Berkeley Yoga Center

Love this beautiful yoga center. Great teachers and truly airy and beautiful space. Love the kundalini class Saturday mornings with Sat Daya.

I’ve taken the restorative yoga class with Elizabeth (super relaxing and slow paced) and the yoga for basic stress reduction class with Scott (very fun, a little bit of a workout). I’m a newbie and I felt super comfortable in each class, both Scott and Elizabeth are amazing! If you’re in Berkeley you absolutely must give this yoga studio a try!

Adding to the heaps of praise others have shared for Melanie Green and pre and post natal classes. My only wish os to have more offerings per week, since the Thursday morning class was a tough time before maternity leave. I have made it a few times throughout this pregnancy and had the pleasure of Melanie’s guidance in each trimester. She always asks each woman to tell what we need or what problems we are dealing with this week, and offers insightful stretches or modifications throughout the class based on what we say.
Although the intensity is tuned towards pregnancy, she teaches yoga, not just stretching and relaxing. Her knowledge base is sound and I never hear any bs anatomy or unrealistic cues from her, both pet peeves from may years of trying various yoga classes.
Im looking forward to moving on to her post partum class soon, as I remember how great she was after my first child was born.

Melanie Green is an amazing Astanga teacher. I’ve been studying and teaching yoga for 13+ years, and have taken class with many different Astanga teachers. I make the drive from Danville to Berkeley as often as I can to study with her. She’s that good!
Melanie understands the subtleties of the Astanga method and also has an incredible ability to see her students’ bodies and physical capabilities with clarity. When it comes to hands on adjustments, she is the most skilled teacher I’ve studied with to date.
Her gentle voice, accurate cues, and non-​egoic approach to this very intense practice leave me calmly energized every time I practice with her.

I ‘ve been attending Jonothon Gross’s flow class (Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:45 p.m.) and I have noticed remarkable changes in my body. Jonothon’s back strengthening and abs sequences are killer but so so effective! The hard work is worth it and the environment in the class is supportive, making the sweat flow in good company. Also, Jonothon is a medical doctor so his advice on and explanations of the asanas always make sense.

Finally! A yoga class that is an excellent workout, taught with a sense of humor, and inspiring, at times off beat, music! Jonothon took my experience of yoga to the next level. His knowledge of anatomy provided a new perspective of yoga, and allowed me to understand why certain we were performing certain poses. I had a fantastic time and cannot wait to go back!

We moved to Oakland from Danville, and regrettably left our favourite yoga teacher behind. She referred us to the BYC and especially Melanie Green. We’ve had a few classes with Melanie and really enjoy her. She’s very friendly and terrific with everyone. She gives us all personalized tips and doesn’t make us more inexperienced yogis feel like we shouldn’t be there. The husband thinks her yoga classes are better than physical therapy.

If y’all are following my Yoga list, Berkeley Yoga Center is another studio that I have ventured into on my quest for a place to call my yoga home. I like a balance of flow, ashtanga, vinyasa, kundalini, bhakti, inversions here and there, meditation, yogi nidra, free movement/​expression, and of course… shanti!
That being said. The Berkeley Yoga Center was a beautiful peaceful studio with huge windows that look up to the hills and a gorgeous wooden floor. I went to Jonothon Gross’s Vinyasa Flow (level 2 – 4) class. Loved his energy and grace. I do prefer a more a flow class to be very fluid and I found this class to hold asanas longer hoever, it was wonderful for what it was. He also included some inversions which I appreciated.
Overall, it was a nice class and a wonderful teacher. I do believe I am still continuing my search for something with a little more fire and movement but, I will also enjoy every time I make it to Berkeley Yoga.

I’ve been practicing yoga at the Berkeley Yoga Center for 4 years. My primary teacher is Melanie Green (who teaches Ashtanga, and pre and post-​natal,), but have taken classes with other teachers as well. Both studios are warm and inviting, there’s plenty of street parking, and the level of teaching is superb.

I’ve lived near this place for 2 ½ years and have never gone there until today, when I discovered they are now offering Nia, a really fabulous dance form that is a combination of modern, jazz, martial arts, etc.
I loved LeeAnn’s class. Her choice of music and choreography was wonderful and I felt better after her class than I have in a while. While I can’t do yoga right now because of injuries (I hope to return to it in the future and expect that Nia will help me with that), I’m definitely going to keep doing Nia here. I also recommend the space, as it has beautiful hardwood floors and skylights.

I like coming here but at the end of 2011 I started taking a prenatal yoga class with Melanie and found that there was a anti-​hospital sentiment. I can understand the sentiment but I didn’t share this sentiment to the same degree. I am having a hospital birth. This sentiment came from the other students and not the instructor. Though I have one class left on my pass, I decided not to use it since it wasn’t fun to hear the anti-​hospital sentiments.
Melanie is good. She’s a parent too and you actually do yoga in her prenatal class (a lot more than just stretching). When I started taking her class, there were probably two other new students yet she only asked me (before we began practice) if I had practiced yoga before (I have, 2−3x/week for 1 year). I was kind of miffed by that.
I enjoyed taking Jill Davey’s class too. I took her classes until early January and then I stopped because I the timing didn’t work with my schedule, and just plain easier for me to get exercise from my home (rather than drive, park, etc). I’ve been taking classes with Jill 1−2x/week for over a year when I stopped so I was surprised when she didn’t check in with me. She does with other students and when I’ve been in other classes, teachers have done so.
The pluses are the small class size (at least the classes I’ve taken), lots of individual attention, beautiful studios, light etc. You can purchase classes in bulk for a discount (end up being $ 11/​class for 8 classes with one instructor). If you forget your mat, they have lots to borrow plus all the requisite props.

I’m just visiting Berkeley and was looking for yoga close to where I am staying, so I read some Unilocal reviews and then took a vinyasa flow class with Jonathan. I thought there would be a front desk to pay with my credit card, but once I got to the studio I realized that the teachers accept payments individually, either by check or with cash, neither of which I had. I told Jonathan my problem and he very sweetly told me not to worry about it!
The space (at least room 209, I didn’t visit room C) is truly lovely (high ceilings, wood floors, windows etc.) and conveniently located, IMHO. They have lots of high quality mats and blankets for borrow, and it seems that they offer a lot of classes. The class I took with Jonathan was really nice, a little slower moving than most vinyasa flow classes I have taken, but we did do a substantial amount of unexpected abdominal work which was VERY effective. I’m still hurting!
I would go back! It is a little pricey so students beware.$ 16/​class, with discounts if you buy packages.

I’m probably one of the few people I know sans smartphone. Despite leaving Oakland before 4p, I managed to get lost in Berkeley (forgot to print out directions and my current garmin GPS nuvi is broken) and out of desperation I called several people (one of them being my bf) — and who predictably didn’t pick up (people prefer to text) — so luckily i had written down melanie green’s number (I was trying to take her 4:30p ashtanga class) and left a VM and she called me back to give me directions AND called me 10 min later when I was still lost. not only did melanie thoughtfully direct me to the studio, she also sent one of her students downstairs to meet me on the street. when i arrived at the studio, around 4:38p, i opened the door and was greeted by the sight of 18 students lined up in two rows — they were all standing in tadasana with their palms together in namaskar. i quickly unrolled my mat and took a spot. melanie had her class WAIT for me. Unbelievable.
melanie is an observant teacher who is able to guide beginners and advanced students. she gives individual adjustments/​corrections and global corrections. her philosophy appears to be work hard but enjoy yourself as opposed to make your self suffer to satisfy your ego. she demonstrated this by pointing out many of us were doing navasana without holding our legs and so our legs were shaking as she was counting down. melanie stated we could simply hold our legs for the first 3 counts and then just let go for the final two counts.
i haven’t done ashtanga in 8 years, but i do do vinyasa every once in a while in addition to a regular bikram and pilates practice. i had done a bikram class earlier this morning (9a) and was happy i had eaten a huge meal afterwards because i burned off those calories in melanie’s class. Example: towards the end, we did wheel — then a pushup in wheel — then held wheel for 5 long breaths — then did a pushup, etc. for several times.
though the room wasn’t heated, i was sweating in no time and left the studio feeling relaxed but definitely in need of an immediate shower.
no lockers, but a long bench and a row of hooks to hang your things. shoes outside.
cash or check only. no credit cards accepted. plenty of parking on sunday afternoon long Bonar St.
read the website to get the gate code. you may need to enter the code a few times (as we did today), in order to get the gate to open.
i left with the impression that not only would melanie’s classes improve my upper body and core strength, i’d also be a better person just by listening to her philosophy.

i’ve been taking classes at BYC for five years and it is my favorite yoga studio. i love the light and big windows, the hardwood floors and the brick walls, the creek that runs along side it, and the teachers.
i currently take classes with melanie and she is spunky and kind. her class is rigorous, but focused on deep listening too. it is a great combo of physically challenging and connecting with my body and my heart.

I’ve been practicing at Berkeley Yoga 2−3x week for more than 2 years, and I’ve had a great experience. There are 2 studios, both spacious, high ceilinged with abundant natural light, compassionate and committed instructors (Melanie and Vance among them), and a friendly (non-​competitive) vibe among students. I’ve studied at other studios (Yogakula and 7^th Heaven among them) and while those fine studios have waiting rooms and a person behind a desk to greet you, the actual space for yoga is small & low ceilinged. Berkeley Yoga has plenty of free parking nearby, and a Café, Bakery and Strawberry Creek park just beneath.

Wow! I can’t believe the amount of personal attention and hands-​on approach that Sadie had. When I first arrived at her class Tues morning, I told her I like more restorative type yoga because I like going slow and holding the poses longer so my form is correct. I also have suffered from sciatica pain in my leg and buttock for the last number of years. She listened and catered the class to my issues and what others needed help with by doing leg stretches and back postures. Some of the stretches were very intense and deep but she was right there in a very supportive way by encouraging me and others to go deeper.
I like that the class was very down to earth and not showy and image-​oriented like a lot of yoga classes I have attended. The only thing that bugged me was someone became a bit territorial about the usual space she likes which I took without knowing. I just sort of let her words pass through me and held my ground. Oh, the wonderful world of yoga! I think this display of behavior (by both of us?) just goes to show how wonderful the space and the class is.

I was introduced to this place by my girlfriend and have been hooked for the last couple of years.
My two regular classes are Herdis’s Yoga for every body and Cybele’s Tuesday night begg/​int. yoga class. I have really enjoyed both and am continually amazed at the quality of the teachings and space provided for such a reasonable price. I have taken a couple of Scott’s classes and have not been dissapointed.
Try it — you won’t be sorry.

The best place for Ashtanga Yoga in Berkeley is with Melanie Green at the Berkeley Yoga Center.

I went to a Beginner’s class taught by Mary Lou in Studio 209. It was extremely gentle. I would be comfortable sending my mother here, or sending anyone who has back/​joint injuries. Every movement was well supported, and Mary Lou was extremely attentive to each student’s alignment. This is also a great class for drop-​ins, since the studio provides mats, straps, blocks, blankets, and all the other props you might need.
There are some beautiful large windows in Studio 209, but it might be a little hard to find — the entrance actually faces Strawberry Creek Park and you have to go upstairs to find it.

I’ve been a faithful student at Berkeley Yoga Center for nearly ten years and can’t recommend this studio highly enough.
My main teacher has been Cybele Tomlinson, one of the co-​directors of the studio. Cybele embodies the spirit and practice of yoga. Her very presence invites a sense of reflection and calm. She is a patient and gentle teacher with a deep understanding of the body, the mind, and the spirit in approaching a yoga practice.
Further, Cybele, and the other instructors I’ve tried at BYC, which is at least half of them, all embody the entire yoga tradition. They are striving to teach not only a fantastic whole body stretch and strengthening régime, but also the subtle and powerful aspects of yoga for inner health, reflection, right living, and feeling better in the world emotionally and psychically as well as physically.
Berkeley Yoga Center happens to be one of the most beautiful places to learn yoga, situated in the Strawberry Creek Design Center above a real creek and a cute café. The studios are spacious and airy with golden hardwood floors, sand-​blasted brick walls, and big windows with views of the trees and the hills.
Choose Berkeley Yoga Center for kind, yet serious yoga instructors who are committed to transmitting their valuable knowledge of the world of yoga.