Posing for a Purpose: Where to Practice Yoga in Montrose

Yoga is an exercise for body, mind and spirit that has become a mainstay in the Houston area. The practice is as varied as it gets — some styles offering a vigorous workout, others a quiet, meditative experience. It all depends on the preferences of the student, but there are plenty of studios from which to experiment within Montrose. Here are four to get you started on your yoga journey.

Pralaya Yoga / 2303 Dunlavy St.
A very physical form of yoga, Pralaya focuses on increasing the body’s flexibility, supporting joints, and building strength. And while its namesake is a big part of the studio, the classes offered span a wide spectrum of practice. Some include mindful yoga, vinyasa yoga (where the breath is synchronized with the flow of yoga poses), family yoga and even a basic skills class for tai chi. Founder of Pralaya yoga is the incredibly flexible Robert Boustany, who is also the founder of the studio.

Bayou Bliss Yoga / 4318 Kyle St.
The flow of yoga is laid back at this quiet bungalow with a peaceful, cozy feel. It’s almost like gathering at a friend’s house to hang out and do a little yoga along the way. That doesn’t mean by any stretch it’s not a place for serious yogis, in fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s a nurturing community as much as it is a place to practice Thai yoga, beginning yoga, restorative yoga, kundalini yoga and more. There’s also a small boutique of active wear, jewelry, skin care products and teas. Bayou Bliss also offers a whole host of spa services like massages, facials, body wraps and body work to enjoy after an intense yoga session, or just whenever the need arises.

Yoga Bhavana / 1415 Kipling St.
Another intimate studio in a classic Montrose bungalow, this is a place for Iyengar yoga, a style named after its founder, B.K.S. Iyengar, the man credited with helping yoga become popular in the West and who coincidentally passed away yesterday. With a focus on alignment, perfecting poses and controlling the breath, students move from simple poses to advanced in various levels. Newbies start at Level I, moving on when they feel ready to Level II. Those recovering from injury, or have special restrictions can benefit from the studio’s special “gentle” classes. Private instruction is also an option.

Yoga Central / 1123 Jackson Blvd.
A slightly more esoteric yogic practice is Kundalini, which aims to balance the various systems in the body, calm the mind and delve more deeply into the spirituality within. While it does sound a bit like it could be its own religion, it is a nondenominational practice for people of any belief systems. Classes are available early morning (6 a.m.), in the evenings, with classes that are more general (essentials of Kundalini) to series of classes that focus on a specific intention (i.e., helping with flexibility of the spine). Costs are very reasonable, and ideal for those looking to experiment at a mere $10 per class.