Ann Arbor School of Yoga

"I had a great experience here. I attended a Level I class, and found the instruction very thorough, detailed, and specific about how to get in, stay in, and get out of poses. The method uses props to support poses. With instruction I was able to get into some of the people-pleasing inversion poses (shoulder stand), with props. Above all, I felt the teaching was controlled and the learning was safe. I have done yoga for many years, and in other studios with less attention and focus on method injured myself. This felt more like a learning experience than an aggressive or intense fitness class. After the class I felt great. The studio was very clean, and luxuriously appointed. The wall ropes system was elegant. I look forward to using them in another class. Love ropes... don’t know if the are used for Level 1 here or not. The teacher has been doing and teaching yoga for decades, and is a warm, approachable, skilled teacher. The vibe of the studio was friendly school with a sense of community."

"Highly recommend this studio. Laurie's years of experience show when she is teaching. Becca and Dave are awesome as well! All teachers can lead small classes and with equal competency handle larger classes. Anyone looking to learn yoga and see good results in their practice should come to this studio."

"I have been studying yoga with Laurie Blakeney for almost two decades. Laurie never stops surprising her students with her creativity, expertise, and uniqueness. We are truly blessed to have such a gem here in Ann Arbor!"

"Laurie is a wonderfully clear and precise teacher. She sets an example of studentship by traveling to India annually to study (usually the month of December). Her studio is well-equipped and clean. You do not bring your own props. She has improved my practice and my life."

"Laurie offers wonderful instruction for new and experienced students. Her knowledge of yoga practice and teaching is already extraordinary but she never stops learning. (She studies for a month with the Iyengar family in India every year and when she returns she has even more to offer than before she left.) Iyengar yoga is precise and detailed but Laurie doesn’t overwhelm us with too much at once. She realizes that each of us experiences the poses in our unique ways. Instead of having us only *do* the poses, she helps us focus our minds on what is happening with us individually as we experience them. We often repeat the same pose multiple times in class. For the first few times she directs our attention to various aspects of the pose. But then she asks us to concentrate on an aspect of our choice, often asking the class to state examples of what those aspects might be. In this way, she teaches us to direct our own practices. If you want to practice yoga every day, including at home, her class is a marvelous jumping-off point. She never gives exactly the same class twice because she teaches the students who are in front of her right then, with all of our varied needs. However, she gives each week a distinct focus so any class that you attend that week will have that focus. If you are curious about what yoga is, and want to try it, or if you already know something and want to know more, or if you already know a lot and want to go deeper – this is the place to be."