aUM knows there’s more to yoga than a girl on Instagram wearing a cute pair of leggings. And whether you like it or not, if you stop by, you’re bound to learn it, too.
Founded in 2013 by University alum Jessie Lipkowitz, aUM has quickly become a key player in Ann Arbor’s hefty yoga scene. In the five years since its initial establishment, the studio has evolved from a basement studio off State Street offering a few signature classes to a powerhouse institution catering to yogis of all levels in a beautiful South University space.
At aUM, all are welcome to explore the power of yoga through a diverse variety of class and workshop offerings. On the day-to-day, students can choose from three levels of vinyasa classes. A few times each week, traditional ashtanga yoga classes are available in short (one hour) and long (an hour and a half) forms. Specialty workshops, usually offered in a weekly series form, cover everything from chakra-opening to developing a safe inversions practice. Yet what sets aUM apart the most is its genuinely inclusive atmosphere. Instructors make a bona fide effort to remember students’ names. Light studio chatter before class is common, often between first-time aUMies and their seasoned counterparts. Lipkowitz and company make it clear to clientele that there are no stupid questions, that every body is different and, most importantly, that yoga is about personal growth.
No trendy Instagram in the world could teach you all of that.