One of the things I love to do when I travel is to take a class at a local yoga studio. On a recent visit to Steamboat Springs, CO I took a class at The Yoga Center of Steamboat. The studio is located conveniently downtown and right by the river. In fact, the studio faces onto the river and has a view of Howelsen Hill Ski Area, which interesting side note is the oldest-operated ski resort in the United States and is owned by the town.
Logistics of The Yoga Center of Steamboat
The Studio is located at 701 Yampa St, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 on the second floor of the building. It was a little difficult to find the studio in the building. From the front of the building, go through the double doors and then through a second door and take the stairway to the right. At the top of the stairs, turn right and the studio is there. It is essentially one room with hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are no mirrors in the studio. They have mats to borrow that they loan out for free, both Manduka sticky mats as well as a thicker mat. Their selection of props was impressive and from what I saw included blocks, straps, bolsters, eye pillows, and thick wool blankets.
Review of the Studio Space
There were no lockers, but there was a bench to sit on and a spot to hang jackets and place shoes. Just outside the studio, there were two very clean bathrooms and inside they had a water cooler. They also had an air filtration system and a heater, but in the winter (because it can get so cold there) a heated class can only really reach a maximum of 90 degrees. This feels divine when the outside air is 6 degrees!
The studio was light, bright, and spacious. What is the star of the studio though is the view. It overlooks the Yampa River and in the distance, you can see the local ski area. It is inspiring to practice while taking in such natural beauty.
The owner, Jerrod, created a warm and welcoming environment. Originally from Denver, Jerrod and his wife Chelsea bought the center in November 2021 and moved to Steamboat. They changed the center to be donation-based as they believe that yoga should be accessible for everyone and if someone is in a difficult place financially, they probably could really benefit from yoga. The idea behind it is that those who can afford to pay the regular drop-in help subsidize those who can’t pay the full rate, making for a more inclusive community. Jerrod and Chelsea are both easy to be around and excellent teachers.
108 Sun Salutations
The class that I took was a special offering, 108 Sun Salutations to celebrate the Winter Solstice and it also corresponded with a full moon. The class started when it was dark at 6:00 am and while we flowed the sun rose and we watched the snowcats groom the mountain and the river below us.
I had never done the full 108 Sun Salutations and while it was physically challenging, it was not unobtainable. A handful of times I did full chaturanga, but most of the time I took Jerrod’s lead and modified. We did 12 sets of 9 rounds of Sun Salutation A. We were given 12 beads and a little cup to place a bead into after each round. Jerrod counted out each Sun Salutation quietly as we flowed using our breath to guide us.
Each round went surprisingly quick! Jerrod offered a short break between each set and a longer break halfway through. The mood was joyful and lighthearted as we practiced watching the sunrise. The whole class took about 90 minutes total. I was not surprised that my shoulders/deltoids were tired. I was surprised that my hamstrings and legs were sore. This was a great workout and it was mentally meditative and invigorating. It felt like an excellent way to mark and transition through the seasons.
TLDR – Final Review
All in all, I highly recommend The Yoga Center of Steamboat to both locals and visitors to the area! It is small but welcoming with nice touches like free mat rental. The owners are building an accessible yoga community in Steamboat Springs and that is worth supporting and celebrating. Experienced and passionate teachers lead the classes. The studio provides lots of options for props and an inspiring view that is worth the drop-in rate.
