Yoga Flow SF – Ocean

I am a complete noob at yoga. I did my first proper class while I was in Bali this past summer w/​one of my girlfriends and fell in love with it! I said to myself that I would find a yoga studio back in the city and continue practicing. There are numerous studios in SF but a couple of people I know go/​went to yoga barn and highly recommended it. That made my decision easier! I bought the groupon deal and it’s been serving me well! It’ll be hard to find anything that compares to my experience in Bali but Yoga Flow SF is as good as it gets! I’ll be here for a while!

This is a beautiful studio, large room with a very courteous front desk staff. Alas, my favorite teacher here is actually a sub — Neil — and so after this week he won’t be teaching here regularly anymore: (I haven’t yet been able to try Mike or Courtney’s classes and I’ve heard good things about them, but I’m not a nighttime flow yoga practitioner and that’s when they teach. I’m definitely a morning person and 4:30 is the last class of this type I’m good for during the day. Namaste :)

I moved to SF about a year ago and was surprised by how hard it was to find a heated flow studio. Yoga Flow on Ocean St. was just what I was looking for! It’s a beautiful space with a welcoming staff and amazing instructors. Be aware that when you buy a package there is an expiration date. The neighborhood gets bonus points for easy parking and a nearby Whole Foods.

It took me over a year to realize, after a muscle injury and drifting away to other studios, that Yoga Flow SF is «home» to my yoga practice. This is a very large and clean studio with high ceilings located above the Fog Lifter and co-​located with the Self Realization Center.
There isn’t a variety of classes, and it’s generally all levels of flow, which works for me. You would practice positions that are suitable for your level. Before class most instructors will guide us through chants or set intentions before our practice. One of my favorite studio instructors is Claire.
The classes are heated well, so prepare to sweat. Heavily. So bring a towel or rent one at the front desk.
During the weekday classes, there is plenty of room for spots, so if you like to stretch out and like your personal space, this would be a good time to go. At least for now. The classes seem more attended than last year.
Though the Sunday class at 4:30pm with Stephanie is another story. I attended her class for the first time this last week. She has quite a following. If you plan to go, be prepared you will be lined up mat-​to-​mat, front, back and sides. That may be your thing. You definitely need to be conscious not to step on someone else’s mat or accidentally knocking your neighbor when kicking your leg back. When I spoke to the front desk, they indicated that this was their largest class of the week.
They also offer special workshops and child care service. Prices are standard for yoga. It’s a life practice for me, and glad I found my yoga home in SF. Namaste.

I walked into Yoga Flow SF on Ocean with high expectations from the raving reviews, and even with that, i was completely blown away. The studio space is gorgeous! I love that there are no mirrors, it really helps me focus on my breath. As many other reviewers pointed out, the heating system is state of the art (no loud noises), the lighting is perfect and did I mention that the space is absolutely gorgeous? I especially love the high vaulted ceilings.
If you’re a yogi or looking to try yoga, I would high recommend giving Yoga Flow a try!

I absolutely love this place. Started as a totally lost beginner and felt comfortable and welcome from the start. I love the room and the ornate ceiling. Their lighting is beautiful, especially during the 6 AM class when it’s still dark out. Such a peaceful space and a killer workout. Be ready to sweat and feel amazing afterwards. All the teachers are wonderful!

This place is incredible. Hands down the best yoga studio in SF. The vibe is so incredible I call each one of these classes a «yogasm.» Do yourself a favor and give this place a try. They have live music, special events, and daycare. Each instructor is different and provides a unique experience.

This studio is so intentionally created to provide everything needed for a truly great group yoga practice… it’s absolutely divine!
— some of the best yoga instructors in the West Coast (yes, really)
— family and locally owned (yeah!)
— beautiful lighting
— state of the art heating
— clean, spacious bathrooms and changing rooms
— peaceful, serene, beautiful and large practice space with high vaulted ceilings and good air flow
— CHILDCARE– in a room stocked with such fun toys, sunlight, dress ups… a piano, and really great child care givers
— decent neighborhood parking (free street parking) and just off freeway and MUNI line
This place is spectacular.

I had an amazing experience at this yoga studio .I love this place :) :) :) :) :)

My favorite yoga studio in the bay thus far. I just moved to Oakland from this neighborhood and I still make the drive (30 min) to come back to this studio at least twice a week. Every instructor is amazing and very knowledgable on yoga. The space is beautiful. All the people working there get along so well too! It’s a very loving environment and every class I have taken so far has the right amount of challenge.

I’ve spent many Sundays here in this space practicing with various teachers. Today’s class with Mike Richardson was extra dreamy. The space is open, both literally and figuratively and it is a lovely place to practice yoga.

I had an amazing experience at this yoga studio. It was my first time trying yoga and it was one of the hardest physical challenges I have experienced. It was worth every second of it because by the end I was high on life. I had broken my foot several months ago and it’s been a struggle to get my normal physical state back but I have to say one session of their yoga class and I can feel progress in my recovery.
There was chanting, which wasn’t weird whatsoever, in fact it was very calming and it brought me to a whole new center where I was focused and relaxed doing some strenuous physical activity my body was not used to. the music was awesome as well!
If you have never done yoga, don’t be scared try this out and you will be rewarded. If you are experienced in the practice of yoga then you will still love this place because the environment is beyond welcoming and challenging at the same time.
Can’t go wrong with giving this place a try!

I’ve been meaning to write a review but I’m always worried that the next time I go in everyone will know I’m the creepy super fan. I really am pretty obsessed with the place. I really do approach total stranger-​moms at parks like, «Hey, do you do yoga? You know this place has childcare and it’s amazing?» But really, the owners are the most lovely people on the planet, the childcare room is awesome and the providers are incredible. My kid is a hot mess and they always work so hard to make it work, knowing how important practice is to all of us. I really do leave nearly in tears from gratitude (and all those hip openers!)
The ambiance of the studio rivals my previous all-​time favorite white/​wood-​rafter/​skylights of Yogaworks on Divis with its plants and natural light and 2 story ceiling. For some reason the aesthetics of a practice room are kind of important to me. I don’t really dig the dark mirrored halls of Yogatree etc. Not to diss them, just a personal preference.
My favorite was at a recent class a woman came in super late and the instructor was all like, «Come on in and get settled, it’s way better to come late than not at all!» I think I’ve pretty much never heard that or gotten that vibe in a studio before (she really meant it, not like the passive aggressive sort of late commentary :). Despite all this accommodation, welcome, love, and softness, the environment is still very focused, inward, and peaceful where everyone’s getting a good workout. I personally found a lot of variety within one instructor from class to class.
I usually don’t love heated classes because I’m a baby and I really dislike bikram hot yoga but heated vinyasa is nothing like bikram and it’s really not so hot, just enough to get nice and stretchy.

I absolutely love this studio and now that I’ve moved I can longer go :(
All the instructors have a bit of a different style so there is something for everyone here. I love Brad’s class and how he encourages students to just give something a try even if it’s a pose that sounds too hard. He said something during his class along the lines of «don’t be afraid to fall, everyone does.» I found out I was capable of doing crow because of this!
I find this studio to have a wonderful sense of community and having a high stress job it really made my week to come in and be greeted by the owners when they were around, Dana and any of the instructors. The people here seem to live what they practice and it’s great.
Unfortunately, because I had such an amazing experience with Yoga Flow, I’m having a difficult time finding something to meet my standards in the south bay. Please open a study in or around Campbell!!!

I really do like this studio but their price packaging drives me insane. You pay for a 5 pack of classes and they expire in 2 months. Other classes, including the Dailey Method, honor your purchase for one year.
Yes, it’s up to me to use the classes but I just wish they had more flexibility considering you purchased the package. Most people have busy lives and I typically go once a week but I fell off the wagon due to the holidays, birthdays, work, life.
If I decide to go back I’ll just have to go with the walk-​in price. It’s just sad when a purchase isn’t honored for what I think could be a reasonable time. But that’s just me of course.
Overall the facility is clean and the instructors are good. It’s hard to hear them sometimes though, maybe they could turn down the music. Most of the instructors here also don’t make many adjustments. They demonstrate, walk around and watch but even I know that people’s alignment aren’t great, including my own. Hopefully they’ll help out a bit more in the future.

Thanks to the back of my Safeway receipt for my initial first FREE class at YogaFlow! I am an avid runner and started practicing yoga once or twice to help stretch my hip flexor a couple of years ago, mostly via YouTube videos. I’ve also taken hatha/​heated vinvaysa classes at various places, but never fell in love with one to fully commit as a member. However, after my first yoga class at YogaFlow, I was hooked and now attend class 3 – 5 times a week! In all honesty, YogaFlow offers the best sessions. The instructors help you perfect your poses in the most gentle ways. Some even give you mini massages during class! I’ve taken classes with most of the instructors, and there are sooo many, but I will only touch base on some of my favorites:
Stephanie: She is the Mother of abs and handstands. Hands down, literally. Take her class and see for yourself; I am no liar.
Leah: Good God, this woman is so heavenly. Her instructions ease you to into the poses and she does an excellent good job of helping you lift your hips in downward dog and every other poses. She is the reason why I can do plow pose without the fear of breaking my neck! She is simply ahhh-​mazing! She even offers private massage sessions! Hit her up if there you have some stiffness, she will clear those knots in your back in no time!
Brad: He is your go-​to-​guy when you want a good cardio yoga/​almost-​like circuit training session. He will work you out and you’ll ask yourself whyyy did you do that to yourself. And the answer is for your own good, of course. Ommmm!
Mike: Oh Mike, he is my favorite. And everyone else’s favorite. His classes are always full; most likely it’s because he is the most compassionate and challenging yoga instructor you will ever have. He pushes you, but never to the point where you feel as if you are out of your element. Well, kind of. He introduces inversions of different poses you thought you have mastered, but only to be stumped by what he instructs to do next. And this is how you get more flexible. Really. Because of this magical person, I can do the bird of paradise pose!
P. S. I ended up purchasing the Groupon deal after my first class: 20 classes for $ 99. Such a good deal! Keep an eye out for them! There is also Work Trade available sometimes where you work 3.5 hours once a week to get a free week of unlimited yoga!

I really enjoy this studio. It’s a very large size, clean, and the instructors are very good. They all focus on the spiritual, meditative side of yoga as well as the physical.
The only reason why I docked one star is because sometimes it can be very hard to hear instruction — either because the music will be too loud or because it’s easy for voices to echo in the studio. I think it would be easier to hear instruction if the music was more in the background.
Parking in the neighborhood is usually okay. It’s typically difficult to find parking right in front of the studio, but pretty easy to find parking within one block.

I love this place. Class variety is limited, but perfect if you’re into a heated flow yoga with the occasional unheated Hatha. Great ambiance, convenient location if coming from the Peninsula. Parking can be an issue, but get there early enough to find a free spot in the neighborhood, or just pay a meter on Ocean Ave.
The real draw for me is that they offer childcare. Yes, childcare! Totally unheard of in most yoga studios. Not just some side room with a TV, but a large (and securely locked) room with all the trappings of a preschool. The childcare provider is fantastic, engaging, warm. I have no problem leaving my 1 year old in her hands and getting my OM on. This is a lifesaver for stay at home moms

Thus far I have really enjoyed this studio. I’ve only gone for Hatha which isn’t heated but the sessions I’ve attended have been small classes which has allowed me to feel a bit more at peace. I especially find the meditative sections to be particularly helpful. I can’t wait to go back for the next session.

Great yoga studio!
Awesome and knowledgeable teachers-​love Mike! He is such a great teacher who focuses on yoga from a spiritual, mental, emotional and physical perspective.
The teachers are patient and help correct your poses if you like. They truly embrace the teachings of yoga and implement it within their classes. The classes are for all levels-​so if you HAVE NEVER done yoga before-DON’T WORRY! Yoga Flow will encourage you to listen to your body and to never push yourself too hard. Don’t feel bad if you can’t excel at certain poses because it takes time, patience, and a whole lot of practice!
Clean hardwood floors, huge ceilings, great lighting, and friendly environment!