Julie Lawrence Yoga Center

The studio is a great size, layout and lighting, with windows allowing fresh air when weather is right. The teachers are exceptional. Even the newer teachers have inherited an expansive repertoire from the more experienced. I also don't drive whenever possible, so the access to Max is wonderful even in pouring rain.

Been going to this Iyengar yoga studio for over a decade. The instructors are excellent. Great facility and props.

The studio is orderly and comfortable, and the instruction provided is consistent from one instructor to the next, so that I never feel shy about dropping in on a class. I especially appreciate the coupling of practicing asanas with becoming mindful. After class I not only feel better physically, I feel like I'm becoming a better person.

I began taking classes at Jewel Yoga in January 2018, and I wish I had started much sooner. I go to Cindy Irvine's Gentle Yoga classes, and it is perfect for what I need. Somehow Cindy remembers everyone's particular issue (ankle, hip, back issues, etc.) and is a wonderful instructor. Jewel Yoga is close enough to me that I can walk to class, but I would follow them to wherever they were located.

I started with Cindy's Level 1 last term & am now taking Tonya's Level 1-2. I had done Iyengar yoga in San Francisco where used to live & feel very lucky to have found a new studio here in Portland. I really like the instructors I've met & the students I've talked to were very welcoming. I am challenged & inspired. Thank you for existing!

The studio is a lovely space; its many windows contribute to a feeling of openness and light. Tonya's teaching method is cheerful, consistent and precise. I plan to be a student for years to come.

I developed a serious back injury (from dancing and other athletics) in my fifties. I could no longer practice yoga. Or so I thought. I came to Jewel Yoga in desperation using a cane to walk. I took the gentle class on Wednesday mornings, and began my journey back to health. I have taken classes from every teacher at Jewel Yoga. The Iyengar style is perfect for beginners, middle-aged people with physical imitations. Experienced yogis who want to develop and deepen their practice will find Julie Lawrence's Level 3 class to be a great challenge.

The practice at Jewel is more than physical, of course, because it is true Iyengar yoga. If you want the best, most experienced and qualified yoga teachers in the region, Jewel Yoga is the place to study. I am going to Julie's candlelight restorative class tonight, and can't wait!

I have spent this last year taking classes from different instructors at the Julie Lawrence Yoga Center. Each of the instructors I experienced, Cindy, Terry, Roberto, Allison, and Julie had so much to offer. Their passion and dedication are evident as they instruct with precision and compassion. I look forward to dropping in for classes each time I visit family here in Portland.

Before I moved to Portland, a yoga teacher in North Carolina raved about Julie Lawrence and on her recommendation I checked out JLYC. I've had a wonderful experience in both Level 1 and Level 2 classes. The instructors are fully committed to the rigor, precision, and mindfulness of Iyengar practice. The light-filled studio has sweeping views of downtown Portland. And I love that my classmates come in all ages and shapes.

I have had 3 classes here so far and it has been great. I have received a lot of focused instruction from the teachers I've practiced under (Tonya and Alison). The space is comfortable with a nice view. I would definitely encourage others to practice here.

This was my first time doing Iyengar yoga, and also any yoga in a group/studio setting, so I did a lot of research to find the studio that felt right, and I am very happy with this choice. My husband and I both got a lot out of the 12 week session, and I really like how the classes are taught there, somewhat in succession so you can continue to stay at the same pace or move up when you're ready.

We LOVED our teacher, Allison- she is so calm and easy-going but really knows her stuff and cares about each student, their limitations and their potential. We can't wait to go back, we just didn't have the money at the right time to start this round of classes, but we are hoping to jump back in ASAP because it was already changing our lives, body mind and spirit.

It was our favorite day of the week when we would go to yoga in the morning and then hit KURE for a green juice. You might like to check their website to see when they offer a free introductory class for newcomers- that helped us feel more comfortable. The one we attended was led by Tonya, and then we later caught a makeup class with her- she is also wonderful, a little more energetic, fun and peppy fyi, if that's your yoga style.

We loved Allison's chill vibe and sweetness and hope she will be teaching a class that works for our level when we go back, but I'm confident all the instructors are well-chosen and I would not hesitate to try working with the others in the case that classes with Allison are full.

In the Spring of 2012, I took my first ever Yoga class at the age of 43. I am so glad that my friend suggested I join her in a Level I class at Julie Lawrence Yoga Center. The location is fantastic - right in the heart of downtown Portland. Kathleen is a wonderful teacher and very patient with beginners. I especially appreciate the gently relentless effort to get me to apply what I learned on my own - at home. I recommend Julie Lawrence for anyone wanting to learn Yoga.

I dropped in for a lesson while on a business trip. I am not a Iyanger student (or haven't been) but have been practicing vinyassa for about a year with a lot of privates from careful teachers. This place was great! Julie is such an attentive and clear teacher. There was an absolute minimum of the kind of new age BS that can ruin an otherwise good yoga class.

While I did not actually work up a sweat, my body felt way better than it often does after yoga because the stretching was intense, well thought out, and focused. Even the spiritual side of the class was great. Julie gave a reading and a few thoughts that were really appropriate for almost everyone. If I lived in town I'd be a regular here.

I have been a JLYC student for almost 15 years. I think it offers, hands down, the finest collection of yoga teachers (both in regular rotation and in the form of visiting teachers) in Portland. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming and supportive. There is an order and spaciousness in the studio that is both calming and reassuring. I've practiced in other yoga studios where things were a chaotic mess of students and props going every which way. Here, things make sense and there is always clear instruction of not just how to use props, but how to put them away when class is done.

The quality of instruction is outstanding. Special care is taken to connect with each student individually, and to the class as a whole. I meet so many people who think yoga is just about cranking your body into weird positions, so I especially love that the Iyengar yoga philosophy of connecting mind and body is brought into each class. JLYC also offers free introductory classes to prospective new students, special workshops with teachers visiting from around the country, and a variety of other community building events, which I think is really cool.

While the downtown location isn't super convenient for my personal situation, there is an early morning class that makes it much easier to swing. As each year and season goes by, I love seeing the changes in my body and my ability to go deeper into various poses. Thanks to the inspiration and instruction at JLYC, I am blessed to be building a yoga practice that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.

I'm an Iyengar yoga student newbie. But I just finished 10 sessions in 5 days at The Center for Yoga in Seattle. I was in a level 1 class with Julie. I think the class was especially level 1. It was a large class with 30 folks and she had no assistants. Which is great for her but not us. As for Iyengar you still get a lot more attention than any other form, but I was amazed at how much really bad form was allowed to pass.

A lot of bent knees. It just seemed like these folks weren't getting the form feedback I'm used to. But to be honest it wasn't a strenuous class at all. I didn't even break a sweat. But I wouldn't go back to this lesson if I returned and I'd be more likely to try someplace else first. Still nice to get a stretch and it is a beautiful space.