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Bhava Yoga - Article from NewYorkToday.com

Bhava means "being" in Sanskrit and encapsulates director and teacher Peter Rizzo's vision of a yoga center. Bhava eschews the McYoga appearance of some centers (no Shiva lunchboxes for sale here). The brightly colored and austere practice room is like a children's classroom in Berlin. The floor tiles show you where to put your mat during crowded classes, and bags are kept in wall cubbies, allowing students to watch their belongings. Students change in the back of the room behind curtains that come up once class begins.

Most of the instructors are trained in Jivamukti, including Rizzo, and all offer superior instruction. Unlike most yoga centers, Bhava makes a point of adjusting every student in one or more pose. The classes are mostly vinyasa classes and include breathwork and some chanting, which is always optional and goes beyond the usual "Om." The day's schedule is on the outgoing phone message -- a very handy thing -- no reservations are necessary and rental mats are available. With the exception of Basics, the schedule does not list class levels, so ask to find out what they are.

The students are East Villagers who don't want to walk to Lafayette or trek to the wilds of the West Village for their om shantih. But Bhava is becoming a destination for New York yogis everywhere because of its no-frills yoga, served (still) on the ground floor with a smile. -- Alexander Chee