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Finding a yoga or Pilates class in New York is easy. Finding a place you genuinely look forward to going back to can take a little longer.
On Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, Aura Yoga + Pilates on West 72nd Street is inviting neighbors to a weekend Open House, with $10 classes at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. each day.
It’s a chance to take a class, meet the owners and instructors, and experience the studio for yourself. No previous yoga or Pilates experience is needed.
For Aura’s members, finding the studio has changed more than their workout routines.
“My day is significantly better when I go to a class in the morning, and I’ve never felt that way about a studio before,” one member shared.
Another put it more simply: “I went from never working out to 4+ a week.”
Just over a year after opening at 239 West 72nd Street, Aura has quietly become part of its members’ lives: somewhere to get stronger, clear their heads, and be around people who are genuinely happy they came.
Owned and operated by Shannon McGinn, Aura is personal by design.
“We want you to feel taken care of from the moment you walk in,” says McGinn. “Someone knows your name, shows you where to go, and makes sure you have what you need. You shouldn’t have to know how any of this works before you get here.”
The studio itself feels a little removed from the city outside.
In The Altar, yoga unfolds beneath a marble fireplace and candlelight. In The Atelier, mat Pilates and sculpt classes focus on strength, control, and mobility. Classes are small, non-heated, and intentionally varied, so what you need from your practice can change from one day to the next.
Move With Intention
Aura isn’t interested in movement that leaves you feeling punished.
The philosophy is simpler: build a body that feels good to live in now, and one you can rely on for a long time.
Low-impact yoga, Pilates, sculpt, and restorative practices build strength, mobility, balance, and control without asking the body to constantly operate at full throttle.
“We’re much more interested in longevity than exhaustion,” says McGinn. “You can work hard without beating up your body. You can build strength while also giving your nervous system somewhere to settle.”
It’s part of the studio’s philosophy: Move with intention. Connect with purpose.
Small classes make that possible. Instructors can explain a movement, offer another option, remember what you’ve been working on, and notice when you might need something different that day.
“There’s something about the space that makes me want to come to class, want to push myself, and yet still feel okay if I have to take a break,” one member wrote.
Another shared: “This was the only studio to get me off ClassPass and such an important addition to the UWS community.”
Connect With Purpose
Then there is everything that happens around the workout.
Teachers learn your name. Familiar faces become people you talk to after class. Members linger. There are flowers, candlelight, community gatherings, little surprises, and a scented towel waiting for you at the end.
“Someone asks how I’m doing, checks in on how class went, asks about holiday plans,” one member wrote. “It just feels like home.”
Aura’s members span ages, experience levels, and reasons for showing up. Some want to get stronger. Some want to keep moving well for decades. Some come for a hard Pilates class and a great playlist. Others come to slow down.
The common thread is wanting movement to add something to your life, rather than take everything out of you.
This September, Aura is inviting its neighbors to step inside and see why so many have made it part of their week.
Come alone or bring a friend. Take a class. Meet the teachers. Stay for a few minutes afterward.
See how you feel.
Anyone who joins during the September 26–27 Open House will receive 50% off their first month.
Can’t make the weekend? Aura’s Test Drive offers three weeks of unlimited classes, and West Side Rag readers can take $20 off with code WSR.
NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27
$10 classes at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Aura Yoga + Pilates
239 West 72nd Street, 2nd Floor
Upper West Side
