I met Shannon a long time ago at a restorative yoga class that she was teaching. After a fully…read morerelaxing hour, she shared that she also did dance classes and body work. I took her card and kept it. and kept it and even through spring cleaning and desk clearing, I kept it. Until finally this weekend I decided that I wanted something restorative and nurturing, so I went to see Shannon. She has a welcoming home studio in a residential part of Berkeley, which I liked because I could feel the vibes of her home. I always prefer this to manicured offices, even though it takes a certain vulnerability and bravery for massage therapists to open up a glimpse into their lives this way. During the initial check in, she was very attentive and listened to how I was feeling very closely. She was encouraging, and also relatable. I asked for a shiatsu massage, which is done fully clothed on two soft sheepskin rugs in the middle of the floor. After some sound therapy and chanting, she very thoughtfully stretched and cradled each limb. It was very cool to see how patiently she worked, how relaxed and rhythmic the pace was, and how she seemed very attuned to what as going on with me. At one point, I was beginning to get cold, and just as I was about to mention it, I felt a blanket being draped over me. She talks about how the music and the eye pillow help one to "drop down" into the space, but a lot of the time I felt like I was flying, as she waved my feet and made full circles with each arm, stretching my back and neck. It was a very special massage, and I am happy that she is still teaching restorative yoga, now in my neighborhood, so I can drop in for this kind of supported, guided resting more often!

I've been working with Shannon for the past few months for holistic massage. Prior to meeting…read moreShannon, I would leave a massage and think, "well that felt great". I leave my sessions with Shannon more in tune with the world around me, far more relaxed, and happier. I go somewhere else when I'm with her. And it's a good place. Thank you Shannon!

The absolute best‼I have done so much healing working with Deborah. She cares, she listens, and…read moreshe knows what she's doing.

Deborah Rosen is the most knowledgeable and caring person I…read moreknow . She gives a great advice and I definitely feel a difference I will absolutely recommend her

This is a very cute small studio in a nice location in North Oakland. Julia, the studio owner, is…read morean excellent teacher -- careful sequencing, careful instruction, knowledgeable. However, I've done classes with a half dozen or so other teachers and they were all pretty meh. For me, it just isn't worth it when there's only one teacher whose classes I enjoy. However, if you're looking for a private instructor, Julia would be a good choice.

This is where I got introduced to Pilates. I work with Cheyenne and she's terrific. I've done yoga…read moreand gym workouts for decades, but Pilates is unique. You want an instructor who's knowledgeable, encouraging, patient, and communicates clearly. Someone who can adapt the workout to your specific needs and abilities. Cheyenne is all those things. Plus the facility is clean and comfortable. I really like this place.

Kelley is in tune with me when I go, focusing on what I need that day. She keeps me in proper…read more form and encourages me through new and harder moves. I appreciate her positive guidance. I've been working with her for over 8 years and grateful for her instruction.

Kelley is a grade a healer. I came to Kelley with clarity around what I was wanting to work on and…read moreher 40 day transformation coaching program ended up changing my life. As someone who has actively practiced mindfulness for years, I can truly say that this particular program has been by the far the most powerful work I have done. Kelley trained me on Kundalini, meditation, and yoga. I noticed a difference in my energy, my gut health, my posture, my sleep schedule, self discipline and my over all well being. I quite literally went through a detoxing period. In addition to the incredibly Kundalini practice that Kelley guided me through, her expertise shined when I needed to work through emotional things in the moment. Her ability to bring out the inner guru within you is mind blowing. As someone who has been through therapy, seminars ... (the list goes on...) LOL! I am deeply astonished at the quick results I got from the transformation program. I can not recommend Kelley Denison enough, her gift is beyond rare and my experience far surpassed anything I could have hoped for.

Karen Casino is one of those Berkeley people you feel so fortunate to meet. She's a New Yorker…read moreturned hippie slash pilates instructor who works primarily with women who have recently given birth. Her pilates studio is a lovely and warm little outpost in her backyard, which has one of the largest and most vibrant succulent gardens I've ever seen. Going to her classes is rewarding on so many levels. She really knows the postnatal body and works with you individually and as a class to strengthen your core and start building muscle again. She also has a friendly aura that makes you feel right at home in a class of complete strangers. In any given class she drops words of wisdom on body alignment, essential oils, healthy hippie food, succulents, communes, etcetera. I feel lucky to have found Karen at a time when I needed to reawaken my body after pregnancy. There's no one else I'd rather do kegels with!

EDIT: I just realized there's a ton of filtered reviews for Karen but I can't figure out why those…read moreare filtered and these are unfiltered. They all match my experience with Karen. Prenatal yoga classes are nice but they don't really cut if for me. There are tons of them but there are only two prenatal pilates options in the East Bay. Why is this? It's amazing how much Karen can get done in just a one-hour class. Her experience and understanding of the pre- and post-partum body is so comforting for a first-time mom like myself. I especially appreciate her advice about other physical activities I am continuing throughout my pregnancy so I can stay active but also safe. My pelvic floor gets a workout in addition to other muscle groups that I'll need for labor and delivery. I've stopped fretting about diastasis recti (separated ab muscles) because she has shown me how to prevent it and she knows how to help me get it back together after I give birth. I consider myself a bit of a jock and I want to continue being a jock after I give birth. Karen really should charge more, given what I get in exchange in terms of her mastery of anatomy and attention to my body. I'm going to spring for privates because that's how much I love her. I haven't gone for any of her bodywork (massage) yet but I'm pretty sure I will as I get near the end of this pregnancy. Karen Casino is the best-kept and most affordable prenatal secret in the Bay Area.

If you're even thinking about doing craniosacral therapy, give yourself the gift of working with…read moreCatharine. Her intuition, ability to reach the deeper levels of your body's psyche, and her undeniable wisdom can help you understand yourself on a new level and unlock healing. I wish everyone in this hurting world could experience her gifts - we'd all be better for it, individuality and collectively.

I am a bodyworker and have had five craniosacral sessions with Catharine. During the sessions, my…read morelimbs move on their own, making small, spontaneous adjustments. The work feels deep and genuinely transformative. After one session, I could still feel the micro-movements later that evening and into the next day. Overall, my back now feels more supple and less restricted. I highly recommend Catharine!

I've been working with Dima and have truly benefitted from her knowledge and balanced approach…read more She explains the purpose behind each exercise, which has helped me build confidence and understand proper form instead of just going through the motions. Her coaching is supportive and encouraging without ever feeling pushy. With her accountability and structure, I've become more consistent and noticeably stronger. I've also improved my posture, eating habits, and overall health. I appreciate the personalized attention and the way she challenges me while making me feel supported.

My husband and I had agreed long ago that I was a lemon. Given a chance for injury or…read morecomplication, my body would jump at the opportunity from falls to always being in the 5% when a procedure has a 95% success rate. It was getting to the point that my husband and I were afraid someone was going to report him for abuse. After another computing/typing related flare sent me to a neurologist, she suggested physical therapy, but also to start Pilates. An active person who avidly walks and cycles daily, I'd always considered PIlates a luxury exercise, but Reform Your Body Pilates was close, soI thought I would give it a shot. It may have been the single best decision I have made for my health. In the individual assessment Sornam listened attentively to my historical laundry list of maladies (repetitive stress injuries, broken foot, ankle, wrist, breast reduction complications, back/neck problems, pelvic floor collapse, etc.). Where few others had, she saw a bigger picture emerge and began devising a treatment plan. She gently introduced me to the exercises, the equipment, and her approach in a manner that made it accessible to someone who always hated group activities or use of equipment due to lack of coordination. When I began sessions with two other clients, she was and has always been careful to modify exercises for each of us according to our bodies' requirements. Remarkably, with her guidance both in class and outside of class, many of my symptoms across various ailments began to dissipate. I grew stronger and surprisingly to me, less clumsy. In the subsequent years, I went from once a week to twice a week sessions because Sornam has kept me in motion. When I experienced another unrelated series of surgical complications, Sornam nursed me back to a state where I could resume bicycling daily. When I developed a autoimmune disorder that results in chronic pain, (I mentioned I was a lemon, right?), I began running to manage my emotions and avoid opiates. Given the sheer number of potential injuries associated with running, Sornam could never counsel someone like me to pick it up, but when I insisted, she helped me through the repeated beginner's injuries. Twice in five years, when out of town, I have dropped into a different Pilates class. These other instructors took no care to accommodate, nor to recognize the exercises that could easily cause injury even to a healthy body. I could not finish either class. They reminded me of how incredibly fortunate I am to have Sornam. Sornam is an essential part of my continued health plan. I recommend her for any lemon, as well as any other kind of fruit in the bowl. She is in a word, marvelous.

I was suffering from a debilitating back issue when I sought out Pilates. Sornam came up as one of…read morethe highest rated Pilates instructors in the area and I would soon learn why. She helped me become better aware of my posture, my core, and to carefully strengthen my body to better support itself. Working in a small trio class, I received closer attention and Sornam could correct me if needed. Highly recommend her studio if you are serious about working with a warm, knowledgeable and capable instructor, getting leaner and stronger in a safe way without injuring yourself, &/or if you would just like to maintain a conditioned and flexible body overall. Time/location restrictions (on my part) have prevented me from further sessions with her, but it was one of the best investments I've ever made. She is generous with her knowledge and I am so much better for it. Thank you Sornam!