About Us
Celebrating Uniqueness, Together
Nestled in the heart of New York City’s vibrant SoHo, Sui Yoga is more than a hot yoga studio—it’s a space for conscious connection. Our name comes from the Latin sui generis, meaning unique, of its own kind. Sui in Japanese refers to the water element. In each of our offerings, we are committed to nurturing the unique potential of the individual while simultaneously fostering the expansion and joy that community brings.
Flooded with natural light and teeming with plants, our 6,000 square foot, bi-level space is a serene oasis. Our two spacious studios feature healing, restorative Himalayan salt walls and artfully-curated lighting systems. Our state-of-the-art locker rooms are outfitted with 12 showers, stocked with clean, all-natural bath products. Our café offers healthy bites and beverage options to help nourish and fuel you throughout your day.
Our interiors are curated with the utmost care and attention to detail, adhering to the principles of biophilic design—a concept that celebrates the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the natural world, encouraging a deeper connection with nature that strengthens our intuition, restores our natural rhythms, and promotes tranquility.
We invite you to slow down, nourish your soul, and activate your higher consciousness. Come visit us today.
Our Ethos
We Grow
Open yourself to the constant opportunities to learn somethingnew. To live and to grow is to thrive.
We are Healthy
Connect to your intuition, ask yourself what is best for you, and find your inner balance.we are sustainable
Learn to make greenerchoices with every day
changes. For us to stay
safe and wholly present,
we must protect our
environment.
WE ARE COMMUNITY
To live in greater peace, wemust give back, build
strong connections, &
listen.
WE ARE PEACE
When we strive for innerpeace, more love is free to
give and receive.
Our Founders’ Mission
We believe strongly in the profound impact that yoga can have—both on the individual and, in turn, on the wider community—inspiring lasting positive transformation that goes far beyond the mat. At Sui Yoga, we aim to share that impact. Holding environment and community in highest esteem, we strive for a safe, inclusive, sustainable studio environment that welcomes all—and does all it can to support and nourish the planet. We invite you to slow down, join a class, and explore—through movement and breath—the unique and infinite potential you possess.
—Julie and Sven
About Our Founders
JULIE VILLA
For as long as she can remember, Julie has been fascinated by movement and the physical form. Trained as a ballerina in South America, she joined the National Ecuadorian Ballet Company before moving to New York City, where she continued her studies with the Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor dance companies. After an injury that impeded her ability to dance, Julie’s world changed dramatically. As part of her rehabilitation, she began to practice yoga—which helped her rediscover a fierce connection with her own body and her fellow practitioners. In 2017, she attended the Modo Yoga Teacher Training program in British Columbia, which further ignited and deepened her passion. Today, she has been practicing yoga for over 11 years. At Sui Yoga, her mission is to help others nurture their unique potential through the healing and transformative powers of yoga and community.
Sven Schneider
A competitive swimmer for 15 years, Sven represented his home country of Estonia at the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona and the 2009 World University games in Belgrade. He was a member of the NCAA Division 1 swim teams at Louisiana State University and The University of Maryland Baltimore County, and played a key role in leading UMBC to win two Conference Championship titles in 2008 and 2009. Years later, when he was introduced to yoga, Sven discovered for the first time a workout routine which simultaneously helped him build strength, increase focus, restore balance, recover from injury, and quiet the mind. At Sui Yoga, he is dedicated to sharing those benefits with a wider community.