Andreina. To say she is the BEST zumba teacher I've ever had and that I ADORE her class would be…read moretrue but an understatement. She teaches me more than Zumba - I leave her class not only feeling happy to have moved my body to samba, reggaeton, salsa music but also Inspired by Who She Is & How She Teaches. Andreina juggles having a full time job, 2 kids, a partner, extended family, other interests (photography), non-profit work (travel to underserved countries, giving up her time to teach donation classes every Saturday in October to raise funds for women with cancer), teaching zumba (4 classes per week) at Flying Studios and leading annual zumba retreats (Cuba in 2016!). She does all of this and yet, each time I see her, I am struck by her peaceful & relaxed demeanor. I attended one of her donation classes at the Main Plaza on Bay Street (last donation class this Saturday 10/31 @ 11a - kids welcome) and noticed she wisely adjusted the choreography to compensate for the ground (concrete) and gave frequent breaks for water as it was sunny & hot. She had a guest teacher and a live drummer. She invited the people watching above (2nd level balconey) to come join us. It was a fun hour for an excellent cause (sending women with cancer to a retreat). Andreina is an amazing dancer, has a fabulous body, exudes high energy and an infectious positive attitude, keeps the class moving together at a brisk pace, but what SETS her FAR APART from OTHER zumba teachers is the following: 1. Andreina's goal is to ensure EVERYONE has a good + safe time, so her attention is 100% focused on ALL her students (whether it's a group of 50 or 20) when she is teaching. She will dance in all areas of the room - not just the front - she will dance next to newbies or people who are struggling and when she dances next to you, it is impossible to not smile and feel lighter. :) She will adjust spacing between lines or students at the end of songs (making room for late comers and/or giving people equal space) 2. Andreina goes over new choreography at the beginning of class. 3. Andreina goes over choreography she notices people having trouble with after a song (short break). Breaks down hip gyrations and samba. She gives "homework" to do while you are cooking, etc. 4. Andreina focuses on core - she will point to her belly to indicate "abs in" for the times when engaging one's core is a good thing for certain moves. 5. Andreina focuses on beginners. She asks first-timers to raise their hands at beginning of class and she tells beginners to come at least 3x. She also gives wise advice for beginners - get the legs FIRST then arms. 6. Andreina's choreography is easy to pick up - footwork/arms not complicated - each side is 2 to 4 counts - if you come to class regularly, you will even learn how to samba - (for me, the key was to stop thinking and just let my body go). She also keeps the class fresh for regulars with new songs and choreography but also willing to do old favorites if requested. 7. Andreina is so talented, yet very sweet and low ego. If you have a routine you really are burning to do, you can show it to her and teach the class. (We are currently enjoying a student Chloe's choreography.) 8. Andreina is VERY aware of injuries and indiviual limitations. She demonstrates up and down leveling for certain moves. Examples: Touch floor or touch down towards your knee or not bend at all. For plank pushups, you can stay in plank, do mountain climber, or do pushups with knees down or not go down to floor and just move your body to the music. For other moves, you can jump (high impact) or not jump (low impact). You adjust her moves to what your body needs and can handle. Urban Dictionary defines "Andreina" as the following: "Lights everything up. Bewitching in beauty and grace. The end all be all woman." It is an accurate description of Andreina as I know her.

Andreina is an amazing instructor with so much passion for her practices. I love the feeling of…read moreflow and connection when I take her classes. I am grateful that she and others from Flying Studios have brought Zumba, Yoga and meditation to the virtual space during the CV SIP, maintaining our sense of community. Thank you for sharing your gifts.

Life changing amazing classes. I attend three times a week and the gym is a great setup, spacious…read moreand well ventilated. Clarissa's passion shines through her commitment to provide stretches, exercises and sessions focused on maintaining and tuning our bodies for everyday activities. I play basketball indoors regularly and these classes have complimented that activity for better stamina and movement. Motivated every class because Clarissa does a fantastic job of mixing up themes and focuses. The play lists are great as well :) This is coming from someone who has never done yoga, HIT, core or any type of group classes. Check it out!

I am 61 yrs old with rheumatoid arthritis and have never done yoga nor did I think I would be able…read moreto do it. Clarissa makes it easy as she gives alternatives until you are able to do the actual position. No class is the same, we learn something new every week. The mixture of stretching, weights and core work makes the class challenging yet fun. Clarissa is very passionate about yoga, the community and is a great motivator. This is the class you should be in.

Alyssa is more than a yoga teacher. She is that rare combination of heart, intelligence, and…read moreinspiration. Not only has Alyssa improved the health of my body, but she has also helped me come into a better relationship with my body. I highly recommend Alyssa and https://www.bodyofsound.com/

You know when you meet someone and you can just feel your energy totally connect to their's?!…read moreThat's how I felt when I met Alyssa in a dance class over a year ago! Since then, I have felt drawn to connect, create & play with her! She is such a powerhouse of creativity and offers so much to her students, co-creators & friends! I have participated in 3 of the LadyBOS performance series. This is a 5 week series that gathers a group of women, all ages & backgrounds, to empower each other through music & movement. Alyssa guides the group through the experience of creating a performance piece and encourages their input and ideas! I have gained so much from being a part of this experience and I highly encourage you to join the next round of LadyBOS! My most recent experience with Alyssa was at her Body of Sound - Yoga & Music Retreat! I spent a weekend at a gorgeous yurt camp in Santa Cruz with the most amazing group of artists and musicians all thanks to Alyssa! We practiced yoga, played drums & other percussion instruments, enjoyed the hot tub, ate delicious food & made great memories! I wish I could do it every weekend! I hope you consider all Alyssa has to offer- you'll never look back!

I used to practice yoga 4 to 6 times a week. Not perfectly, not gracefully, but consistently. It…read morewas a core part of how I took care of myself. When the pandemic hit, I could not get into digital classes. I missed the energy of being in a studio, and without it, I stopped showing up for myself physically. Fast forward to now. After moving from San Francisco to Oakland, I tried a few studios. They were fine, but something was missing. I would leave with the mental and spiritual benefits, but physically I barely broke a sweat. For me, that is only part of the equation. Then I found Left Coast Power Yoga. Within the first 30 seconds of my first class, just hearing the instruction, I knew I had found my place. If the word "power" intimidates you, it did for me too. Do not let it stop you. And if you are looking for that physical intensity, you will find it here. They offer both ends of the spectrum and everything in between. Some classes I leave completely drenched, like I just stepped out from under a waterfall. Others I leave feeling deeply aligned, structurally sound, and grounded with just a light glisten. Both feel equally valuable. If you are on the fence about booking a class, book it. Classes often fill up, and you do not want to be the one stuck on the waitlist wishing you had committed. I have never once regretted going to a class or getting a workout in. I have absolutely regretted the internal dialogue that comes when I skip for reasons that felt valid in the moment. I am fully hooked. I joined mid-March. It is now six weeks later, and I structure my days around getting to class. I have shifted social plans to make it happen. If I have to choose, I am choosing the mat. Both locations are incredible. Every instructor brings something different, and I have yet to take a class that did not deliver. Yes, it brought me back physically, but it also delivers on all three pillars I care about: mind, body, and spirit.

I recently purchased the new client special to see if this studio matched my vibe. It TOTALLY does!…read moreReally enjoying all of the restorative classes as I'm building up to start their power yoga in a few months when I feel ready. The entire crew is just so lovely! Have not met one yoga teacher that I have no cared for. The vibe is chill, happy and friendly and their studios are immaculate. The yoga teachers are great at correcting when in the incorrect positions. I love that. Think that I'm taking five classes this week. My body is so happy and singing opera. Finally I found my spot. Highly, highly, highly recommend. ‍

Dropped into a class with Shereel today and was absolutely delighted with her spirit, prowess and…read moreteaching. I thoroughly enjoyed the class, full of movement and the enjoyment of dance but also encouragement to be slow, connected and mindful. It was wonderful. I loved it!

Come celebrate life in Shereel's amazing dance class!! Whether you're brand new or an ascended…read moremaster, Shereel's infectious energy and inclusive non-judgemental approach will get you moving and sweating with a whole lot of joy to the rhythm and with the flow you never knew you had! She fully unpacks and breaks down complex poly-rhythmic moves into bite-sized do-able pieces so that you can easily explore your learning edge, whatever that may be. She masterfully and subtly builds complexity and quality of movement so that by the end of the class, you're like "wow, I did that!" She provides individualized feedback and positive encouragement, and shares the cultural context and stories of the movements. Best of all, she's aiming for injury prevention and longevity, which is the most important thing for me at age 53. I haven't found anything else like it, which has kept me coming back for more. Shereel is a community gem, I highly recommend you give her class a try, stick with it, and see how you grow!

Never late to get started! No better way to start on the Yoga path than with an extremely patient,…read morecaring and knowledgeable teacher! Thank you Tako for your kindness

I came to my first pole class in October 2022 and have been hooked ever since. I recently loss a…read moresignificant amount of weight and wanted a way to get fit, have fun and feel comfortable in my body. My first class was with Zhara. She was great, full of energy and helpful. After one class, I went to a couple more intro classes eventually I purchased the 10 pack package (more bang for your buck) and subsequently moved to an annual membership after about 3 months of consistent classes. Each class and instructor I have taken has been wonderful. The entire staff is knowledgeable, encouraging and willing to offer feedback and assistance. I have taken multiple classes with the convenience of the annual pass. (Ie intro, low flow, twerk, poleography, pole workout, inversion etc). I have nothing but positive feedback about the instructors. Zhara's energy and abilities are awesome! Kelli's intro to pole and inversion class is wonderful. I always feel challenged but encourage that I will continue to progress. Kate's breakdown of the technical details with intro to inversion sessions are amazing. It feels like having a private session. Vickya's exercises in intro to pole particularly looking in the mirror and watching myself has helped me boost my self esteem. Tink's boot camp class has helped me get in better shape. C Michelle's energy and class on twerking has opened my eyes to the art form. Kat's kindness and beautiful choreography in low flow has helped me gain confidence in my own sensuality and body. For someone who never been on a pole 5 months ago and was shy to now being able to climb and starting to learn inversion, this studio has been amazing. So glad I took that first intro class and took a chance in myself. Now I can't get enough!!! I can't say enough positive things about this studio. In a short time I have learned so much and am excited weekly for my pole classes. I have met diverse folks of all backgrounds and it's beautiful to be part of this community.

This review is for Tink! Hands down the strongest, funnest, and most empowering women I have met…read more Thank you for your enthusiasm, encouragement and sharing all your fun tricks with me. So thrilled that you always have my back and bring such positive energy to every class. THANK YOU!!!

Arise is an incredible studio. The teachers and staff members are all sweet, personable, and…read moretalented in their practices. It's my first recommendation I make to anyone I meet.

I came for a 7am class! I booked on Classpass. When I checked in, the woman acted like she seen me…read morebefore haha "What's your name again?" There was more than enough cubby space for belongings and shoes. The class was fairly full. I felt good after. After class, I enjoyed a mint tea! It's nice that they offered that. Also, the bathrooms were nice and clean and had things like extra hair ties if you needed them.