Jin Sung is an amazing teacher, truly dedicated to his craft. He has a keen eye and zones in…read morecarefully to where adjustments are needed for every student in the class. His dog, Teddy is so cute, and a nice addition to the class. I always leave feeling lighter and looser. On Sundays, he offers the beginners class suitable for anyone whether they have experience or not. I've been to many yoga studios, and they don't always pay attention to you or your form. Jin Sun will make sure you are doing the asanas correctly.

I honestly think this is the best place for yoga in the east bay. JinSung is an amazing teacher…read moreand will truly help your practice no matter what stage you are at in your journey. As others have said, this is not jazzercise yoga. This is a true yoga practice - spending time in each pose. On top of JinSung being an amazing teacher, the studio is spacious and beautiful with ropes on the walls. Honestly, having a studio and a teacher this good is an absolute gift. If you haven't been to one of these classes yet - you may truly be missing the best opportunity.

Jennifer Meek is a great yoga teacher because she lives the practice, she has a deep understanding…read moreof how it all fits together, and respects yoga as a tool for comprehensive understanding and health. Not many yoga teacher actually embody the ideals of yoga. Jen is satvic through her own hard work and cultivation of awareness. Perfect for those looking for something deeper & those just getting started or wondering how to get into (or back into) yoga after an injury.

Jennifer Meek is a wonderful yoga instructor. I have had the privilege to drop in on her classes at…read moresquare one yoga in Emeryville, CA and as a shy beginner, her class was the most welcoming and comfortable. She has a great gift of being in tune with her students. She has a grounding presence and creates a very spiritual experience for folks like myself who are looking to take care of mind and body simultaneously. Years later, I had a consultation with Jennifer for yoga therapy after a bad knee and back injury and she worked magic! She helped me heal with simple body awareness techniques and opened my world to a whole bunch of body awareness that I carry with me to this day. I highly recommend her, especially for those who have dealt with chronic pain and injury. She is a true healer.

I recently took Elina's 'Curvy Girls & Big Guys Do Yoga' class at Piedmont Yoga. Loved it. I'm…read morerecovering from knee/foot surgeries from a year or so back and I'm just now feel able (balance & strength) to get active again. Recovery has been long and during all of this I picked up extra weight as well. Elina was very inviting and took extra care to learn of any physical limitations I might have before starting class. The other participants in the class were open and great to work alongside. I didn't feel self-conscious about my ability or size. I'll be back for more classes.

I have had very mixed experiences at Piedmont Yoga. I have attended the restorative class with…read moreJoAnn Lyons on Saturdays and absolutely loved It. On Wednesday mornings there is a Gentle flow class at 8a, which i was excited about as it would fit nicely with my work schedule that day. The first time I attended the class Melina Mesa was subbing and she was amazing. She assisted me in making adjustments to the poses to support my medical issues and actually changed her plan for the class to focus on my needs since I was the only one in attendance. However, I attended the same class a couple weeks later and was very disappointed. The teacher arrived 20+ minutes late, which I was told by other yogis there is typical. Also, it was a gentle flow class, which, in my experience, means that teachers pay attention to the students' physical limitations and offer ways to adapt the poses. Not only did she not do this, but when long time students mentioned their long term limitations, she seemed shocked. Also, gentle yoga is typically a slow flow, the speed in which she guided our breathing a movements, made me anxious, to the point i just began ignoring her direction and going at my own slower pace. I would recommend Piedmont yoga as a whole, but will never attend this class again unless there is a sub.

Charlotte is a wonderful teacher. Very sweet and knowledgeable. After her classes I feel enlivened…read moreand calmer. -Michela

As a yoga teacher myself, I am quite particular about the classes I will take. The instruction,…read morevoice, and sequencing are important for a true mind-body experience. Charlotte delivers on all accounts beautifully and with heart. I strongly recommend anyone either take her class or consider a private with this amazing instructor!

I am writing this review as both a health care provider and a client of Leah Paperno. Leah rocks! I…read morecouldn't have asked for a better pilates instructor. I've been doing privates with Leah for a few months now and have noticed many positive changes in my body. My hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, intermembronosis and intertendonosis) tend to be tight, my groin muscles (gracilis) tend to be tight (and weak) and my abs (rectus abdominus, obliques) tend to be weak. Thanks to Leah's observations, we have explored both stretching out these bad boys and making them stronger. My body awareness has increased dramatically under Leah's instruction and I feel my body both open up and become stronger. Everyone should be so lucky to have a wonderful pilates teacher like Leah! The nitty gritty: Cash or check, park in the lot that shares with Mariposa Bakery and get there on time to make the most of your sessions with Leah! Find Leah here: http://leahpaperno.wordpress.com/

A welcoming, organized, fully equipped studio in a lovely space, with a darling chocolate lab…read moreon-site (as in labrador retriever, not a laboratory for making chocolate :) But the best thing about this studio is Alyssa Conn. Her in-depth knowledge of anatomy, exercise physiology, orthopedics, bodywork, and movement is tremendously helpful if you're dealing with pain, injury, or asymmetry. What's even better is that she explains things to me very clearly and patiently, which is important because I want to understand the underlying causes of my frequent injuries and how to treat and prevent them.

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.

Over my twenty year tenure as a Core Cat client, the studio has adapted my various needs with a…read moredeep knowledge of biomechanics. As I age, I am really appreciating Kelly's grasp of how the body ages and responds to trauma. The one-on-one classes guarantee that the experience is perfectly tailored to me, and there is always the perfect prop at hand--in an appealing shape and color! The studio is light and beautiful, with many design elements upon which to rest the eyes and soothe the soul. Each time, I feel as though I have gone on a mini-vacation retreat. Couture experience.

Victoria is a great Pilates teacher! Like seriously!!!!…read more Her studio is conveniently located between Jack London and Alameda near the freeway with ample parking. Her studio is bright and airy and has all of the Pilates equipment you could want. She assesses your capabilities, listens to your goals and tailors a training program to accomplish them. If you want a session to kick your butt, no problem. If you want a session to be a bit more restorative, you got it! She makes wonderful modifications to accommodate injuries new and old even unexpected injuries acquired the day before your session. Afterwards, there's a lovely fountain just outside the window for you to sit and reflect on your hard work and and mentally prepare to get put to work during your next session! Whether you are new to Pilates or are a seasoned practitioner, Victoria has the skills and desire to help expand your practice!

Yoga - TRE Trauma Release - Cranial Sacral…read more Aviva is an amazing healer! I started out doing yoga with Aviva at various yoga spots in the East Bay years ago. Whenever I found out where she would be teaching yoga or having a TRE Trauma Release seminar I was there. Blending her yoga and TRE is amazing...one time a major purge was released at the end of class when I was going through some heavy stuff. Another time when I was in trauma she came to my business and did an hour of cranial sacral on me. It was phenomenal. Aviva rocks! Recently I had a traumatic thing happen to me and she came to my house, did TRE with me while I cried on the living room floor. She truly came to my rescue. The East Bay is lucky to have her on our team!!! XO

I don't know how to express in words how amazing this woman is!…read more Aviva is not a simple yoga/pilates instructor. Her classes have nothing of all that small-talk-cashier-line-convo bs. She knows a lot about the body, about how the muscles connect to each other, how and where we tend to hold stress and tension. She teaches you how to listen and work with your own body. I hated yoga and today I cannot go a week without her class! I've been taking her classes for 2 years and I have never felt so good with myself. I am the strongest I have ever been, I know each and every part of my body, I know how to listen to my body, and how to respect its limitations. All thanks to Aviva. Her instructions are very detailed and will teach you how to align your body in every pose so you can get the most out of it. She is very mindful about limitations and injuries, and will also teach you modifications for when you're working with some sort of pain, injury, or when we are tighter due to stress. Taking her class in the middle of my week completely reenergizes me. I highly recommend her classes for anyone, regardless of their age or level of instruction in Yoga/Pilates.