Manumission Yoga - Paddington, New South Wales

Greg

Excellent teacher, class and location. Marc was very attentive and taught a great class. Highly recommended.

Lauren L.

Phenomenal! The BEST yoga classes I have been to in my 39 years on earth! Teachers are so kind and welcoming and their knowledge is second to none. Beautiful location and setup with a great variety of teachers and teaching styles to suit EVERYONE from beginners to experts. I travel almost an hour each way to attend classes as it is THAT good! Don’t bother looking for another school - THIS is the one you need 🙏

suyin C.

I was made aware of Manumission after experiencing Marc's incredible classes at Paramount Recreation Club and soon became a student of the school. Being a committed yogi I have tried every school in Bondi and schools in Paddington, Surry Hills, Kings Cross, Melbourne and OS. Marc and his mix of diverse teachers offer dynamic, grounded, and transformative yoga and it's all done with a genuine sense of warmth, playfulness and joy. Individuality is celebrated in the teachers and also reflected in the wonderful array of people the school attracts. I have more recently become part of Manumission's teaching family and part of growing our YIN classes and offerings. For me Manumission feels like home both on and off the mat, and the latter is equally as important as the physical practice. Yoga is for everyone and if you are looking for a school filled with sangha (community) then Manumission is for you. Om Shanti. Suyin ✨🪞🌻💕

Glory

The shared mats/ blankets/ bolsters/ blocks in this studio are unclean. They look, feel and smell dirty. From observing how the props mats etc are returned after class without being cleaned (note: there are no sprays or wipes available), this explains some about the grubbiness of this studio.

Suyin also lacks professionalism, choosing to shame someone who arrived 5 minutes late in front of the entire class (best part is she even had to find out the person’s name so it could be announced how Terrible Nicky was, for coming 5 mins late).

And here comes the kicker: the studio is dusty (is this even a surprise now, considering how dirty the props are?), and I had an allergic reaction to the dust (itchy eyes, runny nose) during the class. At the end of class, after I told Suyin that I have a dust allergy, she had the gumption to tell me she can’t have me sniffing in class because it’s a distraction to the other students. Blaming someone for an allergic reaction that they have no control over, instead of fixing the problem i.e, CLEAN YOUR STUDIO AND EQUIPMENT PROPERLY, is truly appalling.

Avoid this studio, plenty of other more hygienic and professional studios to choose from.

Edit (on seeing the studio’s reply):

Absolutely hilarious when a studio makes up things to try and salvage their image.

To start with, I was not even 10 minutes late; that was someone called Nicky (I only know her name because Suyin pointedly asked her what her name was, then declared to the class that “Nicky APOLOGISES for coming LATE” before asking people to move their mats down to make space for her and making a fuss about how much of a hassle Nicky had caused. This was totally uncalled for.) I on the other hand, came in just as the class started (so 1 minute “late”), put my mat down in an empty spot, and carried on with class.

Nor was I “noisy” or “disruptive” at any point, only sniffing my way through the class because the dusty environment triggered my allergy. I didn’t even blow my nose, precisely because I was careful to keep as quiet as possible despite the discomfort I was in. The road traffic and ambulance sirens (extremely audible since it’s an old building along the main road) were certainly more noisy and disruptive than my sniffing. Lying only makes you look worse than you already do.

This is not about me missing sprays and wipes. NONE of the students who attended the classes wiped or cleaned any equipment after. That has less to do with the students, and everything to do with the studio’s failure to observe basic hygiene. Sprays and wipes are handed out or pointed out at the end of every class by instructors in all other yoga studios. This does not happen at Manumission. Basic after-class hygiene is simply not practiced nor even mentioned in this studio. Blocks, bolsters, blankets and mats are returned without being cleaned. Has COVID taught you nothing? In addition, “freshly washed”blankets (and bolsters) should not smell musty or feel grimy, but yours do. The second time I went to your studio was a confirmation, because everything smelled worse than the first time. Also, I only use my own mat wherever I go, but thank you for confirming the shared mats at your studio are dirty.

The point on dogs is irrelevant. Clean, wipe and mop your dusty studio. It is located right next to a busy main road, in an old, uninsulated building and is obviously more prone to collecting dust and smog particles.

There was nothing kind in the way Suyin treated me, or the other student Nicky. No one should be shamed in a yoga class, and certainly not blamed for having an allergic reaction to your unclean studio.

Your response is disgraceful, but not surprising, considering another reviewer has already highlighted your default way of responding to negative feedback is “filled with ego”. Do better.

Sarah-Jane S.

Brilliant studio. Marc is professional, funny and skilled. The location is great and the community is welcoming. Coming from years in Bangladesh, I’d been looking for a studio in Sydney that was traditional, and actually prioritised the practice, not funky music or adding in cardio to lose weight, or looking hot in the latest clothes, and this place is real. Highly recommend 🙂

Monisha A.

Manumission is a gift. Marc himself is dynamic, funny, passionate and engaged with his students. He and his effervescent team of teachers have created a fabulous community of yogis which I am delighted to have found. Classes are simultaneously challenging and energising. Basically, Manumission makes me happy!

Kate S.

What an incredible studio. Great classes, which challenge you in a safe environment. You feel supported and encouraged by the instructors, who occasionally adjust your postures, which many studios don’t do enough of these days - it is so great for learning. Marc Wittenberg is probably one of the best yoga instructors I’ve encountered. Thank you Manumission Yoga for getting me hooked x I will be recommending this studio to everyone I know.

Helen E.

Marc is the most wonderful teacher and human. The minute you walk into the room you feel such peace and you walk energised and calm