Inner Strength Yoga, Watertown

Inner Strength seems to be my fall-back studio. First of all because when Roman, it's owner, was still working at a local gym and hadn't opened the studio I thought he was a terrific instructor. Then after he opened up it was my go-to studio for several years . . . so now it was sort of my launching off point to this 'going-to-every-yoga-studio-in-town' idea that I've had.
I've recently gone to their Slow Flow and their regular Flow classes. Of course i enjoy the Slow Flow because the pace is such that I can hold the pose without being sloppy with it AND last night when I went to the regular Flow class I'd been to a class on Thursday that wiped me out . . . so the fast pace was definitely a bummer.
Their studio is very mellow, with cubby holes to stash your belongings and a great staff that really makes an effort to learn your name. Roman, though it had been like 3 or 4 years since I'd been there last did remember me. The average temperature is 90 degrees. Hot enough to make you sweat but not crazy enough to make you pass out! Plus, as long as you are respectful you can creep in five minutes late and they certainly won't make you stay if the heat is too much or you're feeling badly. There is a cat that hangs around, very mellow. Having a cat there is not my thing but I can see how it would work for some people.
Lauren, the other instructor I had is very hands on, adjusting your alignment, and unobtrusively helping with blocks (somehow I don't find it as jarring when she does it as when other instructors tell me what to do!). I even asked her last night about making my new yoga mat stickier. I was sliding all around on it, even though I'd washed it once. My options seem to be either wash the heck out of it or buy an cloth sticky mat to go over it . . . I'm going to wash it and hope that A LOT of future use will improve it.
I've purchased the package of 10 classes for $130 but have since lurked around their website a bit (you can reserve a spot before class online, which you don't have to do but definitely holds you towards getting your butt into class) and found out they have a student special for $110 for 10 classes. Next time! Otherwise their drop in fee is $15.
I enjoy the fact that I'm using them as a fall back . . . if I can't find/get into another studio . . . which is what happened the time I was turned away from the Birkram studio in Harvard Sq. They are comfortable for me without ever being easy. Their classes are an insane workout.

Score: 9 Cost: $$