Starting yoga in the new year, in BucktownA gentle plan for your first two weeks.

Your first class: start gentle

Candlelight Yoga is one of our favorite places for new students to start. Becca Caliendo leads a gentle, all-levels sequence for relaxation, flexibility and stress relief, in a room lit by candles. It runs 75 minutes, and she gives you permission to move in whatever way feels best for your body.

Gentle Yoga is the other easy way in. Monica Brown, who has taught Hatha Yoga since 2002, combines long yin holds with slow-flow vinyasa and some core strengthening, with every movement connected to the breath. It's a good fit if you're new, stiff, or coming back after time off, and you can rest whenever you need to.

If you'd like to learn the basics first

Intro to Yoga is a four-class series with Josephine Ferorelli for people who are brand new, returning after a break, or want to understand poses instead of just copying them. You'll learn the common poses, how to practice safely with good alignment, and a little of yoga's traditions. The full series is $98, drop-ins are welcome, and new dates are posted on the schedule.

A plan for your first two weeks

The Discovery Pass gives new students 14 days of unlimited yoga for $79. That's enough time to find the classes you'll keep coming back to. One way to use it:

1. Start with Candlelight Yoga or Gentle Yoga, and tell your teacher it's your first time.
2. Later that week, try a slow class: the Restorative Sound Bath, where you rest in fully supported poses while live instruments play, or Candlelight Yin, with long, gentle holds.
3. In week two, go back to the class you liked most, and try one new teacher.
4. By day 14, pick the classes that fit your week, and keep them on the calendar.

What to wear and bring

Wear comfortable clothes you can move in, and bring a water bottle. Mats are free to borrow, so you can just show up. Chi Yoga Shack is a shoeless space, and you'll leave your shoes at the door.

Plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to settle in and say hello to your teacher. If something hurts, tell them before class. If the pain is sharp or new, check with your doctor first.

Getting to the studio

The studio is at 1942 N. Leavitt St. in Bucktown. Free street parking is generally easy to find nearby. The #73 Armitage bus stops a couple of doors down, the Western Blue Line is about two blocks away, and there's a Divvy station directly across the street. The contact page has a map.

When the beginner classes run

A drop-in is $30. If you're new to the Shack, the Discovery Pass is 14 days of unlimited yoga for $79, and it covers the Intro to Yoga series too.

Not sure which style is you?

Our Find Your Practice guide explains the styles in plain words and matches classes to how you're feeling. Or browse all the classes, grouped from beginner-friendly to energizing.