I met Shannon a long time ago at a restorative yoga class that she was teaching. After a fully…read morerelaxing hour, she shared that she also did dance classes and body work. I took her card and kept it. and kept it and even through spring cleaning and desk clearing, I kept it. Until finally this weekend I decided that I wanted something restorative and nurturing, so I went to see Shannon. She has a welcoming home studio in a residential part of Berkeley, which I liked because I could feel the vibes of her home. I always prefer this to manicured offices, even though it takes a certain vulnerability and bravery for massage therapists to open up a glimpse into their lives this way. During the initial check in, she was very attentive and listened to how I was feeling very closely. She was encouraging, and also relatable. I asked for a shiatsu massage, which is done fully clothed on two soft sheepskin rugs in the middle of the floor. After some sound therapy and chanting, she very thoughtfully stretched and cradled each limb. It was very cool to see how patiently she worked, how relaxed and rhythmic the pace was, and how she seemed very attuned to what as going on with me. At one point, I was beginning to get cold, and just as I was about to mention it, I felt a blanket being draped over me. She talks about how the music and the eye pillow help one to "drop down" into the space, but a lot of the time I felt like I was flying, as she waved my feet and made full circles with each arm, stretching my back and neck. It was a very special massage, and I am happy that she is still teaching restorative yoga, now in my neighborhood, so I can drop in for this kind of supported, guided resting more often!

I've been working with Shannon for the past few months for holistic massage. Prior to meeting…read moreShannon, I would leave a massage and think, "well that felt great". I leave my sessions with Shannon more in tune with the world around me, far more relaxed, and happier. I go somewhere else when I'm with her. And it's a good place. Thank you Shannon!

I've been taking yoga for about 7 years on and off and I'm here to say that Sonya Genel is THE…read moreBEST! She encourages a perfect blend of heat and attention to alignment in the postures and I always left class feeling rejuvenated. In all my years of yoga I can honestly say that Sonya's class is the only one I have taken where I felt 100% present and happy to be practicing throughout the whole 90 minutes! Now that I'm living across the country I often channel Sonya in my classes and I continue to find that her influence has made a huge difference in my practice!

I am almost afraid to write how great Sonya is here, in case too many people start going to all her…read moreclasses and I can't fit into them anymore! Ok, but that's silly. Silly Toby, this is what Yelp is all about! Sharing, right? So. Here's the scoop. Sonya is THE BEST yoga teacher, hands down, that I have ever had. She is actually THE REASON that I practice yoga. Before I found Sonya, I had gone to a variety of different teachers, classes, and styles of yoga, and had thought, "Ok, this yoga stuff is ok. Pretty good." But I hadn't ever had an instructor who had transformed my life. Then I went to my first class with Sonya and by the end of the class I was crying. Happy tears! But crying nonetheless. Sonya was able to skillfully facilitate a class that spoke to my mind AND body. She gets deep into alignment, and I don't just mean physical alignment. I mean mental and spiritual alignment! I know this might sound crazy to some people out there. And let me tell you, I am the first one to be a skeptic when I read people going on and on about how great some new-agey thing is. But in my case, Sonya was, and is, able to offer me and my yoga practice exactly what I need. She is incredibly centered, has a great ability to connect with each and every student in the room, plays great music (!), has a deep knowledge of yoga and the body and is incredibly articulate at expressing EVERYTHING. There is not a word wasted. Sonya Genel is an incredibly gifted yoga teacher, and I feel incredibly privileged and grateful to be able to study with her. BOOM. true dat.

First, Kyra takes the time to carefully listen to your entire experience of pain and then creates a…read moreplan with you to work towards becoming sustainably pain free. She also provides a warm and relaxing environment with a heated table and a quiet space. The quality of touch is excellent. She listens to my body very carefully and responds without me necessarily having to say anything. She also does check in verbally in a very natural way, and I rarely need to ask for any changes, because she is very good at what she's doing and very intentional. During the session, I can decide whether I want to do a more active practice where I am doing stretches and releasing fascia or alternatively I can just do a more relaxing passive massage. Generally, Kyra is flexible and she just does what makes you feel good in your body. Kyra was able to challenge some of my preconceived notions about what pain means, from a research-based, more scientific approach, which appeals to me. I used to believe that pain was just something normal to get used as an aging construction worker, but I'm really seeing changes in my outlook as my pain is lessening. Working with Kyra has helped me to reign in my negative self talk and judgements, which helps me to feel more positive overall. Thank you so much for your work and care for my body, Kyra!

Kyra and her myofascial massage techniques are amazing. Simply the most effective massage I have…read moreever had. I have seen her three times and plan on going back. Her massages are not the typical Swedish massage with lots of oil. They are a lot more focused on getting longer lasting results. If you want a massage to feel better see Kyra!

Wow - talk about passion! Heather definitely has it for yoga and helping her clients and peers!!…read more I haven't met anyone who has embraced something as completely as Heather has with her yoga practice and studio - Bend SF. She's done an amazing job in building her yoga community and has been smiling all along the way. If you are looking for a great teacher that will do her best to understand your needs and tailor her support to meet those needs, then Heather is definitely one of the best in San Francisco!!

Heather is truly wonderful…read more I hadn't practiced yoga in years, and I never did for very long, so I was a little nervous about starting again. I am so glad I took Heather's Back To Basics class that first Sunday. Heather is so warm and welcoming, and I absolutely feel like I learn and grow in her classes.

I went to restorative yoga taught by Jessie on a Monday night. I had a great time! Jessie set a…read morevery contemplative tone and made creative use of props for a challenging yet comfortable selection of poses.

Jessie Woletz Is a wonderful Instructor. She teaches Hatha and Restorative Yoga. No matter what…read moremood I'm in or how tired I am, Jessie's class makes me feel amazing. The positions change with every class, keeping it interesting and useful. She's Nurturing and attentive. I highly recommend it.

I chose to see Benny because I wanted someone who complimented their expertise in Ayurveda with a…read morecertification in fitness/personal training, and someone who was a part of the culture. It was the best decision I made for my health, and that's 36 years of being in the dark, ha! I came with specific goals to debloat/regulate my menstruation cycle, heal from the aftermath of two abdominal surgeries, and to better my relationship with food and my body. Having almost completed my 6 months of being under Benny's care and advice, I've not only looked better--my old clothes fit again, I'm sleepy at the right times, I'm radiant, I've gotten rid of the bloat and my cycle is thrivingly on-time--and I feel amazing. She totally personalized my routine to match my doshas, while also continuing to adapt it to my changing work and travel schedule, as well as providing plenty of alternatives or accommodations so that I'm still prioritizing feeling my best. She's always available to chat in-between our meetings, and it's clear she cares so much for her clients. I've never felt rushed, belittled, or shamed for any of my decisions or when parking is hard around this area. She's proven to me that Ayurveda (diet, movement, listening to your body) works, if you follow her recommendations. If it's not working, let her know kindly, because she will definitely find a way that will. I'm grateful she introduced me to a new, softer, and more intuitive way of being and I'm grateful for what I'm blessed with and the possibilities of my body. If you're wondering whether to see her, count it as one of the best investments you can make for your help, with exactly the best person for it.

I had nearly given up on my health until I met Benny. I was feeling lethargic, weak, and in a state…read moreof loathing my post-child, pandemic-hibernating, forty something body. And because I wasn't moving much, the toll on my mental health was spiraling downward. In less than a year, Benny has helped me out of this pickle by setting up a practical health plan informed by ancient Ayurvedic health practices and easy-to-implement exercise + diet routines. I have lost some weight, gained back some muscle and most importantly, feeling better in my mind. We started with a robust health consultation where we discussed all areas of my life and health history. It was like therapy! From there, Benny made some initial recommendations to address some immediate health concerns like allergies! I started with an Ayurvedic nasal drops and I don't have as nearly as many symptoms since. She also prescribed some Ayurvedic tea to help promote healthier digestion, which it has! I kept a food journal for a couple of weeks and she provided some feedback on what I could consider modifying without totally disrupting the meal plan I have for my family (you know how some diet plans are like, here's lettuce and unseasoned chicken with cayenne pepper lemon water for all of your meals and your kid is like, yeah right). We decided to meet once a week for a 45-minute exercise session to keep me on track. This has helped greatly because without it, I find it hard to get the motivation up on my own. She also gives me exercise plans I can do during the week and so I have a rather low-cost, effective fitness plan (I loathe gyms, so this is something I can do from home). She checks in to give me nudges during the week which I really appreciate because left to my own devices, well, that's just it -- iphone, tv, couch. I am so grateful to have Benny in my life. She has a really calming energy, but don't let that deceive you! just when you think you're going to have it easy, she insists on a minute-long plank and mountain climbers. I highly recommend Benny as a health coach. You'll be glad you have her in your corner.

To all Yogis out there! Whether aspiring, intermediate, or advanced, IKOV Yoga is led by a…read morewonderful woman who will help center your mind and strengthen your body. * * * As I sauntered across town from the Mission to the Inner Richmond with two of my favorite ladies on the planet, I couldn't help but drift through weaving connections in my head about my yoga practice. Sporadic at best, when I do come to my mat, it's generally to let go of some stress from work or some desperate play for Jason Stackhouse abs. However, as we navigated West through the foggy Pan Handle and across Stanyan on Sunday night, the air visibly twisted, bent, and yoga'ed around our car and inspired an excitement for the 3 Sunday classes I had planned at IKOV. Upon entering the space (located at WestSide Art House) warmth and the smell of homemade chai tea replaced the chill of the fog from outside. Inviting hardwood floors, soft lighting, and mellow indie music (hear Sufjan Stevens) converged and I immediately embraced the yogic state of mind. I borrowed a mat (yep, they've got some there) and set up my little yoga station complete with blocks, blanket, and water next to my friends. As the time for the class to start approached, the space filled to a comfortable capacity -- nothing kills your Zen like having to do yoga in fear of slapping your sweaty neighbor, and thankfully it was a great class size that facilitated a lot of one on one attention. As we all found our way to our mats and in a sitting position, the class opened with an Ohm and expression of gratitude for our attendance. Our instructor, Mary, then led us through a great balance of warm-up poses that got our movements in sync with our breathing. These were some poses that I had never done before, but really focused my breathing and practice. Definitely the best way I have ever started a yoga class. We proceeded to do basic flows that brought us through the warrior positions, and the crazy one where your left arm wraps under your right and then you hug yourself with your legs (eagle I think) and then down to our mat for some inversions. By the time we made it to the inversions at the end, I felt great. We did shoulder stands and plow and it was the first time I was able to make it to ull plow with my feet behind my head touching the floor (awesome achievement for a pizza lover!). After the class, we were treated to homemade chai tea and oatmeal bars, which facilitated an awesome forum for a post-session run down with the other members and even the instructor Mary. In summation, I felt like I was part of a small, intimate, yoga community where judgement, embarrassment and self consciousness were not even an option. From the very beginning to the very end I felt centered, relaxed, and in the moment thanks to the ambiance, organic flow, and natural instruction. IKOV is truly the difference between "like" and "love" for Yoga to me!

I've been getting massage from Uma at Growing Still for a few years now. Her work is profound,…read moregentle, nurturing and overall amazing. From precise work on hands and feet to full body torsions and compressions, Uma's skill and care are evident in every moment of her work. Uma is one of only a handful of massage therapists that I feel confident to recommend to anyone without caution or concern

I must say this is one of the best massages I have ever had in my life (and I have had quite a…read morefew). I went to see Uma as recommended by a friend to help release all the tension I built up from work stress and all the tennis I have been playing. I chose Thai massage because its emphasis on stretching, which I sorely need. Uma has an incredible intuitive touch and you can tell that she goes beyond what is taught in the book, she has made this into her own. It flows wonderfully, very vigorously, precise and thorough. And it has a very personal and caring feeling to it, you can tell that she puts her heart into her work. Be good to yourself, give Uma's massage a try. It's that good.