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!

Yoga Bear offers a monthly Sunday yoga class in various San Francisco studios....and the fee you…read morepay ($10 and up, you decide) is used to provide free classes for cancer patients and survivors, providing them with more opportunities for wellness and healing through the practice of yoga. So there's a win-win situation for ya. Do yourself and others some good by wrapping up your weekend with a class led by one of Yelp's finest, Ms. Megan K. Next classes for '08 are April 13th and May 4th. Keep your eyes peeled for event postings on Yelp. Namaste! http://www.yogabear.org/

Many people often do yoga because it makes them feel good. Yoga also can be very beneficial for…read morepeople with cancer or other illnesses. However, yoga classes can get expensive, especially if you're having to get costly cancer treatment. Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to bring cancer patients free yoga classes? Enter Yoga Bear! Yoga Bear is a volunteer-run new nonprofit that works with UCSF and other facilities to bring free yoga classes to people with cancer. If you're a yoga studio, you can "donate a mat" or rather, a spot or spots in classes for people with cancer. If you're a yoga student, you can encourage your local studio to get involved. I'm thrilled to be volunteering with this organization and hope this is an idea that will spread. Yoga Bear is brand new, so hence only the 4-star rating, but I'm confident they'll earn the 5 five stars as their work gets rolling.

My fiancé and I came here for massages today and had a great experience. The place is a little hard…read moreto find it is upstairs in the building where the red room is and we had to call to have the door to the stairs unlocked. The employees were very polite and professional. I really enjoyed the work they did because it involved passive stretching as well as massage. As an athlete I feel this is more beneficial to me than receiving a traditional massage. My back pain was improved and my leg muscles more loose and limber when we were done. Jovelyn did a great job and I would recommend her. My wife also had a great massage and was very satisfied at the end of her session with Alma.

I can't possibly write a Review about Ana's studio without explaining my unique situation…read more I'm 36, trim, active, energetic, work full time, and I have 2 kids. During the pregnancy with my daughter a little over 3 years ago, I started having lower back pain. My husband would offer massages every evening, but they did nothing, The ache was still there, and it was steady. Anyway, I made it through the pregnancy and was RELIEVED that the back pain was Close to Gone when my daughter was born. I said CLOSE, but not gone.. There were still those days, those LONG days, when the pain would sneak back up. These were usually when my days were full of walking, maybe at Costco, Ikea, or an amusement park, not to mention my son's sporting events. Lugging the chairs, the cooler, all while holding my daughter. I'd make my way back to the car at the end of those days, literally holding my hand on my back. Kind of embarrassing, I'm young and my body felt like a much older woman. Something just wasn't right. I got TONS of massages, I went to 2 diff Chiropractors, I used a co-workers tens unit, I had X- Rays, I was buying Ibuprofen in BULK and lastly I had an MRI. Why Was I in so much pain!!! The ONE Relief that I did find was STRETCHING. I would literally find an empty cubical in my office, and sit down and start stretching like I was in a yoga class. This Helped, but I couldn't exactly sit down and do my stretching all day. At the end of grocery shopping I would find myself stretching in the checkout line. Laying on the blanket at my son's Baseball games, I WAS STRETCHING. But I had NO idea what I was doing, I was not a professional, I was just doing what felt good. So then I started learning about Thai Yoga and how it IS ALL about stretching. So that's when I went to Ana, and She DID EVERYTHING right. It was private; & I was working at my own pace, doing only what I could handle. It's better than a massage because what was happening was my body was actually loosening up the proper way, from head to toe. Not just 1 day of relaxation, but I was on the path to actually HEALING. That's the best word to describe, I felt I was my body was being put back to "normal". For whatever reason my body had become tense & tight, whatever the cause may be is probably the same for all of us- overworking ourselves, Stress that lead to tension, my body was tight all over, and from years of just not doing things the RIGHT way, my body was paying the price. Going to Ana is Not a 1 time fix, this is not a class, although she explains everything that she is doing. It's something that HELPS ME soo much. No Medicine, NO equipment, just knowing what TO do with my own body to help it to Heal. I go twice a week, and the Benefits are WORTH EVERY PENNY. I am a different mom, a different wife, I feel like my body is good to me again. It's not OK, to just accept aches and rely on a pill, there IS SOO MUCH THAT WE CAN Do to HELP OUR BODIES. I've honestly never wrote a YELP review in my life, But this was HUGE for me... It means that I'm feeling "36" again not 99 years old. My reason for writing this review is because I HOPE that someone else can benefit from this like I did. There is NO BETTER Investment that I've made than investing in my health. She is AMAZING and so knowledgeable about the body. SHE MAKES YOU FEEL SO COMFORTABLE, I can't say ENOUGH good things, honestly I just know this worked for me and I know other people can benefit from this too.

Here today at Grace Cathedral for a truly rewarding event. Yoga on a Saturday morning in a…read morebeautiful space with wondrous sounds for the 2nd Yoga for Change, raising funds for the Community Preschool. I've really enjoyed attending Yoga at the Labyrinth in the past but it's gotten too popular and therefore too crowded. This event allows me to indulge in a yoga practice within this amazing space again, with just a little more room.

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.

Karia is a wonderful yoga teacher. I had done a few yoga classes here and there, but never really…read morefelt like it was the workout for me. Taking one class with Karia was the catalyst of my practice. She's inspired me to stick with it and now I attend three classes per week. She's really helped to make my body and mind stronger. Karia's classes a fluid, fun and challenging. She brings a lot of personality to the table, which makes students feel comfortable. She also plays great music! I would 100% recommend trying one of her classes and / or her a candlelit yoga workshop!

Karia makes yoga fun -- she doesn't take herself too seriously and gives lots of options to modify…read moreposes. Plus, those childs pose assists are simply the best. I feel I'm a 'forever beginner' with yoga but I love going to her classes because I know I'll work hard, learn something new, listen to great music, and try something new each class. Every class is slightly different, even if we're working on the same 'peak pose' so she always keeps us on our toes, unlike other classes I've been to where it seems to be the same sequence 12 months out of the year. You can usually find her teaching power yoga but once a month she teaches a candle lit yoga flow class that I really enjoy. I feel so relaxed after!

I have taken Sueellen's class for 3 years. Benefits? Substantial! Here's why:…read more 1) local. I walk to class (9:30 am Monday through Thursday) at the beautifully restored Harvey Milk Center for the Arts. 2) more than my share of weekly excercise. I can't get enough! 3) all ages and body types. Everyone is welcome and no gym attitude. 4) did I say the hour long class starts at 9:30 am? Can't beat that.... 5) cheap! When is the last time you took an excercise class for $2 bucks? It's the best kept secret. *BONUS - try the class out for free and see if it is for you. *Go to "San Francisco Park and Rec" and check out Sueellen's class. You won't regret it.

I first started seeing Nicolette for personal training in 2017 with the goal of getting stronger…read morefor my yoga practice. It was the first time that I ever saw a personal trainer and it was more or less my first time in a gym using weights. I didn't know what to expect and honestly was intimidated by the whole thing! But, with Nicolette's guidance and vast knowledge, I found myself loving our sessions. They were fun, challenging, and I quickly felt myself getting stronger by the week. She knows the body so well and I loved learning from her, whether it was about alignment or how muscles/body parts spoke to one another. Each session was as much a physical experience as it was educational. Beyond Nicolette being an incredible trainer, she's also a wonderful, charming, and intelligent person. Her dynamic education - from meditation, free movement, postural studies, to her work with Tonal - helps create a well rounded experience. Nicolette is constantly seeking out education, workshops, seminars, to deepen her knowledge of her craft, something I admire about her. She takes her work seriously and you just know you're in good hands. There really isn't anyone like Nicolette!

First - apologies to Nicolette for not writing this review sooner! 10 stars…read more I've been training with Nicolette since February of 2012 and have seen her in many different contexts - 1:1 personal training (for the past 8 years), bootcamps, leading wellness retreats, and as an instructor for Tonal. Nicolette will 100% kick your butt in the gym and help you stay on track to meet your goals. But she also takes the time to understand what is happening with you - she knows fitness and wellness isn't just what happens an hour(ish) a day in the gym, it's how your body is moving and what muscles are over and under-working, how you're eating, and what's stressing you out. She has given me the tools to improve in all of these areas. Nicolette has a drive for continuous learning and self-improvement that is unique in the training community and she's always able to share her learnings with her clients to drive better results. It's exciting to talk to her about the latest classes/intensive she attended to understand how our training will change based on what she learned. But most of the time, it's easy to just show up, put in the work, and know I'll get the results I want because her programs are epic. Lastly - she is amazing with understanding the body and helping you strengthen areas you didn't know were weak. If I told her during a movement my knee was hurting, she'd take a moment to question where on my knee, during what part of the movement and work through the source of the pain (hint - it's not the knee it's the surrounding muscles and fascia) and then doing quick releases or activations to get moving again pain free! Ok - over the past 8 years we've achieved a lot: * She encouraged me to run a half-marathon after I'd never even run a mile. I since have run 3 and still enjoy running. * Improved posture with really simple daily exercises * Got back on the volleyball court and worked on sport-specific strengthening * Strengthened muscles to help alleviate my recurring back-pain * She helped me lose weight and strengthen up for my wedding * And generally just kept up a strong fitness habit over many years I can't thank Nicolette enough - it was certainly not overnight, but she's changed my life!