Innerstellar Pilates & Yoga Studio

I like coming here for pilates classes with Alissa! I like the small class size and relaxing atmosphere. stay for a cup of tea after class :)

Innerstellar is a gem in Berkeley! I would have given it 10 stars if I could. The teachers Kiki Lovelace, Colleen Millen, Michelle Cordero, Marisha Doan are amazing, strong, dedicated teachers that really know their practice, and teach from their hearts! Its easy to park, staff is very friendly, studio is very clean. I cannot recommend this place highly enough.

Innerstellar is a beautiful studio in a great location. The teachers, Kiki Lovelace, Colleen Millen, Michele Cordero are dedicated professionals that exemplify what it means to be great yoga teachers.

I am completing my Forrest yoga mentorship program here with Kiki and Colleen. Each weekend has been very powerful and a great space for learning, practice, and sharing. I am now living in Portland but look forward to going back and coming together as a group. If you are looking for Forrest (and other) yoga in the East Bay, you’ve found a great studio of teachers! I am very grateful for the community and learning opportunity. Sending love ~

I’ve been attending classes at Innerstellar since 2012 and have appreciated the supportive environment! Innerstellar yoga teachers are very open to students «down-​leveling» their practice to support of what their body needs, but if you want to «up-​level» they will spot you for handstands and inversions!

Had a hard time loving this place. Maybe it’s the difficult parking. Maybe it’s the teeny-​tiny rooms. Not sure. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. I wasn’t a big fan of the gently heated rooms– not for everyone. However, it’s a beautiful space and very clean.

I’ve been attending classes here for two years now. Every teacher is excellent. Each class I take is special, teachers really prepare and care about the quality of each class they teach. It’s not hot yoga but it IS warm yoga (they turn on heater). The heat aspect as well as the Pilates infused, fast paced classes guarantees a serious workout. Seriously, most of these classes are relaxing and cleansing but they are major sweaty workouts. LOVE. Personally, 1.5 hrs is too long for me (I like hour long classes) but I go anyways because these classes are so high quality.

Interstellar goes from strength to strength. I am very time constrained and practicing with Kiki never fails to be an extraordinarily wise use of my precious yoga hours. And each visit to practice with her strengthens my belief that she is truly compassionate and creative and authentic. Definitely make this place a stop on your yoga journey. From the moment you step through the door, you are transported out of city life. It starts from the top and Kiki leads by example. Yes, you will see her teaching and you will see her moving around the pilates equipment as well. Whatever level of practitioner you are, if you want to work with a top teacher, make sure you check out her classes and her studio.
She is definitely one of the best.

Innerstellar is a beautiful yoga studio. I’m very drawn to Forrest yoga, which enables you to relax your neck during postures. The studio is a sublime space, with antique exposed timber beams and skylights with a view of the stars. I love savoring a cup of warm, fragrant tea after each class. One of my favorite instructors there is Kelsey. Her instruction is somehow motivating, blissful and playful simultaneously. She dedicates each of her classes to a different goal, like discovery, gratitude, or healing. It’s always different and constantly broadens my perspective on what yoga can accomplish. Sometimes she will surprise you with her beautiful singing during shavasana. Once, she gave me a shoulder adjustment and I’ve never been so blissfully comfortable while laying down in my life. But the best part is how she connects with her students and inspires self-​care.

I love Innerstellar. Awesome, real vibe. Teachers and clients alike are cool, not cliquey or aggressive like some yoga places can be. I credit finding the place to pilates instructor Lila Heller. I followed her from another studio because of her awesome technical and knowledgeable teaching, and glad I found this new place! I take her Tues. and Thurs. classes whenever I can and my body always loves me for it. In addition to being an amazing pilates teacher, Lila is a wonderful and kind spirit, who always has her students’ interests and needs at heart. Since being at Interstellar, I’ve tried yoga for the first time, taking Forrest and Stellarflow, and the teachers, especially Kiki, are super skilled and genuine. You can’t go wrong, and the staff is dedicated to making your experience excellent and helping you get what you need.

This is as good as it gets!
I never knew how positive my journey with yoga could be until I came here!
Facing your physical challenges with humor and expert care.
A safe place to be raw and vulnerable, A safe place to heal.
A fun place to grow strength and flexibility.
I am delighted to go to yoga and pilates everyday!
An amazing energy you can feel!
Having a human body is a joy!
Innerstellar helps you find that joy!

Amazing studio and teachers. I’ve taken machine and mat pilates classes here as well as nearly every offering of Forrest yoga class, as well as several workshops. Across the board the staff and teachers are intuitive and skilled leaders. This is a great studio and an asset to the East Bay community.

When I moved to the area, I started taking yoga classes at a climbing gym. The classes were great, but all the gym accoutrement and noise were distracting. Then I found Innerstellar — what a delight.
Every teacher is excellent at their style and teaching. The classes are as challenging as you want them to be, bcz each teacher gives half-​way options if you can’t do the pose or match the pace. It’s the perfect place to go for those who need the instruction but might not yet have the strength or flexibility. I go at to both yoga and pilates mat classes there about 4 – 6 times/​wk, and have lost a bunch of weight, regained my physical strength and greatly improved my balance.
The only reason I can’t give 5 stars is because some of the classes are too crowded. Even though you’ll see a statement on the website about limiting class sizes, it’s not true. Maybe it’s a trestimony to the popularity of the teachers, but I recently walked out of a class because YET AGAIN we were packed like sardines in there. And even though class had already started 10 minutes earlier and was already too crowded, they let students come in and interrupt everyone around them by making people slide their mats around and cram together just to accommodate one more paying customer.
The over-​crowding will be the single factor that eventually makes me find a different studio. But if you can deal with that kind of atmosphere, Innerstellar offers EXCELLENT teachers, a gorgeous studio, and fair prices.

I bought a Groupon for 10 Pilates mat/​yoga sessions. I have only attended the StellarYoga and Forrest yoga classes but I thoroughly enjoy both. These classes are warm but not hot like Bikram. Most classes I have attended aren’t packed so I feel it is more intimate. There are no mirrors or odd smells. There are several props and both yoga styles use them generously. I have taken classes with Marisha, Kay, Kelsey, Lisa, Coleen, and Kiki. They are all very gentle and helpful.
There’s also complimentary tea every day. :)
After taking a few classes I started to realize Forrest Yoga was a bit different from traditional Indian inspired yoga so I researched it. Forrest Yoga (created by Ana T Forrest) practice is an interesting, different yoga philosophy. Look into it!
Also the studio offers somatic psychotherapy, massage therapy, Pilates mat, and Pilates machine sessions.
I will be purchasing a package now that my Groupon is used.

I’ve gone to classes with Aviva, Michelle, and Kelsey, and they were all great. Tough, interesting mix of classic poses (sun salutation etc) and interesting poses I’ve never tried before. The room is heated to about 85 — enough to make you sweat and make you looser, but not so hot you can’t breathe.
Downsides: a little too much «chi» for my tastes. Not bad relative to most yoga classes, but any is too much for me.
Also, weekend classes are really crowded — they let more people than they should sign up, especially for the Sunday AM class, and it’s cramped to the point that I avoid it.

Working in sessions with Miriam Drace, she has a wonderful energy, smart, progressive, Pilates, Aryuveda, and very intuitive. I echo the other reviews that she is an excellent listener, can pinpoint what you need and can talk thoroughly and as geekily as you need about your body, anatomy, and strength, as well as recommending classes and other instructors at Innerstellar that would be right for me. It’s exciting to work with someone who can discuss issues so intelligently. Our work together, while only at the beginning phase, got to something much more difficult for me, heart opening. She was able to illuminate so much about this injury I sustained 7 months ago to this skeptical, cynical client, that I very much look forward to our work together.

I did the new student special 3-​pack of classes and then bought a 10 pack, which includes any of the Pilates group mat courses and yoga classes.
Pros: Lots of different classes, so you can use class packages for both Pilates and different versions of Forrest Yoga classes. I might just have good timing, but I’ve never been in a class that’s too full. There’s always really good tea in the lobby before & after class. Clean, comfortable space. The classes themselves are a little bit of a mixed bag– in particular I’ve noticed that the Pilates mat classes are significantly less rigorous than those I’ve taken elsewhere– but the Forrest classes are really special, both surprisingly challenging and almost oddly calming, even for a yoga class. Instructors are hands-​on and seem really educated in anatomy/​focused on safety.
Cons: This is pretty subjective, but I always get a weird vibe here– some kind of serious cliquishness, combined with the fact that instructors seem fundamentally uninterested in new students. I’ve had 5 teachers, all of whom acted like they’d never see me again after class when I tried asking them questions about their schedules & the approaches of Forrest yoga. Some front desk people are friendly, and some are downright frosty, as are many of the other students. It’s not a big deal– I’m not in yoga class to make friends– but it does hit me every time I walk in, and I’m not a very sensitive person. I’d be interested to know if I’m the only one who feels this. But again, it’s not a big deal, which is why I’m still giving them four stars.

I never wanted to go to a hot yoga class. Had I known that Forrest yoga was hot, I probably wouldn’t have tried it. *So glad* I found it and went! I hadn’t heard of Forrest yoga before. The heat encourages your muscles to open, and you sweat out toxins — it feels great afterwards.
* Forrest yoga is deep and transformational — I never thought I’d say a statement like that. After attending for three weeks, I can breathe into areas I didn’t even know I couldn’t breathe into before.
*What another reviewer called «woo-​woo» — the spiritual/​emotional side of yoga — is an integral element to me in a yoga class. Straight athletic yoga is like processed food: missing the essential nutrients of the practice and tradition.
* The teachers — wow! Each one I’ve had is gifted and brings a different aspect: Kiki, Jesse, Aviva, Michelle, James and the assistants. These teachers make me want to come to class.
* Relaxing, inviting, clean studio and bathrooms, with complimentary tea and water.
Two tips:
1. Bring your own mat and a towel.
2. Even if you are strong and accomplished at yoga, take at least one Level 1 class. I did after three weeks, and it added a lot to how I practiced in the next class and just breathing in my day-​to-​day life outside the class (and I am not new to breathing techniques). I learned the basics of the approach and the whys behind them.
3. The light really went on for me after about 2.5 weeks of classes — i.e., take a number of classes to see what I mean by transformational.

So, I used a 30 day Groupon for this studio and went to 23 classes in that time, trying many of the various classes, instructors, and times. I was not a huge fan of the 1.5 hour long hot yoga classes. Too much woo woo/​mystical stuff for my taste (the studio even has a resident astrologer!). And who decided hot yoga was a great idea? An hour in, I’m slipping and sliding all over my mat. Maybe I’m just super sweaty.
But I did really like the Pilates classes I took with Alyssa, Lila, and Kiki. They are all great instructors who will help you cater your workout to deal with any injuries/​strains. I do wish they offered earlier classes. The Pilates classes are only at 12:15 or at night, and they offer no early morning classes. I was kind of surprised how many people didn’t have day jobs they had to be at instead of a yoga studio!

I’ve been practicing yoga on and off for about 6 years in a ton of different studios (everything from bikram to vinyasa, etc.) as well as pilates, barre, etc. but had never come across forrest yoga so was excited to try it out with a groupon deal to this place.
So far, I’ve done two mat pilates classes here, the ‘stellarflow’ class and a forrest yoga class and I’m pretty pleased. The studio is really low key and calm/​peaceful, and there’s a really pretty skylight on the ceiling and lots of dark wood. The temperature is always just right, and the classes are never too full. The mat pilates classes are VERY chill, as in you won’t break a sweat so I go on days I’m looking to ‘work out’ without really working out (like friday pre-​happy hour…). The stellarflow and forrest are both 1.25 –1.5 hours long and will get you sweaty but not exhausted at all.
I’m not a big of fan of the native american chanting and singing and don’t really think it does anything to enhance my practice. I’m getting used to the smelly incense they wave around with a feather but initially strongly disliked it. Yoga is NOT a super spiritual outlet for me, it’s a physical one so I’m a little put off by/​have never practiced in studios that really push that part of it. I miss my studios in DC that were heavy on the physical conditioning and body sculpting yoga.
So overall, cool place but I do wish they had more of a range of classes from super mild to knocks your socks off difficult. But the focus seems to be more on relaxation and breathing, etc. which is fine if that’s what you’re into but I may head over to Corepower or Groove or one of those places to try it out. Not sure if I’d take too many classes here after my deal is over but will definitely come back for a few here and there.