Classes in San Francisco?

[Guest guest]

boljsd,<br><br>I recently took a job here in SF,

and I've spent the past month or two checking out

several traditional style teachers, at least the ones

I've found. Here are my

recommendations:<br><br><a href=http://www.sfayoga.com/

target=new>http://www.sfayoga.com/</a><br>Decent space, good teachers, great

vibe. They all trace

their roots to Tim

Miller.<br><br><a href=http://www.yogashala.com/newsite/mainframe/main.htm

target=new>http://www.yogashala.com/newsite/mainframe/main.htm</a><br>Jon Robb's

place. Excellent space, better vibe. I'd

only recommend the Mysore sessions, however.

<br><br><a href=http://www.itsyoga.com/

target=new>http://www.itsyoga.com/</a><br>Although I'd air my comments a bit

less emphatically than

the venerable El Senor, I would not recommend this

place, at all. The vibe is not conducive to Ashtanga.

It's bizarre, and condescending actually, and there

are photos of Guruji all around, but the led classes

are anything but. I would still like to check-out

Clayton Horton's Mysore sessions.<br><br>Still saving to

buy a car and get over to Mill Valley . .

..<br><br>Namaste,<br><br>-jg.

[Guest guest]

Kirsten Berg, who lives in India and practices

with Guruji every year, has recommended Ahimsa Yoga on

24th Street and Harrison. The Mysore teacher's name is

Alice. They have a web site at www.ahimsayoga.net

[Guest guest]

Alice is a wonderful teacher. She has great spirit and deep consideration for

her students. John Robb is also an excellent teacher. I recommend checking

them both out.

[Guest guest]

If this is the same Alice from SF I remember

(with the maha tatoo), she's great. A wonderful person

and totally dedicated to yoga . . . met her once

visiting Tim Miller's, saw her take 2nd series & 1st

series Sunday classes back to back -- there's dedication

for you!

[Guest guest]

After playing catch up for the past couple of

days (reading 3000+ messages), I have to say that I am

surprised El Senor has not responded to the opportunity to

bag on Larry Shultz yet. <br><br>I am just a

youngin in terms of my practice, about 3 months now, so I

really will have to defer historical knowledge, lineage

and all that to others. However, I will say that I

started yoga partially for fitness and partially for self

exploration -- what am i capable of, how will it progress

over time. In this short time, I have explored a few

different classes -- Iyenger at Yoga Center Santa Cruz a

few times, "yoga" classes at the Ashtanga Institute

in Santa Cruz (the classes were not flow or modified

primary classes), and Astanga as taught at It's Yoga in

San Francisco. I have also been practicing on my own

using David Swenson's book.<br><br>First off, Iyenger

really is not for me -- at least as a primary practice.

I believe getting postures correct is important,

but that comes with time, practice, and proper

instruction. I like the flow of postures in Astanga and the

linking of breath. Iyenger would be a good occasional

addition for me, for additional instruction. <br><br>My

confusion comes at the fanatacism of El Senor against Larry

and others. At least for me, yoga is a personal

practice, learning my limits, expanding them however I can

over time. Yoga classes that I have attended at It's

Yoga match pretty closely to the primary series as

discussed in the Larry Swenson book, which I have not seen

El Senor bad mouth vehemently. There have been

modifications, depending on the instructor, which for the most

part mirror the short forms outlined in the Swenson

book. Sometimes an instructor might throw in Bakasana

or Dhanurasana from the intermediate series. Other

times, an instructor might substiture standing tree (i

am spacing on the name) for utthita hasta

padangusthasana, to help people learn balance. Are these

necessarily bad? I don't see why. It is helping beginning

students who may otherwise be incapable of the harder

poses. For instance, with standing balance postures, I

believe it is more important to learn to balance, breath,

and the drishti, than jumping straight to the primary

series equivalent. But being a beginner, I may be

deluded.<br><br>Another use for the "modified" primary classes, at least

from my view, is the sheer fact that you are not going

to pack the full primary series into 75 or 90

minutes (at least for those jus learning). If people are

interested in the full primary series Clayton Horton teaches

a Mysore style class twice a week, there is a full

primary class on the weekend, and plenty of open practice

time where instructors are around. <br><br>My

practice, as stated, is a balance of attending classes

(primarily at It's Yoga, with jaunts to studios in Santa

Cruz) and self practice. Even when attending classes, I

try and stick closely to my own routine (either what

I can of the primary or a modified form). What is

important for me is to see progression -- in terms of

flexibility, in terms of being able to achieve and hold poses,

making sure I don't press myself improperly. So far, I

have achieved these things.<br><br>I think the point

of my rambling is to not necessarily use the word

spoken in this group as gospel, but attend studios and

find the one that is a fit for you. It turns out It's

Yoga is a 5 minute walk from work. I have found the

people there friendly and helpful. I have not had a

class with Larry, but have spoken with him and he is

pretty friendly. Given the time and the chance, I might

try Yoga Shala in the Castro, but it will mean time

away from work. It's Yoga makes it easy to attend and

practice 5 or 6 days a week. And Mill Valley is not an

option.<br><br>If I had browsed through the message base before

starting my practice, it may not have gotten off the

ground. I am not a big fan of egos and people/groups that

push a one true path dogma.<br><br>I'm happy, getting

more flexible, and growing

[Guest guest]

alice joanou is a very dedicated teacher with

great spirit. she is at ahimsa yoga in the mission. i

hear good things about john robb at the shala.

experience it's yoga for yourself, if you wish. it may not

be to everyone's taste, but it led me to dis-cover

the practice within. after practicing there and

meeting the people (alice was one of them at the time) i

saw how asthanga can transform your life. my time

there was indispensible in guiding me to a mysore

practice. sometimes different places are correct for

different people.<br><br>the wheel of yoga has many spokes

all leading to the common center.<br><br>bhavatu

sabba mangalam.

[Guest guest]

A few thoughts on classes in SF: <br>Yoga Shala

(26/Castro) does have a good offering of classes. John

teaches the mysore classes, and has a solid practice.

There is also David Frances, a diligent and focused

teacher for beginner/advanced beginner students. <br>It's

Yoga (4th/Folsom) has mysore classes on Tuesdays and

Thursdays with Clayton. He's a great teacher and very down

to earth. Please don't let rantings by SPW

discourage you from finding experiences that will be useful

to your practice! <br>The Mindful Body

(Divis/California) has a wide range of classes, and I would

recommend Devorah Sacks and Michael Cooper. She is very

traditional, and has a great practice. He is softer but offers

a solid flow class.<br>Ahimsa yoga (24/Harrison)has

a great schedule of classes and solid

teachers.<br>All options are easily accessible by public

transport. Hope this is useful.