Why this yoga studio is worth getting out of bed for | Opinion

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).

I’ve never been much of a morning person, let alone someone who wakes up early to work out. Neon lights, cardio machines, loud music and people screaming at you first thing in the morning have never been my thing.

But The River Yoga has completely changed my reluctance to start my day with a sweat.

I first joined The River Yoga (which has three locations throughout Denver) because I got a free membership through my last job. I’d attend a few classes after work, but never made it a firm commitment, mainly because I wasn’t paying for it.

When that membership ended, I realized how much I missed the workout, so I joined again on my own ($120 a month for unlimited classes at every location). Since morning classes work better for my schedule, I forced myself to start waking up for the 6 a.m. hot yoga sessions. But it’s quickly turned into the best part of my day, starting with a form of meditation.

The room is dim, so even if you roll out of bed just before, like me, you’re not shocked awake by the harsh light. The teachers speak to you in a calming voice that feels like a warm hug. And if you’re not feeling up for the tough poses that day, you can sit in a child’s pose the whole time and no one will judge you.

I don’t belong to any clubs or organizations in Denver, and when I do meet people, it’s mainly through work or mutual friends. But I finally feel like I belong to a community at The River Yoga,  owned by Denver local Danielle Barbeau. It doesn’t feel as corporate and competitive like some of the other big studios around town.

Instructors go out of their way to get to know more about you outside of just yoga. They have consent “chips” to let them know that you’d like them to help you with adjustments. Everyone there is on different levels of their own yoga journey and are willing to offer advice or a struggle during a hard pose. And every class has a whole new mix of people and poses.

The River Yoga quite literally keeps me on my toes with its variations of classes, whether it be a hot river flow (where the studio can get up to 100 degrees); an open-air class (where you’re on a pool deck in Five Points or enjoying the open garages in Sunnyside); or a warm inversion flow (which reminds me of an adult tumbling class where you get to practice advanced poses like headstands and the crow).