Barbara is the real deal! She has been in the business for many years and is super versed on her craft. She has zoom available for teaching which is a saving grace, while I am still socially distancing. I have come in contact with a lot of people that she has also helped through difficult injuries. She has a huge following! read more

I found this place through Yelp reviews. It's only right to reciprocate but I have been "selfish" not wanting people to know about this hidden gem right in the middle of North Berkeley. I have had many yoga classes either offered by the gym (general membership) or private studio lessons (back in Boston) in the past 10+ years and I can say none compared to Barbara's class. Her class size is small (from 3 to 10 max) - which I like. I once signed up for some group class with the yoga teacher because I couldn't afford her private lesson and found that it was packed from wall to wall. It's tough not having "personal space" when one is trying to stretch and relax. Barbara is a wonderful teacher. She is gentle, understanding and her voice is very soothing. The music she plays sometime, is calming rather than distracting (like some other classes I attended). She is very good at varying different routines and poses. She makes sure everyone gets the pose before we move on. She is very patient and attentive to her students. I was struggling through a few poses and she came right next to me to show me how it's done. I am learning quite a bit in her class. I emailed her to inquire about her classes before I went the first time, she emailed me back right away wanting to know if I have any special conditions she needed to consider. Her classes are 1.5 hour long, which I find it's perfect. The classmates are very nice and supportive. It's a very nurturing environment. I am very glad I found Barbara's yoga studio and look forward to study yoga with her for as long as we are in Berkeley. read more

I've tried many, many local yoga studios and teachers, and Barbara Kaplan is a unique and gifted teacher! No where else have I found her combination of technical expertise, gentle guidance, and easy, no-pressure style. Her small class sizes allow her to give individual attention, which is key for beginning yoga students, and a welcome change from less personal studios. She carefully crafts each class, gently warming us up with different poses which lead to a pose we couldn't have attempted without the previous 90 minutes of opening. And of course, there's never any pressure to try or do something that isn't right for us or our bodies. She's been practicing for over 30 years, and teaching for 20 (I've been taking her classe for 13 years). She can lead a high intensity, vinyassa style class one week, and a restorative " blindfold" class, or a yin yoga class (slow, longer held poses), the next week. Her students are all ages, levels, and body types, and her welcoming, non-judgmental environment creates a strong and friendly class community. Personally, I used to be able to do backbends, but after two pregnancies, I no longer can. My limitations are fine and even welcomed, here at Harmony yoga. If you've had mixed feelings at other yoga classes, try Barbara's. Finally a yoga studio that accepts you and your body, at whatever level you are. read more

I've seen Barbara for Somatic Experiencing sessions and feel she is highly skilled and an extremely intuitive healer. I have seen many other SE practitioners as part of my own training in Somatic Experiencing but she is the one I have continued to work with. She has a great deal of sensitivity to what it takes to heal the body's way of holding trauma. I recommend her highly. read more

Barbara Kaplan literally saved my life. I strongly recommend her for both yoga and somatic experiencing!

My Passport to Prana brought me to her door - a tiny studio (i.e. "Suite B") attached to the Acupressure Institute next door (i.e. "Suite A"). She, the yoga instructor Barbara Kaplan, welcomed me with a bright smile. She is a very warm and happy person, energetic but also gentle and understanding. Most students in her class seem to have known her for a long time, probably have followed her for months (if not years?) of yoga practice. She knows everyone by name - so far, I dare say, she is the warmest and most personable instructor I have met! And she adjusts the students' postures with great sensitivity and gentleness. She knows that I'm a beginner in yoga and I'm using the "passport" to try out different studios, so she gave me absolutely no pressure to sign up for her classes. In fact, at the end of the class, she gave me a goodie bag with a collection of items like natural food (energy bars, organic cereals, cooking sauces, etc.), biodegradable detergent, some pet food, etc. I thought that was really nice of her. The studio itself is pretty small though... Students' ethnicity: Mostly white. Age: mostly middle age. It could be because the studio is located in North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto area where lots of upper middle class old white people live. Although it's a world apart from the infamous Yoga to the People just a few streets down the road, it's far from being pretentious and yuppified. I'd say that most people are friendly, and I'm guessing they're there to improve their health and wellness. Aren't we all? Barbara's class focuses a lot of stretching. But compared to Yoga Man dala, her class is a lot less spiritual - other than "Om" at the end of the class, you probably won't hear words like Chakra or insights from Hinduism or Buddhism. (She is probably is Buddhist herself though - again I'm just guessing.) Anyway, I think the class is well-paced and the vibes are good. About 3.5 stars. I won't sign up because I still much prefer Yoga Mandala's integrated approach AND I don't live in North Berkeley. But if you're a resident living nearby, and you want to get into yoga practice to decompress, to become more flexible, or for self-healing purpose, without getting too caught up in the its spirituality aspect, her studio might be a great start for you. Her website says that it's $5 for new students, so go for it and try it out. read more

I came to see Barbara for somatic experiencing and it was very helpful. Barbara has a very inviting and kind way about her, that made me feel able to go in to my body and be safe talking to her about issues that I have had for years. I highly recommend her. read more

I have been going to Harmony Yoga Studio for 12 years. The main teacher, Barbara Kaplan, is a fabulous teacher. The classes are small and Barbara is able to give each student individual attention when they need it. I started in the beginning class and have worked my way up to the vigorous advanced class, which is really a great workout. I can highly recommend Harmony Yoga Studio. read more

Barbara Kaplan isn't just a great yoga teacher, she's one of the nicest and friendliest people you'll ever meet on this (and probably any other) planet. What this means in terms of yoga instruction is that she is extremely helpful, patient, and empowering for yoga students of any skill level. There is zero intimidation factor in her classes, as she goes out of her way to make everyone feel totally comfortable and at ease with their bodies and their skill level. I'm a 50-year-old male and not even remotely "good" at yoga, and yet I love coming to her classes and feel great every time afterward. Barbara's classes - and her easygoing attitude and encouragement - have singlehandedly made me feel like I *can* do yoga, even if I'll never look good in yoga pants. My only reason NOT to recommend Barbara is because she's so extraordinary, those of us who know her kind of want to keep her to ourselves. That said, if you're looking for a really one-of-a-kind experience, you should definitely check this studio out. read more

I can't say enough about Barbara! A wonderful teacher and a lovely person!