SONIC YOGA
51st St. and Ninth Avenue 212-397-6344
Features: About 50 weekly Vinyasa Yoga classes including Kids Classes + Prenatal, workshops and retreats
My boss at the time lived in the neighborhood, and when I told him the address he replied, “What?! That spot is either a sushi restaurant or a condemned building!”. To that I replied, “Yep, If you’re talking ground floor.” Sonic occupies the 2nd and 3rd floors of what is otherwise a typical dilapidated Hell’s Kitchen storefront. Sonic is made up of 2 large studios, one atop the other, large windows facing 9th Avenue. Entrance is up a steep flight of stairs which open into the small boutique / locker room / restroom. The place is simple. Smiles abound. You’re elbow to elbow with those coming and those going. You might even find yourself being hugged by one of the two founders and current teachers, Jonathan and Lauren. Sonic is in the heart of the theatre district and as you’d expect, yogis are dancers, actors/actresses, and some locals. Men are no strangers to the studio, and you can expect about 20% of students to be male (twice the national average of yoga practitioners.) The place is pretty hip, though you wouldn’t be the only yogi donning old sweats or an ex-boyfriend t-shirt. No one’s really looking at you here anyway. Because there are no mirrors (a relief I found after years of stupidly staring at myself upside down and thinking, “Oh, yeah. My Urdva Dhanurasana is tight!”). Thankfully, one of the main tenants of Sonic is “forget about your ego.”
A towel is a must, as the place gets hot because classes are usually packed, and in the winter,clanking old radiators create a steamy heat. But it’s not too hot, as the windows get propped open or fans turned on. The heat only adds to the intensity of the workout. The two main types of classes offered are: Balance (beginner / intermediate), and Energize (intermediate / advanced), but I’ve got to admit, the Balance classes at Sonic are challenging, equally challenging as many level 2/3 classes I’ve taken at Equinox for example. To teach at Sonic, you basically must own an Ipod. Every teacher comes ready with a song-list. The classes literally rock. I’ve heard everything from Snoop when in downdoggy dog to Joni Mitchell. Woodstock era music is characteristic of Sonic. Black mats are laid out, to delineate where to seat yourself, but you’re expected to bring your own. (or you can rent).
Jonathan:
1 - 10
Emphasis on spiritual aspect: 9
Emphasis on technical: 5
Incorporation of challenging poses/ sequences/
originality: 9
Hands on (adjustments): 10
Sonic Tuesday 6:30 PM to 8 PM
I ran blisters on my feet. Flat out from 48th and Park to 51st and 9th. Damn heels, Fricking tourists!! I’d been swearing all the way…This class salvaged my sanity. No small feat!
I guess it’s fair to assume that there’s always a bit of ‘ego’ that a founding teacher brings to ‘his’classroom. The first thing that struck me when Jonathan entered the studio was how genuinely nice he was. A broad smile across his face, he perused the classroom in simple attire (I’d guess Old Navy), made a few jokes, and asked if anyone was new or wanted to
work on something specific. I like that, when a teacher is good enough to be spontaneous. Initially, I thought the class was going to lack focus or fail to challenge me, because he seemed so nonchalant. But as soon as we’d made our intention, and I’d start my first of what seemed like 5,000 breaths of fire in Utkatasana, I realized I was in for a serious yoga class. For 1.5 hours I worked as hard as I have in any challenging Anusara or Ashtanga class except that in Jonathan’s class, the sequences were totally unique. With the aid of an assistant, he managed to adjust everyone in the class (at least 35 of us) at least twice. When Savasana finally came, I felt like I was flying. (Isn’t that one of the reasons we do yoga?!) But I hadn’t felt elation YET, nope, that came with the adjustment/massage in Savasana (which everyone got). Wow. My marathon commute was a distant memory. What blisters? I love tourists! felt like a new person. I’d definitely go back again!!
Number of rooms: 2
Number in class: 35
Music: Yes
Chanting: No
Getting hot in here? Hell's Kitchen, Yeah!
Adjustments: Yes
Sweaty workout scale: 10/10
Feel it in the morning: 7/10
Studio Cleanliness: 6/10
The scene: Theatre district actresses/dancers/some
locals
Take a class with: Jonathan
Changing rooms: limited, two small bathrooms. No
shower
Features: About 50 weekly Vinyasa Yoga classes including Kids Classes + Prenatal, workshops and retreats
My boss at the time lived in the neighborhood, and when I told him the address he replied, “What?! That spot is either a sushi restaurant or a condemned building!”. To that I replied, “Yep, If you’re talking ground floor.” Sonic occupies the 2nd and 3rd floors of what is otherwise a typical dilapidated Hell’s Kitchen storefront. Sonic is made up of 2 large studios, one atop the other, large windows facing 9th Avenue. Entrance is up a steep flight of stairs which open into the small boutique / locker room / restroom. The place is simple. Smiles abound. You’re elbow to elbow with those coming and those going. You might even find yourself being hugged by one of the two founders and current teachers, Jonathan and Lauren. Sonic is in the heart of the theatre district and as you’d expect, yogis are dancers, actors/actresses, and some locals. Men are no strangers to the studio, and you can expect about 20% of students to be male (twice the national average of yoga practitioners.) The place is pretty hip, though you wouldn’t be the only yogi donning old sweats or an ex-boyfriend t-shirt. No one’s really looking at you here anyway. Because there are no mirrors (a relief I found after years of stupidly staring at myself upside down and thinking, “Oh, yeah. My Urdva Dhanurasana is tight!”). Thankfully, one of the main tenants of Sonic is “forget about your ego.”
A towel is a must, as the place gets hot because classes are usually packed, and in the winter,clanking old radiators create a steamy heat. But it’s not too hot, as the windows get propped open or fans turned on. The heat only adds to the intensity of the workout. The two main types of classes offered are: Balance (beginner / intermediate), and Energize (intermediate / advanced), but I’ve got to admit, the Balance classes at Sonic are challenging, equally challenging as many level 2/3 classes I’ve taken at Equinox for example. To teach at Sonic, you basically must own an Ipod. Every teacher comes ready with a song-list. The classes literally rock. I’ve heard everything from Snoop when in downdoggy dog to Joni Mitchell. Woodstock era music is characteristic of Sonic. Black mats are laid out, to delineate where to seat yourself, but you’re expected to bring your own. (or you can rent).
Jonathan:
1 - 10
Emphasis on spiritual aspect: 9
Emphasis on technical: 5
Incorporation of challenging poses/ sequences/
originality: 9
Hands on (adjustments): 10
Sonic Tuesday 6:30 PM to 8 PM
I ran blisters on my feet. Flat out from 48th and Park to 51st and 9th. Damn heels, Fricking tourists!! I’d been swearing all the way…This class salvaged my sanity. No small feat!
I guess it’s fair to assume that there’s always a bit of ‘ego’ that a founding teacher brings to ‘his’classroom. The first thing that struck me when Jonathan entered the studio was how genuinely nice he was. A broad smile across his face, he perused the classroom in simple attire (I’d guess Old Navy), made a few jokes, and asked if anyone was new or wanted to
work on something specific. I like that, when a teacher is good enough to be spontaneous. Initially, I thought the class was going to lack focus or fail to challenge me, because he seemed so nonchalant. But as soon as we’d made our intention, and I’d start my first of what seemed like 5,000 breaths of fire in Utkatasana, I realized I was in for a serious yoga class. For 1.5 hours I worked as hard as I have in any challenging Anusara or Ashtanga class except that in Jonathan’s class, the sequences were totally unique. With the aid of an assistant, he managed to adjust everyone in the class (at least 35 of us) at least twice. When Savasana finally came, I felt like I was flying. (Isn’t that one of the reasons we do yoga?!) But I hadn’t felt elation YET, nope, that came with the adjustment/massage in Savasana (which everyone got). Wow. My marathon commute was a distant memory. What blisters? I love tourists! felt like a new person. I’d definitely go back again!!
Number of rooms: 2
Number in class: 35
Music: Yes
Chanting: No
Getting hot in here? Hell's Kitchen, Yeah!
Adjustments: Yes
Sweaty workout scale: 10/10
Feel it in the morning: 7/10
Studio Cleanliness: 6/10
The scene: Theatre district actresses/dancers/some
locals
Take a class with: Jonathan
Changing rooms: limited, two small bathrooms. No
shower
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