Shiva Shakti Yoga Center

Great space with very experienced and committed teacher that is appropriate for all levels of yoga practitioners

Shiva Shakti is a phenomenal yoga and pilates studio. Gwen is a caring, knowledgeable instructor that builds practice based on the attendees in the room. She taught me how to move and strengthen my body safely, which is a true gift that helped me get out of chronic pain.

If you're looking for a cozy, welcoming, spiritual, community-based yoga practice, this might be the place for you. Gwen is a knowledgeable and professional instructor who has created a comfortable space for yogis of all levels in the heart of Waltham. Shiva Shakti has a great energy!

In the beginning of 2021, I decided to walk-in to Shiva Shakti to join the classes, and I think it's been the best decision I've made so far this year. Gwen is so dedicated, attentive, positive, and with sense of humor during the class to always make us smile and enjoy the class. The group is super friendly and motivated!

I have personally improved physically and mentally. I feel more capable, confident, and strong. Yoga has given me the strength to believe in myself and pursue my goals. So fortunate that my anxiety has reduced so much when I learned how to breathe better and release tensions during classes.

This is a very short description to say how grateful I am to be part of the Shiva Shakti, and I highly recommend Gwen and her classes to everyone.

The best yoga studio of Waltham. A beautiful and calming place to connect with your body and mind.

I just had my first class at this studio. Usually I do hot yoga in Watertown, but was looking for more of a relaxing class tonight.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted by Gwen, she's very welcoming and the studio is beautiful. I felt very calm in there the entire time, which says a lot for this place. I've been to a few studio's that feel so uptight and clicky I just wanted to turn around and leave, but not here.

During the class we used foam rollers the whole time. Which was a great change of pace. Since I stand all day for work, it felt amazing to roll my entire body around on it.

Gwen was very sweet and caring to the people taking her class. Helping if they had a sore spot or a problem area. I'll definitely be back! So glad I went.

What a great find! I went to the restorative/Yin yoga classes that were fantastic. Gwen has a unique way of presenting some wonderful stretches and creates a warm atmosphere for everyone. It was great to attend a truly diverse yoga class without judgements. Sadly I'm just visiting, but would try the pilates and other classes if I could!

Quick background - I've been attending Gwen's classes for about 2 years. I just now read through the reviews on this page and was sad to see that a few folks had a negative experience. In my time taking her classes, it's been really wonderful and I admit there have been ups and downs. And looking back, the "downs" were really just ME growing up and maturing in my own yoga and in my own body, NOT a reflection on Gwen or on the studio. So obviously I've stuck around, and my goodness I'm glad I have! Okay, let's get to the details. This is going to be a long review, so, hopefully it helps you.

THE STUDIO
I moved to the area from Indiana, and wanted to find a studio to call home. I am very much not into "hot" or "power" or whatever the cool kids are doing these days. I am more interested in breath, keeping my body safe, and coming to a better understanding of my own self and the bigger picture. Needless to say I can skim over a studio's website pretty quickly and have a good idea of whether it's right for me. Shiva Shakti caught my eye. It's been an absolute joy getting to know Gwen and the folks at the studio - it took me some time to open up to the community of the studio, and in reality I think Gwen knew I needed the time to ease in. I don't know everyone's name but for the most part we recognize each other, chat before/after class, develop friendships here and there, it's whatever you make of it! And there's just so much good that can come from it. As for Luna (the studio pup!) she's a GEM. She may walk back and forth at the beginning of class but she is very well trained and she generally sleeps outside the actual studio space for the bulk of a class. You'll see a little dog hair around but, uh, she's a dog. lol. Gwen keeps the studio clean, cozy, and in great shape. Also, the parking garage is like $0.50 - 1. Super convenient.

GWEN/THE YOGA
As for the yoga itself (that's why you're here right?!) well, what can I say... it's lovely. First off, I was not a beginner when I found Gwen. I had been doing yoga for about 8 years off and on already, so I'm not equipped to give a "beginners point of view." Gwen tailors each and every class to the individuals that walk into the studio for that specific session. I mean, it's really amazing. That means EVERY class is different. Depending on what her practitioners need, the class might be super restorative and healing, or we might sweat for the entire 75/90 minutes! It's not set in stone, which I love. Gwen does an incredible amount of research when she's not teaching (which, I mean, she teaches a lot as it is, so it's always awesome to me when she brings something new in - I'm like 'when did you find this?!' anyway), so she always has new and interesting techniques, styles, props, you name it. Long story short, it does NOT get boring at this studio. That being said, if you prefer a very structured, same-type-of-class-each-day thing, maybe this wouldn't be the best thing for you -- BUT if you think you fall into that bucket, I would strongly strongly encourage you to still give it a shot. Gwen is awesome. If you give her a chance to get to know you and your body, she will enable you to find out some amazing things about yourself; physically, mentally, the whole shebang. If YOU open your heart and mind to something new, Gwen will meet you right there with tools that you can use to grow in so many ways.

GWEN/TEACHING STYLE
Gwen's teaching style is also unique. Once you get to know her and how she tends to lead a class, you get into the rhythm and it becomes very natural. But I will say that it may not be considered a traditional teaching approach - she walks around the room a lot, sometimes she 'demos' the poses but sometimes she just calls them out (in sanskrit/english/explanations instead of asana names, its a huge variety) and it's not always consistent! To me, that's awesome, because it keeps me paying attention to what she's saying (she talks the whole time and just rains down inspiration and real-talk-no-bulls**t it's great). The fact that you may have to keep a keen ear to catch the next instruction means you also won't miss the amazing things she has to say about you, her, humanity, this world, all that jazz - it's really really special. Now, evidently some people don't like this, they want 'consistency,' they want 'structure,' they don't want their yoga teacher to walk around the room (is that really an issue for some people?), but I would say - lightly - to each her/his own. I would also say - a bit more strongly - again, just be open. See what it's all about. You might end up finding something amazing in your heart that you didn't know was there.

Lastly, never have I (or anyone I've talked to at the studio) been made to feel that I, in my body, in my yoga, am not good enough. The whole point is YOU AS YOU finding what is/is not right for your body on any given day. It's not a competition and there's no 'right' shape - seriously. Come join us, for you!!

Here's the short version: Gwen and Shiva Shakti Yoga Center are great. Gwen's teaching is inspired and the community that she builds in her classes is something that sets this yoga studio apart from others. Go and take a class and see for yourself - you will be so glad that you did!

Here's the detail if you're interested in hearing more:

The Shiva Shakti Yoga Center is a stone's throw away from Waltham Common (so lot's of bus access and close to the commuter rail), there's 2 hour street parking right on Main and if that's full, there's a garage across the street (fifty cents to park). The studio is bright and open and there's always a welcoming vibe there.

Gwen's teaching style is really unique - she caters to all ability levels, taking time to break down complicated poses for beginners while still challenging the most experienced in the group. She's uplifting and manages to tailor the classes to the needs of the students in the room. Her class feels personal - she tries to help each person, all the while encouraging her students to do more and go further. The student's are kind and are very open - they make you feel part of the group right from the start. Gwen is a natural at cultivating the community.

Gwen has a dog ("Luna") who hangs out in the studio. Luna is super friendly and a great presence in class - she has a way of keeping things light during class. When Luna is not there, she's missed!

Finally - I came to Shiva Shakti Yoga Center totally wound up and stressed, looking for some way to get more centered and, frankly, highly skeptical of yoga and all of the related mumbo jumbo. After 20 or so classes, I've done a complete 180 and I have found much more than what I was originally looking for. I'm more centered. More calm. I really enjoy practicing yoga and have found a kind, empathetic and experienced teacher in Gwen. If I could give this place six stars, I would.

I have never practiced yoga before and didn't know exactly what to expect. I had a sense that it would be relaxing and challenging, but i never expected that both could come in a complete and whole package.

In the beginners class, our instructor took us through wide range of stretches which included one stretch where we worked with a partner. In several of these positions, I felt my body and muscles move in ways I never have before. We were instructed to "bring our body to a new area or dimension" with each class. Basically - to teach and enable our bodies to move safely in a way they have never moved before.

I was so impressed with how easily our instructor was able to explain what we should do and how to enable us to go further. Sure, there were a few times where I was lost but I had imagined that this is what my entire first class would be like. It was such a pleasant surprise to find what I was capable of doing and what I never knew I could!

The atmosphere is slow paced and relaxing, at some points of the stretches I could have fallen asleep while at other points my whole body would shake to maintain the pose! I can honestly say that my body had a great workout. This workout was nothing like the cardio that I am used to, but my muscles feel like it could have been!