THERE IS A NEW YOGA INSTRUCTOR AT THE TREE OF LIFE STUDIO, AND HER NAME IS ANA FRENES!!! She is…read moreFANTASTIC!!! Jessica Shi, founder of Tree of Life Yoga has passed the torch to Ana! I attended Jessica's classes every Sunday for over 2 years (I waited over 6 months to obtain a coveted Sunday spot). I've been a nurse for over 30 years and suffered from chronic neck, shoulder and mid back pain. Jessica helped me to keep my mid spine open using the ROPES and my chronic pain is much less intense. ANA TOOK OVER IN JULY 2019. She studied under Jessica for 9 years and completed many IYENGAR yoga workshops! Ana adds more standing poses to open the spine along with restorative yoga. ANA'S SIDE OPENINGS HAVE BEEN THE MOST HELPFUL TO ME SINCE JULY 2019. Also, the flow from pose to pose of Ana's class is very relaxing. I highly recommend ANA FRENES AT THE TREE OF LIFE YOGA STUDIO!!!

I absolutely adore this place. Nice, clean space with great natural lighting. All the necessary…read moreequipment is already there (no need to bring your own mat). Jess is a wonderful teacher and she really takes time to know her students/clients. She also goes around the room and modifies poses depending on how advanced of a student you are. I started off with the Beginner Series, which was a great intro to yoga. I've tried all the scheduled classes and my favorites are the rope, Iyengar and vinyasa. TIPS - parking across the street in a lot (look for the yellow Tree of Life Yoga Clients signs) - buzz to be let into the building; studio is all the way to the back and up the gray wooden stairs - get the 10 class pass for $140...worth it! Each class is 1.5 hours and there's usually no more than 8-10 per class. I've been in some classes where there were under 5 people - if you want to get in a rope class, reserve a month in advance (seriously) If you're even thinking about trying this place, DO IT. I promise you won't regret it!

THE CLASSES: range from mild to spicy (my husband's a former yoga teacher and he says after 2020,…read moresome studios avoid beginner/intermediate/advanced terminology to not sound like crazy Scientologists I guess). Mild is great if your body is tight/in recovery, it's been a rough day, or you just want permission to take it easy. Medium would require more effort but it doesn't cause serious regrets. Spicy is all in, keep up, sweat like crazy, and maybe re-evaluate your choice to come. I take classes to meet my body where it is that day; that is, I don't "only" do spicy ones to "get fit." So my week consists of Mild to Spicy to have "rest" days. The schedule is constantly changing and I haven't taken every class/instructor, so here's how I'd categorize the ones I've attended: * = my repeats/try to attend when I can vp = very popular/crowded Mild: Dominique* (vp; you might snore) or any restorative/yin, Vickie*, Baxter (vp), Jill* Mild/Medium: Deshauna*, Yoko* (vp), Margi* (vp), Ellen, Richard (vp) Medium: Andrea, Leslie, Nichol*, Monica Medium/Spicy: Annie (vp), Kim (the lovely owner!) Spicy: Jody* (vp), Gaby (vp), Jacqui, Rose, Ann Thu* Want to take classes from the "original" group who worked alongside Rodney Yee (yes, that guy)? It's Yoko, Richard, and Annie (I think?) when this was previously Piedmont Yoga Studio. Want adjustments? It depends on class size and the instructor. Yoko, Margi, Ann Thu and Jody do so when they can. I've seen some some students get upset when instructors tell them how to correct the pose. It's a no-win situation. If you're new to crowded classes, be in the 2nd row where you can see better. The only suggestion I have is having a whiteboard/display where instructors can write down the suggested props. Or maybe a picture of each prop with a number next to it and write it down in the Zoom chat. Sometimes an instructor repeats the prop list 5+ times as folks trickle in online/in person. TIPS: Yoga's very subjective--try a lot of studios until you find one you like in terms of the space, students, instructors, and the parking/commute. Go where you feel comfortable and want to return, it helps you maintain momentum. If it's your very first time at any studio, show up early to sign waivers! FWIW: I started yoga after chemo and I've stuck with it during recovery, relapse, remission, parenthood, severe burnout, and now perimenopause. After 20 years, I still can't do handstands/headstands and there are some poses I just can't do anymore. I've been with this studio for 10+ years and 5+ years for my husband.

This is my home yoga studio in the East Bay. You can trust that each teacher has been carefully…read morevetted and bring a certain level of expertise to their teaching craft. I think this might trickle down from the old days when this studio used to train yoga teachers? I wasn't here then but I've heard those references. There are a lot of classes on the schedule which makes it easy to find something to fit my schedule needs. There's also a front desk person who is always very quick to respond to emails. This is a plus because other yoga studios without front desk staff make it hard to get quick help if I'm running late for a class or have a membership question. I can't personally vouch for each class as I haven't tried each teacher. But I do think classes have a nice variety of difficulty. All the way from true restorative laying around, to mindfulness based classes, to senior yoga or chair yoga to very rigorous power yoga type of classes. The owner, Kim, puts a lot of care into the studio and it's quite evident. There are always little enhancements to the space, the experience, and even her own attention and care to me as a long term member.

What a trendy, twisted theme on heated yoga!…read more It's a stretch in this inferno, but your body and mind will thank you for it. Always. Feeling inhibited? Let the heat and constant movement of your body during the hot pilates, bikram or buti, lower your anxiety and release the fury here! I like the new take on disco colors inside with R rated music! It gets me to be how I want to be, let loose, and leave all the problems that goes on outside of my yoga mat! It's like I'll deal with it later, but first, yoga for my soul please! Hot, move, sweat and repeat! Listen to pump up music and get your workout going! Let's get it working! Yes! ...And instead of namaste, they end with thank you! Epiphany from Hella - If your mind keeps moving, treat your body just as well and let it keep pace to your mind. Balance is key. Thank you!

Such a cute yoga/Pilates studio! I've only been here twice, but each time I've came, I got a great…read moreworkout, and leave DRIPPING in sweat!! Located close to Bart, UC Berkeley, you can easily get here using public transportation. The instructors keep the class motivated while challenging us. I always leave feeling better than I showed up because I know I got a great workout. Today's class was 90's themed and they always have a bumpin' playlist. It was easy to squat and hit each rep with the beat. Make sure to show up 15 minutes early to check in, grab a cubby, set up your mat and towel, and grab the appropriate weights and bands. I bring a fitness mat, a hand towel, water, and a hot yoga/Pilates towel made of microfiber. It's perfect for the heated room because trust me you will SWEAT. They don't offer wipes to clean your mat after, only for their weights. I like the studio, lots of disco lights and music. They keep the studio dark, so I always feel comfortable, no one is looking at you. It's a judge free zone! I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a challenging

Today my friend brought me as a guest to Wendy's class! It was an incredible workout and Wendy…read moreprovided lots of suggestions for modifications throughout the class to accommodate all fitness levels. The class flew by quickly and by the end I was exhausted (in a good way!) The studio is very clean and offers individual restrooms with showers, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouthwash, etc. There is also a parking lot right across the street. If I lived in the area, I'd definitely buy a membership! I hope to take another class with Wendy next time I'm in Emeryville!

I love this location. The instructors are very welcoming. This location has a lot of theme and…read moreexplicit classes and they are literally my favorite. The location is clean. They have lockers and restrooms. If you are looking to try yoga I highly suggest.

I've been practicing yoga for 16 years and have taken classes in studios across the country and…read moreother countries. SoulFlow truly stands out. Not only do they honor yogas roots instead of just offering "fitness classes" and are also committed to social justice, but they have also been able to create a true sense of community. Tuesday night classes with Jazzmin are the highlight of my week. She has an uncanny ability to read everyone's needs and create a class that leaves you with just what you needed.

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.

This studio is both comfortable and quirky. Comfortable bc the studio owner was creative in how she…read moreconverted a home into a yoga center. Quirky bc the artwork was eclectic and representative of local artists' work. Treina is very sweet and cared about her studio

Attended an REI virtual class where Treina at YogaLove in Oakland was the instructor. Lovely to see…read moresun and warmth in the outdoor studio in California while being in snowy, dark Minnesota. Treina was great at explaining the poses and giving options for all levels of ability. She was a calming presence with a relaxing voice. I am grateful that I can attend more virtual classes at this far away studio by signing up online. Namaste :)

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.

The coolest Yoga Studio in The Bay Area! Usually the teachers are experts at everything. Located…read morenear Emeryville and some other interesting places. They sell clothes and other stuff. Started taking classes here in 2018!

Amazing community of yoga students and teachers! Has been a second home for me. Best yoga studio in…read morethe bay for sureee

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!

Just finished my first class at Banana Yoga 10/10! Super cute space, lockers, nice bathroom w/a…read morebidet! I'm super out of practice but lots of options for modified poses. I will definitely be back!

I have been going to banana yoga about two times per week for the last few weeks and I've tried…read moreabout five of their teachers. I have really liked all of the classes. The teachers, are really competent and know how to hold space. There is a very chill vibe And it always feels so welcoming.