Passport to Prana (http://passporttoprana.com/home.php) is one of the coolest things to happen to…read moreyoga since, well, yoga, at least here in the good ol' USA anyway. It's like yoga studio speed-dating. You buy the card for $30.00, and then you can go around the entire Bay Area checking out the different yoga studios and get a glimpse of how they operate and how they teach. Truth is, there are as many "styles" as there are people. And to many, yoga reaches beyond the obvious; it's not just an exercise program. There's more to it than that. But the interpretation of the "more to it" is highly subjective, and it really takes some seeking to find the right fit. These people are sharp. The program is brilliant. It benefits prospective students, it benefits our city's numerous studios, and it really gives all of us teachers a great opportunity to present what comes from our hearts. I signed our studio up as soon as I learned about it. The people are great to work with, set up is quick and easy, and the day after our ad went online, I had two new students show up for my 10:00 am Flow class. Love it!!!! It's win-win-win for everyone. Om Shanti! Clint

San Francisco is my speed. Yoga is my valium…read more Passport to Prana is my mood stabilizer. I signed up in the hopes that it would motivate me to try a few more yoga studios (and styles) and do a *better* job of exporing this beautiful city than I have thus far. And I love it. For a mere $30, I get to try one class at each of 30 different studios in the city (regardless of whether or not I've already visited that studio before) between now and November 31st. Plus, if I'm so inclined, I can hop over to the East/North Bay or Peninsula and check out a few more. It was easy to purchase (online), mailed to me within a week, simple to activate and convenient to use. I show up at a studio, flash my card and I'm good to go. Love that there are 4 bikram studios in SF participating, and can't wait to try all those crazy "power flow" classes that the cool kids talk about. I figure that, even if I only make it to 5-6 studios, I'm still netting out at $5 or $6 per class. Namaste.

I was so impressed with Roy's instruction at StudioMix that I requested a private session. You can…read morebook through StudioMix, or he can come to your home or a few other studios in the area (his website has more information). Our 1:1 session exceeded my expectations. As a trained professional ballet dancer, Roy has incredible form and attention to detail and alignment. But as an experienced yoga instructor, he also fosters a sense of comfort, of mind-body connection and self-acceptance. I worked hard and broke a sweat, no question, but I also learned proper alignment and how to push myself to achieve poses more efficiently and effectively. He also gave me suggestions for exercises to do at home to loosen stiff areas. I only started practicing yoga classes a month ago, don't be intimidated or think that this only for the advanced. On the contrary, this is a fantastic way to ensure you have a strong baseline of instruction from which to draw in group classes. It was an incredible investment and absolutely something I will do again!

Finding Amy has been a true bright spot of 2020. We met right before the lockdowns started, and I…read morewas so impressed by she transitioned to virtual lessons, without missing a beat. She gives clear, easy-to-follow instructions and is really good at spotting alignment issues or giving corrections, even over Zoom. Amy puts a lot of effort into customizing our sessions to help me build strength, manage injuries and feel better in my body. She clearly knows a lot about anatomy and alignment, and she's great at explaining how your alignment matters in both exercises and everyday tasks. I've been super happy with our classes, and am so glad I found her!

Amy is the best! I have been doing Pilates with Amy for years now and while I can't wait to get to…read morein person again Amy is amazing at online instructions. She is very intuitive and somehow can see the slightest details virtually also. My core is so much stronger and many of my aches and pains are gone thanks to Amy. I do some solo and some duel sessions and they are both great, if you have a friend to do it with Amy has no problem instructing multiple people at once . Want to feel better, be stronger and get time with an incredible human you've come to the right place!

I've done 2 Reiki sessions with Samantha so far and I must say it's an absolutely unique and…read moreunmatched experience! Samantha's energy and healing power is a true gift and I'm so grateful for her help! I met Samantha when she was teaching yoga classes at The Center and I knew right away that I wanted to book a session with her. She welcomed me with open arms, carefully listened to all my questions, but most importantly she has the strongest healing energy I've ever experienced. To the second session I came with my mom and she was absolutely amazed by how much better she started feeling after the very first session. If you're looking for holistic healing, physical and mental, I'd highly recommend booking a session with Samantha - she is magical.

She was really unprofessional with me and irresponsible. She spent a lot of time moving me back…read moreand forth between a seating on the floor and a yoga mat, although I didn't really get into any poses or learn any new yogic techniques to reduce my chronic pain but increase my activity. When I would bring up that I was there for psychology treatment and wanted to work through a couple of issues, she would ask me a lot of questions that seemed to be out of her curiosity of details without insights or, what she had described somatic therapy was, becoming present and the relationship between the body/mind. She won't bill insurance and said she would provide me with receipts that I could submit to insurance. She only did after nudging, and then emailed me one without a diagnosis code, which insurance companies won't process. When I asked her about it, she said that she knew this was the case, but she wanted to touch base with me about the diagnosis code. Then, she left out the "chronic pain" diagnosis that we discussed that I had checked my insurance company would cover for her services. I asked her about this, and she was really rude in her response. It took 3 weeks to get the first receipt even though we had discussed before the first session that she would get it to me immediately so I could see how much my insurance company would cover. Quote from an email she sent me: "I did send you an invoice last week and have revised it for proper submission. Please find it enclosed here. Any other issues that you have regarding reimbursement must be taken up directly with your provider."

Julie is a gifted and intuitive yoga teacher with years of experience. She brings together…read moremultiple forms of movement training with psychotherapy to create a unique mind/body approach for her students and clients. I've taken classes and done retreat with Julie and I highly recommend her.

John Alexander is a Reiki Master. I just took a Reiki Level 1 class from him last weekend…read more John is amazing. Not only does he have a wonderful and welcoming energy - he is an amazing teacher. He also has a cute little doggie that loves to sit in your lap during class. Precious. I received four Reiki attunements, and this week - already, what I can feel is amazing. My clients (I'm also a bodyworker) have also reported some very cool stuff as well. I am totally hooked on Reiki and John is a man who walks the talk, whose life clearly reflects that which he teaches. I would recommend John Alexander for anyone interested in the fun and wacky world of Reiki. I would recommend getting a session with him too, he's got the Reiki flowing for sure.......

I am new to Reiki. John provided a safe environment. for me to let go. And I felt an energy surge…read morein my head when John began. I was supported all through my session with encouragement with my vocal sounds of relief and deep cleansing breaths. I ended the session in a pleasant state of bliss and connection with a deep love with my soul. Took me a while to open my eyes and peel myself off the table. Do u feel me?

UPDATE: As of January 8, 2006, Nikki is no longer teaching in San Francisco. I guess only having…read more15 folks in the class is not such a good thing after all. Yogi nerd alert...if you don't do, like or want to hear about yoga don't read this, run away, run away as fast as you can. But if you do like yoga, and you're in the market for a teacher or just looking to try something new, read on... So here's my yoga story (mystical time travel fog rolls over screen) I'm 8.5 years younger and on the verge of having an early-life crisis. I am looking for any way to escape the insanity that is, what we now call "the dot-com bubble" and having the following conversation with a good friend Good Friend: "Hey, you are really stressed out and I'm worried about you. Maybe you should try some stress relieving activity, like yoga" Me: "Yoga? Are you kidding me? I may be from Fairfax, but I ain't no, hippie! Let's get another round of Seven & 7's" A few weeks later, noticing several things not working quite right with my body, I make a series of doctors appointments. During which, I have the following conversation, not once, not twice, but three times, with three different doctors to boot: Doctor: "The (insert symptom here) that you are experiencing, appears to be caused by stress. Have you thought about taking part in some stress reducing activity, like yoga?" Me to Dr. #1: "No, I don't DO yoga" Me to Dr. #2: "No, I really don't think yoga is for me, doesn't drinking reduce stress? Me to Dr. #3: "Well...maybe I'll look into it, on my way home from a bar or something" Hence, despite my hippie-averse ways, several weeks later I wander into a yoga studio that has recently opened in my neighborhood and into the the classroom on Nikki Estrada (McClellan at the time). I then proceed to get my butt kicked by one of the most challenging workouts I had ever experienced. I was hooked Alas, after a couple of years, the studio closed and Nikki started teaching exclusively in Marin. I soon found myself in regular attendance with Rusty, but after five years found that, although my spirit loved it, my body couldn't handle it (still miss him tho'). I took it down a notch with Steph (who I still see and love) but the damaged state of my hips and knees will not allow for such vigorous flow more than once a week. So I found myself in a yoga rut. Then joy of joys, Nikki returned to the city on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with the opening of The Yoga Studio San Francisco. And even better, her teaching has evolved to the level of my practice. Nikki now teaches a Level 3 Vinyasa Flow that is vigorous, yet meditative, strong but slow, exactly what this (somewhat broken) body was looking for and as an extra, super, bonus there are never more than 15 people in the room. So, here's where the revue actually happens, if you are looking to do seventeen Sun Salutation A's, then B's in 30 minutes, then this is not the class for you. If you want to wow the folks around you with your full version of eka pada rajkapotasana, then this is not the class for you. But, if you are looking to deepen your practice and your breath, in a well paced meaningful way, you might want to check her out. Nikki is a real gem, who is loving and knowledgeable and may just offer something unexpected.

nikki is perhaps the best teacher i've ever had. she is fabulous. go to marin to see her, and…read moreexpect to move slowly and mindfully through a rigorous (but self connecting) flow class. she actually teaches YOGA ... doesn't use yoga poses as the format for an aerobics class.

I just enjoyed my first Pilates class with Lila Thursday at Innerstellar in Berkeley!…read moreWhat a great way to treat myself to some positive energy and exercise. Lila puts her students at ease right away and allows us to feel comfortable in our bodies as we challenge them. I thought the class had a great flow and I left feeling energized and calm at the same time. I highly recommend joining any of Lila's classes as she is truly a joy to be around.

Lila is an excellent personal trainer and pilates instructor. She creates fun and highly effective…read moreexercises and workouts that challenge the entire body in a gentle but very effective way. I installed a TRX system in my house so I could continue to do one of her workouts! Trining with Lila has been an awesome investment in my overall health. I highly recommend Lila!