This is the September 2015 edition of yoga studios news & updates, which will provide you with the latest news of yoga studios in the Greater Seattle area in the last couple of months since our last update in June.

Seattle Yoga Shala closed its doors at the end of July 2015. However, Yoga Teacher Liz Doyle announced a new virtual studio with the spirit of Shala opening late summer or early fall. The online Shala will feature classes and trainings of varying lengths, as well as short technique videos and long workshops. Doyle described the transition as very bittersweet, but she looks forward to a new challenge.

Elev8 Hot Yoga opened its doors at the end of July in a new shopping plaza in Federal Way. The yoga studio offers a variety of yoga classes including hatha, vinyasa, barre and aerial yoga as well as yoga workshops and teacher trainings.

Urban Yoga Spa is under new ownership. Andrew Hirsch took over ownership June 5, 2015 from previous owners Kathy and Gordy Ferguson, who had started the studio back in 2009. Hirsch plans to build on the solid base put in place by the former owners, and continue to nurture the strong sense of community within the studio. Watch this video interview to learn more about Hirsch and his plans for the Urban Yoga Spa.

Intent Yoga in Enumclaw closed, with the studio’s last class taking place on July 17, 2015. The studio had provided yoga to the community since May 2006. The owner of the studio, Jean Hoiland, said the number one reason they closed is that “one person cannot sustain and grow a yoga community.” She plans to take a break from teaching, finish her business degree, go back to manufacturing yoga accessories and launch a kickstarter campaign for yoga-inspired bandannas.

Ignite Hot Yoga and Fitness of Lake Tapps in Bonney Lake is under new ownership. The new owner, Nadia Cutter, rebranded the studio from Revive Hot Yoga on September 1, 2015. A new fitness program was added in the dual hot room studio. One of the main focuses of the studio is on youth athletes helping them develop a love for yoga in their cross training.

Studio Barre and Lounge is a new studio that is scheduled to open its doors in Black Diamond, 32 miles southeast of Downtown Seattle. The studio’s grand opening party is being held on Oct 3, 2015 with regular yoga classes starting on that day.

Levitas Studio moved from Fremont to Belltown and reopened July 21, 2015. Their new location is 2217 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121.

Bikram Yoga Seattle in Fremont is moving to a new location due to construction, which is expected to happen in October. A new building will be going up in their current location.

Bala Yoga in Kirkland celebrated its five year anniversary July 18, 2015 with DJ Hyfi, a community class and potluck celebration. Bala has also announced that they are opening a new Seattle location on Stone Way.

The Yoga Element in Downtown Bellevue has closed its doors. The last classes were held on August 21, 2015.

Tapah Yoga opened its doors in Seattle on July 11, 2015, following a grand opening and a free yoga class. The studio offers a variety of yoga classes including Hatha, Vinyasa and restorative yoga.

Longevitas in Auburn is adding a new hot yoga studio room that is expected to open at the end of September.

The Sweatbox Yoga in Capitol Hill Seattle is undergoing remodeling including new polished concrete paint for the walls and new bamboo flooring. Besides offering traditional Bikram yoga classes, the studio will also include VInyasa flow classes and shorter 60mn classes. The studio will throw a reopening celebration on Tuesday, September 29, and then reopen for classes the following Wednesday. the Sweatbox Yoga in Shoreline is now under new ownership.

Firehouse Hot Yoga is under new ownership. Larissa Anderson, former co-owner/director of the studio, introduced Barbara Box, the official new owner on October 1. The studio will also be closed October 2 – 4 to replace the old carpet with new rubber flooring, set up retail, add new sweat-proof furnishing and a few other surprises. Firehouse Hot Yoga will reopen October 5 with a new and improved schedule of classes.

Are you aware of an important change at a yoga studio in the greater Seattle area? Make sure to let us know so we can include it in our next update.

[Photo by milopeng – CC BY]

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