I've always been involved in something super active - basketball leagues growing up,…read morecardiokickboxing, anything that involved a fast beat or that adrenaline rush. The closest I had ever come to a yoga class was when my high school PE teachers devoted a segment of the class to yoga and which I saw as the perfect opportunity to take a nap. However, my aunt found Kristen's class and convinced the rest of the family to check it out. Eventually, Kristen's weekly classes became family get-togethers with a couple other yogis. Kristen's class is 1.25 hours of perfect yoga music, lots of personalized attention, and that much needed neck rub. She has that perfect yoga voice that helps you focus and relax simultaneously. She's great for all levels and all ages and provides great adjustments whether you're a contortionist or feel super stiff all the time! The best part is that even if you're a klutz like me, you feel absolutely no judgment, rather only the desire to perfect your form. Feel free to either bring your own mat or use one at the studio. Lastly, remember that if you fall asleep at end during shavasana, no neck rub!

I know of no better way to start the week than Kristen's class…read more She takes her time with each student to help them find the most in their practice. This is not a massive room impressed by the newest yoga clothes or how long you can stand on your head. It is a thoughtful instructor there to help you find calm in your body and particularly your mind. Breathe, stretch, relax. If you wish to take your practice and body work further, Kristen also offers acupuncture, cupping, and massage. She's great and I highly recommend her class if you seek a personal practice to clear your mind.

As someone who's never done yoga before (I usually just do light stretching before weightlifting),…read morethis was a great first experience. My girlfriend and I dropped into a Saturday morning Power Vinyasa Flow class at The Yoga Shala. The studio is conveniently located in the Sunset near where we live. The lobby area is a bit tight, but the main studio itself is spacious and comfortably fits around 30 people. Staff were friendly, and there were plenty of clean mats, towels, and blocks available if you don't have your own equipment. The class definitely kicked my ass, but in a good way. The instructor was kind and offered variations for different mobility levels, which made it approachable for a beginner like me. I felt great afterward. One thing to note: the studio gets very warm, so bring water and hydrate beforehand. Overall, a great experience--I'm looking forward to coming back and trying another class.

My current yoga studio. Getting a membership here gives you access to both the Judah and Balboa…read morestudio. Balboa location is much more convenient for me, but I LOVE how hot the Judah studio gets. Also, certain instructors teach mostly at one studio so I'll occasionally come here depending on instructor too. Yoga Shala is such a great place to show up on your mat, move your body, and clear your mind of what has happened and what could happen. Much love!

I worked with Rosemary on a corporate event I organized, and it was absolutely perfect. She has a…read morevery strong sense of people, and her teaching skills are absolutely strong. She was also very flexible and accommodating, and she adapts very well the level of the practice to the level of her students. I will definitely work with her again for my next events. A great professional you will enjoy working with, a great person you will be delighted to meet. Thank you Rosemary.

Ah, where do I start with this lovely lady! I've been taking Rosemary's yoga class now for about 5…read moreyears, and I absolutely adore her teaching style! She incorporates the perfect balance of stillness and calmness in her classes, with the intensity of an advanced vinyasa flow yoga class. I always come out of the class feeling so much more opened and renewed, and ready to tackle the day! I also appreciate how she paces the class, it's not too slow, and not too fast, and I always get a good sweat on (that I actually created myself as opposed to a pre-heated room). She is sure to warm us up in the beginning of class and cool us down as well. And I really love her calming voice... Rosemary is also very hands on which I appreciate. Being a massage therapist myself, I love when she comes over and basically give me a little mini compression massage when I'm in a pose such as pigeon. It really helps me to open up even more fully and deeply. I highly recommend Rosemary's class to all vinyasa yoga lovers out there!

I have been doing various types of yoga's for over 15 years. Even with all my experience, Mimi…read morehelps me to deepen each pose and is able to give me simple feedback and adjustments that help me find a more refined alignment. Like all other physical activity if yoga is not done correctly, you can hurt yourself or reinforce injuries. Mimi is so precise and exact in her teaching of the postures, that deep healing and body alignment occurs naturally. She will safely guide you into inversions, and have you doing things gracefully that you didn't know you were capable of. Mimi is so passionate about yoga and her teaching, it really shines in everything she does. Her desire to awaken this passion in others shows through with her patience and encouragement. If you have been doing yoga for a long time or just beginning, she will help you find a deeper connection to your breath and body.

I have been going to Mimi's classes at Bija Yoga for almost 2 years. Her class is challenging and…read morerewarding. I never thought I'd be doing shoulder stands, but now I look forward to them. Mimi gives personalized attention to each student, which is facilitated by the often small class size. There is a lot of emphasis on getting the pose just right and understanding how small movements in one part of the body can affect the rest of the pose. Mimi brings a great sense of humor and levity to the class, which makes doing serious yoga approachable to beginners like me. I always feel great when I leave class.

I found Josie to be very caring ,knowledgable ,and patient when I attended a fitness class series…read moreof hers. She took the time to give me the individual attention I needed without other clients feeling neglected.she is kind but firm which helped keep me motivated. I look forward to taking more classes with her.....

I met Josie when she substituted as an instructor for a Step and Strength class I was taking. I…read morehad so much fun that day, I signed up for her aerobic kickboxing class. Josie has a passion for fitness. As a trainer, she is knowledgable, cares and listens to your needs. She is just so awesome! I am so lucky to have met her.

I've visited The Castro Room a handful of times over the last year and taken classes with various…read moreinstructors. Some of the flows in the past felt a bit slow, but the recent vinyasa flow with JL moved at the perfect pace. I also like how spacious the yoga room is compared to other studios, so I never feel like it's too crowded. All in all, the workouts and facilities are solid, and this is one of the most conveniently located yoga studios in all of SF, located right off of Market St, so I enjoy coming when I have space in my schedule.

The space in Castro Room is stunning! Lofty and plenty of room to spread out and never bump elbows…read more I tried a class here and thought the staff were friendly and welcoming. The "warm yoga" class was exactly that - just slightly warmer than room temperature. The flow of the class was pretty slow and it was a good pace to focus on centering my attention. It did go quite over time during savasana at the end, but overall this studio is a great option for a relaxing yoga session.

I'm postpartum, getting back into my body, and I've been attending various classes here with…read moredifferent instructors. Have to say, I've really enjoyed them all. Just took beginners Pilates with Lizzy and it was awesome. I'm feeling really energized and strong, which I didn't think was possible so soon. Update: I've been attending Danae's Core Strong classes and really enjoy them. Her class is fun and challenging. I'm hoping they add one more class to a week night, so I can keep going twice a week when I return to work. See you soon!

I love this place! I've been to a variety of classes here -- restorative yoga, vinyasa yoga, and…read morecardio dance -- and they're all great! It's a lovely space, though small. It got hot during cardio dance, though, and I was wishing they could keep the door open, but I guess it's a liability. So glad we have a movement studio in this part of the city!

Ela Ayurveda practices the traditional medicine of India. I went to see Ela Ayurveda to be more…read morebalanced in my body and spirit and I have to say I feel TONS better! I worked with Eleni, she is great! She provided me with a health and wellness plan specific to my body type. Check it out for getting yourself back on track or if you have lots of stress.

Eleni is such a joy - the consultation was like having a fun conversation with a friend who happens…read moreto be incredibly knowledgeable in Aryuvedic healing and very intuitive. She drew connections between things that have happened in the past year that helped me understand the patterns I've fallen into re sleep, diet and overall life balance and gave really easy to understand instructions for how to become more balanced. The only downside is that we didn't have nearly enough time in an hour to cover all of the things we wanted to talk about :) If you are interested in gaining more insight into how your mind and body relate to each other and understanding how to become more balanced or even just inquire more about the reasons for your behaviors and habits, i highly recommend meeting with Eleni. Looking forward to continuing on my journey!