NEW STUDENT GUIDE
I AM NEW TO PILATES AND YOGA. WHICH CLASSES SHOULD I TAKE?
For those with little to no yoga experience, we suggest starting with Yoga Foundations. These classes provide an introduction to commonly taught yoga postures, breathing techniques, and basic yoga philosophy.
Other options for beginners at 2nd Story are:
Restorative Yoga, Sundays at 7pm and Wednesdays at 7pm
Yoga Para Tu Salud (this is a beginner yoga in Spanish), Tuesdays 7:15pm
Sit, Stand+Balance (a movement class that incorporates functional strength exercises, gentle stretching and yogic breathing practices), Tuesdays at noon
Bilingual Yoga Class: The hero’s Journey, Saturdays at 11:30am
Iyengar Style Yoga, Wednesdays at 5:15pm
Hatha Yoga, Saturdays at 5pm
All these classes are great for beginners and for long time practitioners who seek more clarity and awareness in their movement patterns.
Our Core Integration Pilates Mat classes are open level and are accessible for newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. Just be sure to mention to your instructor that you are new to pilates so they can offer appropriate instructions to the new students in the class.
WHAT ARE THE PILATES EQUIPMENT CLASSES?
Pilates has both equipment and mat. The equipment was actually invented first and the mat choreography followed! There are different types of equipment, but they all work with using different spring tensions to challenge your movement and create greater mobility and strength. Each class is 4 ppl maximum. The springboard classes are the first picture on the left. The Circuit classes uses all the piece of equipment that you will see in the other photos. We ask students who have never taken a pilates class before to take a couple mat classes first or a private to become familiar with the Pilates movements. For Pilates Circuit class you must have taken either a private or springboard class with Kay first.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO CLASS?
Just bring yourself! We provide yoga and pilates props at the studio. You’re welcome to rent a mat for $1 or bring your own mat. Wear comfortable movement clothes. Pilates and yoga are generally practiced with bare feet (gym shoes can be worn in Be Pink Be Fit with Cici). For equipment classes mats are provided.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INTRODUCTORY OFFERS FOR NEW STUDENTS?
Yes! We have a New Student Offer, which is two weeks of unlimited yoga and pilates mat classes for $45. This is a great opportunity for new students to check out a variety of classes. The 14 day period begins when you take your first class at the studio. Please note that this offer applies to your first visit at 2nd Story and cannot be purchased after you’ve taken class. (this includes community/donation based classes). This offer only applies to mat classes. For Equipment classes we offer a 3 class card for $75.
DO CLASS PACKAGES EXPIRE?
Yes, each package has an expiration. We are able to “freeze” our 5 Class and 10 Class packages for up to three months in case of emergency, but we cannot extend packages. Our Monthly Unlimited Packages and our New Student Offer cannot be extended or frozen. Please honor these expiration policies and consider them when purchasing classes. Below are our package expiration policies:
5 Class Package: 3 months from your first class
10 Class Package: 6 months from your first class
New Student Offer: 14 days from your first class
Monthly Unlimited Mat or Monthly Unlimited All Access: 30 days from your first class
Monthly Autopay Mat or All Access: 12 year auto pay contract
See more about our package offerings here
WHAT IS COMMUNITY CLASS?
Community classes are lower cost, high quality movement classes taught by experienced 2nd Story teachers. They’re our passion projects! Students pay either $5 or $10 for class, and a portion of our Community Class income goes to Make the Road New York. Below are our Community Class offerings:
Sit, Stand+Balance: Tuesdays at noonpm with Elaine
Yoga Para tu Salud: Tuesdays at 7:15 with Jennifer A
Iyengar Syle Yoga: Wednesdays at 5:15 with Sharib
Estiramiento y Fuerza: Pilates Para tu Salud: Sundays at 5pm with Kay
Meditation Session/Sesión de Meditación: Sundays at 6:15pm with Patrick
HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR CLASSES?
Generally, we encourage students to purchase classes and sign up online through our website or the mindbody app. Signing up early will secure your spot in class and will eliminate any traffic jams at the front desk before class begins. No worries if you prefer not to sign up in advance, but be aware that many of our classes do sell out. If you prefer to not register in advance, is advised to check the number of available spots in class on our website beforehand and to arrive 10 minutes early to increase your chances of getting a spot in class. Group mat classes are capped at 12 students so that students can practice comfortably.
CAN I CANCEL A CLASS RESERVATION?
Yes! You can cancel online, through the mindbody app or through the website. Students are able to cancel without penalty for pilates mat or yoga classes up to one hour before the class begins, and up to five hours before a pilates equipment class begins. Canceling less than one hour before the start of class or five hours before a pilates equipment class is considered a ‘late cancel’ and the student loses that class from their package. There is a $5 fine for late canceling with a new student or monthly unlimited package. All students are given one late cancel refund. Just email info@secondstorymovement.com and we will return that class to your package. Only one late cancel refund is given per student, no exceptions. Please honor this policy and consider it when booking classes.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM LATE TO CLASS
If you register in advance for a full class and are not in the studio at the class start time, you may lose your spot to a waitlisted student. Please be aware that we cannot hold reservations for latecomers in sold out classes. Arriving before the start of class will guarantee your reservation.
If you are late to class and arrive less than 5 minutes after class start time, please enter quietly and wait to be directed to a spot in class.
HOW DOES THE WAITLIST WORK?
If you are on the waitlist you will be notified if a spot becomes available. Students are charged to be put on the waitlist however if you do not get into the class you will be credited the class back to your package or to your account.
Please note: Reserving a waitlist spot as your first class does not start your package. Your Package starts on the day you are officially enrolled into a class. So, if you buy a new package and waitlist for a class on November 10th but register for your first class on November 12th, the class will show up as unpaid if you get into the November 10th class. Unfortunately mindbody does not have a way to fix this so just be aware of waitlisting for classes before your package officially starts.
Mindbody Tips:
2nd Story uses Mindbody to sign up for class. Mindbody has both an app as well as website. To connect to the website simply go to our home screen and click on the student log in button or class schedule. It will take you straight to the minbody website to sign up for our classes.
here are some helpful tools to using the app. Please note that the app and website function slightly differently and you can not do everything on the app that you can do on the website. Most notably you can not apply promotions or gift cards.
SHOULD I TAKE A PILATES OR YOGA PRIVATE?
Private sessions are a great way to familiarize yourself with the principles and terminology of pilates and yoga. They’re also an opportunity to address any specific health or movement needs in a one on one environment. Many students take a few private classes and move on to group classes, while others prefer an ongoing private practice. Let us know if you have questions about private yoga or pilates sessions at info@secondstorymovement.com.
General Studio FAQs/Policies
UNPLUG
Refrain from cell phone use and texting during class. That includes Apple watches! You are welcome to text at the studio before class, but please silence your phone and put it away before class begins. Phone conversations should be taken outside so as not to disturb your fellow practitioners.
RESPECT OUR NEIGHBORS
2nd Story is located in a mixed commercial/residential building. Please respect our upstairs neighbors by keeping the hallways clear at all times.
PROP CARE
Please return all props neatly to the shelf. Blankets should be properly folded and returned to the shelf with the fringe pointing toward the wall. Blocks should be neatly stacked. If you rented a mat, spray the mat with mat spray and wipe the mat with a cloth before hanging it on the rack to dry. Rental mats that are ready for use are on the prop shelf. Good prop care is an extension of any thoughtful movement practice. Feel free to ask the teacher for specifics if you’re not sure how to return the props.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Do your best to arrive on time (10 minutes before the start of class is ideal), but no worries if you’re a few minutes late. Enter quietly and wait for the teacher to direct you to a spot in the class. We will try to accommodate late comers, but be aware that if you are more than five minutes late you might not be permitted to take class if the teacher feels that adding a student will disturb the rest of class, or if joining the class late is dangerous to the student. Please respect the teachers discretion.
If you must leave early then notify the teacher before class and take a brief pause or rest before you leave. This will allow your body, mind and nervous system to seamlessly transition from the space of your practice to the rest of your day.
ENJOY!
All movement practices have the potential to energize, to calm, to heal and to increase health and joy! Take pleasure in your practices, ask questions before and after class, and always do what’s right for your body.