Uplift Yoga & Healing Arts Studio

I had a wonderful experience at Up Lift Yoga with Anna. The view from the backyard studio is absolutely beautiful. Anna was very empathetic and helpful when she saw that I was having difficulties with a pose. She came out of her pose and helped me adjust. The session ended with sound healing, which was an amazing experience. I left feeling calm and filled with peace and happiness. I definitely recommend Up Lift Yoga with Anna.

I normally don't write reviews, but I just had to share my experience here. I've been practicing yoga consistently for the past 5 years & my experience here was not at all relaxing or empowering as yoga tends to be.I went here last week for an aerial yoga & sound bath class. My friend & I arrived an hour early after spending 2.5 hours driving from Seattle. Since we weren't familiar with the area, we decided to see if we could hang out at the studio. We peeked our head in & said hello. Anna took a while to acknowledge us & when she did, she didn't even say hello or ask how she can help us. With a sour face, she told us we needed to come back in an hour because she was still setting up. I understand she was probably overwhelmed setting up, but I've never been to a studio that wasn't at all welcoming no matter their current state. This interaction alone made me reluctant to even go to class at all.An hour later, we return & the first thing I notice is how overpowering the essential oils were. Usually studios are mindful to strong scents because some people, like me, are sensitive. Immediately, I start to get a headache but try to push through since I did spend hours driving here & spent $30 for the class.We go claim a hammock & there are mats set up underneath. I had seen on the website that mats were optional, so I brought mine just in case. I tend to have sweaty palms while practicing regardless of whether it's intense or restorative & I explained this to her. Her response? "I was going more for the aesthetic, but since your mat matches, it should be okay." WHAT. Since when is yoga about aesthetic & not about an individual's practice?!? I was pretty much done after this.The class itself was interesting. Anna was better as an instructor than how I first perceived her as a person. My only qualm is the set up of the hammocks made it difficult to see what poses we were doing. For a first timer of aerial yoga, it wasn't the easiest to follow. Also, the combination of the scents, swaying of the hammock & the residual body odor the hammock exuded (probably why they were heavily sprayed) made me nauseous.Overall, I'm glad I tried aerial yoga to know it is not for me. What's also not for me? This studio. I will definitely not be going back for their other classes.

I arrived early and found the door locked, but after a few minutes they let us in. The studio was nice and warm and smelled like lavender. After we chose our hammocks, Anna listed a couple of contraindications for inversions. I have high blood pressure, so that's the only one I remember. I did try the first inversion, but I only stayed upside down for 30 seconds, while the others remained inverted for several minutes. We were all three new to anti-gravity class, but I'm 57 years old and the other two were in their twenties.We started with some stretches in the hammocks. I had a little trouble turning sideways because you have to be flexible enough to bring your feet close to your torso to get them inside. The hammock naturally pushes you into a stretch, but you can push back with your hands to lessen the stretch. Then we curled up into a cocoon and relaxed for a few minutes.After three different inversions, we did some standing poses using the hammocks for balance and support. Then we did a side-lying exercise inside the hammock before finishing with ten minutes of relaxation--lying on our backs, enfolded by our hammocks. Anna also has a Restorative class that I might try.

What a fantastic class! I have taken both the aerial basics (basic yoga poses using the hammock...very relaxing with a focus on stretching and meditation) and the AirBarre class. The AirBarre class is by far my favorite! As a dancer, I love the combination of dance and yoga, using the hammock for support and extra stretch. This class is much more of a fitness course, and gives both a great upper and lower workout. Not to mention super FUN!! Anna does a great job instructing, and is very easy to work with; great customer service! I just bought my second 5 class pack---totally worth the 30 min drive!

It's hard to put into words how awesome this practice is, and Anna makes every class so great! She has created a very peaceful and inviting environment, and she does really well at instructing. If you are looking to change up your fitness routine, try something new, or just go for relaxation, I highly recommend giving Uplift Yoga a try. I told Anna after class today that I felt like I just had a nice relaxing vacation. I am not kidding when I say that I am more relaxed after aerial yoga than after having a professional massage or facial. I also love that there are different types of classes offered. I have ventured out of the basics class after 3 classes or so and attended the Restorative Aerial Yoga class, and tried the Antigravity class (for all levels) today; I truly loved it. I seriously cannot wait to go back for more!

Twice I've scheduled classes with Anna and both times she canceled the class. The first time I booked a month in advance and the day before the class she emails that she forgot she'd be out of town. I rescheduled the class and the second time I get all the way down to the studio to find out it has been canceled. When Anna called me back, she said she forgot to call me and let me know it was canceled. How can you take instruction from someone who can even master something as simple as scheduling?

I just tried to take a class as a new student. I arrived at the studio 15 minutes early, which in my previous experience at new studios is typically more than enough time to register and get set up as a new student.The last class got done two minutes before my class was scheduled to start and I was unceremoniously turned away because there was not enough time for the teacher/owner to "get me registered through the software". I found this studio through mind body which does not clearly state pre-registration is required, although, to their credit, this is stated on their website. The teacher explained that the last class was let out late because she was "catching up with an old friend". I understand that some businesses value retention over recruiting new clientele, this is one of them. If you agree with this business practice, this is the studio for you! But, as potential new student, I was not worth Uplifts time.

I had a great experience at Uplift Yoga attending a restorative aerial yoga, and again with an antigravity basics class, both with Anna. Both classes ended with around 5 minutes of sound healing in shavasana, which was a wonderful experience. Anna herself seemed very intuitive and empathetic, and when I was struggling with a pose she came out of her pose and gave a hands on adjustment that corrected my pose. Her instructions and cues were really easy to understand and follow. Additionally she's not a clock watcher, and gave us close to 90 minutes of unrushed restorative poses and sound healing, and seemed fully present with us the whole time. Excellent experiences, I would definitely recommend, and I definitely will attend again the next time I'm in Tacoma!

Anna was very rude when I arrived for my first class. Her billing system did not work accurately. I paid for two classes. I went to one. She never told me there was a time frame before using the second class. Now I am trying to use the second one and she says there is a time frame and rather than listen to my concern is telling me how hard it is to be a small business owner.

Anna is such an amazing instructor! She makes classes so fun, and let you practice at your own pace. I like to challenge myself so she always teach me new poses and we keep working on them throughout the classes. I have improved SO MUCH since my first class when my arms were so weak that I could barely lift myself up. Now I know so many pretty poses and can easily practice most of them. Her classes are both challenging and relaxing. At the end of the class, we will do a floating savasana in cocoon, and she will give you great essential oils to help you further relax. I seriously fell asleep several times because it was so relaxing! Being upside down is so addicting, I am even thinking about get one hammock at home! I definitely recommend you give a try!