FAQs
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Just a couple of things.
First, if you haven't already, book your “Yoga Prescription” session with Sara so we can help you meet your goals and customize what we offer to your needs.
Second, choose your package.
Third, sign up for a class. You will always need to register before class. Space is limited and our teachers don’t take any payments in the studio.
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Absolutely. You can just register for a class and come. To be honest, I’m the kind of person who would want to skip a meeting with the owner.
But, here’s the thing. It really helps you get a lot more out of the studio.
In these meetings, we talk about why you came in. And often the answer surprises people. I’m a good listener and I also know what we can do to help you. I don’t just make a yoga schedule for you, I also give you resources that can help you sleep better, eat better, work on anxiety, or the pain in your back. I don’t have all the answers of course, but for the last 10 years, I’ve been researching and finding tools for a lot of the problems people are facing right now.
To be honest, most of us don’t really get the chance to talk about what’s bothering us and get tangible tools to help us live the way we want.
I also put together the best package for what you need and get you all signed up and registered.
I think it’s worth it. It’s only 15 minutes and can be in person, via zoom, or even over text or the website chat.
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You are not alone in that. We will help you.
If you book an in-person “Yoga Prescription” session with Sara, she can get you set up and registered, which is the hardest part. If you have trouble after that, just email Sara at least 24 hours before the class and she’ll add you in.
Here’s the reason we do the online payment and sign-up.
A big part of yoga and what we believe in is intentionality. We pay attention to all the details and customize our classes for who is in it. If we know you have a knee injury and you register for class, your teacher will plan modifications to help you get the most out of the posture.
We also want our teachers to be completely present to teach you, rather than taking payments just a minute or two before they start teaching. It can really throw your teachers off. I want them to be focused on teaching, not if they messed up a payment.
If there’s space in a class and you didn’t register or there’s an issue with payment come anyway and Sara will follow up with you after class.
However, we do have smaller classes than we used to and space is limited. You do risk not being able to attend class if you don’t register.
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You are welcome to bring your own mat and put it over the one we provide. A pillow case is a great option for covering a bolster.
We are really careful about cleaning and disinfecting, but lord knows, we should all be worried about germs.
The reason we would like you to use our mats and props has to do with the feeling we want you to go away with from our classes. We want you to feel cared for. You settle in right away without having to worry about whether you are too close to someone or taking up too much room, or facing the right way. We also don’t want you to loose your yoga headspace with the business of cleaning up. We do it all for you. We are creating an environment for each class, so we don’t want the feeling and aesthetic that we are crafting to be disrupted by moving things around.
Outside of the suggestions above, you can leave your mat and props at the studio and we will put them out for classes that you are in.
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The doors will open ten minutes before class starts. That’s the best time to arrive so you can chat a little bit with your teacher, find your spot, and settle in. Come in through the front door starting Memorial Day through late Fall and please us the back door Winter through Spring.
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Please do not park across the street in the Knight’s of Columbus’s parking lot.
The driveway is a horseshoe shape that goes behind the house. It is a one-way driveway, the entrance is next to Donald M Demmerley Funeral Home, and the exit is by the Red House, closer to the traffic light, near Pierce Ave and Evans St.
Everyone should enter next to the Funeral Home, drive all the way around the horseshoe, and pull up right behind the car in front of them, single file.
If everyone pulls up to the car in front of them we can park around the entire horseshoe driveway. Our class sizes are limited, so everyone will be able to park around the studio.
If you need to talk to your teacher after class, please plan accordingly so you do not block anyone in.
There is an additional spot (not single file) in front of the barn, close to the funeral home driveway. It is reserved for people who have handicapped parking privileges, to make it easiest for them to get to the door in the winter.
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Yes, our teachers are trained to teach yoga rather than just lead a class. We operate from the perspective that it’s on us if you don’t understand something we teach or feel lost. Our teachers give very good cues and demonstrations. They have all been trained by Sara.
And, there will be many other beginners in class with you.
If you want some one-on-one support, a private session is a great place to start.
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It depends a bit on what you want to do.
If you want a free personalized schedule meet with Sara as soon as possible.
If you want to get started ASAP, step one is to buy a package and step two is to book your first class. We can always schedule your Yoga Prescription once you are started and our teachers are all heart. We will get you situated.
If you want to start with a private, it’s the same process. You will buy a private session package and then book it based on the calendar.
A few important things to know…
Last revised: July 9, 2026
A few important things to know before you practice with us.
Please don't let these intimidate you. We're here to help if you ever have trouble, and these policies exist for one reason: to make your experience exceptional. Each one is here to protect the sanctuary we're building together.
These Studio Class Policies cover day-to-day, in-person class attendance. Broader terms — memberships, programs, trainings, refunds, privacy, and content use — live in our Policies & Procedures.
Registering for class
We ask that students pay and sign up for classes online rather than dropping in. If you have any trouble with this, Sara can register you and help you purchase a package.
This is new for us, and there are three reasons we've made the change.
First, space is far more limited than in our previous studio. Registering guarantees your spot — without it, there's a risk the class will be full when you arrive.
Second, we set up mats and props and customize each class for the people in it. We never just wing it. When we plan a class, it helps to know whether someone is recovering from surgery, or whether a student working toward wheel is on the roster for a shoulder-opening class — so we can add techniques to support them while still serving the whole room.
Third, we want our teachers free to simply teach. When they're centered and grounded before class, you can be too. Handling computers, packages, and payments in those last minutes only leaves everyone frazzled.
The easiest way to BOOK YOUR CLASS is through our app. Instructions on how to find, download, and use the app are here.
Please note: The cutoff to sign up for a class is 1 hour before it starts. If you miss the cut off, you can still come to class, and/or text Sara that you want to sign up and she will add you in or let you know if there isn’t space. There is a risk that the class will be full, but we will be happy to lay out a mat for you if there is space.
Booking a Private Session
Contact Sara at sara@shineyogawny.com to book a private appointment. Generally, availability is between noon and 4 pm Monday-Thursday, but accommodations can be made for other times.
Arriving on time
We give you a three-minute grace period after the start time of each class in case you're running late. At three minutes past the start time, we lock the door and won’t let anyone in.
We've kept this protocol for the past eleven years, and it's an important one.
Are we just mean, or super strict? No. We completely understand that things happen — and you won't be charged if you simply miss the grace period and find the door locked. (If you arrive ten minutes late, that's a different story, and you'll be charged the no-show rate.)
The reason is simple: we're creating a sanctuary. We begin every class by helping students set down the weight of their day. Someone arriving late is usually carrying a lot of stress, and that ripples through the whole room. For that same reason, please don't knock or pound on the door if you're locked out — and ideally, give yourself at least ten minutes before class to arrive and settle in.
Doors open 15 minutes before the start of class.
Cancelling a class
Please make every effort to cancel a class as soon as you know you can't make it. As an intimate studio with just eleven spots, every space is precious — and there's often someone on the waitlist hoping to practice.
Our 12-hour cancellation policy: You can cancel up to 12 hours before class starts without penalty. For example, if a class starts at 10:30 AM, you can cancel any time before 10:30 PM the evening before. A 9:00 AM class means cancelling by 9:00 PM the night before.
If you have a class-based membership, a class package, or a single class: Cancelling 12 hours or more before class means you keep your class credit. Cancelling less than 12 hours before, or not showing up, means you lose that class.
If you have an Unlimited membership or are on an Intro Special: Cancelling 12 hours or more before class means no charge. A late cancellation (less than 12 hours) or a no-show incurs a $15 charge.
Please note: The cancellation period will change to 12 hours on Sunday, July 12th. We have extended the late cancel period, which incurs a fee or a lost class because a large number of students were cancelling one hour before class starts, which was affecting our class sizes and impacting the waiting list. We understand that things happen and will do everything we can to accommodate you, but as a small studio we need to have a good sense of who is coming to class in order to prepare for class and do our best to fill classes.
Cancelling a Private Session
12 hours is also required to cancel a private session without penalty. The penalty is 50% of the session fee.
If Shine has to cancel a class
Sometimes we need to cancel a class due to low attendance or teacher illness. We try to avoid this whenever we can, but it happens.
We hope we offer enough classes throughout the month for you to make up any class that's cancelled. But we know busy schedules don't always allow for that. So in the interest of fairness: if you were registered for a class we cancelled and you weren't able to use that credit by the end of your billing period, we'll carry it over into the next month. You'll never lose a class because of our cancellation, and you'll have extra time to find one that fits your schedule.
How to cancel a class
On Momence.com: Log in to your account using the email you signed up with. You will see a list of the classes you are registered for, and the option to cancel.
Using the Momence app: The Momence App makes it very easy to manage all the logistics of booking and cancelling classes. Under MAIN you will see the classes you have booked and the option to cancel them.
The Waitlist
Join the waitlist if a class you want is full.
Our classes are small and personal — just eleven spots — so we often have a waitlist. It's very fluid, because students sign up well ahead of time. The first two or three people on the waitlist get into class about 95% of the time.
Here's how it works: if a class is full, tap Join Waitlist. If a spot opens, you'll be added to the class and notified via text and email. If you can no longer come, just cancel without any penalty.
Travel Light
Please don't bring any yoga gear — no mat, no props, nothing. If you've ever been to a retreat center, you know the room is always set up and waiting when you walk in. We want every class to feel like a retreat from the stresses of your world: to feel cared for, and to practice on the highest-quality mat and props available. It really does make a difference.
Finding Us & Parking
Our studio is a historic 1896 Victorian. We are located next to The Demerly’s Funeral Home at the traffic light where Pierce Avenue curves towards Eden and Evans Street goes towards Lakeview.
Our address is 35 Pierce Ave, Hamburg, NY 14075.
If you are coming from the Village of Hamburg, you will drive down Main Street, past the light that intersects Lake Street ( Camp Road) and Main Street (which becomes Pierce Ave after the light). Pull into the one-way driveway just past Demerly’s Funeral Home.
If you are coming from Route 20, the 90 Throughway, or Camp Road, turn right at the light that intersects Lake Street ( Camp Road) and Main Street/ Pierce Ave. Turn right at the one-way driveway just past Demerly’s Funeral Home.
If you are coming from Eden or LakeView via Lakeview Road/ Evans Street or Pierce Avenue, continue past the light that intersects Pierce Avenue and Evans Street. Make a left-hand turn into the one-way driveway next to Demerly’s Funeral Home.
This is a busy street, so you may want to go around the block behind the studio–Evans Street- West Avenue- Linwood Street- Lake Street–so you can take a right-hand turn into the one-way driveway.
To Park, drive around the one-way horseshoe-shaped driveway all the way to the end. Hug the right side of the driveway so you can easily get in and out of your car and (where the driveway is wider, the first 4 spots) a car can get past yours. Line up one car behind the next.
View a PDF version of our Studio Policies here: