Center For Yoga of Seattle

\r If we could rate the Center for Yoga of Seattle with zero stars, we would.\r \r My fiance signed up for a 200 hour yoga certification class this week.\r \r 48 hours later my fiance found out her mother had horrible health issues which will require us to leave the state for a few months.\r \r For this reason we called the owner of Center for Yoga of Seattle, Richard Schachtel, and humbly told him about our situation.\r \r I explained that my fiance would not be able to participate, and we need a refund of funds so that we can use the money to go help her ailing mother.\r \r The class was not scheduled to start for 2 months so we figured this would not be a huge issue. \r Additionally, It had been only 48 hours since signing up.\r \r Expecting a humane response, especially considering he is a ""yoga teacher"", we were surprised that he refused to refund ANY of our $999 fee. \r He did not show any empathy or emotion.\r \r There have been NO services rendered by Richard and his ""school""\r And we requested the refund within the 3 day grace period that most up standing businesses, in Washington state, honor.\r \r I personally registered her online at the last minute due to an urgent ""posted deadline"" on Richard's yoga center website.\r \r My fiance had tried to contact him via phone many times but he never made the point to speak to her before the deadline-----in hind sight it appears that he wanted her to feel rushed by the deadline posted on the website.\r \r The deadline was March 18th for the $999 special.\r \r UPDATE: we noticed today, on March 21st, that the cut off date on their website has been miraculously pushed from March 18th to March 25th??\r \r In addition, the website's special cutoff date stated that there were only TWO SPOTS available on March 18th.\r The website now says there are STILL two spots available even though my fiance had signed up and paid in full.\r \r Obviously, he is planning on opening up two more slots while keeping our $1000.\r \r i am amazed that Richard Schachtel showed no emotion when we expressed the severity of my fiance's mother's condition and the reason my fiance would not be able to take the course at all.\r \r We urged him to consider the humanity of the issue.\r \r He showed no grace when he HUNG UP ON US after saying ""this happens all the time"".\r \r I humbly admit I was angry with him on the phone. \r But his lack of humanity was appalling.\r I believe his actions would bring out the worst in the best of us.\r \r We are urging you to not give this yoga center your business. \r \r The fact that he says ""this happens all the time"" shows that he may indeed be keeping people's deposits and not allowing cancellations even in situations involving un forseen challenges----In example: cancer or disability.\r \r The experience has been a huge disappointment and we urge anyone to contact us if they have any questions about our experience or had a similar experience.\r \r We are preparing to take Richard to court if necessary.\r Therefore, any extra testimonies will gladly be accepted.\r \r We fail to understand why ANYONE would want to receive instruction from a ""yoga teacher"" who shows more greed than humanity or empathy for others.\r Please avoid this school and choose one of the many other great schools in the Seattle area.\r \r There are other reviews on here which also comment on Richard's questionable behavior and actions.\r \r Please pray for my fiance's mom and feel free to contact us for any information regarding this issue.\r \r ""It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.""---Albert Einstein\r \r Namaste. more

I have been going to this studio off and on for almost 10 years. I have been to other studios in Seattle and most of them are nice with teachers that are reasonable, but in my mind the Center For Yoga is the best. The instructers are all very professional and well versed at helping all body types benefit from a yoga practice. The teaching is excellent. I am not naturally limber though I am strong and cardiovascularly fit, therefore the fact that the instruction is personalized to every participant in a class is fantastic. I feel that I am not in danger of becoming injured because I am following instructions that are designed for super flexible stereotypical 'yogis', but at the same time I have been pushed and encouraged to challenge myself---safely. Some of the sessions are very physically challenging in the traditional sense (sweat, heart rate increase, increased breathing rate) but others are more challenging in other ways---like twists and back arches. The instructors push you to strive for perfection in every asana which makes even something as simple[seeming] as mountain pose an exercise in being conscious your whole body and how it is positioned and working in the pose. The classes are so superior to just working from a book or a video because of the attention of the instructors to really helping students---instructors do not just perform a routine with a class. Do not come to this studio and expect candles, incense or dreamy music. The studio is quite spartan, though very well equipped with pads, bolsters, blocks, etc. I would not call the studio trendy and if you show up in the coolest new ""yoga pants"" the instructors usually say somethnig like ""nice pants, but I cannot see you knees and ankles to help you with your alignment, can you wear something more form fitting like leggings next time?"" This studio and all the instructors are really dedicated to the art of yoga and I just cannot recommend a better studio in Seattle. Highly recommended. Pros: Excellent instruction, great variety in material taught. Always learning something new Cons: if I HAVE to list a con...I guess the heater is a bit loud more

As the holder of two Masters degrees, I feel qualified to express my experience of this excellent and dedicated Yoga studio. I work primarily with Richard and Edith. The intensive courses [ 4 days a week ] help me to progress in a way that I have not found possible with usual Yoga structures of once or twice a week or with drop-in courses. The benefits I have gained are too numerous to list. I feel entirely safe and supported by them. From the numerous teachers I have had throughout my education, only a handful have deserved to be called a ""teacher."" Two of these are Richard and Edith. To you both, thank you. Pros: structure [ 4 days a week ] -- teaching [he is a teacher of teachers -- benefits gained Cons: n/a more

Iyengar Yoga is the best! And the Center for Yoga of Seattle provides wonderful Iyengar yoga. I take most of my classes from Rebecca Brinkley at the Center and she's awesome -- warm and encouraging, while at the same time somehow getting me to want to work harder. All the instructors at the Center I've taken classes are strong professional instructors who come from a wide knowledge base and understand how to communicate what they know to their students. Pros: strong instructors more