Mission Yoga

Most Recent Comments

• February 2020 by Tradd N.
  Getting somewhere is not always easy but every time I leave a class here I am always grateful!
• December 2019 by Rachel W.
  We visited Mission Yoga while on vacation. We were delighted to find that they had free mat rentals--many studios charge for mat rentals, so this was a really sweet surprise since we were on vacation sans mats. And everyone there was so, so welcoming! We felt like we were immediately welcomed into the fold even though we were just passing through. We'll absolutely be back next time we're in town! Thank you for letting us practice with you :)
• June 2019 by Paige S.
  My husband and I love going to Mission Yoga. The instructors are the best! They mix it up so no two classes are identical. It's a place of kick ass yoga, caring, community and good vibes. Highly recommended.
• May 2018 by PhantomYog I.
  I've been to this studio a few times when visiting Charleston and have had mixed experiences. I thought the studio space was very nice and inviting. The bathrooms and changing rooms were very clean and the studio space itself has an open, industrial feel. I did not feel particularly welcomed by the teacher my first time to the studio and she did not show me around or check-in about previous experience or injuries. As far as experiences with the classes they were varied and I'll start with the positive. I took a 2/3 level class with Shelly that I thought was excellent. She did check-in with me prior to class and asked about injuries that might impact participating in a lot of shoulder work, which I appreciated. She began the class discussing why it is important to have good alignment in foundational postures and why advanced postures eventually grow from this, not from forcing yourself into an advanced posture. As someone who attends a lot of advanced classes, this message often gets lost and I appreciated her bringing attention to this. I thought the class was well-executed, her cueing was excellent, and she gave close attention to alignment with each student. We eventually worked toward side crane and headstand and I felt these made sense in her sequence. That same week I took a 2/3 level class with Chelsea. I thought Chelsea's pacing and cueing were consistent and clear, however, she spent more time demonstrating with her back to the students than attending to the students. I did not feel like she was particularly focused on anyone's alignment in the room. The sequence was a little redundant- some high twists stepping back to lunges and vinyasas- which is fine... if you build towards something. For a "2/3" level class that is advertised as an advanced level, I would expect for a least one option for an arm balance or inversion. Or at least some prep work towards them. At the end of class I was left wondering why I did all those twists and lunges. She did take us through a longer savasana and a meditation at the end which was different from what I'm accustomed to, but I appreciated it. Finally, I took a level 1/2 class with Kelly Jean. She spent some time talking about an aspect of yoga philosophy (I can't remember which one) but for quite some time. For an asana class, this is not really my thing, but I understand that some teachers are trying to teach more than asana. I did have a problem with the asana practice, however. First of all, I felt like she was more interested in practicing herself than what her students were practicing. In fact, she even said something along the lines of "I haven't been able to practice a lot this week so you'll see me practicing up here, too." This is a huge pet peeve of mine. I'm going to class so you can teach me, not so you can practice. To me, teaching and practicing are separate and if you are practicing while you're teaching it means you're paying more attention to yourself than to your students. My second issue with this class was that I did not feel that appropriate modifications were offered. I was with a friend who is less experienced and he was given completely different poses instead of modifications. If you're always given a separate pose instead of a modification, how will you ever progress in that pose? At the end, students were offered headstand OR bridge. Huh? If you're offering headstand, why not have students unable to do headstand work on the prep for headstand? Again, if you always do a bridge instead of working towards a headstand, how will you ever learn headstand? In conclusion: I think this is overall a good studio and a nice space but I do not think there is much consistency between the teachers or the classes. I would definitely go to Shelly's class again.
• April 2018 by Grace T.
  I used to be a yoga skeptic. Maybe even a yoga non-believer! But after trying Mission Yoga (by using a Groupon), I started feeling the mental and physical changes. I'm normally someone who compartmentalizes my negative emotions. I try to control everything and then inevitably feel stressed when things outside of my control don't go the way I'd hoped. I don't really do anything active besides the rare jog/walk of a mile or two, and I'm about as flexible as a refrigerator. So, when I started at Mission Yoga, I began with the Gentle Restorative classes with Caryn Antos (she was covering those classes for a different teacher at the time). They're honestly still my favorite. I genuinely feel cleansed, relaxed, and renewed after classes. I have also tried the Yin-Vinyasa classes (which I feel are a bit too difficult for my current body/lack of stamina/core muscles) and the Mission Practice classes on Saturdays (my second favorite class because it feels like a complete mind/body journey). I think I have tried the Flow 1 class in the past as well, but it didn't leave me with as much of an impression as the other classes. I think what sets Mission Yoga apart from other places is their connection to yoga theory. It's not just, "Move this way, breathe, move another way, breathe." They really make me more introspective, self-aware, and balanced. I go through a cathartic cry sometimes, and nothing in my adult life has given me the same feelings as the classes at Mission Yoga. If you can get past the difficult parking at times, I would really recommend this place to people who've never thought yoga could be for them.
• March 2018 by Jennifer A.
  Had a great experience at this morning's 7am class. Dropped in for some yoga while on vacation. The space is very calming, clean, and beautiful. The instructor was so kind and attentive. The message for her class about being kind to our bodies was awesome. She offered variations for all the moves so you could pick the variation which worked best for your body. The class was also priced really reasonably! I am happy I dropped in!
• August 2017 by Brian B.
  My wife and I go to Charleston around Christmas every year to walk around, eat, and enjoy the area. We've stayed down the street from Mission Yoga every year and will continue to attend as many classes there as possible. The studio is inviting and the teachers are excellent, the drop-in prices are comparable to my experience all over the United States, but the quality of the guidance and ambiance are second to none.
• March 2017 by Shelley D.
  Gorgeous studio with excellent instructors in the heart of Charleston. I really enjoyed the yin + restorative class. It was well structured and perfect for a Sunday morning. The class was full, but I did not feel as though it was too packed. It felt nice to flow and breathe with so many other yogis. There is ample street parking and yoga mats are free to use. The studio is near lots of little spots to stop off for a coffee or breakfast after practice. If I lived in Charleston I would absolutely be a member here, and plan to practice each time I am in town.
• December 2016 by Stephanie B.
  I really love this studio! The teachers are all great! I loved Kelly Jean and Elli the most! Their classes are great for any level. I'd say most are best for intermediate students that know the basics and names of the positions. The space is sort of small. Every class I went to so far has been extremely crowded. It just goes to show how popular they are.
• October 2016 by Christine F.
  I have been a regular at Mission since it opened and I love it. All of the teachers are excellent, and they find the perfect balance between mind, body, and spirit. The community at Mission is warm and open. I came to Mission because I was already a devotee of what my husband calls the "cult of Kelly." Nothing cultist about it though, just excellent teaching based on deep knowledge of anatomy and yoga as a spiritual and philosophical tradition, and a willingness to try new things within a safe environment. Try it; you will be glad you did.
• June 2016 by Tara N.
  My favorite studio in Charleston. I was lucky enough to live nearby when Mission opened - so stumbled upon it with great luck. The space is beautiful, intimate and lends itself to personalized instruction. I have huge girl crushes on all the instructors there - who are incredible and also insightful as spiritual teachers. Love this place!
• May 2016 by Melanie P.
  Yoga studios in Charleston, it seems there is one on every corner. I have been to almost all of them at least once. So what makes Mission special? The extraordinarily well trained and educated teachers. Anyone can learn a script of poses and bark it at students. You will not get that here. What you will get is an extraordinary practice with a variety of thoughtful and mindful teachers. You will get knowledge dropped on you, which is why I almost always see yoga teachers practicing there. A friend even mentioned it to me, Mission is where yoga teachers go to practice. That in itself speaks volumes. They offer a variety of teaching modalities, and all are taught by great teachers. There is not a ton of parking, so be prepared to take a little walk if the studio lot is full. The actual studio is beautiful, and has the most beautiful floors of any studio I have ever been in. They have filtered water available, so bring your own bottle. The offer meditation classes and lots of great visiting teachers for workshops, as well as studio teacher led workshops. I always learn something new when I go to class, and I really need to make the trek downtown from Goose Creek more often, because it is so worth the drive. Highly recommended.
• February 2016 by Kari K.
  I LOVE Mission Yoga! This is the yoga studio I've been searching for. I wanted something that addressed not just the body, but the mind as well. There is truly a holistic (and Whole-istic) approach at Mission. Kelly Jean Moore is an amazing teacher, but so are the many other teachers at Mission. There are a variety of classes, styles, etc. One of my favorites is the Yin-Vinyasa, which combines Yin holds with movement in between. I also love the Yoga Quickie on T/Th evenings, for those days when you are busy all day and just want a little something at the end! Mission has truly changed my life. I have made wonderful friends there, I am now taking meditation classes there, something I've been meaning to do for a long time, and it is like a second home now.
• October 2015 by Jackie K.
  Mission yoga was not my cup of tea. This is not to say the teachers are not well qualified, they are very qualified and the yoga is perfect for someone seeking a hatha style with slow movements, etc. I did not think the class description was accurate calling it a 'flow.' The open flow is not at all a vinyasa class if that is what you are after but if you're not looking for that then this is your place!
• October 2015 by Cory P.
  Mission has become a second home for me over the last year! There is such a great variety of heartfelt classes to choose from several teachers with all different background and training to give a very well rounded experience. The studio itself has an amazing ambiance and very inviting to all levels of students. The community that's been created here is so special and I just cant say enough how much I love this place and feel so lucky to be a part of it!