I.AM.YOU. studio is Little Italy’s latest draw in Manhattan. It’s a yoga studio founded by Princeton graduate, Lauren Imparato, who left her job at Morgan Stanley to evolve the practice of yoga. And boy, has she given it an edge! Lauren teaches her I.AM.YOU. classes in a lofty studio with bricks walls where yoga mats and all the essentials are neatly arranged in rows, incense burns (oh so subtly), modern art hangs from the walls, natural light fills the room and a DJ spins fresh beats. Classes accommodate up to 25 lucky New Yorkers who must reserve their spot with Lauren by email. She personally knows most of her clientele and will have a mat waiting for you even if you’re running late from work.
I.AM.YOU. is yoga at its core, but it’s also a brand that acknowledges New Yorker’s penchant for chaos and culture. Yes, we need to slow down and relax…but that doesn’t mean we have to turn out the lights and cut the volume. It means we seek out people like Lauren Imparato who know how to put us at ease while keeping us connected to our urban environment. Lauren will chant you into relaxation and inspire your self-awareness at the start of class. But you’re not there to sleep—the DJ begins his set and Lauren guides you through an active form of yoga. Before you know it, you’re sweating and working out harder than you would on a treadmill. You’re in the I.AM.YOU. yoga zone and it’s intense.
Finding I.AM.YOU. is like stumbling into a secret meeting place where everyone has something in common. Everyone is going on the same journey but for different reasons. Everyone will sweat and vinyasa together, but they will do it in their own way. Everyone is uniquely affected by the day’s fading light within the studio, the mix of music and Lauren’s serene presence. You really have to experience I.AM.YOU. because you won’t find yoga like this anywhere else. Lauren defines her brand. She is strong, articulate and confident. I was left hungry for more and thought I.WANT.TO.BE.LIKE.HER.
I.AM.YOU. Studio, 132 Mulberry Street #6E, NYC
Press on I.AM.YOU. and Lauren Imparato below: