The Yoga Loft
321 Divisadero Street
(between Oak St & Page St)
San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 626-5638
34 Reviews for The Yoga Loft
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The Yoga Loft has changed my life in the most positive way! It's not the usual yoga scene that you get at so many other studios. I would definitely recommend trying it out, you'll love it!
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I was a newcomer to both San Francisco and the practice of yoga, and Yoga Loft helped me to appreciate (and ease into) both. The vibe is nice -- much less attitude and "check me out, I'm a yoga girl" type stuff going on. It has a great community feeling to it. For anyone new to yoga, I recommend trying Jane's classes.
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Great teachers, classes and studio overall! I also love the fact that it's down the street from me. It's in a pretty good neighborhood that might seem run down to some, but I don't feel uncomfortable walking around even at night. I have been practicing yoga for 9 years and teaching for 2 years and I would really love to study with one of these teachers on a regular basis. The population is very diverse which is another plus. Not commercial or full of scenesters.
Great studio and great teachers even if my previous yoga knowledge is limited to the classes taught at 24 hr fitness. Plus close to home.
The first time me and Mel (roommate and buddy) came we had no clue what was up. We had decided in fit of much needed centering and perspective on life (but for very different reasons) that we should take up yoga. We came for the Wednesday night class that was supposed to be levels 1-3 Iyengar and at the front desk were greeted with "are you here for Karl's class?"
Me: "Uhhh I guess. We are here for the yoga that starts with an I"
Front desk guy: "Ok, yeah $16 please and fill out this form"
One star for not laughing in my face.
It was kinda funny how cult-y everyone was about "Karl's class" but we soon found out why. He's freaking awesome. We walked out all centered and mellow and ready to go to bed. We walked by the Fly and thought "How can you people be putting that poison into your bodies?!" and then chuckled at the fact that Karl makes you feel so good, that he will make you forget that you too were putting that poison in your body just three days ago. Ha ha ha...
Loved it so much I went right home and bought a beginners series class at the Loft that evening. How's that for a vote of confidence!
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Great place. Really large, well lit studios and excellent teachers. All of the teachers that I have been to remembered my name from the first class on, and they are really popular teachers with full classes. I appreciate that they have Iyengar classes, taught by experienced techers. I've started going to Jason Crandell's Vinyasa classes, and they're awesome, definitely among the best in the city.
The place is clean, they have lots and lots of props and it's very convenient to where I live.
I have so much gratitude for The Yoga Loft. I have been practicing yoga for eight years, have been a student at most of the other yoga studios in San Francisco, and I can sincerely say that my experiences at the The Loft continue to surpass all other yoga experiences. This studio is different because it leaves out the commercialism, competition, and pretension.
The instructors at The Loft get it. Instruction is methodical and detailed, not rushed and sloppy as I have seen and other studios. The result is pure bliss every time. Jane Dobson, Jennifer Rodrigue, and Jason Crandell are my faves, but the other teachers are equally competent and down to earth.
I feel obliged to comment on the dog hair mention by Missy M. It is true that one of the owners has an extremely well behaved and mellow dog who is sometimes present at the studio, however I have never seen any dog hair there. Furthermore, this studio neither smells like dog, nor like sweat as heated studios do. I can't imagine that Missy M's experience is based in the reality that the rest of us live in. I'm a bit of a germophobe myself - The Yoga Loft is clean.
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I went to the Yoga Loft fearing that I would find a yoga scene where everyone would be really self-aware about how they looked in their sporty yoga tanks, which they don't even need to wear an additional sports bra under because they are that efficiently constructed (the people, not the tops). But I read the Yelp reviews and saw the website with the dog on it and thought, well, at least this is a place where there won't be a lot of people who are uptight about stuff like dog hair. So I went.
And I was overjoyed to find that in fact, yes, the Yoga Loft is a very low-key place where you can get excellent instruction - so far I have been to classes taught by 3 different people (Meg, Athena, and Sabine), and they were all great, and the other people who attend classes there seem to be nice. I don't detect any yogier-than-thou vibe there at all.
I especially appreciate Meg's Restorative Yoga classes - I have multiple sclerosis, and she has expertise in working with people with MS, but her Restorative classes seem like they would be great for anyone who needs some active relaxation. But in the other classes I attended as well, I definitely felt comfortable with the instructors and not at all like it was a problem when I wasn't able to continue standing poses for the full duration or other stuff like that.
So, I feel really lucky to have moved to a new place just a few blocks away from the Yoga Loft!
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This place seems like the real deal. I tried an Iyengar class here, maybe a little too early on in my yoga career, because a lot of it seemed to go over my head... or was it under my sit-bones? Maybe if I went back now I'd get more benefit from it, now that I've learned about riding the edges and all that good yoga stuff.
The instructor was very good and it had a nice sort of feedback-oriented feel, like more... um... workshoppy. I just kept my mouth shut and did the best I could.
It's a really nice well-equipped studio, pleasant ambiance, lovely large high-ceiling studio rooms. My only complaint was that the floorboards were really creaky! It's kind of a pet peeve of mine, because it's totally fixable. All you have to do is tear up the entire floor and re-lay it...
First I must declare the awesomeness of ROPE WALLS!
Not only do they enable you to therapeutically stretch your body in all sorts of ways you couldn't do on your own, they are fun.
I attempt to come to class early to stretch out the endless tension in my shoulders. Ahhhhh.........
I like the Iyengar instructors here especially Athena & Karl =)
They don't have as many class package options or flexibility as other studios. And it can be a bit crowded when two classes merge in the lobby especially on the weekends. Bring all valuables inside the classroom with you.
Other than that, I highly recommend this studio and trying out Iyengar if you've been doing Vinyasa for awhile.
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Dear Yoga Loft,
You make me want to come to a 1.5 hour session and work hAAAAArd. So hard in fact that I can't focus on anything around me for all the sweat that is pouring into and burning my eyes. Nobody else has been able to do that (well, except my parents during the piano lessons phase). I don't have buns of steel yet and my abs are still on the fluffy side, but that's not your fault nor your perogative.
And really, I go to classes (Jennifer's on days when I can take some punishment, Sabine's when I'm looking for some excellent restorative, and Heidi's for special attention) because I leave feeling collected and knowing that my body is still good for more than just walking to work and sitting my butt hinge on a task chair all day long....
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the embodiment of relaxation in the midst of a slightly cracked out neighborhood. when you enter, you are greeted by a shrine with candles to set the mood. the space is lovely and the 2 practice rooms are huge with beautiful hardwood floors. the folks here are all friendly - i particularly love jennifer's and geoffrey's classes. overall, the classes here focus more on the spiritual side of yoga, which i really appreciate. i've been to other studios, where only the physical component seems to dominate the practice. bonus points for being a green business, and i swear that the ionized water there makes me feel even more centered when i drink it after class.
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Dog hair. All over the floor. Couldn't bend / reach down without smelling it or looking at it. Gross place.
I started going to the Yoga Loft at the urging of a neighborhood friend. Being awkward and out of shape, I said yes vehemently, but was feeling much like a 13 year old girl who had hit puberty before everone else and had to face gym class with boobs bigger then her own head.
We went to a Saturday afternoon Iyengar class and while I felt good afterwards, I wasn't convinced if this was for me.
Tip: Sunday morning classes with Geoffrey fill up pretty quickly so arrive early!
Our next class was a Vinyasa class taught by Geoffrey and I walked out feeling like a brand new person. Not that it was easy, not that I managed to put my foot behind my head, but I tried and all of a sudden came to the realization that it wasn't about acheiving but about listening to what my body is capable of doing.
Geoffrey's classes always manage to challenge not just my body, but my way of thinking about things. Jennifer's class is a bit slower and allows me to ease into my practice. Jason's vinyasa class is excellent as well.
Meg and Jane, both owners, are wonderful and gracious. I feel comfortable there. While it isn't shiny and new, it's gorgeous, broken in and calming. From the candles lit in the lobby, to the high ceilings of the 2 different studios, this place feels like home. I've been to other studios in the city, but this, by far, has been my best experience.
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This place has changed my life. I'm completely hooked on Jane's vinyasa classes. She is one of the most inspiring teachers I have ever met. I was completely new to yoga 5 months ago. I needed to tone down and work on some chronic pain issues. I was actually a bit intimidated by the idea of yoga as well. But everyone and everything makes you feel so comfortable there. Don't just go for the classes, go for the amazing experience that is The Yoga loft.
I like to start my weekend off with some ass-tightening yoga.
So on Saturday mornings I drag myself out of bed, eat a cliff bar and force myself to walk to Yoga Loft. Then it goes like this for an hour and a half:
"Push your heel against the wall.
Tighten your knees.
Lift your sternum.
Rotate your leg this way.
Now rotate your other leg that way."
I wouldn't let most people talk to me this way, especially on a Saturday morning. But I end up feeling so much better for the rest of the weekend, that it is totally worth the bullying.
And Yoga Loft has a beautiful space. It used to be an old dance studio, so they have some really lovely honey-colored wooden floors. Overall, this is a nice place to get kicked around on a Saturday morning (of course I'm just kidding about that, I love my teachers).
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Anne Saliou's back-care class truly saved my life. After being diagnosed with a degenerative disc disorder and fearing I'd become out of shape and addicted to painkillers (neither happened), her class offered me a light at the end of the tunnel.
I now do many of the poses I learned in her class in my own home while taking classes on the side (but at a studio closer to my home). I will always be thankful for Anne- a positive, sensitive, motivating woman. I recommend anyone with back issues to take her class. It was the best $200 I ever spent on my health.
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Anne Saliou's neck and back care classes are AWESOME! She has taught me how to take myself out of pain.
Anne's class has helped me more than physical therapy, accupuncture, chiropractic, and pain pills.
Anne's classes are small and taught with an assistant so you get a lot of individual attention. Anne takes great care to ensure that you are doing the pose correctly and not in pain.
I highly recommend this class to anyone experiencing back problems.
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Not such a scene as some of the other places I tried. Good class instruction. Glad I found this place after recently moving to SF
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I highly recommend the Vinyasa classes - especially those taught by Jennifer, Jane, Jason, and Geoffrey. I not only get a great workout, but also become more focused and clear headed from the classes. I've also tried Iyengar with Sabine which was a great way to add something different into the mix.
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I've gone to all major studios in the city. I love the history, tall ceilings great management. Geoffrey is my favorite teacher, he does a Tues/Thurs 4:45-6pm class. real meditative, and intermediate to advance poses.
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I've been here for both yoga classes and for big yoga-nerd parties (Bhakti Yoga Sunsplash) and I think it's a very sweet, together yoga space. If you are looking for a break from big, heated, high-energy classes with loud music and a line around the block, then this might be a nice respite.
Mind you, I love sweaty-loud-fun yoga, but some days I need a peaceful-restorative-intimate practice. Geoffrey Roniger's classes at Yoga Loft are just the ticket. He is Iyengar-trained but has created a well-paced, safe, flowing class that still pays close attention to alignment. He also typically has a theme that runs through each class, focusing on opening the hips, for example, or working toward expanding the back body to bring our culture's typically forward-leaning posture back into balance.
The size of the rooms is just right, with good light and ventilation, and the environment is definitely more meditative than social. It has a sweet location on Divis, just blocks away from Herbivore for breakfast after a nice Sunday class. Parking stinks, so ride your bike over! ;)
Om Namah Shivaya!
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Apparently "yoga" is a Hindi word, derived from Sanskrit, which means union or joining. Appropriately, my friend Laura got married at the loft yesterday for New Years Eve. All around me during the ceremony, dim candles filled the spacious and comforting room with a gnostic glow of higher consciousness and transformation, which are two things I know nothing about, and which also might explain why my friend Catherine began to look like a new age Shirley Maclaine as I sat there deleriously trying to hold in my five-cups-of-water chi until after the ceremony. Regardless, the space was lovely and the people at the loft could not have been kinder nor more accomodating.
Two "I-heart-channeling" bumpersticker shoutouts to you Yoga Loft.
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I heart the Yoga Loft. I was initially attracted to the sandwich board out front with a picture of Floyd, a white (yellow) lab who looks like a mini version of my lab, Monkey, resting his head on two yoga blocks. What self-respecting yogi dog dork can resist that kind of advertising? Not this one.
I've been going there for over a year now, and I love it. I'm there about 3 times a week, and something isn't right in my world when I skip yoga. I take regular classes with Geoffery Roniger, who is a definite healer, really invested in his students, and funny. He's made at least one Fletch reference in class. Nothing in life should be taken too seriously, not even your inner peace.
I also take the Yoga for Neck and Back Care series with Anne Saliou. She is a genius. She developed the plan with B.K.S Iyengar, having studied with him extensively. If you have any kind of neck and/or back problems, Anne can help you.
One of my personal Yoga Loft highlights was when Floyd stayed with me over the winter holidays. My house was filled with so much white lab cuteness it almost made me throw up a little bit in my mouth.
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I have been to many yoga studios. I am not into the latest yogic fashions, or do I care to be. So... I go to this great local(and centrally located) studio with high vaulted ceilings and room for me to spread out and get my meditation and yoga practice on. This place is the real deal. Brick Thorton is an amazing instructor. Mid day classes are great because of the low numbers and individualized attention. But of course, now that I have written this, tomorrow's class will be packed. Ommmmmmm.
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I went there for the first time and I don't know if it was the weird time or the excessive afternoon heat but I had the whole class to myself. It was my own private yoga instructor for $13 bucks or whatever it was. I am sore as hell today so I guess it was a good run.
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The instructors here are great and I love that they offer Iyengar in addition to other types of yoga. Sabine Kuehner is great and very patient with beginners. Jason Crandell also teaches some classes here.
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I went for an Iyengar yoga class. Strange, but fun. It felt like a cross between calisthenics, gymnastics, and self-flagellation. I was sore for days, so I know I should do it more often. By the end of the class the instructor was suggesting I stand on my hands. Maybe next time.
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I got called off my night job last night so i decided to do something good for me rather than sit on my ass at home. First time id been to a yoga class in years. Im trying to get in shape and stay fit and all that good stuff, and so last night was the start to my plan. I went to the Yoga Loft with two girlfriends and too the all Levels Iyengar class with Billy Konrad. It was great. The other class seemed to fill up really quick, but ours had a lot of room to breathe. Cool ropes on the wall, chairs, straps and other props made the stretching feel amazing. I know that i didnt sweat, but i definitely felt my body working, and today i feel fantastic. not too sore, but i can feel the difference. Im going to have to figure out a different night and instructor to go to because i unfortunately usually work on mondays, but im looking forward to other classes that the yoga loft has to offer. 3 classes initially for $30. not a bad deal!
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This place was a disappointment. Yoga Tree is much better. I never felt any connect with the instructors I had.
Wow, a non-restaurant review, never thought I'd be inspired to do that. This was my first yoga experience, and boy was I skeptical... not exactly the incense/ vegan/ chanting sort of person, if you know what I mean. But my chiropractor insisted, so I went. Luckily I stumbled on Jonathan Reynolds' class of "meditation vinyasa" and have been hooked ever since. It's a fabulous combination of sweaty exercises and frightful introspection that leaves me feeling improved in so many ways. When he tells us to sink deeper into Warrior 2 for the 4th time in a row, he follows it up with, "That's right- Warrior 2 is back, just like that same guy you keep dating with different names; it will keep returning until you LEARN something from it." And if that doesn't resonate with every one of us enough to make you sink that front knee deeper, then I don't know what will.
And then there's Floyd, the resident yellow Labrador, to console your sore body and soul when you stumble back out...
I must agree that it is crazy crowded on the weekends, but I think they all are... I always go to M/W/F classes, 9:30, and there has never been more than 10 people there, usually more like 5....
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A great place to practice yoga.
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Decent instruction. Gets way too crowded.
I love, love, love the Yoga Loft. Jennifer Rodrigue is the best teacher I have ever had. After several years of practice, I learned the basics from her in a way no one had bothered to teach me before. She is warm hearted, gentle, and always makes her students feel well cared-for.
I have had only occasional experiences with other teachers there, but all have been positive.
the iron barred door is propped open with a towel, and the stairs creak like a comfortable old house when you first enter the loft. this was my first time at a yoga class and i was pleased. they have a multitude of equipment mats, blocks, rugs, blankets, ropes, etc, but this might be standard. the space feels well lived in. the wooden floors have history you can hear in their creaks, and feel in their smooth, unvarnished wood grain. i can't remember my instructor's name, and her face doesn't look familiar on their bio page, but she had a soothing voice. there were some terms she used in relation to body position that i was unaccostomed to thinking about, but muddled my way through and got enough of a workout to sweat through the middle and nearly fall asleep while resting at the end. i would go back if i lived closer, and probably pay for multiple classes at once, so i don't have to shell out $15 for each two hour class.
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