Before you even begin looking for yoga studios, it's important to spend some time thinking about what you hope to gain from the practice of yoga. Do you want to improve your flexibility, build stronger muscles, or relieve stress? Do you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or other medical conditions that may affect your ability to practice yoga? How often do you want to take a yoga class?
Find a Yoga Studio

Many yogis choose their yoga studio based on the recommendation of a trusted friend. But, if you don't have any friends who practice yoga, you'll need to conduct your own research.

Don't Forget the Gym
If you're relatively new to the study of yoga, you may not need to attend classes at a full-fledged yoga studio. Many gyms offer yoga classes for beginning and intermediate students. If you're already a member of the local gym, this may be your most practical option.

Search Online
The easiest way to find local yoga studios is to conduct an online search. This allows you to search by location, operating hours, cost, or type of yoga offered. Some search engines even offer customer reviews for your convenience.

Here are a few of the many yoga studio search engines available:

YogaJournal.com
Yoga.com
EverythingYoga.com
HealthAndYoga.com
Choosing a Studio

Once you've made a list of yoga studios in your area, it's time to pay each one a visit. Check out the building, ask about fees, and learn more about the instructor's qualifications.

The Convenience Factor
No matter what type of physical activity you enjoy, convenience is always something to consider. Does the yoga studio offer classes at times that fit well with your work schedule and family commitments? While larger yoga studios typically offer classes at a variety of times, smaller studios will have less flexibility.

In addition to the times that classes are offered, consider the accessibility of the studio location when making your decision. If you're new to the study of yoga and your studio is located 40 minutes from home in an area with minimal parking, you may become unnecessarily discouraged.

Saving Money
If cost is a factor, look into a yoga studio that will allow you to purchase a block of classes to save money. Or, ask the studio you're considering if you can purchase a pass that allows for an unlimited number of classes.Many yoga studios will also run special promotions that allow new members to save money. Look for big discounts around the Christmas and New Year's holiday season or shortly before it's time for the local residents to begin swimsuit shopping.

Evaluating Your Instructor
While choosing a good yoga studio is important, it's the instructor who will define your class experience. When you contact local yoga studios, ask what type of training the instructors have. See if you can talk to previous class participants to get a feel for the instructor's skill level and teaching style. For example, teachers of Viniyoga or Iyengar yoga are usually skilled in accommodating students with injuries or physical limitations. By contrast, teachers of Bikram yoga tend to be very active and intense in their instructional style.