A warm, welcoming, and inclusive community, ever-evolving while offering refreshing teachings and…read moreopportunities to reflectively cultivate engaged practice as applied to daily life. An oasis.

In 2007 I had the good fortune to attend a Qigong workship at the Berkeley Shambhala Center led by…read moreEva Wong. I was somewhat apprehensive about the physical demands of such a practice since I was 60 years old, overweight, and not in good physical condition. I found that the qigong was taught in a gentle way with great sensitivity to participants' physical infirmities. I was quite surprised to find that I felt better after six hours of Qigong than I did before I started and that I was not sore at all the next day. I was even more surprised to find that the second day of instruction was also invigorating and pain free. I have continued to practice this Qigong and have taken additional classes from Eva. My wife and I both have found that this Qigong practice has made us stronger, healthier, and more flexible. It has truly improved our lives at a time when we needed it. Why am I telling you about this old news? Because Eva Wong is returning to teach again at the Berkeley Shambhala Center on December 5-6, 2009. I hope that others can learn to improve their lives as my wife and I were able to.

Breathing Room Yoga is such a beautiful, calming space. From the moment you walk in, you can feel…read morethe grounding energy. The plants, the natural light, and the thoughtful studio design create an atmosphere that feels both peaceful and inspiring. My absolute favorite class is Intentional Flow on Thursdays with Aviva. It is the perfect balance of movement, breath, and presence. I always leave feeling stronger, clearer, and completely reset. I honestly wish they offered this class more than once a week because it is that good. The overall experience, from the warm welcome to the flow of the class itself, feels intentional and uplifting. It is a space that truly supports both body and mind. Highly recommend if you are looking for a studio with beautiful energy and meaningful classes

I came for a drop in class from out of town. The studio is a beautiful space, however the teacher,…read morewho opened the studio, did not arrive until about 4 minutes before the class started. It is considerate, professional and standard operating procedure to have the studio and space open for 15 minutes before class. Students need time to use the bathroom, settle in, grab props, and take a few quiet minutes to themselves before beginning practice. Instead, there were 7 of us standing outside by the door waiting in the sun and it was a very odd dynamic when the teacher parked and arrived to let us all in because the teacher should ALWAYS arrive before the students if there is no open door/front desk. The teacher did not mention specifically which props to have for practice, so every time we did a movement with a new prop, about half of the students had to get up and grab them from the prop room which is very disruptive to practice. Lastly, the teacher guided students into trying Handstand without making space for alternatives like Dolphin or Headstand, and more importantly without any of the basic energetic cues for hands, elbows, and shoulders that are strictly necessary to provide students for this posture in order to protect your neck and shoulders.

My friend and I stumbled in upon their grand opening and shared a humbling experience together…read more Very grateful for a new space like this in our neighborhood.

Loved the center! Such beautiful people and Loved the course! Feel so rejuvenated after the SKY…read moremeditation :)

Enjoyed a wonderful evening of crystal bowls at Luminary Farms a few months ago. It was over way…read moretoo quickly but I was completely relaxed and refreshed. I am not good at meditating and this replaces meditation for me. After there was time to try the bowls and hear her stories. So interesting to learn about the bowls. Looking forward to attending another event soon.

I am constantly doing, going, working and find it hard to sit still. Yet, I was able to fully relax…read moreand feel present in the sound bath. It's really amazing how the sound envelopes and moves through you. Definitely something I would do again!

Recently went here with my uncle for a meditation program. We enjoyed a homemade osa in the…read morecommunal kitchen. Nice bookstore. We enjoyed the meditation program and fiendly Sangha here that made us feel welcome. We will be back.

The Oakland Ashram is a welcoming and lovely place to meditate and be among kind people. The…read morefamily programs are well loved by children and families. I recommend it as a place to go and experience peace and a nourished heart. The food is delicious at the Ashram also. The temple is exquisite. I have been going there and participating for many years. All are welcome.

MDZG has been wonderful. Zazen with them over zoom each morning at 8 am has helped me start off the…read moreday with a very meaningful meditation practice (just sitting). Grateful to Myosho Baika and everyone at Mount Diablo Zen Group.

Mt. Diablo Zen Group is led by Baika Heaton, Zen Priest and Dharma teacher. This group meets…read moreWednesday evenings for Zazen (meditation), study and discussion. Once a month, one day or half day silent retreats are offered for a nominal fee. These retreats include Zazen, Qi Gong, rest period, a mindful meal, a short service and Dharma talk. All members are encouraged to establish a daily meditation practice, with consideration for their daily life schedule. Celebrating it's tenth year this May, Mt. Diablo Zen Group offers an intimate setting and access to the teachings in the Soto Zen Buddhist Tradition.

I'm in Sonoma County but did my class at the Berkeley TM center which I am grateful for. I find the…read moreteachers there friendly, accessible, knowledgeable and kind. I've done several retreats thru this center and have had nothing but positive experiences. For what you receive from TM - not just in instruction but from the practice itself - I find the center invaluable.

I received my TM instruction in Seattle but am so happy to have found this community now that I…read morelive in the East Bay. I've been to one tune-up and one weekend retreat (both firsts for me) and look forward to attending more. The Zoom meditations during the week are a great complement to my practice. I always feel like I learn something new and come away feeling rested, refreshed, and reinvigorated. And it's always lovely to meditate with others, see familiar faces, and share in the experience.

I love the meditation and connection meetups offered here. I am now going twice a week!read more

Super nice people, love that they host a space for the community and hope more people can get to…read moreknow their mission. Very lowkey and have a variety of community groups that meet during the week