Sometimes it seems like every Seattle neighborhood has at least one yoga studio, which is only natural in a city of organic coffee houses, farmers markets, and Priuses. But how do you choose which yoga studio is right for you?

Here are a few things to consider:

• Location
  If you have to drive 30 minutes across town to get to class, the couch is going to win more often than your mat. Walking distance either from work or home is ideal, but at the very least try to find a studio no more than 10 minutes away by car or bus.
• Style
  What type of yoga does the studio offer? If you love the flow of Ashtanga you will not be happy at an Iyengar studio. What level of spirituality are you comfortable with? Some studios start classes with chanting and readings from the Yoga Sutras, others keep the oms to a minimum. (Try this tongue-in-cheek quiz from Yoga Journal to see which style of yoga is right for you.)
• Class schedule
  Do you prefer an early morning vinyasa class, a short lunch session, or an after work hatha class? If you can’t find classes to fit your schedule it doesn’t help that the studio is two minutes from your house.
• Teachers
  Practicing yoga can be an intensely personal experience, and you want a teacher that you like and trust. It is impossible to know if a teacher is right for you before having tried a few classes, so it’s definitely worth it to invest in a few drop-ins before you decide on a teacher.
• Community
  Yogis are often invested in their communities, and if this is important to you you should look at studios that emphasise bringing people together outside of class. Look for concerts, movie nights, workshops, or donation-based classes for the benefit of charities.
• Studio environment
  Would you prefer a large studio with several class rooms, or a smaller intimate space with small class sizes? Visit the studio you’re considering and look at size, light, atmosphere, traffic noise, bathrooms and showers, cleanliness, props and equipment, community bulletin boards, studio shop/bookstore, and helpfulness of the front desk staff.

Finally, there is no rule that says you have to practice at only one studio. It might be cheaper to get an unlimited pass at one studio if you plan to practice a lot, but if you can spare the cash feel free to mix and match.