YogaWorks Walnut Creek

I've been to quite a few yoga studios since starting yoga 5.5 years ago, but my favorite studio is by far YogaWorks. I've been going to YogaWorks for about a year and a half (about 4 days/wk) and I still feel challenged and surprised every time I go in...even in your more "basic" (level 1/1-2) classes because the teachers break down the postures and breathing techniques so that their students do them correctly and don't just flop around any which way. Doing "basic" poses correctly is challenging in itself, and oftentimes overlooked. If you don't feel challenged in your class, focus on your breathing to "heat" things up.

Generally speaking, I'd try to get to popular classes about 5-10 minutes prior to the class, but I rarely feel like a class is "too crowded."

I want to recommend my favorite classes (and I haven't had a chance to practice with every teacher at YogaWorks yet, but hope to soon!). Keep in mind, I do seek out the more challenging classes:

1. Any of Nichol Chase's classes are incredible. She does an Alight & Flow 2-3 class Tues/Thurs midday and Saturday at 11:15am. These are workshop-style classes that starts with simpler poses and lead up to advanced poses that will always surprise you. I love the challenge her class gives me, and the way she breaks the anatomy of the poses down in a digestible way. I've never not liked one of her classes. AND she always ends them with a song...that SHE sings beautifully.

2. A staple: Dave Larot's Vinyasa Flow 2-3 classes on MWF. You can't go wrong with his classes if you're looking for a challenging vinyasa flow where you can really *zone into* the flow. They're consistently really great classes, and always leave me sweaty. He focuses a ton on breath work too, which is one of the main reasons why yoga is so important to me. AND when we're in Shavasana, he walks around and presses on your shoulders to open them up...love it.

3. Tina Rath. I just started taking her classes a few weeks ago, but was hooked immediately. She is so knowledgeable about anatomy, which I admire a ton in yoga teachers. She really takes the time to make sure that we have correct form in our poses and that we're utilizing our props (you'd be surprised how often you should be using props).

4. Julie Conrad. I've just started taking some of her classes, but I can already tell that I'll go weekly. She incorporates a ton of Ashtanga poses into her classes, which I personally love because I practiced Ashtanga (Mysore style) for a year. She also seems to know a lot about anatomy and will walk around and make adjustments to your poses.

Lots of classes at convenient times. Clean locker rooms, showers, equipment. I love that I can get Yoga, Pilates, Bootcamp-style, and Barre-style classes all in one place with an unlimited membership. Expensive compared to a gym membership, but I like companionship in my workout routine.

Julie Conrad is the best yoga teacher I've ever had. Understanding, fun, and a huge pro. I highly recommend this amazing personality.

I've been with Yoga works since 2008 and I love, love, love it! I learn something new about my mind and body every time I take a class.

Steeped in a living tradition and lineage of kind hearts and earnest yogis, grateful to call this studio "my home".

Awesome! Welcoming, clean, informative, peaceful.

Nice yoga studio that also has pilates and trx. I have only done yoga classes here. As all studies, you need to find the teacher that is right for you. There is a wonderful selection of teachers and classes. Some of the weekend classes tend to be full, which I'm not a huge fan of. I like to have a little more space during my practice. I only wish they offered level 3 only class. My personal favorite teacher at this location is Julie Conrad. As long as I'm going to this studio, I will go to her classes.

Bought the pass on groupon. Went to a couple classes, none of the yoga was challenging, was good for a evening stretch, and very crowded. Everyone talking in the studio room before class started, hard to focus. No heated classes. I did enjoy the TRX class, was a workout and a challenge. Clean bathroom, ok parking, easy to sign up online. After the groupon expired, not worth the class price to go.

I love it here but floors are dirty sometimes

I went to YogaWorks in Walnut Creek in search for a new yoga studio. I arrived 20 minutes prior to class beginning and walked into a cramped room that ended up having 41 people in it. It was at noon which is not even during the peak hours. I stayed for the entire class even though there were no more than 12 inches on any side of my mat. The ventilation was circulating very loud and the teacher had to yell to instruct what came next. People were bumping into each other during the entire class. After the class was over I went to the front desk to inquire more about other classes thinking that maybe I went to the most popular class of the day. She proudly informed me that most classes have at least 25 people in them. If this is your type of studio, go ahead. I prefer a more relaxing setting with a smaller student to teacher ratio.

Only a few of the teachers truly understand the fundamentals of breath and yoga. Not much to learn here. I would not recommend this place to a friend, but if you're feeling like you need some calm I do recommend Mynx's Vini yoga class on Mondays. Her class is well instructed, very therapeutic for intermediate yogis.

Even though I cancelled membership months ago they again pulled money out of my account. I guess it is best to only pay them cash and dont forget the receipt. Please quit charging me. We also went through this last month. You had my cancellation papers months ago. I also received a message that you understood I wanted to rejoin. I never said or wrote that I wanted to rejoin. Was that an excuse to charge me again??? Aren't you getting enough customers?

Should be renamed to Yoga Jerks. Bought my wife 2 very overpriced bolsters there for her birthday, then we tried to exchange them, just to find out they have the stingiest return policy: only 7 days, even for exchanges (no returns allowed.) My wife hates the classes there too.

Bad experience.