Ashtanga Yoga Berkeley

The shala is beautiful, and the space is inspiring. I dropped in while in town. Vance was so welcoming, and offered assists and gave great pointers. I HIGHLY recommend this place for anyone visiting the east bay, or frankly anyone within driving distance. Worth the trip. Hope to be back soon!

Vance is an amazing teacher and strikes a great balance (no pun intended) between pushing you and giving you grace :)

Highly recommend for anyone interested in Ashtanga practice 🙏

Once upon a time, an Indian yogi (yours truly), weary from the jump, skip, and hop of the modern 'Power Yoga', embarked on a journey in pursuit of the deep-rooted, serene traditional yoga magic. The end of my quest led me to Vance's studio, a sanctuary that vibrates with the authenticity of ancient yoga traditions. It's become a second home to me, a place that nurtures my soul's craving for yoga's profound subtleties.

Vance is a remarkable teacher, conveying wisdom with compassion, affection, and delicacy, without ever resorting to forceful physical adjustments. His skill for understanding my body, its potential, and the guidance it requires is truly remarkable. His respect for the bodies he works with resembles the tender touch of a caregiver or a nurturing parent--promoting trust and surrender, both essential elements of the yogic journey.

In the five years that I have been practicing under Vance, I have witnessed his steadfast dedication to his students and his studio. When the turbulent tides of Covid rolled in, causing widespread distress, he ensured we had a refuge to turn to. Despite the economic challenges, he kept the studio afloat, providing a healing space for the community, a safe harbor amidst the storm.

Vance imparts his teachings in a humble, down-to-earth style that brings the depth of traditional yoga within everyone's reach. His method is a refreshing contrast to the high-energy 'jumping around' yoga we often encounter. Instead, Vance fosters a tranquil, introspective environment where the complex layers of yoga unfold gently, allowing you to delve into your own depths in a sacred sanctuary space.

For those on a quest to bridge the gap between the ancient wisdom of traditional yoga asana and the needs of modern life, this is your haven. Vance's unwavering dedication, compassion, and nurturing guidance offer a fulfilling journey of self-discovery, empowering students to experience the healing power of their own bodies.

I can't recommend this place enough - roll up your yoga mat and come experience this transformative journey yourself!

After several years of "yoga a-la-carte" (drop in yoga classes at the climbing gym and various other random places), I decided to give Mysore -- and one consistent teacher -- a try. The first time I went to a (led) Ashtanga class, I knew it was my practice, and I was both intrigued by and slightly skeptical of trying Mysore style -- if I'm not following an instructor in a led class, why not just do a home practice and save money? Any doubts vanished my first session with Vance. Without having to lead a class, the teacher has time to TEACH. I receive a much greater amount of personalized attention in Vance's Mysore class as compared to all the led classes I have gone to.

Vance is a wonderful instructor, kind and encouraging while still pushing me to my edge (but not over), and my practice improved more in the 1-month beginner course I did with Vance than it has in the past year (and as someone who was new to Mysore but not to yoga, I thought I would be bored at the beginning - not so at all! It was actually really good to focus on sun salutations in more detail, and the progression was steady).

As a busy graduate student, I really enjoy not having to stress about getting to a yoga class at an exact time. Since the class is not led, one is able to drop in anytime during a session and not worry about disrupting the class. And everyone goes at their own pace. Individuals are "given" new poses in the Ashtanga series as they progress (so there's that great feeling of accomplishment as you get to try out the next one), and on the days I'm feeling particularly tired (or do not have time to stay long) I can take it easy or cut it short. And somehow Vance always recognizes the days that I'm feeling particularly energetic or inspired, and works with me on trying out some of the more difficult poses.

The studio has a great vibe to it, and you can leave your mat upstairs and not have to carry it back and forth. Vance also tries to create a community space: I really enjoy the community chat and (delicious) chai he brings on Friday's (which is a led class every other month). There's just enough "spirituality" in the rhythm of everyone's breath and the traditional chanting to have that nice "yoga vibe", but it's also down to earth without any of the over-the-top in-your-face yoga superficiality (thankfully). Everyone is really nice and genuine, and I've yet to see even a hint of pretentiousness.

Anyone is welcome: it's a very diverse community spanning from folks who are trying out yoga for the first time ever to those who I can't help but stare at because they literally float into the most beautiful one-hand upside-down pretzel folded-in-half poses that I can only hope that, with enough practice, might one day reach.

I enjoyed my first class, Vence is very nice and very thoughtful with your individual capacities.

Amazing yoga studio!!! Vance embodies his teachings and creates a sacred safe supportive space with nonjudgement and compassion. Highly recommended!

Vance is an amazing ashtanga yoga teacher. A traditional school 🏫