Yo-Ga-tta Check Out: The Boston Yoga Scene

Plus some outdoor and great food spots!

Alyssa Prettyman

Articles\Travel

boston, east coast, massachusetts, seafood, yoga studios

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Alongside fantastic seafood, beautiful historic sites, and a booming tech and education scene, Boston, Massachusetts has been a hub for a dynamic and rich yoga culture. Some of the most sought after teachers in the United States have (at one point or another) called Boston home and contributed to the local schools and stylings of yoga. Among them are Baron Baptiste, Rolf Gates, Patricia Walden, Ame Wren, David Magone, David Vendetti, Jacqui Bonwell, Goldi Graham, Bo Forbes, and so many more.

As a Boston native living and teaching yoga in San Jose, people always ask for great yoga recommendations when they visit the East Coast. So here are some of my favorite studios, teachers, and awesome places to seek out:

YOGA

South Boston Yoga | 36 W. Broadway, Boston, MA
- When possible, I try to take a class with one of the owners, David Vendetti and Todd Skoglund – but I’ve honestly never had a bad class.
Lexington Power Yoga | 1762 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 204 Lexington, MA
- If I want a good butt-kicking, I’ll look for Owner Jillian McDonough’s classes. If I want some yoga soul in a bottle, I’ll seek the wisdom of Studio Manager, Lorraine Shedoudi. Much like SBY (above), it’s hard to find a bad class in this lot!
North End Yoga | 256 Hanover St. 3rd Floor, Boston, MA
- Remember that local legends list above? You’ll find Ame Wren at this delicious little studio, which boasts a well-packed schedule with a wide variety of options and styles.
Other Notable Studios: Chakra Power Yoga (Waltham), JP Centre Yoga (Jamaica Plain), Open Doors (Dorchester, Weymouth), HYP Studio (Needham & Wellesley), and Centre Yoga (Lynnfield & Woburn).

OUTDOOR MEDITATION / BEAUTIFUL WALKS

Boston Common / Boston Public Garden | Landscaped parks with fountains, ponds, and walking paths.
Arnold Arboretum | 281 acres and over 15,000 individual plants!
Rose Kennedy Greenway | Fun splash zones, a garden, and carousel right in the heart of downtown.
Castle Island | A waterfront wonder on the tip of South Boston.
Harbor Islands | Take a ferry and explore (sometimes they even have yoga classes out there!).
Charles River Esplanade | A beautiful walk along the river with playgrounds, concerts, and more.

FOOD (Because, well, why not?)

Seafood: Row 34, Neptune Oysters, B&G Oysters, The Reel House, The Druid (for Fish n Chips)
Latin Influence: Toro (Tapas), Painted Burro (Mexican-inspired)
Not The Healthiest – But Much Beloved: Sweet Cheeks Q, Highland Kitchen, Puritan & Company, Craigie on Main, Union Square Donuts, Flour Bakery & Cafe, Stephanie’s on Newbury, Regina Pizzeria, Boston Public Market, Modern Pastry

Alyssa Prettyman

Alyssa Hale-Prettyman has been teaching yoga, acting, and marketing in the Boston area since 2006. She found yoga in 2004 when, at the age of 24, she herniated a disk at L4/L5 and was nearly immobile for over a month. Google “heal back pain” - find “drugs,” or “surgery,” or “yoga.” Nuff said.

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