William, thank you so much for the kind words—I'm thrilled you found Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side to be such an inviting, welcoming space. We work hard to create a warm, calming yoga and Pilates studio experience, and we’d love to have you back on the mat again soon.
Nicole2026.05.24
I forgot grippy socks and wore regular socks. I understand for hygienic purposes why they would want some sock ware. That being said they won't let you enter the class unless you spend $10 on a pair of grippy socks. If you don't attend class you are charged $28 for a class you already paid for. So for one class if you forget your socks you are looking at $40. So many other studios are kinder and more accommodating nearby ie UpDogStudios. Will not come back
As you mentioned, grip socks are required in our Pilates, Barre, and Strength classes for both safety and hygiene reasons. This policy is communicated before booking and is applied consistently to every student.
It's also worth noting that you've visited Aura multiple times before, so this wasn't a new policy being introduced on the day of your class.
Aura is a small family-owned studio. My husband and I built this space ourselves, and our children spend a lot of time here. We take cleanliness incredibly seriously because this studio is not just our workplace—it's an extension of our home. Grip socks are one of the many ways we maintain the standard of cleanliness and safety that our community expects.
Regarding the fees, the $28 late cancellation fee is set and collected by ClassPass—not by Aura. In fact, we do not receive that fee. ClassPass also compensates studios significantly less than the retail value of the class itself. Guests who book directly through Aura receive additional benefits, and we're often able to be more flexible when issues arise.
Our grip socks are available for purchase for $10, which is less than many boutique fitness studios in New York charge, and students are always welcome to bring their own grip socks from home.
We understand that not every studio is the right fit for every person, but we stand behind our policies and apply them equally to everyone. We wish you all the best and appreciate the classes you spent with us.
Courtney Kelly2026.05.21
Relaxing space, so far have been enjoying trying out different yoga teachers, and all the people have been pretty down to earth
Thank you, Courtney—so glad you’re enjoying the relaxing vibe at Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side and getting to explore a variety of our yoga teachers. It means a lot to hear our community feels down to earth and welcoming.
Lexy Zimmerman2026.05.12
amazing experience from the very beginning. thoughtful, intentional, warm, and inviting are a few words that come to mind to describe Aura. the classes are quality and the people are lovely. plus the space is so pretty which is always a major bonus. i truly look forward to going!
Lexy, thank you so much for sharing this—your note about the thoughtful, warm, and inviting vibe at Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side means the world to us. We’re grateful you’re enjoying the high-quality yoga and Pilates classes, our lovely community, and our pretty studio space, and we can’t wait to keep being the place you look forward to coming back to.
francesca c2026.05.09
Cutest studio! Everyone brings amazing energy and is so knowledgeable about what they do. Great vibes and the instructors are the best!
Amazing studio. Love the ambience. The instructors are so welcoming. The music is great. Like a west side treasure Take a class or two / you will be hooked. Shannon and Andre and fabulous studio owners. Excited to have discovered this jewel
Sue, thank you so much for the wonderful review—I'm thrilled you’re loving the ambience, great music, and our welcoming instructors at Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side. We’re honored to be your Upper West Side treasure, and we can’t wait to have you back for more yoga and Pilates classes—you might say the “hooked” part is our unofficial specialty.
Telly Fu2026.05.08
The studio is TINY, very dark/poorly lit. It felt incredibly cramped and not the vibe for a refreshing or relaxing workout class.
We actually have no history of you ever attending a class with us, which makes this a little tricky to respond to honestly 🤍
That said — yes, Aura is intentionally small. Small but mighty. Our average class size is around 10 people because we believe personal attention, hands-on guidance, and community matter more than packing 40 bodies into a fluorescent room.
And as for the lighting… guilty. We’re anti big light over here. Our sconces, candles, fireplace glow, and softer lighting are very intentional so your nervous system can actually settle instead of feeling like you’re doing Pilates inside a dentist office 😌
No overhead interrogation lighting found here.
xo
Becca Chong2026.05.08
Since joining last December, Aura has been such a wonderful place to land. Whether you want a relaxing vinyasa flow, a challenging pilates class, or spicy sculpt, the variety is endless. More than that, Shannon has cultivated such a lovely community with all the instructors and members. Coming from a workout studio that was a corporate chain, it really makes movement feel so much more than just a workout!
Becca, thank you so much for this thoughtful review—since you joined last December, it means a lot to hear Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side has been a wonderful place to land. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the variety across vinyasa flow, Pilates classes, and spicy sculpt, and that the community Shannon and our instructors have built makes movement feel like more than just a workout.
Madison Ingal2026.05.07
Variety of classes and instructors - I always leave feeling stronger and energized.
Madison, thank you so much for the 5-star review of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side. We’re grateful you love the variety of yoga and Pilates classes and instructors, and that you consistently leave feeling stronger and energized.
Leslie S2026.04.16
Beautiful and consistently clean studio with a range of different class and instructor styles. Give it a few tries and you’re bound to find a new routine that suits you. Personally I love the yoga/pilates hybrid classes w Shannon and Molly.
Thank you so much, Leslie, for your glowing review! I'm delighted that you appreciate the beauty and cleanliness of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio. It's wonderful to hear you love the yoga/pilates hybrid classes with Shannon and Molly.
Molly MacDonnell2026.04.10
5/5 stars – I love the calming atmosphere at Aura Yoga Pilates Studio Upper West Side. The space is bright, the music is soothing, and the studio feels welcoming for everyone, whether you are a beginner or looking for a vinyasa yoga flow. The staff keep the studio clean and the temperature perfect, making each class a pleasant escape. I will definitely keep coming back.
Molly, thank you so much for the kind words and the 5-star review of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side. We’re so glad you loved the calming, bright space, soothing music, and welcoming vibe—whether you’re joining as a beginner or coming in for a vinyasa flow. It means a lot to hear that our cleanliness and “just right” temperature helped make each class a pleasant escape, and we can’t wait to have you back.
Thank you, Ioulita, for the 5-star review of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side. We truly appreciate your support for our yoga studio and hope to welcome you back soon for another yoga or Pilates class.
Claire Genre2026.04.03
Everything about this studio is perfect. The offerings, the instructors, the space, the care, the community. Very grateful it opened
Claire, thank you so much for this kind review—I'm thrilled to hear you’re loving the class offerings, instructors, studio space, and the care and community we’re building at Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio on the Upper West Side. We’re very grateful to have you practicing with us.
Natalie Bennett2026.03.31
aura pilates is my new favorite place -- the best classes, best instructors and best vibe! fabulous!
Natalie, thank you so much for the lovely words—I'm thrilled Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side has become your new favorite spot. It means a lot to hear you’re loving the Pilates classes, our instructors, and the studio vibe; we’ll keep bringing the “best” every time you roll out your mat.
Kami Salman2026.03.31
RUN—don’t walk—to this studio. From the moment you walk in, you feel like part of a warm, welcoming, and genuinely beautiful community.
Arden was an incredible instructor—she made sure everyone felt supported, no matter their level. Her playlist was amazing, the vibe she created in the room was everything, and the eucalyptus towels at the end were the perfect finishing touch. I left feeling strong, energized, and completely reset.
The studio itself is immaculate and so clean, and the energy is just unmatched. You can tell there’s real intention behind every detail—from the flow of the class to the overall atmosphere. The guy at the front desk was also incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the experience feel even more personal from the start.
I also took Megan’s class, and it was fantastic—equally motivating and well-structured. What I love most is that you get a challenging, effective workout while still feeling encouraged and uplifted the entire time.
If you’re looking for a place that delivers great energy, amazing instructors, and a workout that actually makes you feel good (not just exhausted), this hidden gem on the Upper West Side is a must. I’ll definitely be coming back regularly. ✨
Kami, thank you so much for this wonderful review of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side—your words about our warm community, clean studio, and intentional class experience truly mean a lot. I’m so glad Arden’s supportive instruction, great playlist, and those eucalyptus towels helped you leave feeling strong and reset, and that Megan’s class felt just as motivating and well-structured. We can’t wait to welcome you back for more uplifting yoga and Pilates on the Upper West Side.
Kaitlyn Hirsch2026.03.30
The studio is really cute (and clean) and the staff are so nice. Amanda was such a good instructor - brought the energy and created such a good environment!
Kaitlyn, thank you so much for the kind words—I'm glad you enjoyed our cute, clean Upper West Side yoga studio and felt well taken care of by our team. Amanda will be delighted to hear you loved her energy and the welcoming environment she created in class. We can’t wait to have you back at Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio for more yoga and Pilates sessions.
Viktorija Grillo2026.03.21
This studio is truly a needle in a haystack — the kind of place that feels like an instant escape the second you walk in. After a long, stressful work week, it’s become my go-to for resetting and recharging. There’s something so special about the atmosphere — it’s warm, calming, and genuinely cozy in a way that’s hard to find.
You can really feel that it’s family-run in the best way. There’s so much care behind every detail, and it shows in how thoughtfully they create an experience that keeps members feeling comfortable, welcomed, and taken care of. The little touches don’t go unnoticed, and they make all the difference.
The pop-ups are such a fun and unique addition — it keeps things fresh and adds to the sense of community that makes this place stand out.
And the instructors… Shannon and Meg are absolute standouts. Their classes are the perfect mix of challenging and motivating, and their playlists are consistently so good — true bangers that make you forget you’re even working out.
I’m genuinely so appreciative of the attention to detail and the heart that goes into this studio. It’s rare to find a place like this — and it really does have my heart 🤍
Viktorija, thank you for such a thoughtful review—I'm thrilled Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side has become your go-to reset after a demanding week, and that the warm, cozy, family-run atmosphere and little details have made you feel truly welcomed and cared for. We’re so glad you’re enjoying the pop-up events and that Shannon and Meg’s challenging, motivating classes (plus those banger playlists) help make it all feel like a true community escape.
SMD2026.03.20
I've taken a handful of instructors at Aura and love the classes: they are strong yet accessible! And I love that the yoga isn't hot!
The space is beautiful. Highly recommend.
SMD, thank you for the 5-star review of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio on the Upper West Side—I'm thrilled you’ve loved taking classes with several of our instructors. We’re so glad the sessions feel strong yet accessible, and that you appreciate our non-hot yoga classes as well as the beautiful studio space.
Sarai2026.03.20
Aura Studio is home to a wonderful group of instructors who balance motivation, relaxation, and just the right amount of challenge for growth, and who have genuine personalities that spark a sense of community.
Sarai, thank you so much for the 5-star review of Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side. We’re grateful you felt our yoga and Pilates instructors strike that sweet spot of motivation, relaxation, and the right level of challenge, and that their genuine personalities help build a real community.
Brianna Nordlander2026.03.18
Efficient workout, beautiful space and reasonably priced- can’t ask for more! Had a great experience and look forward to going back.
Thank you, Brianna—so glad you enjoyed the efficient workout, our beautiful Upper West Side studio space, and the reasonable pricing. We’re grateful you had a great experience at Aura Yoga + Pilates Studio | Upper West Side, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for your next yoga and pilates class.
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