AYCE hot pot for the win! Came to Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu after they were featured on Yelp's top 100…read moreplaces to eat in the Bay Area list. Even though they aren't too far from me I hadn't heard of them before. It's an unassuming spot tucked into a shopping center next to a bagel and water shop, but it gets crowded, and for good reason. This was only my second time ever having hot pot, the first time was not AYCE and was an individual pot, so it was fun to try the shared AYCE way. We picked two broths, the Shrimp and signature, and then went down the menu selecting proteins and other add-ons. We went with the Ultra over the supreme so we could get some of the nicer cuts of meats. They have happy hour pricing of a few dollars off earlier in the evening, which was going on when we were in. Non-meat dd-on favorites included the Napa cabbage, kabocha squash, ramen, bok choy, and shitake mushrooms. We got the Enoki mushrooms the first round, but switched to shitake for round two and they were the favorite. My boyfriend's favorite meat was the wagyu, and I was partial to the pork and angus beef, but everything was good.

Soups: . Black Garlic Tonkatsu…read more. Tom Yum Broth AYCE :) Picked the Ultra Option for more meat selection and Mini Gyudon Rice Bowl (had 4 bowls of it, it's so flavorful and delicious). Soups are flavorful, garlic actually comes through, meat is good quality that melts in your mouth, marbling looks good. I will say that the broth does end up becoming really salty near the end but you can ask the servers for more broth.

Perfect place for taichi! Quiet, peaceful and wonderful people. Their sound healing sessions werw…read morealso fantastic.

I've been attending Jay Shelfer's Tuesday Tai Chi class at the Hillside Club for several years. He…read moreis a terrific teacher-knows the work on a deep level, explains the concepts, and answers all questions patiently and thoughtfully. The space is lovely and the atmosphere friendly. I had been looking for a good Tai Chi class for a long time, and have been really happy with this one. Highly recommended!

I had come across Tai Chi and its benefits many times. In my mindfulness class meditation we…read morepracticed Qigong. I had kept Tai Chi in the back of my head for many months. Eventually, I decided to take classes to learn the art and form of Tai Chi and achieve some of its benefits. I started taking classes at Tai Chi Chuan in Berkeley with Andreas Asmus over four months ago. I fell in love with Tai Chi almost immediately. It was like meditation in motion. The graceful and effortless movements (not mine, but Andreas') opened up a new challenge for me. After taking Andreas' class for over four months, I can feel and see the benefits in my life: - My awareness has improved - Anxiety is "relaxing" - My body is getting stronger - Tai Chi has complemented and enhanced my mindfulness meditation - I feel sharper and smarter - After practicing Tai Chi, I get a "Runner's high". I am an ex-marathon runner, and I feel that sudden euphoric feeling that I experienced during my long runs. Tai Chi makes me happy. Andreas is an exceptional teacher. His dedication to his students and humble demeanor makes you feel very comfortable, even when you turn right instead of left or you move your right hand instead of your left foot. He does not rush through his class and spends the time to teach each student in a very personal and professional way. I highly recommend Andreas. I actually, I urge every reader to give Tai Chi and Andreas a chance. For those that are looking to shed stress and acquire awareness, peace and happiness, Tai Chi is the way to go.

I wanted to share my experience taking classes with Andreas, who is the instructor for Yang Style…read moreTai Chi Chuan in Berkeley. I've been taking classes with him for a little over a year now and plan to continue doing so. My original intent was to find a martial art which aligned both the 'inner' and 'outer,' so to speak. I had some previous experience with other martial arts, but this time I was seeking an art form that didn't just focus on self-defense or simply repeating move sets to achieve the next colored belt. I was looking for a genuine form which had a meditative aspect while simultaneously teaching the martial art. My experience in taking Tai Chi with Andreas has been exactly that. Andreas is a kind and patient man who displays a deep understanding of the art form. He does not rush on getting through the movements quickly, but rather repeats them as necessary until all of the intricacies of each form are learned. Students are encouraged to turn the mind 'off' and to 'listen' as each movement is carried out, returning awareness to the present. I know the classes are working for me because of how I feel after each class; centered, clear and calm. Classes are an hour long, and offered on a couple evenings during the week. The studio he teaches at is in Berkeley near San Pablo and Dwight. The class sizes are small, which is great because it gives everyone a chance to have the individual attention necessary for improving their form. I would recommend this class to anyone who is looking for an 'internal' art form, which has been proven to provide health benefits both physically and mentally.

First time trying the boba tea and it was good. I ordered the kunquat fruit tea and my husband got…read morethe peach fruit tea with herbal jelly. I do like that both drinks were not overly sweet and I can definitely taste the fruit flavor. The place was clean and had plenty of seating. A good place to seat, relax and play some board games which they do offer with friends. I really didn't interact with the staff as I ordered my drinks on a touch screen and they called my order number. Everyone was professional and there was no problems. Next time I come back, I'll try their food when I get my tea.

This could be my new favorite boba shop. Original milk tea has a great tea flavoring. I opted for…read moreno added sugar on the taro milk tea and there was still taro taste to it as opposed to other boba shops that would've just watered it down. They also had taro crystal boba as a topping option (not really much taro taste to it, but I enjoy the crystal boba texture). They offer small and large option for drinks too. The shop is very clean and lots of seating. They have a wide menu variety too so I'll be back to give some of the food options a try.

Order: Sesame…read morechicken: tender boneless pieces of chicken in a mixture tangy and spicy sauce. lettuce on the bottom for the base. Employees in front are friendly and provide fortune cookies. There are tables for dine in, and place is clean. chicken is tender. food gets expensive each year, but the taste is the same

I stopped in here for lunch because I was in the area. There is an extensive lunch specials menu…read morehere. Lunch specials come with a bowl of soup. I went with the orange chicken lunch special. It was strips of chicken breast battered and deep-fried with steamed white rice. The coating on my chicken was light and crispy with a sweet and spicy orange sauce. Service was quick and efficient. Ambiance was typical Chinese restaurant with plains tables and chairs.

This is exactly the Tai Chi class you would expect to find in an old church gym on College Ave. in…read moreNorth Oakland. It was probably 85% retired white ladies, the instructors were VERY friendly and welcoming, and they take a snack and tea break halfway through the class. First one is free!

Slow, forgiving tai chi. They have periodic beginner classes which most of the beginners take…read moreseveral times. It's not about the getting there, it's about the journey. Thoroughly enjoying the voyage.

I want to say something about my teacher, whose name I know in English as Patty Li. I've been…read moretaking the Friday taiji class at the Berkeley YMCA for about a month and a half My name is Rick, and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet, but Patty who I met at the Y suggested that I come to the Friday Taiji class. I use a walker for balance, and sometimes need to lean against the wall so I don't just tumble over But Patty invited me and I came. Since I started the class I have noticed a marked improvement in my balance, my strength and my ability to focus my breath and my attention in my body Patty is an incredible teacher, a master of her arts, who has been doing martial arts, since she was a child in Beijing. I didn't know any of this when she invited me to class. Most people when they see me and my walker write me off as being unable to do things, but Patty didn't see any of that, she just saw another human being with a willingness to learn, I think she's incredibly perceptive person. So I started coming to the class and have only missed once in about two months I've been going to the Y every other day for swimming and some weight training, but Friday has become my favorite day I do the taiji class at 10 AM, and then I follow it up with a swim It was very clear to me from the beginning that Patty is an incredibly disciplined person, but what I really love about her, is her grace, and the humor with which she teaches... in other words she makes it really fun. Regardless of different peoples capability in class, she works with each of us so that we can become stronger, more balanced, and more able to practice this beautiful moving meditative art form She is a treasure, and I am blessed to have her as my teacher, and the YMCA is blessed to have her as part of this community 老师，谢谢 Thank you teacher

Are you a parent looking to encourage your kids (especially Chinese-American kids) to start martial…read morearts? Have cash to spare? Great! Are you an adult who learned some wushu as a child, fell out of practice through your teens, and want to pick it back up as an adult? Try a drop-in class for $35, and then see if you want to continue here. In my case, after two classes, I found another school to practice with. I hesitated leaving a poor review because why bother with all these 5 star reviews stacked against me? But I remember why I use Yelp: to consult legit reviews before I spend money on any establishment. Hence, I feel the need to pen this review, especially if there are fellow adults considering wushu here. That one review that says Wushu West takes adults seriously and caters to them too? Maybe that used to be the case, but from my experience, not anymore. Flashback time! My brother and I were wee elementary students enrolled in Wushu West. I remember enjoying the class. For unknown reasons, my parents stopped enrolling us. However, that experience (along with kung fu class in Chinese school) built the foundations of kung fu stances, kicks, and flexibility that I have carried on to this day. My biggest regret was that I never advanced far enough to work with weapons. Fast-forward to present day. I am a young professional who can do pullups & deadlifts. For several years, I kept eyeing Wushu West through the internet, promising myself I'd go back. Stars aligned, and I made my first visit back with a drop-in class. The class was filled with kids younger than me. Where were the adult students that were said to be attending this class too? For a good half hour, Shifu Patti (mind you, I'm only calling her Shifu out of respect) lead the class through warmups, which frankly feel like a huge waste of time, something that should be done before class starts. It's just jogging, jumping jacks, some kicks, and LOTS of stretching and counting in Chinese. I'm here to learn, not to do warmups that I can do by myself. Even when you're doing wushu exercises (various kicks, spins, stances, etc), Shifu doesn't lead them. It's her kid students leading the exercises. They go so fast, I can't keep up with forms and sequences I'm supposed to maintain and follow, so I flounder along while watching with a mix of admiration for the kids, and frustration that I can't keep up nor am I taught properly on how to keep up. Yes, the cool student leader will stop and walk through it with you a few times at most, but then it's on to the next cool move...that I can't keep up with. Meanwhile, Shifu sits on the sidelines. I came back one more time to see if it was an improvement from the first class. The oldest student I saw here was a man, but everyone else was a kid, with the eldest one maybe in high school. My gripes: 1) Shifu does NOT take into consideration my experience and skill level. I am either doing kiddie exercises or floundering with being unable to keep up with advanced moves. 2) My second visit here, I was assisting moving furniture, when my shin slammed into a wooden part of a furniture. It hurt like a MF-er, to the point that I felt the impact down to my shin bone. I had a deep cut on my shin. Although it clotted quickly, it swelled up to a huge bump. Shifu kept repeating, "It's just skin, you'll be fine," when I told her that I could feel the pain in my bone too. Way to be sensitive. 3. Shifu had me sign a release form after I was hurt. Whenever I sign anything, I take a photo of it on my phone so that I can have the form for my records. Shifu Patti gave me attitude and said, "We don't do that here, you don't need this record." I explained I do this whenever I sign a form. She said, "Why do you need a copy of this record? It's no one's business." Excuse me, this is MY BUSINESS. As a customer, it's my absolute right to take a photo of anything I sign for my records. She gave me major attitude. I really could not believe I had to argue for a copy of my records. 4. When I said bye to her (after she had a conversation with a kid's parents and nicely said bye to them), she wouldn't look at me and then barked that I can't pay drop-in prices anymore, I have to commit to a monthly plan if I wanted to continue here. I simply asked her to remind me of pricing, and she just waved me off, snapping, "You already took a photo, isn't that what you took that for?" Bless San T for his Yelp review from 2013, when he said, and I quote: "when it comes to business and money, she is downright horrible. and cheap...the way you run your business is part of the practice.  And you can't ignore a shady businessperson no matter how great of a teacher they are." I wonder how many other people have left with a bad experience, and just don't want to write Yelp reviews. Maybe my parents took me and my brother out of this class because of their experience with Shifu Patti. I'll never know.

As a competitive Olympic lifter, I was suffering from an old shoulder (rotator cuff) injury of 6…read moreyears that never went away. I visited doctors, physical therapies, chiropractors and while they were able to treat me somewhat, the pain never really went away and I was struggling in my workouts. It wasn't until I met John and received his sports acupuncture that my rotator cuff started to slowly heal. I was able to rotate and have greater range of mobility. It definitely was a slow and steady journey, but the sports acupuncture finally started the healing process for me. After a few months of consistent treatment (being consistent is key here!!), I was able to get back to what I love doing which is competitive Olympic lifting. John also offers "pre-performance" sports acupuncture where he targets activations of specific muscles that you would be using prior to your competition. And hey...it made me hit some personal best lifts and made me rank 22nd in the nation!!!! Thank you John, l'm forever grateful.

I can't say enough good things about White Magnolia Acupuncture. I had been struggling with painful…read moretendonitis in my wrist for over a year that limited my ability to function. I was feeling extremely frustrated and hopeless about how to get better. After two failed cortisone shots and on the verge of getting surgery, I decided to give acupuncture a try for the first time. It took several months, but I am now almost completely pain free and back to all my usual functioning. John is the utmost professional: full of information and willing to answer any and all questions, but also very kind and comforting. I highly recommend White Magnolia!

My wife and I are both enjoying ourselves. We decided to take Tai Chi as a way to keep active…read more The instructor (Evi) is friendly and supportive. She make sure that the students are have a good time and learning at their own pace. Sifu Amin Wu drops in sometime to see how the students have progressed. Sifu Amin Wu is amazing in her own right. She has many awards.

Beautiful person. I had my birthday party there and invited 6 friends. She went out of her way to…read moretake Sunday which is her family day to teach us. Seh also wrote me a personal Happy Birthday card and had it hand decorated by one of her daughters and she hung a big birthday balloon banner in the studio for me. She treats me better than my own family! Taichi has a diagnostic phase; different than yoga. During the warmup phase the movement drills she teaches you allows you to diagnose where in the body you have less strength and flexibility. You can also detect loss of symmetry in balance. Very different than other forms of exercise. She also teaches you how to work on specific problem areas related to today's lifestyle like upper shoulders and lower back. These progressions are very different than traditional western based cardio and weight lifting exercise. Can develop a monitoring of your own body ad correlate it with the amount you sleep to tune your health levels. I can't get that by doing more miles on the treadmill. Very unique and talented individual. One in a million. She has world class talent; taught live in Chinese TV to millions of people and was practicing since 4. If you grew up in China you have seen he on TV. Incredible person. Polar opposite of the male powerful western martial arts instructor. Can't believe someone like this exists, very rare. Excellent teacher. Never met someone with this much range; able to customize to different groups so effortlessly. Her bio shows 20+ years of teaching experience and it shows in the sessions. She gave us 2 separate demos. Looks like what you see in the martial arts movies. When she throws a punch, the transition from standstill to fast motion punch is breathtaking. Can't replicate that on movies. They add sound effects which isn't the same as experiencing it in real life. The physical displacement and pace of the movement is not something most people can replicate, looks different when she does it. Definitely a special person. Worth the in person visit. From the awards she has won she is as famous in taichi as is Steph Curry in basketball. Very interesting. Not just the physical talent which makes a champion. Also maturity, mental toughness, and being a better person are all tools which are needed to be the best in the world. Many similarities to what Steph is like today. She is a world champion in what teaches and has won many competitions https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%90%B4%E9%98%BF%E6%95%8F/4753116 Incredible!!!