The Hamptons’ Premier Yoga Destination
Yoga Shanti isn’t merely a studio—it’s the spiritual heartbeat of Hamptons yoga culture. Founded in 1999 by Colleen Saidman Yee, whom the New York Times dubbed “The First Lady of Yoga,” this Sag Harbor sanctuary has trained thousands of students and certified hundreds of teachers over more than two decades. For serious practitioners seeking world-class instruction, Yoga Shanti represents the East End’s uncontested destination.
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The Founders: Yoga Royalty
Colleen Saidman Yee began practicing yoga in 1984 and teaching in 1998 after completing Jivamukti Yoga School’s intensive training program. Her journey from chronic illness and personal tragedy to becoming one of yoga’s most respected voices informs her teaching philosophy. The studio she created reflects her belief that yoga should be welcoming, transformative, and accessible.
Her husband Rodney Yee helped catapult yoga into mainstream American consciousness through his 1999 Oprah appearance. His career spans decades of Gaiam instructional videos, international workshops, and pioneering work expanding yoga’s reach. Together, Colleen and Rodney developed the Yoga Shanti method—honoring traditional Iyengar and Ashtanga roots while addressing modern Western bodies and minds.
The Space: A Temple Without Dogma
Walking into Yoga Shanti’s light-filled space with its gold-leaf ceiling, practitioners describe an immediate sense of calm. The studio positions itself as “a temple without dogma”—serious about practice yet welcoming to all levels. Blood pressure drops upon entry, as regular students report.
The atmosphere cultivates genuine practice rather than performance. Teachers are masters who deliver instruction in approachable ways, ensuring intimidation never becomes a barrier. Whether you’re an avid headstander or stepping onto a mat for the first time, Yoga Shanti creates space for your practice.
Class Offerings
Yoga Shanti offers diverse programming designed to meet practitioners wherever they are in their journey.
Shanti Flow
These classes move seamlessly from posture to posture with dancer-like grace and yogic mindfulness. Not limited to sun salutations, Shanti Flow suits students from beginners to advanced practitioners. Each teacher brings their own style, making these classes ideal for those exploring yoga’s breadth.
Shanti Open
Community Drop-In classes welcome all students at reduced rates. These sessions provide accessible entry points for newcomers while maintaining the quality instruction Yoga Shanti is known for.
Shanti Sculpt
Beginning with gentle warm-up, these heat-building classes focus on abs and glutes while moving to curated playlists. The format combines fitness benefits with yogic principles.
Shanti Beats
Where Shanti Flow meets Shanti Sweat. These classes link breath and movement to upbeat music, building tapas (heat) while deepening the mind-body connection. Intelligent sequencing maintains proper alignment throughout creative flows.
Restorative Practice
Classes wind down with carefully crafted sequences moving into restorative postures with ample prop use. These sessions emphasize recovery and nervous system regulation.
Teacher Training Programs
Yoga Shanti’s teacher training attracts aspiring instructors from around the world seeking to study directly with Colleen and Rodney.
200-Hour Certification
This foundational program immerses students in yoga study while preparing them to teach safe Shanti-style sequences. The curriculum includes cultivating daily home practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation with focus on alignment, flow, and subtle inquiry. Students develop teaching skills including sequencing, seeing and understanding bodies, anatomy, and philosophy.
The training comprises eight long-weekends from autumn through mid-February, with compulsory weekly mentorship meetings. Tuition runs $3,180 (previous graduates receive reduced rates of $1,980). The program includes unlimited online classes and 20 in-person classes during training.
300-Hour Advanced Training
The Essence of Yoga: Ancient Wisdom for our Modern Times moves students beyond fundamentals into subtlety and wonder. This program offers extensive access to Colleen, Rodney, and program mentors. Individual attention and mentorship distinguish the experience.
The training spans nine immersions over four months, available online, in-person, or combination. Topics include advanced asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, teaching methodology, and personal practice development.
Diversity Scholarship
Yoga Shanti is dedicated to making yoga accessible and increasing diversity in the yoga community. The Yoga Shanti Diversity Scholarship encourages people from under-represented groups to join training programs.
Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT)
In partnership with Donna Karan, Colleen and Rodney created and run UZIT—a program focusing on self-care and caring for others. This work has received prestigious awards and extends yoga’s healing potential into healthcare settings.
International Retreats
Beyond Sag Harbor, Yoga Shanti curates worldwide retreats led by Colleen, Rodney, and esteemed faculty. Destinations include Sicily, Morocco, Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos, and Kenya. These immersions offer extended practice in spectacular settings with intimate group sizes.
Practical Information
Location: 32 Bridge Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Phone: (631) 725-6424
Email: [email protected] (for training inquiries)
Website: yogashanti.com
Online Options
Yoga Shanti livestreams classes via the Union platform, allowing students worldwide to practice with these teachers. This accessibility extends the studio’s reach far beyond the Hamptons while maintaining the quality and community that define Yoga Shanti.
Explore More Yoga in the Hamptons
→ Best Yoga Studios in the Hamptons
→ Hamptons Hot Yoga: Infrared Practice
→ Yoga in Montauk
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