Advertised as “yoga that resonates”, Humming Puppy is a yoga studio that literally hums. Designed to allow yogis to further their practice while in the shala, Jackie Alexander and Chris Koch, the Australian founders, wanted to create a studio which allows individuals to immerse themselves in “good vibes”.

This goes way beyond the hum from your average crystal singing bowl. By working with sound engineers, Alexander and Koch created a space with its own unique hum.

How it works:  

According to the studio, the vibrations at Humming Puppy are engineered at precisely 7.83 hertz, which is also the frequency of the Earth. The intention is to ensure a sense of grounding for everyone during yoga. Humming at a frequency of 40 hertz (the same as gamma brain wave activity) reputedly creates an environment suitable for peak performance.

Does it work:

As someone who is easily distracted and often has an inner monologue during practice, I expected the humming to add to the cacophony of inner thoughts.

However, within a few minutes inside the shala, the humming merged into the background and did not create any additional buzz or annoyance.

It is impossible to verify whether the humming offered more grounding. For this review, we tried three classes at the studio, and each time we left more feeling energised and less stressed. Isn’t that the goal of yoga?

What we love:  

When booking your class, you can select a mat so there is no need to arrive 30 to 40 minutes early in the hope that you will snag your favourite mat.

Then there is the studio. Once you step into the shala, you enter a zone designed to focus purely on yoga. Beyond the hum which vibrates throughout, the windowless space is enclosed.

The matt-black walls and dark wooden floors allow yoga with no distractions and where your ego will not take centre stage as there are no mirrors. The mats are in a tiered layout to ensure everyone has a clear view of the teacher.

There is a vastly different ambience in the rest of the studio which offers refuge from the busy Manhattan streets. A flood of natural light flowing through the arched marble windows in the reception and lounge area greets yogis on arrival. The plush lounge, decked in shades of white and neutral colours, is home to large bouquets of flowers and a stunning crystal lamp which makes for an ideal Instagram spot.

The free-flow coconut water and floral teas are a bonus when you relax before or after your workout in the lounge.

Conclusion:

The gorgeous studio in the Flatiron District of New York City is the third Humming Puppy, following the original space in Melbourne, and later Sydney. We are hoping for something to materialise in Hong Kong.

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