By Dr. Sarah Bennett, NMD / June 28, 2019
Practicing yoga has proven to be highly beneficial—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Thanks to that, more and more people are trying the practice out, which is great. Even if you don’t buy into the more spiritual or mental aspect of the practice, yoga is great for finetuning your body. It helps develop strength, balance, and flexibility, challenging muscles and joints in a healthy way.
But starting out by yourself can be pretty difficult. In fact, if you don’t have a teacher or coach to guide you through your yoga practice, you may end up getting in and out of positions the wrong way, or striking poses using the wrong muscles.
This can potentially cause more harm than good.
That’s why I’ve decided to put together this list of all the best yoga studios in the Valley. Just as you would want to know the best med doc or med spas Phoenix, so too should you try to find the best yoga centers and instructors.
I’ve combined the suggestions of my friends and colleagues with some in-depth online recommendations to find and list all 12. Knowing all your best resources in Phoenix, Arizona is the first step in improving your lifestyle.
Without further ado, here are my recommendations when it comes to the best yoga studios!
Ironwood yoga offers Vinyasa, restorative, and Kundalini yoga classes to help students achieve a rich, balanced practice. These classes focus on building strength and flexibility in one’s body, mind, and spirit.
As a yoga studio that aspires to be everyone’s “down-to-earth yoga refuge,” Ironwood celebrates life, creativity, free spirits, and wild souls. Theirs is a community of vibrant, supportive yogis who are either inspired or graciously humbled to do better.
They currently offer between 15 to 20 classes per week—all of which are online. Everyone, from the completely new to the seasoned veteran, is welcome to join. Their studio in Phoenix, AZ, is a spacious 1,000 square foot converted warehouse with big, beautiful windows and eco-friendly bamboo flooring.
Address: 8342 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Considered one of the best yoga studios in Phoenix, Arizona, Urban Yoga has taken necessary precautions to keep their students—both new and returning—safe during this global health crisis. They are now limiting their in-studio classes to only 12 students per session. There will also be a thirty-minute cleaning and disinfecting period between every sixty-minute class.
Finally, they’ve introduced a new liability waiver and the option for ZOOM (online) classes instead.
It’s also important to note that, to keep students safe and to avoid minimal contact, Urban Yoga is no longer offering mat rentals, props, and water fountains. Regardless, Urban Yoga remains a gem for practicing yogis—especially those near Central Ave. in downtown Phoenix.
Address: 3225 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Located in the critically-acclaimed “artist district” of downtown Phoenix, Sutra Studios is yet another yoga center worth checking out. Led by mentors, motivators, and visionaries Rebecca and Matt Fritz, this community-focused studio believes in pushing its students to live life through the fullest by feeling their very best.
With roughly 6 classes a week (give or take a few) ranging from restorative yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and even modern meditation, you’re sure to find something that totally floats your boat.
Alternatively, you can experience their “radical self-love” through their online classes (now available for rent and via subscription).
Address: 1029 N. 1st Street, Phoenix, AZ 845004
Founded in 2004 by Arizona-native Ashley Zettler, Sumits Hot Yoga North Phoenix is a studio that offers Sumit’s Yoga classes—a type of yoga sequence that combines different yoga styles like Bikram and Vinyasa.
Created by Sumit Banerjee, this style and sequence of yoga reinforces helping others realize the powerful benefits yoga can offer their own bodies. This, he believes, are the true objectives of a yoga teacher.
Sumit’s Yoga is also a type of yoga that welcomes students of all ages and all experience levels. It reiterates the importance of breath control and focuses on doing your own personal best.
Staying true to this principle, Zettler’s Sumits Hot Yoga studio accepts anyone and everyone interested in taking up the practice, regardless of their reasons.
Sumits Hot Yoga North Phoenix also offers other yoga classes such as Yoga Sculpt, Flow, and Yin + Restore. It may not be a pain management clinic West Phoenix, but it’s definitely worth trying out.
Address: 350 E Bell Rd #10, Phoenix, AZ 85022
Easily one of the best hot yoga studios in Scottsdale, Hot Yoga University offers affordable classes led by experienced and incredible instructors. They also offer college students monthly passes for unlimited access at a student-friendly price—perfect for dedicated university yogis.
Although they’ve elected to stay open during this health crisis, they’ve taken extensive health measures to ensure the safety of their students and instructors. In order to practice social distancing during classes, they’ve limited the number of students they can accept per class.
Furthermore, the instructors will continue to coach the class as usual but will not perform any hands-on adjustments. And for the yogis out there who can’t sign up for the classes or would rather stay at home, don’t worry; Hot Yoga University is now providing over 120 pre-recorded, live-streamed on-demand classes that you can safely participate in.
Other changes include contactless check-ins, discontinued equipment rentals, and hand sanitizing stations.
Address: 1410 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
This indoor/outdoor yoga center located on North 20th Street, Phoenix, offers classes dedicated to extending the art of healing through movement and meditation. Aside from yoga, Desert Song Healing Arts Center also teaches pilates and meditation/tai chi. Other services include massage therapy, acupuncture, gardening opportunities, retreats, and teacher training events.
Founded 30 years ago by husband and wife team Vince and Mary Beth Markus, this healing arts center is the result of Mary Beth’s dream to expand the practice of yoga throughout the community.
Her mission is to show people how yoga can become a way of life, and she believes that Desert Song Healing Arts Center is just the first phase of what promises to be a flourishing, in-depth community hub for practicing yoga and healing arts.
If you ever feel like trying yoga in a safe, non-judgmental space, we can highly recommend this center – especially if you’re prone to gluten and panic attacks. You don’t even need to preregister for a class. Just make sure to arrive 15-20 minutes before the class so you can fill up the new client form.
Address: 3232 North 20th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Metta Yoga is yet another yoga center that is driven by holistic wellness and a sense of community. Their extensive list of services includes private yoga sessions, group classes, workshops, retreats, and events.
Some of their more popular classes include Master Flow, Community Yoga (which is always highly recommended), Body Therapy, Qi Yoga, BodyRolling, Yoga Walk, and more. Believe it or not, they even offer stress reduction programs and facials – just like med spas.
Having just reopened their in-person classes on the first of June this year, the studio is once again ready to welcome new students and old yogis into the safe space. Of course, in the interest of everyone’s health and safety, they’ve drawn up a set of comprehensive steps to ensure everyone gets to enjoy yoga in a clean, healthy environment.
They will still be live streaming sessions, however, for the members who would feel infinitely safer practicing yoga in their own homes.
With over 300 5-star reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook combined, you just know Metta yoga is a studio worth trying.
Address: 4041 E Thomas rd. #106, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Yoga Nirvana’s tagline is to “come as you are,” which should tell you a lot about how open and welcoming this studio is. They offer a number of classes for students to choose from, like Ashtanga Improv and Kundalini. There’s the Advanced Flow class for the more seasoned members and an All Levels/Community class for the newer yogis (or those looking for a refresher course).
And if you want to expand your yoga practice and explore similar approaches to nurturing the mind-body-spirit relationship, you can try their Yin Therapy, Yoga of Drumming, and Gong Meditation.
Yoga Nirvana also offers yoga retreats and workshops for yogis who want to meet and connect with the community.
They’re currently offering online classes (both live-streamed and pre-recorded sessions), which all-access class pass holders can book via the MINDBODY app. They’ve also recently reopened and are now conducting a limited number of in-person classes.
Yoga Nirvana’s founder, Jim Keegan, also offers private sessions for clients. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology and Biomechanics, and was the Head Yoga Teacher at Arizona State University for nine years. If you’re looking for natural pain management therapy in Tempe, this studio is worth a visit.
Address: 1801 S Jentilly Ln, Suite B-8, Tempe, AZ 85281
The Madison Improvement Club may not be a studio solely dedicated to yoga, but it’s definitely a center solely dedicated to health.
Driven by their mission to create a unique experience that “inspires [the] community to be healthy, fun, and connected,” the Madison Improvement Club markets itself as a health party central that restores, renews, and replenishes vitality on the daily.
This health center offers yoga classes (Phenomenal Flow) and cycling classes (Party on a Bike®). Their whole vibe is very much about having fun and staying upbeat while torching calories and sculpting the body. While most traditional health centers play slow, grounding, and relaxing music, the Madison Improvement Club favors happy, energetic tunes with positive messages.
Regardless, they’re sure their zen-like studio is perfectly suited to get you in the proper mindset for yoga without compromising the party vibe that they’re so proud of.
Madison Improvement Club instructors are trained to challenge students physically and mentally. If you’re a beginner, we highly recommend trying their basic workshop (which they do offer for completely new yogis). However, do know that their yoga classes welcome yogis of every level.
Also, if you’re not a fan of hot yoga, do note that they keep the room at a constant temperature of 93.2 degrees.
Address: 3802 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
As the Valley’s very first Bikram yoga center, The Foundry studio likes to say that they were “hot before it was cool.”
All jokes aside, they’ve since expanded their repertoire to include power yoga, hot pilates, hot HIIT, and hot barre. They offer classes for all ages and all levels, giving patrons a wide variety of options to choose from. Kids Club, 90 Minute Classic, Advanced 84, and 60-Minute Express are just some examples of their current lineup.
They also host online live-streamed classes alongside their existing library of on-demand classes, available any time you feel the need to break out the yoga mat and get in touch with your breathing.
Dedicated to offer an exceptional and truly transformative experience for all their students, this studio has spared no expense to make their members feel comfortable and at ease. Their top-notch facilities boast spacious locker rooms, studio rooms, state-of-the-art HVAC equipment and systems, steam humidifiers, and a custom fresh air intake system—just to name a few amenities.
Address: 13637 N. Tatum Blvd, Suite 12, Phoenix, AZ 85032
CorePower Yoga encourages students to “breathe, flow, sweat – together.” Whether you’ve been practicing for 10 years or 10 minutes, you’re sure to enjoy the CorePower twist to the traditional yoga practice.
Driven to show the world how life-changing an intensely physical workout can be when it’s rooted in the principles and mindfulness of yoga, CorePower yoga classes are tough but rewarding. They’re fast-paced flows meant to strengthen, balance, detoxify, and exhilarate the body and mind. When they tell their students to sweat, they mean it.
Rest assured their interesting—if not unconventional—approach to this deeply spiritual practice has some merit, given that they now have a network of over 200 yoga studios nationwide.
Given the global health crisis, CorePower Yoga has elected to continue operations online. You can now connect with other yogis despite social distancing with their CorePower Live; real-time classes, streamed seven days a week.
They also offer CorePower Yoga on Demand, which is essentially 300+ online yoga, sculpt, and meditation classes. Check out their studios in Tempe and Central Phoenix!
Tempe Address: 1004 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281
Phoenix Address: 5539 N. 7th Street Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85014
Now offering online yoga classes via Zoom, Moksha Yoga in Phoenix, Arizona is a yoga studio dedicated to the “practice of quieting the mind.” They believe in nurturing every facet of your life through health, harmony, and spiritual growth. This is where yoga comes in.
Moksha Yoga definitely has one of the most extensive class lists in the area, hosting a variety of sessions ranging from Vinyasa, Mudra, Ashtanga, Yin, and Nidra. They also offer All Levels Flow, Prenatal, Kid’s Yoga, and “From Gravity to Grace.” Members also have access to their exclusive workshops that delve deeper into yoga. From Yoga Sutras to Ayurveda for Children, this studio is by far one of the most diverse and in-depth yoga centers in Phoenix.
And if you’ve ever entertained the thought of teaching yoga yourself, we highly recommend you check out Moksha’s Hatha-Vinyasa 200-hour “Yoga Teacher Training and Membership” program. They’re certified by the Yoga Alliance and offer over 500 pages of premium teaching materials by way of three companion workbooks.
Address: 3153 E. Lincoln Dr. (at 32nd St.) Phoenix, AZ 85016
With yoga’s popularity showing no signs of slowing down, more and more studios, teachers, and health centers are stepping up to meet the demand. But if you can’t find a studio that excites you into trying yoga out at least once, I highly recommend letting us know in the comments below! This community will be more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for.
Are you the owner of one of the studios we listed? Don’t like how we listed/described you? Let us know that, too!
Are you a studio owner? Want us to include your studio or give a special offer to our readers? Feel free to reach out.
Hello, my name is Dr. Sarah Bennett, NMD!
I am a naturopathic physician licensed in the state of Arizona currently practicing at my office in Scottsdale, AZ. I received my degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, did a year residency at Keystone Natural Family medicine, and received additional training for aesthetics & anti-aging at National Laser Institute.
My passion and fascination for natural medicine began during my undergraduate studies at Indiana University where I got a dual degree in neuroscience & psychology.
I saw how a preventative approach could help you live a long and youthful life. Since then I have dedicated my life to serving others to understand the latest medical trends.
I spend my spare time running, hiking, rock climbing, camping, testing out new diets, and reading books on latest medical trends / listening to podcasts to find the latest nuggets of knowledge to improve the quality of life for my patients. I look forward to serving you!
