Overview
Yoga 1 Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a highly praised sanctuary offering a gentle, supportive, and non-competitive environment for dedicated yoga practice. Instruction is led exclusively by master teacher Susan Voorhees, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) with decades of experience since 1977, who provides sensitive, personalized attention rooted in the Iyengar tradition. The studio features intimate, small-group classes with a maximum of six students, ensuring tailored guidance that integrates precise alignment, props, and elements of meditation, pilates, and tai chi. It offers a range of class levels, specialized workshops, and both in-studio and real-time Zoom sessions, making it an excellent and welcoming choice for beginners, older persons, and seasoned practitioners alike.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 9:30 am – 11:00 am |
| Tuesday | Open | 9:30 am – 10:30 am |
| Wednesday | Open | 9:30 am – 11:00 am |
| Thursday | Open | 9:30 am – 10:30 am |
| Friday | Open | 9:30 am – 10:30 am |
| Saturday | Open | – |
| Sunday | Open | – |
Studio in Details
A Sanctuary for Mindful Practice in Santa Fe
Yoga 1 Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is described by visitors as a gentle, supportive environment dedicated to the practice of yoga in all its forms. People who have attended classes for many years call it the best thing they do for their well-being, noting it provides a deep and thoughtful practice that fosters strength and balance. The atmosphere is consistently characterized as low key, calm, and loving, creating a mindful, non-competitive space. The studio itself is a small, intimate 800-square-foot space with comfortable radiant floor heat, which visitors say lends itself particularly well to an intensive yet friendly practice. Classes are kept very small, with a maximum of six students, allowing for personalized attention. The studio offers a sacred space for dedicated yoga practice, suited to people of all ages and walks of life. Its location is noted for being close to the Santa Fe Plaza and Solana Shopping Center.
Instruction is led solely by Susan Voorhees, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) with Yoga Alliance who has been teaching yoga since 1977 and in Santa Fe since 1981. Visitors describe her as a master at teaching Iyengar Yoga, sensitive to every student’s needs. Her extensive experience is frequently highlighted; one person with twenty-six years of practice notes she is extremely creative and addresses personal needs and requests. Another mentions her many years of teaching are coupled with infinite patience and good humor, making her one of the best instructors one could hope to find. Her teaching is rooted in the Iyengar tradition, emphasizing alignment and not rushing through poses, but visitors also note she brings a wealth of knowledge from other practices like pilates and tai chi to each lesson. People say no lesson is the same, yet each seems to be just what they need, ending with their mind and body relaxed and strengthened—a practice one visitor called “meditation in action.”
Class Structure and Specialized Offerings
The studio provides a structured yet adaptable approach to yoga. Classes are offered in Beginner, Intermediate, Restorative, and Mixed Levels, involving a comprehensive range of asanas including sun salutations, standing poses, forward bends, supported backbends, twists, inversions, and balances. Each class may have a different emphasis, such as Standing Poses, Backbends, Sun Salutations, or Restorative Yoga. The practice integrates breathing, relaxation, and meditation, with every in-studio class beginning with a five-minute silent meditation or a Restorative Yoga posture. A strong focus is placed on posture and alignment through precise verbal instruction and the use of props, all of which are provided. These props include sticky mats, blocks, blankets, chairs, and yoga belts to aid in creating better alignment and holding poses longer. Visitors are welcome to bring their own sticky mat if they wish.
Beyond regular group classes, Yoga 1 Studio lists several specialties. These include Yoga for Travel, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga Workshops, Silent Meditation and Yoga Retreats, and Individual Yoga Practice Consultations. The studio also offers individual and private classes, which can be scheduled directly. While the website mentions specialties like workshops and retreats, visitors in the provided feedback do not specifically detail experiences with these formats, focusing instead on the regular class structure and teacher’s approach. The studio etiquette is clear: people are asked to plan to arrive ten minutes early to set up and discuss any physical concerns, take shoes off, turn off cell phones, wear appropriate attire with bare feet, refrain from perfumed products, and come with an empty stomach. Parking is on the street, not in the building’s assigned lot.
Accessibility and Practical Details
Yoga 1 Studio makes its practice accessible through multiple formats. It offers in-studio classes as well as real-time Zoom classes. The schedule shows classes held on various days, with in-studio sessions typically lasting an hour and a half and Zoom classes running for one hour. People mention the need to call Susan first to book attendance for an in-studio class or to get sign-on information for Zoom classes. For current schedule updates, the studio directs people to listen to a phone message. The fee structure is outlined, with different rates for Zoom classes, studio drop-ins, prepaid class series, and private lessons. Colorful and ornate gift certificates are also available. The studio maintains a presence on Facebook for both Susan Voorhees and Yoga 1 Studio itself, and an email newsletter is offered for periodic updates.
The studio appears well-suited for a diverse range of individuals. Visitors specifically mention it as an excellent place for beginners who might feel unsure or intimidated, praising the supportive atmosphere. It is also noted as being welcoming to older persons and relative beginners, with one visitor counting themselves very fortunate to have found such patient instruction. The small class size ensures personalized attention, which people say helps address personal needs and requests. While the studio’s offerings are broad, the visitor feedback strongly emphasizes the quality of instruction, the calming environment, and the holistic benefits of a practice that balances physical postures for flexibility and strength with those for deep relaxation. For those in Santa Fe seeking a dedicated, experienced, and thoughtfully guided yoga practice, Yoga 1 Studio presents a consistently praised and intimate option.