Our Story
A Sweet Sanctuary
Nearly 20 years ago, Owner & Creative Director Andrea Lodico was new to New York City and living in Murray Hill. A former dancer seeking embodiment, connection, and calm, she walked through the doors of The Yoga Common, then mang’Oh yoga, and exhaled. She immediately knew she was home.
Founded by sisters Erica Whalen & Cynthia Rayner, The Yoga Common has been an oasis for practice, belonging, and well-being for nearly two decades in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. In fall 2026, Andrea stepped into ownership and creative direction, carrying forward the heart and spirit of the studio.
Today, every aspect of The Yoga Common is infused with intention and a lot of joy. We believe your yoga practice should be a place where you feel welcomed and supported. Just like Andrea all those years ago, we hope that when you walk through our doors, you can take a sweet exhalation — and feel that you’re home.
A Note from Andrea
A lifelong mover who was sent home from childhood ballet classes for wearing fluorescent tights, I discovered yoga through dance. Since 2004, yoga has been a source of joy and calm within the beautiful hustle of my life in NYC. I found and nourished that wellspring of joy and calm at The Yoga Common first as a student, then as a teacher, and now as owner and Creative Director.
What fuels me is a deep love for how yoga can help us feel more at home in our bodies and more fully ourselves – stronger and more grounded, yet also softer, more expansive us, and more at ease. At The Yoga Common – whether we are in the studio, in teacher training, on retreat, or practicing online, I aim to create space for accessible and individualized embodied exploration to uncover our inherent wisdom with curiosity, kindness, and laughter. With a breath-centered, holistic approach rooted in Hatha Vinyasa and our teachers’ unique creative voices, my hope is for every student to leave each TYC class feeling more at ease within their bodies and more deeply connected to themselves and to one another.
What a thrill to shepherd this community into its next chapter while honoring everything Erica and Cynthia created. The Yoga Common was founded on the belief that people are happiest and healthiest when they are moving with mindfulness alongside a supportive community of friends and fellow practitioners and it is my delight to advance this ethos.
Whether you've been practicing with us for years or you're just discovering The Yoga Common, thank you for being part of this community.
Welcome home.
What’s in a name?
When the studio was founded 2007, it was called Mang’Oh, a name inherited from pervious ownership. Post pandemic in 2022, the studio made significant changes to business operations and we emerged newly re-branded as The Yoga Common.
Our yoga studio has always been a community-focused space, emphasizing yoga as a simple and regular practice that’s widely accessible and welcoming to anyone. The Yoga Common reflects these core values.
A “common” is a shared, community-centric space with a spirit of inclusivity. A common is a welcoming environment, owned by all, and encouraging daily, communal practices that are part of everyone’s daily routine.