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.

If you're looking for a diverse, welcoming and inclusive healing space to practice, this is it…read more For days when you're feeling too tired to work out, but I still feel the need to center yourself and move the days events out of your body and mind try the Gentle Yoga class. By the end of class I'm feeling more myself, more grounded and nourished and better equipped to show up for myself and my community. In times like these, this is the perfect place to hold space for yourself, but not by yourself. Arrive early to secure metered street parking.

I joined this organization first as a member and later became a work-trade member, hoping to find a…read moresafe, joyful, and supportive community of BiPOC women. I came here with excitement and a desire to contribute, grow, and connect--but my experience has left me deeply hurt. Without any warning or explanation, I was told by Sataya that I was no longer part of the work-trade community because her and Cleopatra don't feel comfortable. To be removed so quickly and abruptly from a space that is meant to uplift BiPOC women is devastating and confusing. I feel excluded, unheard, and deeply disappointed by how this was handled. I hope the organization takes a hard look at how they treat community members and work-trade contributors. Transparency, care, and genuine inclusivity are essential--especially in spaces designed to support marginalized BLACK women in a society that is already unjust.

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!

Mer is an amazing healer~Incredibly intuitive and musically gifted, she used the Tibetan singing…read morebowls to guide me on a journey of healing & love. The vibrations of that session left me feeling calm, grounded & energized! Highly recommended!

I have been going to Mer for over a year and a half now and she has been a profound influence and…read moreimpact on my life. She caters her healing to the individual and there's no one size fits all on her approach. I can't rave enough about how she has helped me grow as a person, as well as face the challenges of my past. In my opinion, she creates a safe space for healing, the kind of healing we all need to do before truly being able to open fully to all life has to offer. What a gift she is!

Just finished my first class at Banana Yoga 10/10! Super cute space, lockers, nice bathroom w/a…read morebidet! I'm super out of practice but lots of options for modified poses. I will definitely be back!

I have been going regularly to banana for prenatal yoga with both Sybil and Hye and have gotten so…read moremuch benefit for my body, relaxation and emotions during pregnancy as a second time parent. I wanted to take the time to write a review because of the welcoming environment at banana - I've appreciated that they also hold community events in the space, offer sliding scale payment, and gathering opportunities for folks with different backgrounds and interests. I'm hoping to find time to check out more classes postpartum and would recommend banana yoga to anyone, especially for folks who appreciate the more approachable experience. For prenatal yoga specifically, I also want to mention that I tried a few different spots during my pregnancy this time, and banana was by far my favorite!

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

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.

This is such a cool, community experience in the East Bay. I've heard about Wat Mongkolratanaram…read morefor quite some time from friends in the area, and both read about and viewed so much content about this local Sunday event as well. Finally was able to go and experience it! If you've been, would love to hear about your experience too! Essentially, Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Buddhist temple located on Russell Street in Berkeley. They serve lunch to the community (I believe 10a to 1p, although do research ahead of time to ensure they're serving the day you come). I would recommend coming earlier than later, as some items do go quickly. Bring cash with you because your cash = how many coins/tokens you will receive to give the food stations. Right by the coin checkin area, you will find the beverage area of water/Thai tea, and other bevvies. The Thai Tea goes fast too, so also recommend grabbing one early if that's your go-to. There are community-style tables/chairs and also a grass area to enjoy your meal. I noticed several groups bringing blankets and picnic baskets for their afternoon set up. A great idea! For vegetarians or those looking for a more veggie focused lunch, there was a separate line for that. We arrived a little late, so the food stall I waited in line for only had minced pork, yellow curry, and rice, although that alone was filling enough and so delicious. My husband stood in a line for a beef noodle soup. I noticed a food stall with papaya salad, potentially fried chicken, and I believe a mango sticky rice. For dessert we waited in line for the Thai coconut pancakes or Kanom Krok, in cinnamon and plain flavors..they also were serving chive too! I love that you can 'leave a bag/take a bag' if you want to grab these items to-go, as well as grab plastic to-go containers too. There are napkins, utensils, and a sauce station. This is run by all volunteers I think, and everyone was so friendly and helpful. Parking isn't impossible, but because this happens only on Sundays, it did take a few minutes additionally to grab street parking nearby. All in all, a lovely afternoon paying homage to the beautiful Thai culture through food and community. Would def do it again and just prepare to arrive closer to the beginning of the event.

CASH ONLY! Sunday brunch…read more Just based off sheer selection, the Thai temple in Berkeley is the place to go to eat on Sundays. Came on a rainy day and the place was still pretty packed. I really enjoyed the plate and all the sides were pretty solid. Well-spiced and perfect with rice. The soup noodle was good, the celery kind of threw me off but it's filling and warm. The mango sticky rice is classic. Definitely going to stop by again.