I recently just moved from Boston to Stamford, CT (about 45 minutes from NYC).  This might sound silly, but one of my biggest challenges was finding a new studio.

I started practicing yoga in Boston almost two years ago.  In the beginning I was what I called a “studio hopper” or “Groupon hopper.”  Strapped for cash, I would just try to find the best deal for studios around the city.  This led me into studios all over Boston and allowed me to try out different teachers and styles – which worked out pretty well.  But after a couple of months of “hopping” I found my fit.  Two studios owned by Lynne Begier called Sweat and Soul and Back Bay Yoga.  They had me at hello….or should I say Namaste.  I could go on and on about my love of these two studios, but we’ll save that for a later post.

The point is that it was really hard moving to a much, much smaller “city” and finding a yoga studio that clicked with me.  And I swear that’s the best way to explain it….sometimes it just clicks.  I’m happy to say that I have found a great studio in Norwalk, CT called Saraswati’s Yoga Joint.  While different from my first love in Boston, it’s the perfect place for me to explore the next phase in my yoga practice.

So here are my tips on finding a yoga studio after making a move to a new city:

• Ask Your Current Yoga Teachers to Help:  One of my teachers in Boston was nice enough to post on her Facebook page and ask about studios in the area I was moving to.  Yoga teachers have huge networks and many are connected on social media.  She got about 5 responses and Saraswati’s was one of the suggestions!
• Take Advantage of Introductory Offers:  Almost every yoga studio has an intro offer.  I took advantage of this for two different studios.  If you’re lucky enough you will find studios with a month unlimited for about a fifth of what they normally charge!  This is a great way to try out a few different studios without dishing out hundreds of dollars.
• Yelp: I might be a little biased since I am a pretty avid Yelper, but you really can’t go wrong with Yelp.  You get real opinions from real people. It gives you a good sense of what the community and culture of the studio is like.

When it comes down to it, it’s really just about giving a few studios a try.  Everyone’s preferences vary in terms of what styles they like, type of teachers, etc.  These are just some of the ways that I was able to find a studio that just clicked!

And just remember, if you don’t find the perfect fit…..the best thing about yoga is you can do it anywhere!