Frequently asked questions

  • Getting started is simple — and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

    We recommend beginning with our Intro Month, which gives you unlimited yoga and Pilates classes for 30 days so you can explore different class styles, teachers, and times without pressure. (Yes, you can even come more than once a day if you ever wish to - and it comes with two guest passes that can be used for a friend or partner if they haven’t attended class here before!)

    From there, you can choose the membership that best fits your rhythm.

    You can sign up online, arrive a little early for your first class, and our team will help you get settled. No prior experience is required — just come as you are.

    You can learn more and get started here: halfmoonchicago.com/start

  • The name Half Moon felt right for a few reasons. First, ‘half moon’ is the name of a yoga pose that combines all of the best parts of yoga - strength, flexibility, balance, and most of all - mindfulness. It’s nearly impossible to be in half moon pose and be thinking about anything but what you are doing in that moment. That present moment awareness is one of the aspects of yoga that we value most.

    Secondly, there’s just something so magical about the moon… and we want Half Moon to be a space that allows you to more deeply tap into the magic within you.

  • Yes, absolutely! Our classes are for everyone and we welcome students of all levels and all body types. You may wish to start with our Reset (slow burn), Zen, (restorative), or Half Moon (half Reset + half Zen) classes. Glow (vinyasa) is also an all-levels class, but the pace moves a bit more quickly. Please feel free to let your instructor know that you are new to yoga and Pilates so that they can make you as comfortable as possible.

  • Nope! Half Moon classes were intentionally designed around our belief that yoga is so much more than just the asanas (physical postures) of yoga. We want you to move in a way that feels good for your body, and nourishing for your soul. While your flexibility may improve over time, coming to yoga is about so much more than being flexible.

  • Yes, please register online via our website or using the Momence app on your phone (which is free to download and use). Many of our classes fill up so we do encourage you to sign up in advance if you can.

  • We’ve got you covered! We know that you may be coming to our studio before or after being at work, running errands, or activities, and we don’t want you to have to lug your yoga mat around all day. We provide the highest quality yoga mats, yoga bolsters, straps, and blankets for all students so that all you have to bring to class is yourself. We also provide tea and water via a filtered water cooler (so please bring your own water bottle).

    Last but not least, our yoga room is happily a cell phone-free and device-free space. Please put your phone on silent or in Do Not Disturb mode, and leave it in your bag during class in our lobby. We also ask that you please refrain from checking notifications on your Apple Watch or other fitness tracker during class. Once you step into our sanctuary space, trust us - you’ll be thankful not to have the distraction.

  • This is your self-care time, and we want you to feel as comfortable as possible! Wear something that you can easily move around in. We suggest going barefoot for our Glow, Reset, and Half Moon classes, while for our Zen restorative classes, it may be helpful to wear socks to keep your feet warm since you won’t be moving as much during that class. You will not need gym shoes.

    Please refrain from wearing scents or perfumes, which can be distracting to other students, and refrain from using lotion or oils on your body which will damage our mats. We also ask that you kindly bring a mat towel cover to use over your mat during heated or sweaty classes, to prevent you from slipping and to protect our mats.

  • Our studio doors will lock once class begins, so we won’t be able to let you in once we start. Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes before class begins (15 minutes prior for your first class) to make sure that you have time to check in and get comfortable before class begins. Please note that we are a small team, and we may not be able to open the doors until 15 minute before class begins. If we are open prior to that time, you are more than welcome to come in early to meditate or just enjoy some quiet time on your mat before class begins, providing that the previous class has already exited the space. Please plan to stay for the entire class.

Group of people participating in a yoga class, stretching with one arm raised overhead in a dimly lit room.

  • You may cancel a class reservation free of charge up to 6 hours before class. If you cancel with less than 6 hours notice or if you miss class without canceling, you’ll be charged $10. You will also lose your class credit if you are on a limited pack membership. There is a $30 no-show fee for missing class. If you are not on your mat 5 minutes prior to the start of class, your spot may be given away to someone on the waitlist. There are no refunds for purchased classes, memberships, or workshops. Cancellations can only be made online (not by phone or email) by going into your Momence account, go to My Classes, find the class you wish to cancel, click the three dots, and then "Cancel Myself".

  • We are located in the heart of the South Loop, just a few feet north of the Trader Joe’s at Wabash and Roosevelt on the same (east) side of Wabash. When you get to 1133 S. Wabash please look for the entrance that says ‘Suite 101’ with our name on the door, which is located to the left of the main entrance for the 1133 S. Wabash residential building. Please do not enter the residential door, which does not have an entrance to Half Moon.

    We are located just one block east of the Roosevelt CTA stop, so we are easy to get to via the red, orange, or green line El trains. There are also numerous CTA bus stops in this area, and there is a Divvy bike station right across the street on the west side of Wabash, in front of the Sip & Savor coffee shop. We don’t have our own parking lot, but you can often find free parking along Wabash and some of the side streets.

  • We have a designated area in our front lobby where you can leave shoes, jackets, and personal items. The front door to our studio will be locked during classes. We also have one restroom, and we have a room divider in the back room that you can use to change before or after class if the restroom is in use. We keep it folded against the wall so please know that if the room divider is open 'accordion-style', that means that it is being used by someone to change so please respect their privacy.

  • Most of our classes are generally heated to slightly warmer than room temperature for most classes. That being said, during especially hot summer months, our community has leaned toward preferring a cooler temperature so we do run the studio less warm during the summer months.

    We also offer three HOT GLOW 🔥 classes per week that use infrared heat. What's great about the infrared heat we have in our studio is that it's the same radiant heat that our body emits, which warms your body from the inside out in the same way that feel warm laying in the sun differently than being in a room that is heated through traditional forced air. Infrared heat allows your muscles, joints, and tissues to warm up more quickly which can aid in flexibility, circulation, and also in the recovery process. It can also increase metabolism and may improve immunity response.

  • If you are injured, we highly recommend that you check with your doctor and/or physical therapist before attending class, and let your yoga teacher know about your injury. While our teachers are not medical providers, they can be helpful in suggesting modifications.

  • If you have been regularly doing yoga and other forms of exercise prior to your pregnancy, then you are likely to feel comfortable continuing to exercise with some modifications. We have many students who continue to practice with us into their third trimester. However, please always be sure to consult with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine. If you are newer to yoga, please reach out to us and we would be happy to suggest specific classes that are a great place to start for any any students who are expecting.

  • First, Half Moon does not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind.

    We also recognize that yoga is an ancient spiritual practice with roots in India, and we honor and respect these origins.

    We also acknowledge that we are on native land that does not belong to us, and that this area in particular has recently been gentrified - displacing communities that were here before us.

    We believe it is our responsibility to be a business that puts people first and to share yoga with as many people as possible, and we never want financials to be the reason why someone is not able to participate. While our pricing packages are what they are as a necessity in order to pay our teachers fair wages and to be able to cover our rent and other recurring expenses, we try to offer regularly scheduled free & donation-based classes in order to make our classes more accessible while also giving back to local nonprofits. Some of the nonprofit partners we’ve raised donations for include Woke Chi, Sista Afya, AAPI Club, Deborah’s Place, NAMI Chicago, Organized Communities Against Deportations, Free Root Operation, Minnesota Strong, and others. Half Moon also donates a portion of studio profits back to local nonprofits.

    It’s also important to us to organize community service events for our students and team members to take place in, ranging from doing a neighborhood clean-up day to getting together to make care packages to give out to those are in need.

    As we grow, we also hope to eventually have a scholarship program to help make our yoga classes more accessible.

  • Half Moon Yoga is a sanctuary for mindful movement, rest, and connection. We are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment for all students, teachers, staff, and guests.

    Please refrain from wearing perfumes or strong scents to class. Do not attend class if you are feeling sick or under the influence of substances that may alter your physical awareness. We ask that you remain for the entirety of class through the end of savasana whenever possible.

    Kindness is non-negotiable at Half Moon. Disrespectful, discriminatory, or inappropriate behavior - including comments or actions related to race, identity, gender, religion, disability, or background - will not be tolerated.

    Half Moon Yoga reserves the right to deny participation or remove any individual whose behavior compromises the safety, dignity, or well-being of our community.

    All sales are final - no refunds or returns.

  • If you have any questions we didn’t answer here, please email hello@halfmoonchicago.com, or ask any of our friendly team members when you see them in person and they will be happy to help 🙂

A dimly lit meditation or yoga room with candles, a mirror, and a wooden floor