Studio: Swan River Yoga
Location: They have four! Swan River Yoga Shala, 2130 Magazine Street; Swan River Yoga Marigny, 2600 Chartres Street; Swan River Yoga Mid-City Mandir, 2940 Canal Street; Swan River Community Center, 7011 St. Claude Ave.
Overview: Swan River was one of the studios I most anticipated visiting. It has a strong reputation in New Orleans, because it is one of the oldest and most well-established studios. Even though many of the teachers were out of town on a Peruvian retreat when I attended, I had a great experience. Swan River has a diverse set of classes, including Swan River Yoga TM, created by owner Michele Baker.
Ambiance: “Mandir,” the name of one of the Swan River Studios, is the Sanskrit word for a “multi-cultural holy space that is a beacon of light and beauty for the community and villages in India.” This name is appropriate for Swan River, as the studios and teachers seek to draw light and passion from the core of their practitioners.
Community: Everyone I spoke with at Swan River offered a wealth of information and led me to a better practice at the studio. Swan River has a community of friendly, dedicated yogis.
Classes/My Picks: I found the classes at Swan River to be paced a bit slower than classes at many of the other yoga studios; however, that slow pace is a trademark of yoga in New Orleans. By giving one time to focus on proper alignment, which leads to better grounding and ultimately stronger asanas, Swan River’s slow pace can lead to an overall stronger practice. For any music lovers in the city (and isn’t that everyone in New Orleans?) I would definitely recommend the Roksana class, a dynamic session taught to rock music.
Price: In addition to yearly packages and private lessons, Swan River offers a new student price of 10 classes for $60. After that, prices are: $14 for a drop-in; $65 for 5 classes; $125 for 10 classes; $220 for 20 classes; and $150 for 1 month unlimited.
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