to more classes there. read more

I can't belive Yoga Now doesn't have a five-star overall rating. This is probably the best yoga studio I've ever been. The teachers are excellent, the facilities are great, and I just love the vibe of the place overall. As a beginner at the time, I started out in basic courses, then worked my way up to more intermediate classes. The teachers are incredibly talented, incredibly nice, and incredibly welcoming to anyone of any level. I'd recommend this yoga studio for anyone of any age or level to either start their practice or to practice among some awesome yogis. read more

Beautiful space...authentic teaching, spiritually based studio...great place to study the Vedic teachings...wonderful teachers too.

I love Silvita Diaz Brown's Saturday am Yoga Basics class at the Edgewater location. It's a great way to start the weekend and she is an attentive, helpful instructor. The class draws both novice and more experienced yogis and she provides a good experience for all. read more

Bought a youswoop massage. Booked an appointment with Mielcah Allswang. She is amazing!! Highly recommended!!

Wonderful studio!! Had a bit of trouble getting started as a new client and the owner, Amy, went above and beyond to help me out and make sure I had the best experience possible. Attended a restorative yoga workshop that was incredibly relaxing and calming. The interior is a big surprise coming off of the streets of Chicago and is very relaxing and like a little escape. Will definitely be attending again! Can't say enough about it. read more

Rating for PRENATAL class only! I'm torn about this place. Most of my experiences here have been good (all have been good at the Edgewater location), and many of the instructors are wonderful. However, I went to the prenatal class yesterday and was appalled. The instructor was completely incompetent. She had us lie on our backs and do back-bends -- both bad for pregnant women. She didn't offer any variations on poses to accommodate larger bellies, and she didn't correct anyone. Others' triangle and pigeon poses were so misaligned I thought someone might strain something. When we did tree pose, many people had their feet pushed against their knee joints and the instructor didn't say anything. I'd strongly recommend Bloom or Namaskar for prenatal yoga. Come back here after your baby is born! read more

I admit it, I'm a studio-hopper. Give me a good groupon deal and I am there! I bought a groupon here over the summer and decided to stick with this studio. The majority of my top yoga practices have been here and it has been all about the teachers! There are a handful of really fantastic teachers that can guide you through a truly amazing, mindful practice. The instructors always offer clear, concise direction, a variety of modifications, gentle adjustments and a lot of encouragement. A few specific instructors that come to mind (Rich, Cindy, Corey) have so much knowledge of the body, I always feel that I am in very capable hands. I walk into this studio excited for the coming 90 minutes and leave exhausted and completely blissed-out. read more

I am writing about my groupon experience getting a massage. I was a worried as I've had several poor groupon experiences, but Yoga Now was easy and thoroughly worth it. My groupon had expired, but because the wait was 3 weeks, they honored it anyways (unlike many other places). The massage itself was solid, the therapist was very sweet and thoughtful. Overall, a positive experience. read more

I've been to Yoga Now both for yoga classes and massages, and I found them to be fine, but was definitely not wowed by either. For their yoga classes- I've been to both large and small sized classes, but regardless of class size, the instructors don't appear to tailor the classes based on the students in class. Other places I've been have started classes off with instructors going around to new people (ie non-regulars) and ask for their name, yoga experience, and if there's anything going on in their bodies they want the instructor to know about. Then they adjust the class & poses based on who is in the class and what people want to focus on. I didn't have a single teacher at Yoga Now do this in the 10-15 or so classes I've been to, even if there are only 2-3 students in class! The classes themselves were ok. As a runner/triathlete who has been practicing yoga regularly for 8 years, I continue practicing yoga regularly to keep my body healthy while keeping my mind grounded. I've found the yoga classes here do focus more on the spiritual aspect of yoga, which is great! But for many of the classes, I found the choice of poses didn't do much in terms of helping me with my tight running muscles; many of the poses didn't seem advanced enough to get what I needed out of my practice. I think the classes are ok for those just getting into yoga, or want to focus on the spiritual aspect of it. Those that are looking for a more advanced practice or classes that are more tailored to the needs of the students that are there, may want to look elsewhere. Or, perhaps I just haven't found the right "match" for my yoga personality from the classes I've taken there.... As for the massage- it was a while ago, but I don't recall being particularly impressed by it. I have other places I go to where I LOVE the massage therapists and remember them by name; here, I don't even remember the guy who did my massage! Unmemorable. read more

I really enjoy getting massages here. The therapists are very good, the space is clean and tastefully decorated with a nice shower and sauna to boot. read more

I absolutely LOVE Yoga Now! I've been to a few yoga classes throughout my life, and Yoga Now is close to where I live so I figured I would give it a shot. It has now become one of my favorite places in the city! I actually look forward to Monday nights, thanks to Yoga Now and specifically, Tina Ward. She has a way of making you feel so welcome in her class, and will take suggestions at the beginning of class to make sure everyone is comfortable. She also makes the class fun and challenging. I've been going to her beginning class for a while now, and have already mastered the yoga headstand, which is not something I ever dreamed of doing especially in a beginning class. read more

I'm updating my review of Yoga Now. I just purchased the monthly membership for $130 per month for unlimited yoga classes. I continue to feel great, enjoy the strenuous aspects of the yoga classes I do and the skill and encouragement of every teacher I have had there. I just did an Ansura Inspired yoga class taught by Tomaka Homikawa and really loved it. My favorite yoga so far has been the Ashtanga Mysore class held from 6:30-8am during the week and 9-10:30am on Sunday. The Mysore class is a self-practice class, so I have been learning each pose and practicing in class and at home. The two primary teachers of this class are Amy Beth Treciokas: http://www.yoganowchicago.com/bios.html# and Cara Jepsen: http://www.carajepsen.com/ who must be two of the most knowledgeable Ashtanga teachers in the midwest. I love the meditative repetition of strenuous Ashtanga poses and the muscle I am building. I also have done a vegan workshop with Jessica Aiken which resulted in changing my diet as I continue to try to improve my health. Jessica is also a great yoga teacher! One other note...Yoga Now's two locations each has ample dressing rooms, bathrooms and showers for people like me who may have to go back to work after a class. My wife and I also used the dry sauna at the GoldCoast location last Sunday and loved it. Parking as been easy every time I go. Go yoga! read more

I used to go here when I lived in Rogers Park. The north side studio is off the Thorndale Red Line stop. I really enjoyed the variety of classes they have there, and have never had a bad experience. I have never been to the Gold Coast studio but it looks like they have some great events and activities! (in addition to classes) read more

I started coming here in November 2009 after moving into the neighborhood. The studio is spotless, the instructors are super nice, friendly and extremely knowledgeable . All equipment needed is provided at no extra charge and classes are offered for different levels. read more

I purchased a YouSwoop deal for a massage and steam room/sauna access. I had no trouble scheduling my appointment online, and the facility was great. Carlene was very nice - a little chatty, but overall the experience was very relaxing. It wasn't the best massage I've ever had, but for a nice treat for myself at a discounted price, it was worth it! I don't know if I'd go back to YogaNow for a massage unless I had another deal, but I would be interested in trying some of their classes as the facility is gorgeous and the classes look cool! read more

One of the best yoga studios I have been to. I started at core power yoga which has pretty studios but I was starting to get the feeling it was turning into one of those glitzy commercial places that has lost touch with its original intent. I came here just to try something different and first class I was pleasantly surprised. The instructors here are higher quality and so are the classes, which are more in depth as well as having more breadth in their variety. After each class I always feel like I discovered something new about myself. This is the type of place that will leave one feeling "so THIS is yoga." I certainly have more appreciation for yoga than before I discovered this place. read more

This review is for the massage services. I went there last night on a you swoop and had a massage with Kira that was absolutely fabulous! I am an avid massage person going once a month so I have my experience with many different masseuse and types of massage. Kira really knew how to use both hands to help ease the pain when working in really tough areas. I will definitely be back and highly recommend Kira! read more

The classes I've taken a pretty good. Instructors have great attitudes.