The Iron Mat

(41 reviews)

3.4 km

Super welcoming, efficient and kind... Keep trying the various teachers and I find there's someone…read morefor everyone in terms of style and Dharma offerings with the various programs in wide variety of teachers... Improvement could be made with donating one portal easy like IMC Redwood City and I would really appreciate less aggressive dana talks and an easier portal /platform for donating going to each individual teachers platform and having to sign up with the platform is not a solution and I appreciate your kind attention and hope this can be made easier for all beings to donate to East Bay Meditation Center because basically I'm waiting until the teachers come to Insight Meditation Center Redwood City and donating to them at that venue because easier. Also another Meditation Center that even has an easier platform for donation is Flagstaff Meditation Center you go in pull down the teacher's name click in the donation arrives to the teacher and or Center....

I have been attending workshops at EBMC sporadically for close to 2 years now. I am not a regular…read moremeditator, despite my intentions, I accept what is for now lol. I value EBMC so much as a learning space. The workshops I have attended always provided information for me, whether about the nature of things or about my inner world that was right on time! I have definitely grown as a result and feel helped along through life's challenges & lessons. I love the gift economics model they use, I just wish we could venmo our donations or some other way online where eventbrite doesn't charge fees. I try to pay cash on site instead when I have it, but yea I hate the fees. Tip: scent free space, and they mean it! I actually love fabric softener (it was a luxury my family did not afford when I was a kid) and now I dump it enthusiastically all over my laundry, so attending events at EBMC requires some extra planning on my part, but I appreciate that they are serious to make it accessible for everyone and it's well worth my effort.

Beyond Ferguson Honoring Ancestors 2014. Photo Human Element Photography

Photo by Katie Loncke

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Photo by Katie Loncke

Breathing Room

(70 reviews)

1.8 km

Breathing Room Yoga is such a beautiful, calming space. From the moment you walk in, you can feel…read morethe grounding energy. The plants, the natural light, and the thoughtful studio design create an atmosphere that feels both peaceful and inspiring. My absolute favorite class is Intentional Flow on Thursdays with Aviva. It is the perfect balance of movement, breath, and presence. I always leave feeling stronger, clearer, and completely reset. I honestly wish they offered this class more than once a week because it is that good. The overall experience, from the warm welcome to the flow of the class itself, feels intentional and uplifting. It is a space that truly supports both body and mind. Highly recommend if you are looking for a studio with beautiful energy and meaningful classes

I came for a drop in class from out of town. The studio is a beautiful space, however the teacher,…read morewho opened the studio, did not arrive until about 4 minutes before the class started. It is considerate, professional and standard operating procedure to have the studio and space open for 15 minutes before class. Students need time to use the bathroom, settle in, grab props, and take a few quiet minutes to themselves before beginning practice. Instead, there were 7 of us standing outside by the door waiting in the sun and it was a very odd dynamic when the teacher parked and arrived to let us all in because the teacher should ALWAYS arrive before the students if there is no open door/front desk. The teacher did not mention specifically which props to have for practice, so every time we did a movement with a new prop, about half of the students had to get up and grab them from the prop room which is very disruptive to practice. Lastly, the teacher guided students into trying Handstand without making space for alternatives like Dolphin or Headstand, and more importantly without any of the basic energetic cues for hands, elbows, and shoulders that are strictly necessary to provide students for this posture in order to protect your neck and shoulders.

Storage area for Yoga supplies, don't forget to clean your blocks

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Cary Skywalker - Interdimensional Body & Energy Therapist

(35 reviews)

1.3 km

I've been getting bodywork for many decades. It's always been musculoskeletal in nature. Cary has…read morebeen introducing me to the value of energetic bodywork. As he says, "It's the source of..uh..everything." Excellent! Cary's work, especially his energetic/sound healing, is the real deal! -Dr. Matt Green, D.C. His chiropractic neighbor

Cary is an outstanding massage therapist. He is very knowledgeable about the body, professional…read moreand skilled as a bodyworker, and deeply listens to requests and needs. Highly recommend.

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Heartsong Bath

(2 reviews)

1.3 km

Enjoyed a wonderful evening of crystal bowls at Luminary Farms a few months ago. It was over way…read moretoo quickly but I was completely relaxed and refreshed. I am not good at meditating and this replaces meditation for me. After there was time to try the bowls and hear her stories. So interesting to learn about the bowls. Looking forward to attending another event soon.

I am constantly doing, going, working and find it hard to sit still. Yet, I was able to fully relax…read moreand feel present in the sound bath. It's really amazing how the sound envelopes and moves through you. Definitely something I would do again!

At our community sound bath meditation events, all props are provided, including yoga mats, blankets, and bolsters.

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Lie back and relax as the sound of the bowls soothe body and mind.

Transcendental Meditation

4.3

(10 reviews)

9.7 km

I'm in Sonoma County but did my class at the Berkeley TM center which I am grateful for. I find the…read moreteachers there friendly, accessible, knowledgeable and kind. I've done several retreats thru this center and have had nothing but positive experiences. For what you receive from TM - not just in instruction but from the practice itself - I find the center invaluable.

I received my TM instruction in Seattle but am so happy to have found this community now that I…read morelive in the East Bay. I've been to one tune-up and one weekend retreat (both firsts for me) and look forward to attending more. The Zoom meditations during the week are a great complement to my practice. I always feel like I learn something new and come away feeling rested, refreshed, and reinvigorated. And it's always lovely to meditate with others, see familiar faces, and share in the experience.

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SoulFlow Oakland

(32 reviews)

3.2 km

If you're looking for a diverse, welcoming and inclusive healing space to practice, this is it…read more For days when you're feeling too tired to work out, but I still feel the need to center yourself and move the days events out of your body and mind try the Gentle Yoga class. By the end of class I'm feeling more myself, more grounded and nourished and better equipped to show up for myself and my community. In times like these, this is the perfect place to hold space for yourself, but not by yourself. Arrive early to secure metered street parking.

I joined this organization first as a member and later became a work-trade member, hoping to find a…read moresafe, joyful, and supportive community of BiPOC women. I came here with excitement and a desire to contribute, grow, and connect--but my experience has left me deeply hurt. Without any warning or explanation, I was told by Sataya that I was no longer part of the work-trade community because her and Cleopatra don't feel comfortable. To be removed so quickly and abruptly from a space that is meant to uplift BiPOC women is devastating and confusing. I feel excluded, unheard, and deeply disappointed by how this was handled. I hope the organization takes a hard look at how they treat community members and work-trade contributors. Transparency, care, and genuine inclusivity are essential--especially in spaces designed to support marginalized BLACK women in a society that is already unjust.

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Viva La Vida

(25 reviews)

1.5 km

If you book a massage with Claudia then you are in for a real treat…read more She's kind, incredibly intuitive and she makes you feel comfortable, listened to and supported. At the start of each session, Claudia asks what's going on in your body/life so she knows where to focus. I had a lot of pain in my lower back and her gentle and rough (when needed) massage work smoothed it all out. To further help my back, she kindly helped me develop my own stretching/rolling routine to do at home. Every time I get a massage from Claudia I walk away feeling good and with something to meditate upon. She listens with her ears, heart and hands

Claudia is truly a healer and gives wonderful massages. As soon as I walked into her therapy room,…read moreI felt safe. Before the massage, Claudia sits with you and asks why you came in and what you're looking for, etc. Her vibe is very warm and welcoming, so I couldn't help but be open with her. It almost feels like a mini therapy session, but it's helpful in her assessment of where you may be storing tension, etc. During the massage, she checked in on me consistently and made whatever adjustment I needed. She also anticipated my needs and I always feel very well cared for when I'm receiving a massage. I highly recommend Claudia!

The outdoor view from my office

Sign directing you to the entrance

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Office

Bespoke Wellness

4.5

(594 reviews)

6.6 km

I've been seeing Dr. Ten for the past two months to address a pinched nerve in my neck. Through…read moreboth Orthopedic Acupuncture and Acupuncture with Manual Therapy sessions, I am 90% better and on my way to full recovery! Dr. Ten take the time to clearly articulate the treatment plan and answers all questions you may have regarding your treatment.

Sage is a Stellar Chiropractor - not the bone-cracking type by intuitive, precise, kind and…read morediagnostically intelligent. She's a seer and very empathic. The Center is professional, beautifully designed and managed. Well located, clean and clear. Strong recommendation!

One of many doors in the building

What you see in waiting area

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Pleasant waiting area

Holomua Healing Arts

(81 reviews)

6.6 km

In an email one year ago she briefly mentioned that her husband has crazy work hours and said it…read morewouldn't be fair to take on new clients. Then I kind of forgot about this. I reached back a year later to fix a session. She didn't mention it again on the phone or explicit stated there is a high chance that she might have to cancel last minute to prepare me. She fixed a date then cancelled the day before and then I fixed another date a month later then she cancelled again the day before. This gave me feelings of being dismissed, not valued, not taken seriously, not considered important. All the things I am trying to get help with from a reiki practioner and life coach. I also had to have my husband take care of my child to do this with her. I also had to take time off work to be there during work hours. These things matter to me too. I didn't think this was a professional thing to do. And more importantly she never said I might have to cancel due to my husband's work hours or made that very clear. I don't recommend this service because of last minute cancellations.

I spent over three years searching for a therapist, not realizing what I truly needed was a more…read morespiritual approach to healing. A close friend recommended Holomua, and I recently had my first session with Britt. She is the real deal--intuitive, grounded, and deeply supportive. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking Reiki, life coaching, or simply a more soulful path to personal growth. What stood out most was how natural and comfortable it felt--like talking story with a long-time friend or family member. Britt holds space with such compassion and clarity, and she equips you with tools and "homework" to help you uncover your own answers. I left the session feeling seen, empowered, and aligned.

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East Bay Regional Park District

(595 reviews)

11.8 km

This park is fantastic. The first time we visited was back in 2018 and honestly we can't remember…read morewhere we parked or which trails we hiked. But I know we enjoyed ourselves. Fast forward to yesterday. We had a restaurant in Albany that we wanted to check out so of course we had to hike first to get our appetites whet. I found a loop I wanted us to try on AllTrails. It's called the Dunn Trail--Monteiro Trail Loop. We parked at the Richard C. Trudeau Conference Center on Skyline Blvd. It was the perfect spot to start. Free parking. Public restrooms (even flush toilets!). If you have a dog, most of this trail is off-leash which I have never seen before. Every dog we saw were well behaved and having a great time. We don't have dogs of our own but I am a big dog person. This particular loop was exactly what I was looking for. It had several different biomes. Despite what AllTrails said, it is not all shaded but it was a beautiful, sunny, windy day. We saw lots of wildflowers blooming. We found there to be a difference between AllTrails and our measurements. AllTrails said it was roughly 500+ ft elevation gain but ours said 1000. That's a huge difference! But I would believe ours over theirs. There were a lot of inclines. Also, their's said it was 3.5 miles but ours said a mile longer. The trails were all very well maintained. We saw gorgeous views, small waterfalls/creeks, redwoods, butterflies--just lovely. It was less busy than I anticipated but we arrived before 9 a.m. We finished by 11. This is a big park and lots to explore. Highly recommend!

I went hiking at the Reinhardt Regional Redwood Park for the first time and loved it!…read more Plenty of street parking at the Redwood Bowl lot and we had no issues with vehicle break ins, luckily, although there were a few warning signs up to remind you to put your valuables away. There are bathrooms by the Redwood Bowl but we couldn't find any helpful maps so just used our phones to navigate. The trail we ended up taking was around 4 miles and took 2 hours. Most of it was shaded and among redwood trees so I really enjoyed that this could work as an afternoon hike. It's a moderate difficulty level with some steep areas. There's also a popular picnic area with grills and an archery range. You could even walk to the nearby swimming pool or visit the Chabot. We only did one half of the hiking loop so will be back to check out the other side.

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Preserve

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

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Reinhardt Redwood Regional Preserve

USCG Gym, Fields & Swimming Pool

(6 reviews)

2.3 km

Pool was great. temperature was a bit chilly only 74°. i was able to water jog on the outside…read morelane. like that, it's olympic size pool, and it's very deep, so I can jog without touching bottom and ease up on my joints

Friendly staff with good maintainance on all the equipments and facilities. I really appreciate it…read morethat they also offer the dancing classes during the weekends for me to attend!

Pool hours

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Bay Farm Island Shoreline Trail

4.5

(21 reviews)

4.4 km

Great wide walking/ bike path with occasional benches. If…read moreyou love airplanes (I do) this is a fantastic spot as the takeoffs from OAK go right overhead!!

parked at the ferry parking lot which is free…read more it was nice to ride bike along the water but the trail itself is bumpy not smooth. rode all the way to jack london square and the path to get there was not quiety as often you are riding on the should along with traffic. overall i think there are some better bike trail options that are easier to ride and smoother.

Two of my most favorite people.

Low tide today.

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Crown Memorial State Beach

4.3

(169 reviews)

1.0 km

Fantastic beach for younger kids, and a great option for East Bay residents who aren't up for the…read moretrek into the city or the even longer drive to Santa Cruz. The beach is clean and has useful amenities, including outdoor showers, picnic tables, and restrooms. I haven't actually used the restrooms, so I can't speak to their condition, but I can say I've never noticed trash on the beach, even on busy days. The crowd is generally respectful, which goes a long way. The downside is that the water isn't exactly pristine by appearance, smell, or feel...but you can't have everything. My favorite thing about this beach, aside from the fact that the water isn't freezing, is how shallow it stays. I can wade out with my kid what feels like half a mile and still not feel like we're anywhere close to being too far from shore. P.S. Do NOT forget to pay for parking if you're in the lot. It's yellow, located at the far end, the fee is 5 dollars and it's easy to miss. Also, they don't accept Discover debit.

In The Teen and I's new Friday ritual of water watching before we head home, we stopped by Crown…read moreMemorial before heading through the tunnel to let traffic die down a bit.. This was definitely the place to be back in the day! Parking was a snap and we found a bench to sit on starting the water watching. The view was awesome and the sun was shining just like Bob Marley said. There were people, young and old playing in the sand, lots of bike riders, and of course, those dog walkers. The Teen put the phone down and ventured out and some sand, touching and driftwood drifting.. Definitely, we will be back when it gets warmer with hopes of finding front row parking again!

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Splash Pad Park

3.7

(3 reviews)

4.6 km

This park is small, but has a great location!!…read more Also home to the Grand Lake Farmers Market on the weekends, this is a great place to come to eat at after grabbing a bite at one of the nearby restaurants, especially on nice days when you want to eat outside. There's a small water fountain area here, plenty of parking under the 580 freeway, and plenty of areas to sit down. Decent Park!!

It's one of those, places in the Oakland area other than right on Lake Merritt a place where you…read morecan sit in feed the birds and watch people pass by Fun fountain structure for kids and nice enough on farmers market days, One of the places we walk by on our daily walks A gem of an urban park, mostly maintained by neighborhood volunteers. The Saturday farmer's market is year-round, and well worth a visit. Restaurants in the Grand Lake neighborhood (on Grand and Lakeshore) are diverse and welcoming. The Grand Lake Theatre shows first run movies and include an organ player on Friday and Saturday evenings. A walk around Lake Merritt is a 3 mile jaunt well worth the effort.

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Alameda Beach

4.0

(167 reviews)

3.1 km

Very calm and accessible. We parked on the roadside and the beach is right there - miles and miles…read moreof shallow water and sand. There are a lot of driftwood and kelp, so it smells fishy. It's still clean enough that we played frisbees without our shoes. We moved onto the Crown Memorial State Beach afterwards. Although that beach had a parking lot and a cleaner beach, we thought the Alameda beach was more chill. Regardless, both had shallow water where it's safe for small children to wade out and play.

Alameda beach is one of the few beaches in norcal where you can lounge at…read more We have been regularly doing our open water swims in the area and the water's always feeling relatively clean and refreshing. There is plenty of parking all along the roads and overall, a great place to reset in the mornings, evenings and on weekends.

Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary

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Clear view of the city on today's walk. Happy weekend, everyone.

The Iron Mat - yoga - Updated August 2026

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Breathing Room

(70 reviews)

Left Coast Power Yoga

(82 reviews)

Love this yoga studio. All the Instructors are nice and experienced. It is a loving environment.read more

This place is wonderful! Sadie and Lorin are my favorites. Both are very attentive and will make…read moresure you get a full workout while enhancing your practice.

Hot Spot Yoga

4.6

(20 reviews)

Location- local and easy to find Ambiance- intimate yet…read moreminimalistic Service- friendly and professional The room gets hot, bring a water or 2 and get ready to sweat They have mats blocks and water if you need them but it's additional fees applied All are welcome beginners and advanced I'll be back thanks for a great time Be well and Namaste

Unfortunately I don't highly recommend it. There are many things I do like: it's a diverse studio…read morein terms of teachers and students, it's pretty affordable, and the teachers are generally pretty inclusive. What I don't like is that it's not the cleanest studio. Like I've practiced where dust balls and left behind clumps of hair land on my mat when the person next to me drops their mat. And, there never is enough space when the class is crowded so you might be forced to practice by the door which is where everyone walks in and tracks in dirt from outside. But my review is actually about getting pregnant and asking for a membership freeze! At first it seemed so convenient. Other studios made me fill out a form but this one just said to send an email. So I did. They didn't specify any policies in place and I just thought they were the most mom-friendly studio! But in my flurry (I was traveling abroad for 2 weeks) I didn't read the end part of the email where it asked me to tell them when I wanted the freeze to start. So the next billing cycle came and I caught the charge and circled back. I asked for them to freeze my membership immediately. They replied and told me sure and that I would be credited an additional month when I returned. Everything seemed fine. Then a month later, I kid you not, I got charged again! I emailed them and asked if it was a mistake. Someone else replied and said that it was not- it's part of their 30 day cancellation policy to charge me. And then I immediately received an email after that that my membership got cancelled. So I asked them about the credit, why I was receiving a cancellation notice when I asked for a freeze... and why would I be charged a full month then get my membership immediately canceled? I emailed them three times. I finally learned that there is a policy and freezes only last 90 days. When you request a freeze, you need to specify the start and end date. I still don't know why my membership got canceled instead of frozen. I understand if they are understaffed but when it comes to billing, there should be clear and consistent policies stated available to read online, they should be email to clients when clients inquire, and someone should reply quickly when there are discrepancies!

The Oasis

(24 reviews)

Oasis is a great pilates studio for a first timer like me. I like the intimate setting and the…read moresmall classes so the instructor has time to guide me. I also felt the burn enough in my muscles to see and feel the difference after each class.

My favorite pilates studio in Oakland! Everyone is so welcoming and the class experience is so good…read more-- you get really excellent instruction in a small-group setting that feels really personalized.

Club Pilates

(75 reviews)

This is a great place to take pilates. The studio is very clean, everyone on staff is very…read morefriendly, informative and helpful. I did my first full workout and it was amazing. I am a bit sore today, but it means my body is working! Disco was an excellent instructor and easy to follow. Being new to pilates I was a little worried that I would not be able to follow the instructions, but the 1.0 series is set up just for those that are new to the practice. One other thing I loved about the class was that it started and ended on TIME! Thank you!

Dominique was amazing and considerate of my pre-existing conditions. Her 5+ years of Pilates…read moreknowledge helped guide the class through safe movements and body adjustments. I would highly recommend taking a class (or several) with her!

X˙CORE - Oakland

4.8

(105 reviews)

I absolutely love everything about XCore from the fun challenges for participation to the…read moreinstructors phenomenal instructions. I don't really fall in love with reformer Pilates until I came here. I started in November and have been coming at least 4-5x's a week. Every instructor is amazing with their own style. You will leave feeling stronger, for sure. This studio also has versa climber workouts. Do yourself a favor and start with JL's class. He always has a fire playlist to get you through it. It can be intimidating to start but the calories you burn in a short amount of time is incredible. There's also plenty of street parking!

My first visit here with the daughters who absolutely love the workout and instructors…read more A very nice studio, Janice is encouraging, patient and very helpful in ensuring proper technique. Make no mistake, this is a workout! You work parts of your body that you didn't know could do the moves here. Very good for you body and soul!

PrecisionPoint Pilates

(31 reviews)

Parking on Saturdays (when the Grand Lake Farmers Market is also on) is not easy but for the…read morequality of classes at PrecisionPoint Pilates, it's worth leaving home a little extra early to nab a spot. I'm a big fan of Michelle Danna's classes. She keeps things varied (I never think to look at the clock when she's teaching), has an eagle eye for form and is just a joy to be around. I've worked out in both the reformer room and the springboard room (sometimes both in one class) and can vouch that both are clean and well maintained. Recently, the Saturday class I'd been taking with Michelle dropped off the schedule and I was sad to see it go. Then, almost like magic, I received a call from PrecisionPoint Pilates telling me it was back on. I found this to be a super considerate (and smart!) move on their part and I really appreciated being able to get my stretch on last Saturday because of it. If you're looking for a relaxed and welcoming Pilates studio in the Grand Lake area, PrecisionPoint Pilates is it.

I have to update my review as it's been a couple years and I still wish that I got to spend…read moreeveryday at PrecisionPoint! I look forward to Amy's weekly class online and love in person privates with Bonnie and Nadya. I continued doing Pilates throughout my second pregnancy and after my baby was born. I think I got back to "normal" even quicker the second time around thanks to pilates. All of the instructors are so thoughtful about exercises and adjustments to deal with my diastasis recti and got me to a place where my body is strong enough and I felt comfortable to do everything I want to. wish I got to go more often!

Jennifer Meek

(15 reviews)

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.

Shelly Ross

(5 reviews)

Shelly Ross is hands down the best Yoga teacher in the Bay Area. She has the ability to connect…read morewith every student at all levels in a gentle and supportive way but also encouraging you to take your practice to the next level. I have been taking classes with Shelly for the past eight years and have attended two of her epic local retreats. I started taking Yoga at 58 and was very apprehensive. Shelly taught me that Yoga is just not mastering the poses but connecting with your body, mind and spirit. If you have a chance take a class from Shelly you will not be disappointed.

Shelly is amazing! She teaches to a room packed to full capacity several times a week, and still…read moremakes each student feel noticed, cared for, and connected. She keeps everything light but goes very deep. Shelly also has this incredible ability to teach to all levels at once, challenging the advanced students while encouraging the novices. I've had many yoga teachers over the years,but only Shelly makes each class feel special and unique. I highly recommend attending any of her classes.

Pilates By Mary