Invoke Wellness Center Northwest Studio

I love love love Invoke! I finally made it out to their 86th Street studio, and it's such a calming place to practice.

I booked a class online like two weeks prior, but then forgot which class I had booked. But I remembered what date and time I was supposed to be there, so I showed up and found out that I had booked a heated vinyasa level 2 class! And wouldn't you know it, that day, I was nursing a lil' hangover. Holy hot yoga! I was totally unprepared physically, but mentally I was excited to challenge myself and told myself that if all else fails, there's no shame in taking a child's pose.

I ended up having one of the best yogas sessions I've had in a long time, all thanks to my instructor that day, Jill. I have had her for outdoor yoga before, but this was my first time being in one of her studio classes. Jill was the perfect balance of encouragement and gentleness, and she played great music!

The heated yoga classes are no joke -- they're pretty intense, but they're also relaxing and allow you to feel more open and flexible. Make sure to bring water and a towel!

Still may favorite studio. A few reasons why:

- They have social events periodically. It's a great opportunity to meet the instructors and fellow students.

- Outdoor yoga! The sessions at the Ruins in Holliday Park are a great way to start or end the day.

- Hot yoga. I never thought I would like it, but I'm addicted.

- Private events. My 9 year old had the first half of her birthday party here. They let us bring in (a reasonable amount of) decorations, asked for her favorite artists/songs, and built a yoga playlist from Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendez for a personalized class for her and a dozen friends. The pricing was VERY reasonable (I think $150 or less?) and they are two doors down from Noble Romans, so you can walk over for pizza and presents afterwards to cap off a party.

My journey with Invoke started with corporate Pilates classes. In 2017 I started yoga classes in studio and have never looked back. I love the variety of instructors and classes. I'm a big fan of all the outdoor classes not to mention the variety of workshops on different topics the studio offers. And restorative classes are perfect for complete relaxation. I come to the north side studio most but also love the downtown location. Highly recommend!

This is such a wonderfully open and accepting yoga studio. As a newbie to yoga I never felt out of place or judged here and I loved the atmosphere. The teachers are great at suggesting adjustments based on skill level. I wish they offered more non-hot yoga options (still a newbie who can't handle yoga + heat, haha), but I know their downtown location has a lot more variety available.

My wife, Cherry's review: I have been coming to Invoke Wellness Center for yoga and pilates reformer since 2016. During these unprecedented times, I decided to get the Warrior Membership so I can get unlimited in-person and online classes. Doing regular yoga has helped my mental and physical health and has eased any anxiety with what's going on around us. I've been very happy with what Invoke has done to keep us all safe. Inasmuch as I really love their heated vinyasas, I'm actually enjoying the Zoom classes, too since I can join classes with other teachers I wouldn't experience otherwise since I only go to their Northwest
studio. Wearing a mask during a non-heated yoga is not as bad as I thought and teachers make thoughtful adjustments (I mean, verbal cues) so everybody can enjoy their practice.

I have tried several yoga studios and while all of them have their charm, Invoke is the only place where everything seems to be on point. First, your staff is knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and has made me feel welcome every visit. Also, they clearly explain and show poses, but also walk around and adjust students (with permission). The classes are perfectly taught and the queues that instructors give help me really understand the poses. Also, the hot classes are HOOOT!!! I LOVE IT! They don't make me feel like I'm going to die but the temp definitely gets me sweating. You all are the perfect package!

I recently took a hot vinyasa class and it was AMAZING. Lauryn Gray, a new instructor at Invoke, did such a great job and I loved every second of it. I don't go to yoga classes regularly, but man - I should. The deep stretches. The calmness. The reconnecting with myself. All good stuff! And the heat really made everyone sweat it out. Looking forward to going back to another class!

*They also offer Pilates classes!

Love the studio and the instructors are great. I don't get to come often and I appreciate when they run specials because it makes it very affordable.

I have been practicing yoga regularly for the past year, and as of November, Invoke has become my home studio. I first started with the Sunday $10 Community classes and then purchased a $39 intro month. During that time, I attended as many classes as possible to get a feel for the studio and decide if I wanted to commit long-term (and pay full price). Here is why I decided to stay:

-Option to take a heated or non-heated class: if you do choose a heated class--which helps with flexibility and sweating out toxins--the room can get up to 105 degrees. I will note that the humidity is that as bad as other hot yoga rooms I've practiced in.
-Overall instructor knowledge: I notice that most of the instructors really know their shit. They will not only call out the asana and how to get in/out of it, but also they know the little details to help you get the maximum benefit out of each asana. Therefore, I would best sum up their instruction as detailed and refined. My preferred instructors: Megan, Yvonne, Jole, and Jay.
-Variety of classes and workshops: Invoke offers leveled Vinyasa and Yin classes, and there are also workshops and special events offered monthly, whether that be hip hop yoga, myofascial release, or an intro to the practice of yoga. If you prefer a slower flow or what to work on the foundations of your practice, then the best place to start is the Level 1 and 1/2 classes. If you like an athletic flow with a steady pace, then you'll be comfortable with a Level 2 class. If you want to focus on a calmer practice that will stretch you out, then you definitely want to check out one of the Yin classes. If you become obsessed and want to deepen your practice, then you're in luck, as Invoke offers teacher training.

Right now, Invoke is the best $120 I spend per month for my body, mind, and spirit. With the wintry months upon us, do some good for yourself and give this yoga studio a shot.

Boob sweat. Did I get your attention? Five minutes of hot yoga at Invoke and you'll be rockin' boob sweat in no time - along with hand sweat, feet sweat, and all sorts of other sweat that you never knew existed. In the moment it's messy, afterwards, it feels AMAZING.

One week free yoga coupon now available online! (visit the Invoke Yoga facebook page (photos section)) I highly recommend taking advantage of this generous opportunity to test drive the fairly new northside Invoke location. I have now visited both Invoke locations and I must say, this one fits my vibe more than the downtown location. There's something much more laid back and less threatening about it. I can't seem to put my finger on it but I will say that the holistic health (on-site massage therapist and chiropractor really does it for me).

Classes options include ballet barre, hot yoga, traditional yoga and so on. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the class are not as intimidating as I found at the downtown location. I highly recommend giving Invoke a shot - one thing is for certain, your body will thank you.