I need an North Atlanta yoga studio!

February 27, 2009 12:51 PM

I need a yoga studio or private instructor in Atlanta or preferably northwards.

I live far, far north of Atlanta in the wild country a little south of Dahlonega. This makes getting down to some of the yoga studios that one would find on, say, Citysearch a little difficult. While i'm not 100% opposed to traveling all the way down into the city for yoga, I'm a beginner and some of the poses are very hard for me at my weight and fitness level, not to mention painful since my shoulders are asymmetric and my core strength is truly abysmal. On the other hand, i'm really committed to the idea of doing yoga, and I am willing to work through things if I can find the right instructor. I'm working on the other shortcomings in my fitness level via other means, so this is just one part of LE GRAND STRATEGY.

There are only a couple of studios in Alpharetta, which is what you'd consider "close" to me, although that is an oxymoron. The ones i've heard about in the city have rave reviews, but don't particularly cater to my needs as an absolute beginner with a lot of difficulty carrying out poses. While in some of the "satellite cities" in the southeast, i've been able to find restorative yoga geared towards beginners and even those are difficult, but doable.

What I really need is a style, studio, and instructor that focuses on the "correctness" of poses to avoid injury. Can you suggest a good studio or private instructor tending northwards in Atlanta?

posted by arimathea to health & fitness (3 comments total)

I found a few just by googling - in Dawsonville and in Dahlonega. I cannot provide a personal rec, but there has got to be a decent yoga studio around there. I grew up in that area, and it's getting pretty ritzy in some respects.

The Forsyth Yoga Center
5545 Dunroven Way
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Phone: [phone]

Morningstar Yoga & Wellness Center
111 Tipton Dr
Dahlonega, GA 30533
[phone]

Yoga for Every Body
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone: [phone]

Also, do you go to a gym? If you do not, if you can stand it, go inside and look at their message boards - there may be a yoga studio advertising there. Another good place to ask about yoga practitioners are chiropractors' offices.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:58 PM on February 27, 2009

There's a lot that i've found in Google. Just to reiterate, i'm looking for personal knowledge or references, or suggestions of specific styles. Thanks.
posted by arimathea at 1:02 PM on February 27, 2009

I have a friend who actually teaches Yoga and happens to live close to that area: just north of the Atlanta perimeter (I-285) (her address is still Atlanta, so she's probably not as far North as you'd like for a teacher). She's willing to correspond with you, if you're interested, although she says, "I do not know anyone yet in his area to recommend." MeMail me if you'd like her address.

Here's some advice she gave about Yoga styles for you:

The Iyengar and Ashtanga styles likes to tout the "correctness of poses", so
he might look in that direction; however, those styles feel too rigid for
me. Depending on his preferences and limitations, one-on-one work in the
vinyasa, anusara, mysore, yin, or phoenix rising methods could offer more of
the requested customizations of poses along with good alignment points. My
preference is that of moving between the active alignment-focused postures
of anusara, the flowing postures of vinyasa, and reflective supported
postures of phoenix rising.

The method / technique / style is not as
important as finding someone with whom he feels comfortable working with.
Usually, a person can tell within the first few sessions with someone
whether the personalities, needs, and styles mesh.

posted by amtho at 6:00 PM on February 27, 2009