I began going to the Torrance Zen Center over a year ago. I had always thought of Zen as something…read morefound in books, or from the past, or something a few other unusual people did in far-away places. Enlightenment seemed like an esoteric, out-of-reach goal, and not one I was necessarily interested in pursuing -- not understanding, it had always struck me as an ironically self-focused pursuit. A Zen state of mind, with balance and equanimity -- that seemed interesting. But through the people at the Torrance Zen Center I found that the Zen path is not about the mind, but very much of the heart, and all the compassion the heart is capable of. The practitioners follow the Greater Path, with the intention of helping anyone and everyone through Zen to manifest a better version of themselves. And Enlightenment? It's about helping other people. Becoming in sync with the Greatest Good, however the name given by one's language culture. While the foundational practitioners natively speak Mandarin or Cantonese, they all make a dedicated and successful effort to speak English in teaching, sharing, and casual interactions, for which I am deeply and profoundly grateful. They have graciously and continuously extended a warm, including welcome. I have occasionally felt "odd man out," but: my doing. Their generosity of heart always surges back and I relax a bit more. Shortly after beginning meditation practice, I noticed, to my surprise, that many people - some I knew and some I didn't - suddenly seemed more comfortable around me, eager to talk and share whatever was on their minds. Positive feelings and experiences began to dominate my life, all while retaining and improving family relations, growing friendships, and more easily establishing new connections with people. Life is short. Five Stars!

The meditais a very peaceful place. And the people overs there are very friendly. The location is…read morenot too far from the Torrance city hall and parking is free.

Meditation and mindfulness may not come easily to me but here, it's all so well curated, and the…read moreenvironment plus the lovely volunteers makes for a tranquil and positive experience as I explore ways to relax my busy brain. The interior is in quiet shades of pale yellows, oranges, wood and beautiful images in the meditation space. Be sure to come a bit early to settle in before the meditation, have a cup of tea. You don't have to sit on the floor there are plenty of chairs for the meditation session! There is a restroom inside, place to put your shoes (you may want some socks!), area to sit and chill before or after the meditation session. What makes this center so special are the kind and thoughtful volunteers. This is a place where you will feel the sense of community. This is a special joyful place and I highly recommend trying meditation session. Walkin is $15 so it's accessible! Street parking can be found nearby. TL/dr: come here to reach an internal awareness and inner peaceful practice

Not all meditation training is the same. There are so many places to learn meditation these days,…read moreand a lot of it is just watered down relaxation techniques and pop psychology. I chose Mahamudra KMC because it belongs to a Buddhist tradition that presents meditation in a way that is easily accessible to busy modern people. It's the real deal. Try it and see for yourself. :)

I found Kelvin through a FB group that I joined due to thanatophobia. It was my fear of death that…read moreled me to find him & his meditation technique. I have never studied or practiced any formal meditation technique nor have taken any classes on meditation before discovering Kelvin's Turning Within technique. This is good because I did not have any pre-conceived ideas on how meditation should be. I only knew what I heard, read about or saw in movie or on TV. This is totally unique & unlike any form of meditation that I've ever known of. This meditation, to me, is simple yet perfect. As I started practicing the technique, I started feeling a shift in my mindset. I feel myself gradually evolving from focusing on the imperfections of myself and disappointments in my life, to focusing on what really matters. I spend more time enjoying life rather than dwelling on negative thoughs. I have to remind myself that although I am experiencing profound differences in my attitude & capability in handling / managing stress, I still cannot expect never to break or to revert back to my old attitude and / or stress handling capabilities. I am still on my journey. I feel like as babies and young children, we have a clean slate, naturally know this technique, but as life happens, we forget and build up baggage and soon forget how to reconnect with ourselves, our minds ( turn within ). Before I started practicing turning within, my mind felt more scattered - starting tasks but not completing them for whatever reason. Now I find it easier to focus on one task at a time from start to finish. I feel like my mind spends less time dwelling & being indecisive & more time doing & actually accomplishing. Instead of just thinking of what I want to do or get done, I just get up & do it. Sometimes it is so profound that I feel like a totally different person. So different that I don't even recognize myself. I am evolving into a calmer yet more focused & organized person. It feels like butterfly emerging from a thick cocoon. I feel like I used to spend a lot of time worrying & complaining more than actually getting things accomplished. Now I actually feel that I have purpose. I feel like my mind is coming up with answers that I could not answer before. Instead of just saying Idk, I actually stop, take a moment, think & answers come. This comes back to the part of me that reacts ( fight or flight ). Instead of giving any answer based on how I feel emotiinally ( like exploding ) at that time, I am actually pausing and thinking of what the answer actually is & am able to communicate my feelings calmly and directly. For example, my husband makes me upset because he complains about how I leave my stufff everywhere. He'll see my jacket hung on the chair & ask me 'What is this '? Usually I would get upset immediately and say ' Why, what about it' or 'this house is not a museum. I can leave stuff where I want. blah blah,' or something mean or I just give him the silent treatment. But now I can actually give him a calm answer which comes from a calm and sound mind. Not an upset emotionally charged mind's response. Overall, I love this new me. It is just like having a new lease on life. I look forward to any more positive changes in my life and my attitude. Turning Within can literally turn your life around Thank you Kelvin !

I have been meditating for a couple of years after instruction with turning within meditation. I…read morefeel it has personally helped me to find calmness and centering. The follow up is outstanding , I know that at any time I can contact Kelvin for questions or directions turning within meditation has helped so many people worldwide, I highly recommend it.

I've been doing both buddy sessions (with my boyfriend) and private yoga sessions with Bernadette…read morefor about four months now. Not only am I learning more about yoga and developing a deeper practice than I ever though possible when I was learning in a class setting, but I'm watching the benefits transform my daily life as well. Buddy sessions: Bernadette is great at leading two people, giving personal attention to each. The price break over a single session is great. Single sessions: I can't rave enough about how different it is to be practicing solo with a great instructor. Bernadette will make sure you're doing every pose correctly in a way that will not cause injury, while also knowing just how far to push you to reach your best. I started four months ago with such weak upper body strength that I wasn't even able to lower myself to the floor in a plank position. Now my upper body is completely transformed. Two weeks ago I succeeded at my first hand balancing pose--Crow--and I felt more pride in myself than I've felt in years. If you ever had the smallest inkling that you want to truly experience yoga, you owe private lessons to yourself, and I wouldn't waste time looking any further than Bernadette and Bali Yoga and Massage Therapy.

I have been practicing yoga with Bernadette for almost 3 months and as someone who is not very…read moreactive or flexible, I have noticed a tremendous difference in my energy level and flexibility since I began working with Bernadette. In addition to feeling better physically, yoga has helped manage my stress level, providing mental and emotional balance. Bernadette is patient and accommodating; she has created personalized sessions to meet my abilities, while still challenging me with each session. I highly recommend yoga with Bernadette.

I feel so lucky to have found Queenie, she is such a gem! As I was researching different Sound…read moreMeditation certifications, I came across Path of the Oracle. I was drawn in by how organized and clear the program seemed on the website. Once I spoke to Queenie on the phone, I knew I wanted to go through her certification and I am so glad I did. I learned so much throughout the program. I really appreciated the she teaches you about the different aspects of Sound Healing: the musical, scientific, spiritual and historical. I also liked that she is not affiliated with any specific brand or company so she will never try to sell you anything. However, her guidance in obtaining my instruments was so helpful. I would have been completely overwhelmed by all the options and would have probably ended up with some very low quality items because of my lack of understanding at the time. I also really like that you have to complete practicum hours because you get to practice while still feeling guided by her and connected to those in your cohort. It's been a few months since completing my coursework and as I've worked to complete my hours I've already had such wonderful experiences! This practice has already brought me so much joy and purpose. I get to connect with individuals in such a unique way. I feel so happy to know that I am bringing peace into this world, even if it's just for a moment in time. I'm truly amazed at the power of Sound Healing and at the positive responses I've received so far. I'm grateful for Queenie for working with me and allowing me to learn from her. I cannot recommend her enough. If you are on the fence, let this be your sign to just go for it. I am so grateful I did!

I had a wonderful reiki experience with Queenie and will definitely return and recommend her…read more I had done reiki once before years ago somewhere else, and my experience with Queenie was a bit different. She is so easy to talk to, open, and has a lot of different insight and perspective that I'm so open to learn about. Through the actual reiki treatment, it's more of a meditation and Queenie guides you through visualizations. There is even a little portion that is a sound bath which is absolutely powerful and amazing. I can't wait to see her again!

i can't express how much I enjoyed Annette's soundbath. The harmonious blend of sounds from the…read morecrystal bowls and other instruments created a serene and calming environment that helped me achieve a deep state of relaxation. Annette's warm and nurturing presence added to the experience, making it truly special. I highly recommend her soundbath to anyone in need of a mental and emotional reset.

I have had the pleasure of attending three of Annette's sound baths. Annette is warm and welcoming…read moreand provides a beautiful and intimate setting complete with comfortable mats, pillows, fluffy blankets, eye coverings, and water. When her participants are ready, Annette showers them with a symphony of resonating vibrations and takes them on a transformative journey of sound. I thoroughly enjoyed Annette's sound baths and left each one feeling deeply relaxed and restored.

I visited this studio today for the first time in a very long time. The last time I came (over 5…read moreyears ago), I unfortunately had a poor customer service experience and hadn't been back since. I decided to give it another try today and I'm really glad I did. The front desk staff were extremely helpful and kind from the moment I walked in, which made the experience feel very welcoming. I took a Yin class with Nicole and her voice was so calming and soothing, it made the class incredibly relaxing. I booked it through ClassPass and did not regret it at all. I would definitely recommend both the studio and Nicole's Yin class

Let me preface this by mentioning that I have never even taken a yoga class before but I've always…read morewanted to try hot yoga. I took advantage of the welcome week promotion in the South Bay location and throughly enjoyed it. 26 & 2, and Hot Power Fusion Lizzy - Incredible instructor, SO patient and kind, walked me through all the movements with clear instructions and encouragement. While 26 & 2 was probably not the best first ever yoga class to take, Lizzy set clear expectations and took care of me and the class Power Erica - Great instructor, I could listen to her talk all day! She narrates the class with intentional and positive encouragement and I appreciate her music selection that stays in tune with the movements All in all, it was such a great experience! I left each class drenched in sweat but exhausted AND revitalized.

I had an absolutely incredible experience at The Sound Bath Studio in Palos Verdes with Erika and…read moreNico. They were both so kind, gentle, and welcoming. They explained everything clearly and made me feel completely safe, comfortable, and cared for throughout the breathwork and sound bath session. The experience was deeply powerful. I had an emotional release that included crying and shaking, and afterward I felt incredible--lighter, calmer, and deeply restored. Erika and Nico created such a nurturing space that allowed me to fully let go. I cannot recommend The Sound Bath Studio highly enough. This was truly the best sound bath experience I've ever had, and I will absolutely be back!

I travel constantly I have done sound baths in Oregon, Washington and Texas and I can truly say…read morethis one has been the best one yet. Give yourself a chance to experience this emotional reset. I took the two hour session and it didn't felt like two hours it went by so quickly because you truly immerse yourself into the experience. I highly recommend it, I took my sister with me and we both felt in love.

My very first breathwork session and I am OBSESSED!…read more I attended Jamie's breathwork session on the beach and appreciated all of the time and thought she invested into creating such a beautiful space for us. Yoga mats were perfectly laid out, all in calming pastel colors, with gold balloons that spelled out "BREATHE." Jamie passes out "Grateful" cards that we fill out after the session, long stem roses, and bracelets with a statement "Breathe. You are a Gift." The breathwork requires you to concentrate, may inspire you to feel different emotions, and is such a EUPHORIC experience! Jamie is TRULY GIFTED and Im looking forward to booking a candelight session soon!!!

Jamie is so great at just helping me find peace and calm in my daily life. Her guided breathwork…read moreand meditation audio is so helpful, and she's such a warm and lovely person. Talented, kind, and generous. Her artwork is also amazing! There's several pieces on display at my cowork space in Redondo Beach, which really contributes to the calm and serene atmosphere there (and with the stress that comes during my workday sometimes, it's very welcome!) So glad that I met her, and that she's here in the South Bay. Highly recommended.