Bella Prana Yoga and Meditation

Lovely studio with the most passionate of Yoga guides who's voice and instruction combine strength and balance with energy enriching meditation... in motion.

YGA Alchemy

I signed up for the new member monthly special (around $40), which allows you unlimited access to classes for one month. I've taken a few hot yoga flow classes and yin/restorative classes and I can honestly say I have enjoyed my experience so far! It definitely feels like this studio has cultivated a community environment with their members.

The website is user friendly and easy to book classes in advance or last minute. Just a note that this studio doesn't seem to have a phone, so if you do have any issues with booking then come a bit early to get help in person.

The hot yoga classes definitely get packed and steamy. They are geared more towards intermediate or advance yogis and I found it hard to make my own adjustments. I have loved the yin classes though and they do offer intro to yoga classes as well.

I love this yoga studio. There are so many different classes to choose from. Everything from hot yoga, specialty classes, beginners yoga, family and prenatal yoga.

The studio is quite large with showers and a boutique. The boutique is definitely tempting and has a number of products should you forget a mat or need to expand your yoga collection.

All the teachers are very nice and super helpful. I truly love that every class I take feels like a work out. I haven't taken beginners or any meditative yoga however I've heard after the meditative practices you will sleep like a baby .

I love their membership rates. Definitely worth it if you want alternative workout types to your routine.

I heard great things about Bella Prana and was so excited to see they have a new member one month special. The class options include different styles of yoga, including some hot yoga classes, more advanced/beginner flows, meditation, and even some workshops. I loved being able to get movement in before or after work and use the showers to freshen up afterwards.

Maggie was one of my favorite teachers! I never thought I'd be a 6am yoga kind of girl, but her classes were so restorative and fun that I kept coming back despite wanting to snooze my alarm. Every class I tried here left me feeling more in tune with my body and more centered going through the rest of my day or night. Definitely try out a class here regardless of your yoga experience!

Beautiful yoga studio! Took a yin yoga class while in town and it was the perfect ending to a busy day.

I enrolled in the Ashtanga 300-hour teacher training in the Fall, after practicing daily for the preceding six weeks or so leading up to it. Came here from another studio, and I know quality, so it was immediately apparent Jessica is the woman for Ashtanga in the Tampa area.

First problem: Magda. Magda was finishing up the 300-hour program and was thus a Lead Assistant, teaching Ashtanga classes. While I like Magda as a friend just fine, it became a problem when I noticed her repeatedly checking out my junk. Not subtly, either. I'm in yoga shorts, shirtess or about to be. She keeps looking down at my genital area. I gave it time. I waited, giving her the benefit of the doubt. Nah. I wasn't imagining it. (An occurrence outside the yoga studio confirmed this.)

I stopped practicing for a while. Sexuality in a yoga environment is uncomfortable. It's not yoga.

Look, I get it. Sweaty, half-naked people who tend to have attractive physical bodies. Humans are humans.

But: Magda is/was a Lead Assistant. She is a rep for Jessica's program. She needs to hold herself to a higher standard.

I eventually took it up with Jessica. I'm not sure how she handled it. All I know is Magda was set to be a Lead Assistant in the TT program and was no longer. Works for me.

Fast forward. We're in the Ashtanga program. Just a few weeks in. Everything is going fine.

Sunday morning. I just finished observing the 7am-9am class. Ashtanga with Laura G, who is another Lead Assistant and teaches Ashtanga a few times a week.

There are four people: me, another dude from the teacher training program, and maybe two more regulars I do not know. I'm practicing near the front of the class. Laura has a few cues that seem to be directed precisely to me.

I ignore it at first. Whatever. Maybe I'm mistaken. Ashtanga has drishti points, gaze points, in each pose, to keep the mind focus. So I just keep focusing on my practice.

Here's another thing about Ashtanga, but really about yoga in general: one ought to follow one's own breath. Everyone has a different level of practice, lung capacity, experience, skill. The student's breath does not need to be precisely aligned with the instructor's, even in a led class.

I've been practicing for a decade at this point. Never has an instructor tried to call me out, during class, via their cues, for following my own breath.

Until this fateful Sunday morning.

By this point we're maybe 15 minutes into class. Laura says something to the extent of, "Follow the cues of an instructor in a led class." (That's not exactly what she said but is close.) I certainly realized that no, it was not my imagination: yes, she was talking directly to me, as I was the only one in the classroom whose breath, and thus asana timing, was not synchronous with Laura G's. I was a half-breath behind, in general, occasionally slightly ahead.

I thought about what to do. I felt attacked in Ashtanga. My safe haven. A home to me.

I decided to walk out. I had a few items on the side of the room. I picked up my mat, grabbed an item or two, and walked out.

I was an emotional mess, and quickly began crying. The desk angel at the time, Erika Huertas, was an associate of mind -- we were business partners, working on a website together. She asked me what happened. I told her. Another woman was there -- older, mature, very sweet -- and she talked to me and helped me calm down.

At one point during the conversation I realized I left something in the yoga room. I decided to go back in and get it, and I told Erika and the other woman I was going to give Laura a piece of my mind. (That is not exactly what I said, either; I don't remember exactly what I said.)

I walk in and, while grabbing my stuff, I forcefully say: Laura, I am never taking a class from you ever again. Do not ever disrespect me or my practice. And you know damn well what I'm talking about.

That is ~90% of a direct quote.

I had no idea the shitstorm this would cause. The other man in the TT program, Rahjan I believe (apologies if I'm misspelling his name; he's a tall Indian dude who's an Ashtanga regular), comes out and confronts me, telling me I cannot do what I just did. I said I am an adult, I accept any and all consequences of what I did, and I will never allow someone I feel is attacking me and disrespecting me to do so without me standing up for myself.

Now, did I choose the most mature option? No. I don't enjoy making excuses for behavior, so while I have my own "side" and context, I don't think it matters. My behavior *was* inappropriate.

How did Jessica handle it? She said someone else in the room had a panic attack after the incident. Obviously I explained my side; she already had Laura's side. Jessica suspended me for a week, saying we would re-assess then. However, the next morning she e-mails me before 8am, saying no, now I'm banned.

So much for thinking it over. What could've occurred in the following ~12 hours to trigger such a change of heart?

Everyone is so nice and helpful at Bella Prana. I really enjoy all the classes I've taken and the unique style each instructors has.
I love that they call their employees in the front desk angels. When I came I signed up for their $39 new student unlimited yoga membership. It was so worth it being that they offer so many different classes. Each room is a nice size and some are smaller so they give you a more intimate vibe which I really enjoyed. They also have a nice area where they sell all types of merchandise and yoga equipment. Also if you forget your mat don't worry you could rent one there for less than $5. One of my favorite classes I took was their Full Moon Reiki Healing class. This studio is a great place to start your yoga. They also get a full star just because they have a great and super user-friendly system where you can book your classes online.

I found out about bella prana by word of mouth as they have a $39 special for your first month. I honestly didn't have many expectations because I tend to be disappointed at "boutique" yoga studios. Turned out BP is my favorite place to go now!

They offer back to back classes with incredible variety from basics to advanced, and everything in between. They have ongoing workshops they're affiliated with too, like Ayurvedic workshops and events around town (yoga in the Zoo, yoga at the Yankees stadium).

Class timings are pretty great, especially for busy people who can catch a class before or after work. Even if only the advanced classes are available, you're not expected to do everything the instructor says and you can modify your poses yourself.

I would recommend starting with the basics then graduate to flow level 1, then 2. Thats the furthest I've gone and it's been very welcoming/doable for someone who has restrictions from back issues.

Perhaps my favorite class is restoration yoga. It's a series of 8-10 poses through an hour and a half long class for you to just stretch and relax. Great way to rejuvenate. I think I dozed off about 3 times during the class but I needed it!

I'm always thankful for the water bottles they have available on hand. You can leave your mat in a cubby there. I also feel very safe keeping my stuff in the cubbies- kind of like when I go to a temple. It's the little things.

Most of what rubs me the wrong way in boutique yoga studios is the hindu/indian cultural appropriation. I don't really feel that here. Instructors aren't preaching yoga, they're literally instructing. That's SO important to me.

Make sure you come a bit early and avoid being late because they're quite strict about letting people into a class after it's begun (this is good in yoga to minimize disruption). ‍

Maryam Bakht was by far one of the rudest instructors I've ever encountered. I don't think I've ever met a rude yoga instructor. Definitely ruined what was supposed to be a peaceful experience. Wouldn't recommend a session with her.

Too many positives to list here. I feel very safe, able to be myself, all egos are definitely left at the door, so much clean space, the bathroom is always clean, the option to leave your mat there is awesome (I don't because it's my security blanket but how nice!) Prices are the best in the area..... I did bring my girlfriend in from NY for a couple classes and she fell in love too. Thank you for all you do, it takes a village, I know there's lots of moving parts and Im grateful for every one