Mark Blanchard's Power Yoga

I came here for an after hours Kirtan Event and the energy was lovely. The studio is beautiful- the room is large and a gorgeous mural is painted on the walls. The decor was tastefully crafted to enhance good vibes and provide a sacred space for like minded people to commune. I did hear that the studio is moving across the parking lot, so I imagine the space will be larger but just as inviting.

I've been rocking my Mark Blanchard yoga dvds for prob about a year now, and when I found out I was heading to Overland Park for training, I jumped at the chance to try some classes here. First off, I have never taken an actual yoga class in my life. I way prefer the privacy of my own home, where I can wear my old sweats, stop and go as I please, and most importantly, there's no one there to laugh when I fall and make a huge ass out of myself ;)Anyways, I will totally admit that I have always been crazy intimidated when it comes to just walking into a yoga studio. I can never figure out what level class is best for me, I don't want to irritate anyone and be in the way of the pros, and I prefer to just disappear into the background when a move is beyond me - and def not be called out in front of everyone. Anyways, at this studio the classes are for all levels - so there was no need to play a guessing game trying to figure out which one would work for me. And Gretchen...man, she was cool. I felt totally comfortable w/ her - in fact, I told her right off the bat that I was worried my scoliosis was screwing w/ some of my poses. She even made sure during class to point out the poses that would be most affected by it, and made the necessary adjustments. During one of the classes I even had the opportunity to do some partner work, and with Gretchen's help tried some poses - like a handstand - that I doubt I would just try w/ anyone else. In the end, I got exactly what I came here for. I didn't need to worry about bringing a suitcase filled w/ props - I just came right from my hotel, grabbed a mat, and was ready to go. Everyone in the class was welcoming - I didn't feel like I was stepping on anyone's toes, and I truly felt all levels were welcome. I learned new things and gained the confidence that I was on the right path in terms of my practice - and I appreciated the positive feedback and adjustments Gretchen made to my poses. I was able to pick up a few tips and after being home for just a week, I've learned that a few minor adjustments can make a world of difference. So...I have a feeling that for the time being I'll still be a stay-at-home yogi, but next time I'm in the neighborhood I will definitely be back.

This strip mall space is not the most zen spot for a yoga class. Dropped ceiling, curtained windows, wax dripping down the wall from a candle mishap, broken fan and a bathroom WAY too close to the yoga students. What puts the ommmm into this studio is the instructors. A good solid rotation of dedicated and passionate instructors, each bringing something special to the room. Keep your eyes on the instructor and the anti-feng shui decor will drop away.On a side note, my hamstrings are still talking to me......oh.

I live in NYC and I came to MBPY while in Leawood for the weekend, and I fell in love with the place. I wish I could be at this studio three times a week. I love the minimalist (no props, no music, no levels, no chanting) approach, the challenging pace, and the excellent workout.The only thing I didn't like was the creepy naked pictures on the wall. Very ugly and distracting, but not enough to take away a star.

Lived in overland park 2007 through 2009. I met gretchan the owner of Mark blanchard yoga. She is a great instructor who sticks to the fundamentals of yoga which keeps your workout safe and well rounded while protecting and strenthening your joints. As a chiropractic physician I greatly appreciated visiting the studio. In overland park, leawood, prairie village.... not quite sure which town her studio is located as it seems to border these cities. I also enjoy the events that she puts on in her studio and throughout the united states. Just saw matt venuti perform at the yoga sanctuary in punta gorda, fl. Great studio great teacher and great events. Challenging classes and less challenging. call the studio and they will help you pick the best class for your level too.

I recognize that my assessment may well be more an issue of personal taste than anything, but I think it only fair to warn others who are thinking of heading to a class here. Gretchen most certainly seemed to know what she was doing, and offered an occasional hands-on assist which I very much liked. She boasts a lengthy background of yoga practice as a student and an instructor, but I don't feel that there was a strong ability to share it effectively through useful instruction. We launched into and stayed with a sweltering pace for the 90-min class in a manner more on par with a drill sergeant's workout than a yoga-centric ideology of keeping your own pace. Or maybe it was simply heavily Bikram inspired? No matter what, I'd most certainly advise only very practiced yogis in search of a very energetic class to seek this out.The lack of blocks, straps and blankets was immensely troublesome to me. While billed online as a positive feature and a way to strip down yoga and make it a less enigmatic subject, the conspicuous absence of props (that are used to modify poses to each person's ability) essentially dictates that you need to walk in being without injury, strong, flexible, in possession of excellent balance and be confident that anything new being thrown your way you'll be able to master the first time out. There was no description or insight given into the poses as we moved through them, simply a mechanical and (too) rapid calling out of where to put which limb next. Sort of like Twister on speed. The yoga I know and love involves regular encouragement to breathe, to challenge yourself but not hurt yourself, an instructor's outward monologue of how what we are doing relates to a greater whole. And a class which sounds nothing like a farm auction. This was not that yoga.In short: I think this studio's heart is very much in the right place, as I do believe they are in business because they want to enable others to improve lives, but I think the execution is absolutely incorrect, and that they are ultimately causing more injuries than they are solving.

I like many others on Yelp read reviews before trying a new place. I noticed this place has not been reviewed for a couple years, so I thought I would give an update based on my experience. I will say that any negatives that have been listed in previous reviews (which were very few) have been addressed. The décor was tasteful and conducive to a peaceful environment to practice in (nothing distracting on the walls etc). The instructor Gretchen knew what she was talking about and was very mindful of her students movements as they moved in and out of poses. She was very vocal about adapting the class and the poses to your level and I felt very comfortable and un-intimidated coming out of and not attempting poses that were beyond my level. I would say your likelihood of being injured in one of these classes is VERY slim. If you do have a pre-existing condition (as I do) or any other reservations about the class, I would recommend mentioning them prior to class starting as the instructor was very cognizant of the physiology of the body and does a great job of working around injuries. Mentioning these things can only add to your experience.I frequent about three other yoga studios in the Kansas City area, I usually do deep stretch, mixed flow and Vinyasa classes. This class most resembled a Vinyasa class and it was a awesome class. Great for strengthening and stretching. I had a fantastic experience my first class. I will be going back and highly recommend it.