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7th Heaven Yoga and Wellness Center
Category: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Yoga Yoga [Edit]
2820 7th St(between Grayson St & Heinz Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 665-4300
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 9 am - 9:30 pm
Wed, Fri 9 am - 9 pm
Thu 8:30 am - 9 pm
Sat 8 am - 1 pm
Sun 9 am - 7:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
Bridges Rock Gym
77 reviews
3 Day Passes - you can redeem them for yourself over multiple visits or share them amongst friends on one or several visits
66 reviews for 7th Heaven Yoga and Wellness Center
66 reviews in English
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Review from Jules K.
Berkeley, CA
9/15/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Great Studio.
Don't know if I would feel the same if it wasn't for the instruction and spirit that David brings to the table. He has the blend of positive energy and understanding that allows you to expand your yoga practice. The studio is clean, bright and yes, doesn't smell bad. -
Review from yuki k.
Oakland, CA
11/9/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Variety of classes offered at affordable prices, and student discount.
They are closed between after lunch yoga around 1pm and 4:30pm. -
Review from Ally F.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
It helps that this studio is down the street from where I work, but even if that weren't the case I'm sure I would come back here. Beautiful space, laid back, and I love David's noon class. Before coming here I viewed yoga mostly as physical exercise. I love that they take time to incorporate some philosophy into the practice.
One bummer is that after months of attending noon classes and using the lockers sans lock, my wallet was stolen a few weeks ago. I don't blame them at all (I should have heeded the warning signs to not leave valuables...) but just something that you should be aware of-- they're not kidding about the thefts. I spoke with the owner about it who was very apologetic and said she unfortunately had been dealing with this a lot lately. 7th Heaven shares the locker/ bathroom space with other businesses in the building so can't do much to prevent non-students from entering.
Anyway, definitely a bright and friendly studio! I always feel great when I leave. -
Review from Jee C.
Oakland, CA
1/25/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
They offer various classes and instructors. I strongly recommend Katie. I have this pay attention problem but Katie's 90 min class always feels like 30 min to me. It's like my first experience that I'm actually having fun practicing yoga. Need I say more? :)
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Review from Brittany D.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
Great Yoga studio! Diverse, talented instructors. Kind, patient front desk workers. Tea and healthy snacks available in the lobby area. Spacious studios. Clean facilities. Love the Noon Yoga class!
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Review from M. A.
Berkeley, CA
1/10/2012
The only class I can speak to is Claudia's post-natal class, and it is wonderful! I started going a few weeks after I had my baby, and it was fabulous. It was a really good workout (at least for me), and a comfortable atmosphere for breast feeding. The baby wranglers that help when the babies get fussy really made it possible to get at least 1 hour of the 1.5 hours (usually), and then there's no class afterwards, and you're encouraged to stay and do whatever needs to be done -- a few poses you missed if baby needed you, diaper changing, feeding, talking with the other new moms.
The atmosphere is friendly, and I met a few friends there, but it's an actual yoga class, not a support group. This differentiates it from a lot of pre- and post-natal yoga classes I tried.
Claudia does a great job of keeping the classes varied, and of giving alternate poses for people who are at different stages of recovering from giving birth.
I highly recommend it! -
Review from Alice A.
6/8/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 17 Check-ins Here
Yes, yes, as everyone else who purchased the Yelp deal has complained, the 12 pass-deal expires three months after activation. It was the most unfortunate mistake, by Yelp for its part in accidentally leaving out a crucial detail in the terms of the deal, and by 7th Heaven for handling it somewhat awkwardly, mostly by the front desk staff.
Like everyone else, I thought I had the whole year to use up my passes. But I signed up for their online account (which helped me manage my class schedule conveniently) and discovered, quite fortuitously, that in fact my passes would expire much sooner than I had expected. Email communication with the director of the studio clarified that my options were to either get a refund from Yelp or to try to take as many classes as I could before the expiration date. She explained that $50 for 12 passes doesn't even really cover the teacher's fees, when normally it's $14/class. I had to admit, it was still a great deal, especially with the 30% discount on retail items, with which I finally purchased my own yoga mat.
So I took two yoga classes each week, which I would have not done otherwise. I tried three different instructors and two different types of yoga. They were all great and I loved the instructors.
Now after 12 weeks, yoga has become an integral part of my life because I learned:
1) practicing yoga regularly is great for the body and the mind.
2) it offers more variety in my workout routine and now I feel that my exercise program is more well rounded (breathing exercise is actually beneficial for my running).
3) I sleep like a baby after the evening yoga class.
4) chanting "ohm" is not as weird as I used to think.
and finally,
SHAVASANA, baby! It's what I look forward to all week. -
Review from Jessica S.
Emeryville, CA
8/2/2011
Pluses: beautiful studio, great location, ample parking.
Minuses: classes are a hit or a miss. The quality of teaching is inconsistent.
Some teachers focus so much on the spirituality and emotional aspects of yoga that they don't give enough attention to physical alignment, modifications, or how to make certain poses more accessible to people who are stiff or prone to injuries. I come to class to LEARN and get adjusted, if a teacher can't do that for me then I might as well do yoga at home with YouTube.
Example 1: camel pose. In one of the mixed level vinyasa classes I took, the instructor told us to just drop back into it as if there's a beautiful flower in front of us and we're just opening our hearts to receive its wonderful fragrance. Yea ok. Sure if I were a gymnast with a super flexible spine! What about engaging the thighs, pulling up the pubis bone, lifting from the thoracic spine and lengthening the lumbar? What about lifting through the sternum and not over arching the lower back? These are the most basic instructions a teacher NEEDS to give. Smelling a flower does not equal proper alignment in a yoga pose!
Example 2: on a recent Monday evening class, there were only two of us and the teacher. I'm not sure if she was a regular teacher or a sub, but it was one of the worst classes I've ever taken. There were only two of us in class, and I received only one adjustment. Barely any mention of how to get into the more complex poses. After just one sun salutation we did the splits, then crow pose, then the class ended with inversions. I don't even want to get into that because it would take several pages.
I will not be going back. It's disappointing to me that there is SO much yoga in the Bay Area, but good teachers are far and few. JinSung at Oakland Yoga Studio and Jessie Holland at Berkeley Yoga Center are the two best I've had so far. Stick to their classes. Be good and RESPONSIBLE to your bodies. Spirituality in yoga is important, but you have to make sure you don't get injured in the process!!! -
Review from Joanna L.
Irvine, CA
7/26/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
7th Heaven is an awesome yoga studio. I had never done yoga before coming here a year ago. They have a great variety of classes that are not intimidating for newcomers but are also engaging and challenging the more you practice.
If you are new to yoga I would highly recommend the four-session intro to yoga course. Mine was with Ashley, who is very patient and won't make you feel silly when you're trying to learn all the poses. She also helped recommend different classes at the end of the course.
I stuck mostly with Katie's hatha flow class. It's truly the perfect yoga class. (I tried some other studios in Berkeley to make sure!) The class is well-paced and has a good, down-to-earth vibe. Katie leads you in some chanting at the beginning and end, and she is always moving around the class, adjusting you when needed and demonstrating all the poses. She is also really helpful if you have any questions before or after class.
The Tuesday hatha flow classes can get pretty full (especially if people have all scored a Yelp deal recently!), but you'll never feel packed in like sardines like you would at Yoga to the People. The Friday and Sunday classes are in the smaller studio and are less crowded. -
Review from c n.
Berkeley, CA
12/30/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Got a 12 pack for yoga at this studio and so far I love it. Nice space, great staff and instructors. I would definitely recommend it.
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Review from Chase S.
4/8/2011
If you want to know if you and your significant other are a good match take some Acro Yoga classes together. If you are still in love after working together to master the postures you may have found the one. After my first bout of classes my then bf quickly became my ex.
I loved the space, ease of parking, and my instructor at 7th Heaven. I did not love how my payment was processed - I was double charged ($60) for the new student rate of 3 classes for $30. When I brought in my bank statement they told me I could have 3 more classes for a total of 6 but wouldn't issue me a refund. That would have been a great deal had I been able to attend classes 4-6 before surgery but I couldn't and those 3 classes expired so in the end I paid $20 a class which is $6 higher than the regular drop-in rate.
Although the payment situation dampened my experience I would still consider coming back, especially for Acro Yoga to audition my next potential mate - getting sweaty and bendy together is great foreplay.
peace, love, and good booze ~ chase -
Review from Becky C.
Oakland, CA
11/15/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Love the atmosphere, the teachers and the space. Wish I could get there every day. There is tea in the reception area, good-sized class space, and a roomy dressing area with showers. I only wish the restrooms and dressing room were a bit warmer in the winter! 7th Heaven is my go-to studio now.
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Review from Gladys N.
Alameda, CA
7/26/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Another Yelp Deal purchase gone wrong!
I purchased two of these Yelp Deals as a surprise for my husband's birthday, thinking that we had an entire year to get through the 12 classes. The BIG surprise however was when I went to my second class (3.5 months later) and I was informed that the deal had expired. I contacted 7th Heaven's studio director to see how we could remedy the situation. I even offered to pay full price for the 1 class that my husband and I had taken so that we could start with a clean slate. The reply, while professional, was unacceptable because it offered only the alternative of getting a refund from Yelp and placed 0% of the responsibility, of how this mishap was handled, on 7th Heaven.
This was my reply:
"Thank you for getting back to me. I have gone ahead and contacted Yelp Deals.
While you are accurate in stating that that the initial confusion was a result of Yelp omitting the 90-day window of opportunity, the simple fact remains that, from the very beginning, all of this would have been avoided if your front desk staff had been properly trained on how to communicate with costumers who purchased these Yelp Deals. Once this issue was identified, another option might have been to pull a simple query and e-mail the Yelp Deal people with a heads-up about the 90-day window of opportunity. It is time to take a little responsibility about this matter; by no means was this situation 100% the fault of Yelp.
In all honesty, I have no problem dealing with Yelp to get a refund. But I do have a problem with you lying to me when you say that it is literally, "out of your hands" and that you are unable handle this situation in a different manner. The fact is that if your hands are indeed tied it is because you are choosing to uphold a decision that you created. Because of this incongruence and inherent inflexibility that 7th Heaven has demonstrated, I do not believe that I will be returning to your yoga studio.
Thank you for your time.
I wish you and 7th Heaven greater flexibility and more effective communication in the future.
-G. " -
Review from Simone G.
Berkeley, CA
6/30/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Yet another Yelp-deal customer... though I can't complain about the early ending period, as 12 yoga classes for $50 is amazing.
As for the studio itself, I have loved every class I've taken so far. Nadine, Shakthi, and David have very different styles, but always make me feel comfortable about making each practice my own. This is especially important, as I haven't been doing yoga for a while, and want to ease myself back into a safe and strong practice.
My only real complaint would be the first time I arrived, when the man at the front desk spoke to me as though I had no business being there, and that my yelp coupon was offensive to him. However, since then, everyone, even the same guy, has been really friendly and welcoming.
I will probably keep going to this studio, even after the deal expires. -
Review from Shiyuan D.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 5/17/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Found out from their front desk staff that you don't have to pre-register online for classes.
You can just drop in.
Love it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/11/2011
I love the yoga here, but their 24 hour cancellation policy sucks.
What if you wake up in the… Read more »
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Review from Tina O.
Oakland, CA
4/9/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Definitely not my favorite studio. I came into this studio because of a Yelp offer I purchased. It's 12 classes and it's good for a year from the time of purchase.
I came in for the first time Friday to a quiet and completely empty studio. There was no one at the front desk and I waited 10 minutes before another student told me they always come in late and to just sign in and go to class and pay after. She led us to the classroom where she was the ONLY student and now there was me and my sister. The instructor comes in 15 minutes late. The class itself was OK, her instructions were relatively clear and she did come by to help adjust your poses.
After class was over, I spoke to the woman at the front desk whom told me it's actually 1 year to turn in the Yelp deal,but only 3 months to utilize it. WTF...no where does it say that in the fine print, but whatevers. Also, they charge $14 a class, but $10 for students. My sister is a student, but forgot her ID and the receptionist said she'll have to pay $14 and can bring her ID next time for a student discount....needless to say, my sister is NEVER coming back. And I feel obligated just because I already paid $50... -
Review from Ana W.
Berkeley, CA
10/24/2011
A great place when you're in a good room with a great teacher. I like the tea and the scent in the reception area. My only complaint is the policy that you must use your 10 classes over two months. It should be three months and many more people would be very happy.
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Review from Jessica E.
Oakland, CA
9/13/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Shakti Ganeshan is amazing. Beautiful studio, with ample parking.
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Review from Mercedes P.
Berkeley, CA
1/3/2011
I have practiced yoga in many different places and so far this is the one that I like the most in Berkeley. Nice (and well heated) rooms, a HUGE and free parking lot, beautiful decoration and, the most important thing to me: very good teachers.
They're not cheap but have better prices than other studios (around 14 bucks for a drop in class vs. 18 in El Cerrito) , also they're always offering deals via social media or email.
Super friendly staff. -
Review from Yoko K.
Oakland, CA
8/28/2011
This is not a review about their Yoga, I used to take a dance class here and I just like this studio. The room with a bright color, no poles in the room so that you can move freely, you can move freely and the size is just right, too.
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Review from debora l.
10/10/2010
Had a pleasant, 1st-time experience here today after using up a Groupon (2 classes for $14). Attended the Ashtanga Vinyasa with Nadine & had a great experience.
Loved:
- small class size (8 people, which was a full room for this particular class)
- expert instruction with pretty easy-to-follow directions
- flow of class: comfortable but not to fast or slow; lots of options so you can move at your own pace if needed
- REALLY easy parking
- good lighting and clean facilities
- ease of check in: really quick, and easy to fill out newcomers form if necessary
- comfortable environment for level 1 students like me!
Just OK:
- room temp - it was a bit warm for me, since there was an eco-heater on the wall
- cubes to stash your stuff outside the room
Provided:
- hot tea (caffeine free Tazo today)
- yoga mat, strap, blocks, blankets for free to borrow; in decent condition
Consider bringing:
- a towel if you're a sweat-er
- water!! drinking fountains exist but you'd have to exist the room to go there
For sale:
- yoga wear
- snacks (e.g. Larabars) and mats
Other cool stuff:
- new student special, 3 classes for $30
- up-to-date schedule online with class descriptions
- day-of schedule available if you call the number
- can do drop-in classes also, if you're more spur-of-the-moment
- nice variety of classes (hatha flow, vinyasa, anusara, prenatal, iyengar, pilates, and some dance classes)
- classes start as early as 7am on some days and end as late as 9pm, seven days a week
i'll definitely revisit this place. it's a great option for me as i like to run, and it helps strengthen some muscles and balance that i never knew i needed to strengthen... -
Review from Jan E.
Berkeley, CA
9/29/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I go for NIA classes. The instructors are excellent. i only give 7th Heaven 3 stars because of their 2 on month policy on buying class series. Even extending it to 3 months would be a big difference.
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Review from Jen A.
El Cerrito, CA
9/5/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
The instructors are amazing and they offer great yoga. There is a woman who works at the front desk who has a negative attitude, otherwise I have had problems with the studio honoring a Yelp deal.
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Review from T N.
Alameda, CA
7/26/2011
Yikes! Wow! A bogus yoga studio! INFLEXIBLE yogi's? Is it possible!?!? Absolutely. Look no further than 7th Heaven Yoga for crooks and stiff, inflexible yogis that FORGOT that the CUSTOMER is KING and will REFUSE to take RESPONSIBILITY for their business transactions. Every. Single. Time.
Any practicing yogi in the Bay Area knows that there is a ton of selection and a great deal of competition. 7th Heaven apparently WANTS to go out of business. You will do much better ELSEWHERE.
As the victim of the other one star review on here has CORRECTLY warned you about, this place WILL NOT honor the Yelp deals they apparently have going on now, or have had going on in the past, nor will they take any responsibility for the LACK of training and absence of explanation from their staff regarding the EXPLORATION dates on those Yelp deals. Beware! Please! Beware!
Here is how the scam works... YOU BUY the cool little deal. You start going and untrained 'help' at the front desk will get you started in their system with a smile of daggers. The catch is this... and I am taking this verbatim from the past one star review, because it apparently was and STILL IS PRECISELY how they GET you...
The receptionist told my wife and I that the Yelp! certificate expired 90 days after activation and was no longer valid. When we said that we did not recall any such expiry provision, she conceded that the 90 day expiration was not previously disclosed and was not an express or implied tern of the contract. She said that "Yelp! screwed up" and advised us to complain to that company. The Yelp! deal omitted any express or implied expiry provision. Now, the real clincher is that upon our FIRST visit, the VERY DAY we walked in and HANDED THEM the deal, they NEVER SPOKE ONE WORD ABOUT AN EXPIRATION DATE. NOT ONCE DID THEY SAY, "Now, we want to inform you that expires 90 days from...etc" NOT ONE WORD EVEN RESEMBLING THAT.
******Moreover, it ACTUALLY STATES: "[y]our Certificate is always redeemable for the amount you paid, less any value that you have already received (i.e., it doesn't expire)." ***********
When we brought this lapse to management's attention, 7th Heaven's Studio Director wrote the following:
*********"There was a misprint by yelp, if you simply email them at ... they will happily refund your money. You did business with them technically, the financial transaction took place on their website. They have a contract with us to allow folks to come in and take classes. They were supposed to say the deal was able to be activated for one year like any gift card. Once activated you redeem it for a package of classes that expire like all of our class packages." *************
This is PRECISELY what happened to my wife and I and we purchased TWO deals. In fact, to make matters worse, ONE of the deals was a birthday present. Whoa. Seriously UNCOOL. So, my fellow yogi's LET ME ASK YOU...
1) If Yelp! fails to PRINT this expiration on their deal, you know, the one they want you to purchase and print out and submit on day one. And then FAILS to reimburse...
[AND]
2) 7th Heaven "yoga studio" (I can barely even call it such) FAILS to train their staff, and then FAILS to inform the customer that there is an expiration date AT ALL...
Tell me, HOW can the customer be at fault? HOW? IF we NEVER knew, then how are WE at fault and OUT the money and DENIED the product????
They are placing PROFIT before PEOPLE. Plain and simple.
PLEASE, it is my compassionate wish that you DO NOT FALL for the SAME TRAP! I have been practicing yoga for 12 years from Tucson, AZ to Colorado Springs, CO to Los Angeles, and now in Berkeley, I find THIS?!?!? Seriously? So very un-yogi-like, and worthy of a good slapping.
Finally, I am a Chiropractor and holistic healer. I encourage ALL of my patients to practice yoga. Yogi's don't need an explanation as to the reasons "Why", so let me conclude by stating that going forward I will tell *ALL* of my patients, *ALL* of my personal Ashtanga students, *ALL* of my fellow chiropractors, *EVERY* Rolfer, *EVERY* physical therapist, *EVERY* nutritionist, *EVERY* functional endocrinologist, *EVERY* body worker, AND *EVERY yogi* I meet, network with, and speak to in the Bay Area to STEER CLEAR of these thieves. I will ask my patients to let *ALL* of their friends and family know that they should GO ANYWHERE else for yoga, EXCEPT this 7th Heaven Studio, which apparently has no problem raking up the cash and failing to deliver on the product. It more or less defeats their entire purpose for being in business. What a shame for everyone involved.
Krishnamacharya must be spinning in his grave in light of the FACT that studios like this have dared to turn something beautiful into their little den of thievery coupled with the wringing of hands and the passing of blame. Sad, sad, sad. -
Review from Stacy C.
Oakland, CA
9/11/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Really enjoyed the Saturday Pre Natal class.
Pete and Katchie's classes are also great! -
Review from helen l.
Berkeley, CA
12/24/2010
One of my favorite studios in the East Bay! The studio space itself is peaceful, clean, and easily accessible. They're located off Ashby Ave, with plenty of parking in a lot. The schedule is accommodating and varied with plenty of evening classes for those who work 9-5.
I've only attended the Ashtanga and Vinyasa classes, but many styles are offered here, from Hatha to Iyengar, and even pre-natal yoga. It is truly a Berkley sort of establishment, classes are holistic and have a spiritual, mind-body vibe rather than a practical, fitness oriented approach.
Definitely worth checking out if you're searching for a studio in the area. They typically have a new student promo too :) -
Review from Lia G.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 2/25/2011
7th Heaven yoga is my favorite east bay yoga studio. It has great teachers and fabulous energy. Never a problem to find parking in the lot, they provide delicious tea in the communal front desk area, and there is always a sweet front desk attendant to welcome you and wish you a good class.
If you seek a class that will nourish you mind, body and soul look no further than a class with Shakthi (I love the tue/thur 10am). This woman is amazing. I feel more prepared for my life after attending her class, for not only is she great but all of her students reflect her positive and communal energy as well. When you show up to practice, you discover ubelievable support from all the other yogis around you.
I also enjoy and recommend Ashley's class on Saturday mornings. She is playful, honest, supportive, inspiring and a lovely person and teacher.
I can't write a review for 7th Heaven without mentioning the wonderful Kristin Goldsmith. She teaches both Forrest Yoga and Pilates and is as good as it gets. I knew nothing about Forrest Yoga before attending one of her classes, and the beautiful balance of challenge and restoration (with gentle adjustments to poses to put less strain on important things like your NECK), have changed the way I practice yoga. THANK you Kristin.
Last but certainly NOT least AVA ROY! My schedule does not permit me to take classes with her as much as I would like, but DANG this woman is good! You must expereince her touch, voice, flow, and class. MUST. Love love love her.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2009
7th Heaven yoga is my favorite east bay yoga studio. It has great teachers and fabulous energy.… Read more »
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Review from Ruby M.
Oakland, CA
9/21/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I started coming here after scouting around a yoga studio that my boyfriend and I could get into classes at. As a dancer and pilates teacher, I've taken the odd yoga class, but never really studied. It's all new for the man....you could say I was pushing him into ;) I was looking for a studio with smart teachers, comfortable vibe that wasn't too "boutique-y" and an even balance of men and women taking classes. When yelp offered a deal to 7th Heaven, I checked it out and it seemed like a good place to start!
It took me a couple weeks to cash in the vouchers and schedule us for their 4-week intro series which seemed like the right place for him to start physically and me to start esthetically. Maybe this delay is the reason that I didn't have any problems with the yelp deal like a lot of customers that posted here did, the studio had time to sort out the kinks. I was informed prior to use about the change in expiration terms, and yeah yeah i know it was supposed to be good for a year, but I figured $50 for 12 classes in 3 months is a pretty good deal even if you don't quite manage to use them. Having worked as a marketing manager for a studio before, I know that despite your best efforts, the coupon companies don't always get all the info you need onto the offer before they run it. And also, part of the point of making these discounted offers to people is to get them to commit themselves to forming a healthy habit, ie, coming to yoga once a week.... there are 12 weeks in 3 months....get it? Plus, there was the discount offered for yoga mats and thats cool. Sometimes people want to complain just to complain...check the profile of some of those 1 star reviews....ALL their reviews are 1 star!
ANYWAYS: 4 starts goes to 7th heaven for the following reasons:
-nice, large warehouse space with several studios of varying (large!) sizes, painted and decorated nicely in the yoga vibe-y way
-good teachers. I've tried 3 or 4 and liked them all for different reasons. even some of the subs delivered killer classes i wasn't expecting
-good facilities-bathroom, cubbies, lots of props to use in each room, nice temp levels and lighting. feels CLEAN!
-mindbody...i loooove scheduling myself!
-Jennifer Epiphany: excellent excellent teacher in that she is strong at breaking down the poses and vinyasas for beginners in the intro class, but her strength is also very clearly invested in advancing people at the right pace. She can handle a lot of different levels in one room. We were alternating between her intro class and some hatha and vinyasa, then taking our questions back to the intro class.
-lots of info about each teacher so you can choose!
I would like to see some improvements in a few minor areas:
-desk staff is usually either absent, confused (filling in or uninformed of a given situation) or overwhelmed since people tend to just crowd around the large front desk
-classes usually start a few minutes late, in my experience due to juggling schedules. every week, the intro class was in a different room (in part to size, and in part to availability). sometimes you had to wait for another class to get out, notes were stuck under doors to remind teachers, and when they got out late they were not rushed to vacate for the following class. although even in these cases, my classes were ended on time to accommodate whoever was coming in next.
-breakdown of levels, or maybe a few level 1 only. almost all the classes are 1-3. only one teacher took stock of where her students were at, and doing so by asking who had taken less than 50 classes (thats us, clocking in at 4). then, she kicked our butts. i liked it, but yoga is supposed to be about control and concentration and we were kind of just shuffling along with the poses.
Bottom line--great studio, great space. good prices. great teachers, but they all kind of come in and do their thing and leave. not a lot of consistency between teachers and the front desk which is unfortunately often the way it goes with yoga studios and independent contractor teachers teaching in several different places. but here's the thing--I think my boyfriend's hooked after those few classes. so i have 7th heaven to thank for getting us in there and their great teachers to thank for getting us to keep coming back! -
Review from Ethel O.
Berkeley, CA
9/23/2011
7th Heaven is very close to my work so I love that I can drop by here just about any time. I have gone to classes before work, during lunch, and after work. All the teachers I have had have been great. They also offer activities and events, such as meditation and kirtan. I have only been able to make it to the meditation sittings a couple of times, which also was good. A nice group of people.
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Review from Ezekiel O.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 5/17/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Kim wrote me this AM and explained that it was an issue with Yelp and offered a refund. That is fine I paid a bit more than I expected but did get my value. Also, incidentally, today I was cleaning out my junk folder and I found an e-mail noting that I was running out of classes on the deal. I appreciate the follow up and will definitely be back for future full price classes. I still think that the front desk staff leaves a little to be desired as one of the front desk employees is brusque and distant. Ironically, she was there on both my first and last class of the Yelp deal. But I go to yoga for the stretching and not for the pleasant check-in.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/11/2011
Good yoga, reasonably comfortable space, but their business practices stink. I recently purchased… Read more »
Comment from Kim A. of 7th Heaven Yoga and Wellness Center 5/17/2011
I understand your frustration and I apoligize you were not… More » -
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Review from Yelyah O.
Berkeley, CA
4/11/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Lovely environment and nice people. I've taken a handful of different classes offered there and have liked them all.
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Review from n b.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2009
I am so in love with Yoga again, mostly because I have found Anusara Yoga, and have been fortunate enough to have discovered some of the most gifted Yoga instructors in the Bay Area. 7th heaven has been a big part of that.
It's a really beautiful space with a good variety of classes with great instructors. Very clean too!
If you are so fortunate as to see the back lounge area and the garden, you will see that it truly *is* 7th heaven. Besides, it smells like sandalwood...wait...that might've been me. Any way, it's so lush and gorgeous, it should have.
Totally heavenly. -
Review from Arela R.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2006
My BF and I have gone here for 5 classes so far. All beginner courses with David. So far it's been a good balance of yoga practice and teaching us the principals and concepts of yoga. Not too crunchy.
Our classes haven't been over crowded but I doubt they would be for beginners.
The prices seem to be the cheapest in the east bay and they have packages that really make the price irresistible.
I really like the facilities and the rooms are always perfectly warm.
I think we're both hooked and look forward to exploring with the other instructors and classes. -
Review from Jane L.
Berkeley, CA
8/28/2008
This is my new favorite yoga studio in Berkeley. And, I totally agree with the other yelpers about the prenatal yoga classes being terrific. And, for the non-pregnant, there is a great range of styles and instructors to pick from as well.
I also have to shout out for the surprisingly non-flaky customer service. I ended up experiencing a small snaffu after signing up for a special event/workshop at the studio recently, but the studio owner actually called me and immediately offered a remedy to the situation. In my experience, its rare to get great yoga and non-flaky service in the same place -- so suffice to say, I was very pleasantly surprised and would happily give them 5 stars for service/satisfaction.
Only reason I downgraded to 4 stars is that the rooms' air quality sometimes get stuffy and the location is not the convenient (you almost have to drive a car).Listed in: Big New Momma's Maternity…
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Review from Amanda B.
Berkeley, CA
6/14/2007
I searched high and low for a yoga studio that I could call my own, which is hard because a. I'm not that good at it, b. I typically am not into people who are actually good and c. I'm cheap. Thankfully I found this place. Not only are they totally affordable, they are also very personable. I've been going for two weeks now and love how helpful everyone is.
Here are the ups, as I see no downs:
-tons of parking, it's in a warehouse area with a huge lot
-small classes
-teachers who you can relate to (mine likes to talk about drinking after class, something i too enjoy)
-the goods, if you don't have a mat they'll let you borrow one, they have the blocks and ropes and all the fun stuff you'll need for your yoga-fied experience
Update:
My favorite teacher is no longer there. However I have faith in 7th Heaven. I tried the Hatha Flow class on Tue. night and it kicked butt. Although there was some chanting and a guy played his guitar at the end, (that was a little too hippie for me). Aside from that though I survived and was in pain the next day which told me that it's working. Another kick ass class with a great instructor. I'm sticking to five stars for 7th heaven!
One more update:
I now frequent this place once or twice weekly. So while I'm crouched down all "frog pose" and such with my head to the ground I realized my reviews weren't complete. So here it goes, reasons you should at least give this place a try:
1. Clean, floors are clean, rooms are clean, mats are clean even bathrooms are clean
2. Ample parking
3. Cheap
4. Kick ass teachers
5. Classes after 5pm!
ok now i promise i'll stop. promise. -
Review from Arthur W.
CA
9/8/2009
My body has a love-hate affair with Yoga. It loves it when I do it consistently. It hates it when I am not aware of what I'm doing and twisting around like a flailing ragdoll.
Anyway, I've been to many yoga studios and this one is clean and looks cool (for lack of a better term, or lack of my caring to think of a better term). My girlfriend goes there religiously and I went to a few classes on her recommendation. Love it. Would recommend Katie as an instructor.
PLENTY of parking (and some bike parking as well). Tea. Showers. Lockers. Love it.
PS I can't believe there are only 3 reviews on here. I guess the people who go aren't yelp addicts. -
Review from Ortho Philosophy I.
Daly City, CA
3/2/2010
This is a wonderful yoga studio that my friend and I discovered by accident. It is a small haven where everyone who goes in will come out so refresh. The front desk staff are always helpful and friendly. The studio gives you free tasting of Yogi tea in the waiting area. I always have a cup of their Yogi tea after my yoga class.
The best yoga teachers are Shathi and Kristen. Try their classes and you will feel so healthy and strong afterward. -
Review from Jenni M.
Oakland, CA
6/11/2011
I've taken classes at this studio from a variety of teachers during the past year and have consistently had amazing experiences, so thank you!
Today I had my first acupuncture treatment with Bina and I'm hooked! She is very kind, gentle and intuitive and I'm looking forward to continuing working with her in optimizing my health and wellness.
Oh, and I also bought the best feather earrings as I was leaving.
Yoga. Pilates. Dance. Acupuncture. Massage. Fashion. What more could you ask for? -
Review from Suzanne F.
Portland, OR
12/4/2007
After coming here to a variety of classes and experiencing different instructors, I thought I had hit the proverbial "pay dirt" last summer when I discovered Kimber Simkins' classes in Anusara Vinyasa yoga. I became addicted to going and rearranged my schedule to make sure I took her classes whenever they were offered. Then just as I got my whole yoga-groove really cookin' (I had even managed to do inverted postures without being freaked out), Kimber left to open a restaurant, and I was left wondering, "Now what?!" So, for the past few months I have been spotty in my yoga practice...'Till now...
The woman who took over some of Kimber's former classes, Nicole, is great! She also teaches Anusara-based Vinyasa yoga (think lots of 'Downward-Dog poses'), and she has such a great way of bringing into the room great humor, compassion, and energy. She has all sorts of interesting things to say about etymology (!!), physics, and life-stuff that we all can relate to, whether we are into yoga or not. In addition to great thought-provoking commentary, she helps everyone get into poses that are both challenging and helpful, while never crossing that line into pushiness...it's a fine line and so far, she seems to have a great handle on what her students' needs are. Very intuitive...and funny, overall, a swell combination. She also makes her own aroma therapy/essential oil bath salts, sprays etc which target stress, sore muscles, etc, and they are really good.
Sometimes the class seems to move quite slow and I don't get that whole "flow effect" I'm craving, but I do always feel great afterward. I have only taken her 1 hour classes and I plan to take a longer class next week. She is also teaching a 6 week class on yoga poses dealing specifically with stress which seems like the perfect thing to treat yourself to at this "happiest time of the year" (sarcasm is not conducive to yoga. Note to self: attempt to cease with the sarcasm throughout the holiday season...). She is really worth checking out and I heartily endorse yoga classes for dealing with all the day-to-day stuff we all deal with (and, if you've read my most current postings, you know to which I am referring!). -
Review from Kitty A.
Alameda, CA
4/8/2008
I started taking pre-natal yoga at 7th Heaven 3 months ago, and I absolutely love it! The space is serene, the instructors are very knowledgeable, and the price is unbeatable.
I take Deborah's Saturday class and she is awesome! She teaches yoga poses that aid in discomforts one may experience in pregnancy (i.e., sciatica, heartburn, constipation), and guides you through positions ideal for labor and delivery. I always get a good workout with her and appreciate her gentle passion working with pregnant women. Saturday classes are always completely full - about 25 or so women, and I've made a lot of friends in my class. It's so inspiring to be with a group of women in the same boat, committed to their health. We've even had some women come in during early labor to keep themselves active- WOW!
I HIGHLY recommend their pre-natal yoga classes, and I intend on going up until my birthing day. I will definitely return for their post-natal yoga series with my baby.
