No matter which 'hood you roam or what streets you cruise, you're bound to run into a yoga studio. It's safe to say yoga has made it into the big time. Some spots focus strictly on one type of yoga while others combine many practices. If you're more of the yoga type than a dancer, here are five ultimate studios to get your Zen on.

  1. Yoga Blend (1921 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, 818-954-9642) was founded by husband and wife duo Jason and Christy Marsden, who are originally from Nashville, TN. When they left their hometown, they brought a cozy, Southern hospitality feel to their LA studio, which has more than 20 types of yoga, including restorative, gentle, core yoga, candlelight flow, and more.
  2. Peace Yoga (903 S. Main St., 213-500-5007) is the perfect place to get away from all the hustle and bustle of downtown. Owner and instructor Cheri Rae Russell offers classes seven days a week, including beginner and kundalini yoga and meditation. Go Thursday nights to hear a live harp and Saturday mornings to stretch to the Indian slide guitar.
  3. Black Dog Yoga (4454 Van Nuys Blvd., Ste. 206, Sherman Oaks, 818-380-0331), founded in 2002, has more than 20 teachers, 10-plus classes, and three large practice rooms. You can take classes like Hatha, good for a physical practice, flow for posing and breathing, deep stretch, and more, 365 days a year. It even offers workshops from time to time to keep things fresh.
  4. Liberation Yoga (124 S. La Brea Ave., 323-964-5222) has one goal: "to create a space for vibrant truth and authentic human connection to reign supreme," per its founders Christine Burke and Gary McCleery. Practice in an indoor room with dark wood accents or the garden studio with trees and a fountain. The studio also offers specialty classes like Zen meditation and mindful living for those who want to reach extra Zenhood.
  5. U Studio Yoga (5410 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 500) Founder Andrea Marcum has many fans, including Heather Graham, who's quoted on U Studio's website: "Andrea's combination of a challenging class and a great sense of humor are unique, intelligent, and always leave me feeling better when I leave than when I arrived." The four other instructors all teach Vinyasa flow, but there is a community class offered as well.