Beacon Hill Yoga

Beacon Hill Yoga is a quaint little studio nestled among the picturesque brownstones on Beacon Hill. The small space maxes out at about ten mats, so be sure to get there early to claim a spot. In fact, the space is so small that upon entering you literally step directly into the studio space and are directed to remove your shoes. Once settled inside, the Vinyasa Flow class proves a great way to stretch out the body after a week of intense workouts. We would definitely recommend making this class part of an active rest day!   

RUNDOWN

WORKOUT

The 60-minute Vinyasa Flow started out in extended Child’s pose before transitioning into Mountain pose and then bringing hands to heart center while setting intentions for our practices. The class consisted of flowing slowly through different series of basic poses, including Warrior II, Reverse Warrior and Extended Side Angle. Each pose was held for three to five breaths, requiring you to concentrate on your body’s positioning instead of rushing from one pose to the next. The instructor’s adjustment and cues were welcome and very helpful; however, we found the connections between poses somewhat lacking with transitions feeling awkward at times. Still, the slow, intentional pace felt like a back-to-basics yoga class, allowing us to walk away with new helpful hints and greater body awareness.

Instead of working up to challenging arm balances and advanced posed, the focus was on stretching, lengthening and getting in touch with our minds and bodies. While that may sound like a bunch of yogi nonsense, trust us, there’s no better way to start your morning than with some restorative yoga. You’ll still need the venti coffee to get going afterward–but adding in a little yoga puts you at peace with what’s to come in your day.

INSTRUCTOR

Charlotte was a delight! A recent college grad new to the area, she was eager to chat with her students after class. During class she thoughtfully adjusted students to improve their alignment and deepen the postures. Admittedly Charlotte is still working to find her unique yoga flow point of view, and is going through some trial and error as she works on what poses to string together. Being in a new studio can be intimidating at times, but Charlotte made us feel right at home.  

SPACE

Walking into Beacon Hill Yoga studio is essentially like visiting your friend at their minimalist studio apartment in the same neighborhood. The hardwood floors and updated bathroom are beautiful but tiny. The main door opens directly into the studio. There are benches along the window to leave personal items on, but we strongly recommend traveling light when attending class. The website included showers as an amenity, but the studio does not offer towels. We’re not fans of toting around damp towels all day, so this isn’t ideal for a yogi on the go. Luckily Vinyasa Flow didn’t work up a sweat, so we skirted around the showering issue. If you live in the neighborhood, absolutely give this studio a shot. Just keep in mind it’s new and still figuring out its identity (aren’t we all?).