Yoga 216

Profile

Owner/teacher Nicole Katz keeps her yoga studio at 95 degrees, yet somehow her makeup remains perfectly intact and her blonde bouffant flawless throughout. The small, heated classes are strenuous enough to ensure a workout but not too intense. For those who like to keep things dry, there are non-heated classes for a range of levels. Katz opened Yoga 216 in October of 2012 after ten years of yoga and movement training and after a year of running the business side of Nolita eatery Torrisi Italian Specialties. The Yoga 216 space is a calm kind of chic in shades of grey and cream with accents in weatherworn wood. Tiny tiles of gold leaf ring the yoga rooms like a dainty necklace. Attention has clearly been paid to details: Lockers are easily identified by their adorable knobs made of sea glass or shells; the marble in the showers is luxe; mats and props are set up for each student in advance. Water, tea, and lovely little ginger cookies rejuvenate post-session. And the music piped into classrooms is more likely to be Bon Iver than anything played on a sitar. — Edna Ishayik

The space is a joy to be in. The showers are probably significantly nicer than the one in your apartment. Also, class sizes are miniature: Six students is the max, so personal attention is just about guaranteed.

Cons:
The off-the-beaten-path location is a boon for neighbors but makes regular visits challenging for those not nearby.