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Abode of Iyengar Yoga
Category: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Yoga Yoga [Edit]
765 Monterey Boulevard(between Gennessee St & Ridgewood Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 469-9642
- Good for Kids:
- No
12 reviews for Abode of Iyengar Yoga
12 reviews in English
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Review from Nora Q.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2009
Manouso Manos is a very, very special teacher. He is a guru in the best and true sense of that word. This is not the place for people who are doing yoga because it is trendy or because is is a good workout.
However, if you are interested in changing your body AND your life and doing serious physical and mental work, you should start going to the beginner's classes here. You need at least a year of Iyengar training before you can join Manouso's class.
I don't think I could move away from SF after finding this teacher. He is incredibly kind and eerily intuitive once you get to know him. -
Review from ji j.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 5/3/2012
Ok, due to the responses I've received it's dawned upon me that many have a fear, which can be mistaken for respect of this teacher. Take it all with a grain of salt. Choose what works for you. Honestly, there are amazing teachers in the bay area who do not spend half their time bad mouthing other styles and teachers. If you like a bit of exorcising of shit you want to get out of your system but are too lazy to do it, just take his class and he'll do it for you. just buy one class because my boyfriend bought the multipass and couldn't get a refund. work is work and play is play, if you have attained the elite where play revolves around work , you'll understand that some teachers teach yoga to learn and enjoy this gift of a practice. honestly, the best way to sum it up is as this older gentleman gave me his impression of m'n'm:
"where you from boy? ashtanga? only two things come out of ashtanga, steers and queers and i don't see any mysore horns on you so u must be a queer!"1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/8/2012
This review is for the owner, Manouso Manos. This so called man is a poison to the yoga community.… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer P.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2006
After about three classes I was hooked on this place. I took up yoga because I had to cut back on dancing every day due to a foot injury. I had heard good things about this studio from a friend in dance class. She was absolutely right! The studio itself is pleasant, well lit, and easy to get to; but even better are the range of instructors who teach there. As a plus size woman I didn't know how things would go for me in a yoga class, but every instructor has impressed me with their knowledge, skill, their good nature, and their interest in tailoring the class as much as possible to each person in it. From beginner to expert, everyone gets the instruction they need. I leave feeling stronger, balanced, and more flexible. I bet you will, too.
Update 1/2009: Unfortunately, I have to lower my rating of the Abode due to my interaction with the teacher I work with most often, Todd. While I appreciate his dedication to his work and his seriousness about the subject of yoga, in the last few months I have observed and also been the target of what I can only call a tongue-lashing in class because of a perceived infraction. Instead of gentle correction, he has more than once basically dressed someone down in front of the rest of the students. Class with an instructor who is moody and prone to this type of behavior feels unsafe to me and is far from stress reducing. I will not be going back to Todd's class.
On the other hand, Octavia Morgan is a highly dedicated, professional, and inspiring instructor. I get a great deal from her classes. She is firm but compassionate and deft at tailoring classes to whatever is going on with you that day: pain, fatigue, injury, etc.. I highly recommend Octavia both for her work with those new to yoga, and also those more experienced.
Other instructors I can highly recommend are: Osha, Athena, David, Brian, Victoria, Rita, Janet, and Tamarie.
Overall, I do recommend the Abode, but would suggest selecting an instructor who suits your style. I personally do not need to be yelled at to do well, preferring to be pushed with kindness, and so I have chosen my instructors accordingly. -
Review from Liza P.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2005 8 Check-ins Here
This is the best Iyengar Yoga studio in Northern California! Forget the free yoga sessions at your gym, this is the real deal!
First of all, the yoga teacher- Manuso Manos is basically the rockstar of the Iyengar school of yoga! Manuso was one of B.K.S. Iyengar's first students, and actually was part of the making of Iyengar yoga. [Iyengar- the guy who founded this school of yoga, which is basically a more practical version of Hatha yoga, and one of the most popular schools in the West. Iyengar was partially blamed for diluting and popularizing yoga, but as long as people are doing yoga, I think that's A-ok]
Now, Manuso is tough- he won't take you into his classes unless you've done yoga seriously for at least 6 months, and there will be none of that "get in touch with your inner self" bs. This is all about the asanas [yoga poses], so you'll get a killer workout.
This is hard core yoga- after a few years at the gym, I thought yoga would be a breeze and I was OH SO wrong! My whole body [which I considered strong and limber] felt like it was hit by a train, and then a cement mixer.. but in a few months I felt unbelievably great!
Which brings me to the last, very important point- people who do yoga seriously are in AMAZING SHAPE! They are lean and mean, and really really happy - Manuso says that the "happy" comes from doing handstands and headstands.. personally I think it comes from looking in the mirror.Listed in: Love me, Nature Fanatic
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Review from Vivian L.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2009
I have been going to the Abode for a few months, upon the recommendation of Octavia (who also teaches at another yoga studio that I go to). It's a bit out of the way in Glen Park since I live downtown, but if you are serious about doing Iyengar yoga, this place is for you.
The studio is large and airy (with a large skylight right over the middle), and has an extensive collection of props to help with your practice. I love my instructor, Octavia, and she's really been instrumental in helping me through my shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. I haven't taken classes from any of the other instructors, but I would definitely recommend taking a class from Octavia! -
Review from R D.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2010
Pranamami Pantanjalim. I am so grateful to have discovered this amazing place for Iyengar yoga classes, so close to my home. I used to trek to the Iyengar Institute in the outer Sunset out of loyalty to my instructor there - but no longer. I was stunned by the beautiful Abode studio, which belied its nondescript entrance on Monterey Boulevard. The clean hardwood floors, gorgeous natural light, high quality props.
I take classes with Osha and Athena - compassionate, experienced and focused instructors. I have several issues (glaucoma, neck and back) that require adjustments, and these wonderful women provide me with individualized attention - with no fuss.
In my experience, other studios have either been hesitant to accommodate special needs, and sometimes I've had to endure ungracious comments - which could make someone push through pain and conditions that will eventually be harmful. I don't have to worry about that at the Abode.
I also very much appreciate Osha's sense of humor, and Athena's focus on women's health during her Friday afternoon class. Athena also serenades you during shavasana. If I were to describe my perfect day, it most certainly includes yoga classes at the Abode! Namaste. -
Review from gregg s.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2009
i have had good luck with iyengar in treating a chronic physical issue, and this place is by far the closest yoga studio to where i live. i actually heard about it from a friend in LA who said that Manouso is supposed to be one of the best around.
Manouso is a tactless, belligerent ass. I've been told and read that you just have to get to know him, but i'm sorry, first impressions do matter. I intentionally walked into the building when i knew a class was ending so i wouldn't disrupt anything. Manouso confronted me in front of a large group of people and started making accusations before i could even get a full sentence out. "So you want me to just heal you so you don't have to do any work?!" ... all i was trying to ask for was a schedule of classes and a recommendation for which class i should take.
surprisingly, i guess because it's close (and it IS a nice studio space), i did go back a couple times. i took two classes from Brian, and he was great. his classes were helpful, but that place just has a bad feeling. Manouso's arrogant way is far from what i'm looking for from yoga. -
Review from kohkoh t.
Pacifica, CA
7/27/2010
This studio is not about showing off or proving something. This is a healing evironment. As a beginner I haven't met Manouso yet. Rita has a level of sensitivity and awareness that makes other yoga classes seem absurd by comparison. Even as beginners we reach deeply into changing our bodies and receive an amazing level of individual attention.
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Review from Lisa M.
Santa Barbara, CA
3/17/2008
Manuso is the absolute best yoga teacher! He's hard on you, but only because he wants you to get better in whatever way you need to. Sometimes you don't even see these things yourself. It's almost as though he has x-ray vision down to the bones. Take his class only if your a serious student and have practiced yoga for at least 6 months. You'll learn so much about yoga and yourself!
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Review from Julia R.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2009
Osha is a very knowledgable and intuitive teacher. She balances her
teachings with challenge and enjoyment. I have been taking classes from her for 10 years and always feel the excitement of having experienced something new. She is always observing - moving around the class - to make adjustments and leading with her words of instruction to bring your attention to specific areas of the body. She is mindful of whatever issues you may have with your body. I have had specific issues with my body and Osha has worked with them as a healer and a teacher that I can trust to make the adjustments necessary for my body. -
Review from Miriam V.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2006
I have been going to this yoga studio for the past year and a half, and I love it! When I first started, I was very apprehensive but the instructors are great at helping you get started and adapting the moves so that you can learn how to do them. They have certainly helped me improve over time. I am a particularly big fan of Janet Um who teaches an intro class on Saturday at 12:30 and a beginning level class on Sunday at 12:30. These are not particularly popular times so her classes tend to be small, and you definitely get lots of personalized attention. Janet is very knowledgeable and is great at explaining each move in extreme detail which makes it easier to learn...so check it out!!!
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Review from Spike B.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2011
love love love
