I began going to the Torrance Zen Center over a year ago. I had always thought of Zen as something…read morefound in books, or from the past, or something a few other unusual people did in far-away places. Enlightenment seemed like an esoteric, out-of-reach goal, and not one I was necessarily interested in pursuing -- not understanding, it had always struck me as an ironically self-focused pursuit. A Zen state of mind, with balance and equanimity -- that seemed interesting. But through the people at the Torrance Zen Center I found that the Zen path is not about the mind, but very much of the heart, and all the compassion the heart is capable of. The practitioners follow the Greater Path, with the intention of helping anyone and everyone through Zen to manifest a better version of themselves. And Enlightenment? It's about helping other people. Becoming in sync with the Greatest Good, however the name given by one's language culture. While the foundational practitioners natively speak Mandarin or Cantonese, they all make a dedicated and successful effort to speak English in teaching, sharing, and casual interactions, for which I am deeply and profoundly grateful. They have graciously and continuously extended a warm, including welcome. I have occasionally felt "odd man out," but: my doing. Their generosity of heart always surges back and I relax a bit more. Shortly after beginning meditation practice, I noticed, to my surprise, that many people - some I knew and some I didn't - suddenly seemed more comfortable around me, eager to talk and share whatever was on their minds. Positive feelings and experiences began to dominate my life, all while retaining and improving family relations, growing friendships, and more easily establishing new connections with people. Life is short. Five Stars!

The meditais a very peaceful place. And the people overs there are very friendly. The location is…read morenot too far from the Torrance city hall and parking is free.

The location of the studio is great, there is plenty of free parking and I received a warm welcome…read morefrom the host. The studio is clean and well laid out, and the lighting was set perfectly. The Sound bath meditation was wonderful. An hour long session, including bowls and recorded ocean sounds, with a brief intro. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will definitely go again.

The most complete and immersive sound bath experience ever!!! Erika and Nico are accessible and…read moreinviting. Their space feels safe and comfortable. With a multitude of instruments and 2 musicians playing throughout, the sound experience is powerful and healing.

Ananda Meditation is my spiritual home. This is the place I go to when life gets hard, in need of a…read morefriend, or to celebrate my joy. Often times, I go just to be silent and remind myself of all the beautiful things life has to offer. I put all my trust and love in these people because they have given me so much without expectations. My life has changed because of their guidance. If you're in search of quenching your spiritual thirst look no further. Ananda Meditation offers Yoga classes, Meditation Classes and free weekly lectures. If you have ever wanted to learn how to develop a daily meditation practice sign up for the 8 week Introduction to Meditation. Take home techniques to help manage the daily stresses of life, learn how to deal with difficult people or overcoming anger, resentment or fear. This is also a great place to make friends who are searching for the same things. Learn to live life, be happy and joyful. If you just want to see what all my fuss is about stop by for a free lecture on Mondays or stop in on the Free Class week.

Wonderful spiritual community! I read Autobiography of a Yogi several years ago, and wondered what…read morehappened to Yogananda's legacy and disciples. Ananda is a direct link in the lineage of Yogananda. Saturday morning Yoga is amazing, simply the best drop-in yoga in Southbay. I love the atmosphere and the loving energy that Paul has with all his students. Lots of classes for first time meditators and yoga students, as well as for serious yogis, Raja yoga, and the path to Kriya yoga. They have it all! I usually attend Sunday services at the Ananda West LA temple on Santa Monica Blvd., but can't wait to check out the morning services here at Ananda Southbay. Namaste.

Tried Tai Chi for the first time, and I absolutely loved it! The master was so kind and an…read moreincredible instructor, making everything feel welcoming and easy to follow. The energy throughout the class was amazing, and I was *shocked* to burn as many calories as a regular workout! To top it off, the master graciously served tea and sweet potatoes after class--such a thoughtful touch. I'm definitely coming back and telling my friends about this gem!

I really enjoy the classes! I lost 5 pounds, have no more migraines, feel more calm, and have…read moregained flexibility! The instructors are very helpful!

We hired Lauren to come to our office and lead an introductory yoga session for our employees, and…read moreit was a fantastic experience from start to finish. She did an excellent job creating a welcoming, relaxed environment; especially for those who were completely new to yoga. Lauren explained everything clearly, offered helpful modifications, and kept the session engaging without it feeling overwhelming. Our team really appreciated her calm, encouraging teaching style, and we received great feedback across the board afterward. It was the perfect balance of movement, stretching, and mindfulness, and it left everyone feeling refreshed and energized. We're excited to continue working with Lauren. Highly recommend her for any workplace or group setting!

Lauren did an incredible private class for my husband and I for a very fun date afternoon. It was a…read moreperfect blend of connection and challenge. 10/10 would recommend.

Meditation and mindfulness may not come easily to me but here, it's all so well curated, and the…read moreenvironment plus the lovely volunteers makes for a tranquil and positive experience as I explore ways to relax my busy brain. The interior is in quiet shades of pale yellows, oranges, wood and beautiful images in the meditation space. Be sure to come a bit early to settle in before the meditation, have a cup of tea. You don't have to sit on the floor there are plenty of chairs for the meditation session! There is a restroom inside, place to put your shoes (you may want some socks!), area to sit and chill before or after the meditation session. What makes this center so special are the kind and thoughtful volunteers. This is a place where you will feel the sense of community. This is a special joyful place and I highly recommend trying meditation session. Walkin is $15 so it's accessible! Street parking can be found nearby. TL/dr: come here to reach an internal awareness and inner peaceful practice

Not all meditation training is the same. There are so many places to learn meditation these days,…read moreand a lot of it is just watered down relaxation techniques and pop psychology. I chose Mahamudra KMC because it belongs to a Buddhist tradition that presents meditation in a way that is easily accessible to busy modern people. It's the real deal. Try it and see for yourself. :)

Super relaxing cozy space to do meditative yoga practice…read more Street parking only which can be challenging in this area so give yourself plenty of extra time. I found the room to be a little bit chilly so perhaps layer a sweatshirt on top of your regular yoga longer sleeved/pants look. All props are available without charge. There were mats available as well and I believe they were without charge, but I'm not sure. Gender neutral restroom was super clean and had flowers in it! Slow moving and restorative yoga class made my heart relax and my breath slow down. This is not a sweaty energetic, hot yoga, but instead a tranquil and relaxing experience to put you back in connection with your heart. My class with Christina left me feeling lighter in spirit. First class is free, but I didn't know that and signed up on ClassPass. TL/dr: sweet, tranquil, locals vibing yoga studio

What a special gem for the South Bay community. I went to my very first breathwork and Reiki class…read moreand I felt so grounded afterwards, back home within myself :-) So much gratitude for this place and for the healers guiding the classes. Can't wait to try more. I feel like I know exactly where to go now when I need self-love, grounding and connection.

Walking up the stairs into this elevated airy space brings an instant sense of peace. I love coming…read morein early to pour my tea and set up my space with their beautiful meditation cushions and blankets. Their Accusound event (acupuncture/sound bath) is the perfect combination to allow you to recharge and leave feeling lighter than air. The intro class "The seed" with Chelsey was perfect with my parents who were in manhattan beach for the holidays. 30 min of guided meditation with visualization was just enough for them to get their toes wet. Plus, they were very happy that Rooted Beings had mediation seats (with back for comfort).

This studio is SO beautiful, comfortable and calming - everything you look for / need in a…read moremeditation space..plus its steps to the beach if you feel like extending your meditation post class! The instructors are all top notch - and completely take you out of your wandering mind and away from the stresses of living in LA. Soo glad there is finally a meditation studio in Manhattan Beach like this!!

Had a 90 minute experience with Malia. It was absolutely fantastic. She started with a delicious…read moreseasonal tea and then moved into a salt scrub and heated wrap. As I was in the heated wrap, she played the drum and had me box breathe. She also incorporated singing bowls. It was so relaxing and meditative! Then, I rinsed off and she gave me a massage. She played really beautiful music and did a mix of deep tissue and some stretching. Highly recommend!

This lady is the real deal! She does all types of massage and also breath work and reiki. She has a…read morebeautiful massage room with calming lights and relaxing music. She is very calming, relaxing and has a positive energy. I will be back for another session, it was blissful!

My yoga practice began in 2019 while I was living in the Midwest. While there, I was lucky enough…read moreto find a studio that had so much to offer in every way (instruction style, class variety, scheduling options, studio amenities and cleanliness, easy parking, you name it--they nailed it), that I stayed hyper-loyal to them the entire time I lived there. I even did my 200 YTT training and certification with them! That place was like my second home filled with a rotation of chosen family. Once I moved back home to the South Bay, I knew I'd have a lot more options in terms of studios and styles, but that meant I would have to really shop around and play yoga tourist until I found a good fit. As much as I love yoga, I wasn't looking forward to this process. I didn't want to feel like the stranger, the noob, the clueless casual. I've now taken three classes at 423 Yoga (Yoga Sculpt with Melody, 90 Minute Vinyasa with Jill, and Hot Power with Lori), and I can say with a ton of confidence that this just might be my new home studio. Each of these amazing instructors offered an experience that was completely new to me in some way. I had a lightbulb "Aha!" moment in each class that ushered a breakthrough either in deepening a posture, activating a forgotten muscle, or releasing tension. I've taken hundreds and hundreds of classes (hot, yin, vinyasa, barre, sculpt, F.I.T., weighted yoga, etc.) and what kept me hooked into a regular practice was the daily reset that meant I might feel like Final Boss Yogi one day, and Newborn Baby Deer the next. I was surprised all the time. This type of surprise is a feature of a high quality studio with engaged instructors who don't see this as just another job. They live and breathe it, so their classes feel alive and valuable. In my opinion, Yoga should never feel overly predictable or like a snooze. The classes at 423 kept me locked in, focused, and completely in my breath and body. Class attendance has been on the smaller side, which I love. Overcrowded, loud, heated studios can be way overstimulating, and 423 doesn't feel like that at all. I want to let out a sigh of relief when I arrive, which is exactly what they delivered. The other yogis in attendance have been friendly and welcoming, which is also a plus. The variety of in-house equipment they let everyone use is impressive, and especially so since everyone does their part to actually sanitize each piece after it's used. This is SO rare! I also love that they have a big parking garage. This is such a huge plus anywhere in LA. TLDR: 423 Yoga is doing everything right, and I think I love them for it.

I really enjoy this studio. It's a really nice change of pace in comparison to some larger…read more"corporate" style yoga chains I've been to. The teachers have their own unique flows that make a lot of sense to me. They take the time to correct postures as well due to the experienced teachers and smaller more intimate studio feel. Showers and bathrooms are clean and easily accessible