Namaste Grand Lake

Great atmosphere, wonderful teachers, excellent choices of classes.

Totally disappointed with the customer service at Namaste. I purchased a mini pack of yoga classes for 4 months. After the 4 months were over they continued to charge me, without any notification. Two months later I realized I was being charged. I kindly asked for a refund for the 2 months I didn’t use it and they said no. Basically I didn’t read the fine print. I have to say there are so many more affordable yoga studios in Oakland that I will continue to support.

Have taken classes from almost every instructor and all except one was wonderful. Love acupuncture with Anna L. and love Poh’s beginner class. Namaste is a terrific neighborhood resource. My only complaint is that the multi-​class passes expire. I’m a working parent and have a very inconsistent ability to get there. Rather than an expiring reminder, please send me a «you have this many classes left on your pass» email. Thanks, gals, keep up the great work.

Friendly, helpful, welcoming, encouraging… these are words I’ve used to describe my first yoga experience at Namaste… as in the very first time I’ve ever tried yoga. Poh’s Sunday morning beginners class has become a must for me, I’ve been going for at least 4 months. As someone who is 100 lbs overweight it can be intimidating to go into a class like this, Poh has not once made me feel out of place, she’s been open to helping me find what works for me and reminds everyone in the class that their bodies are different from everyone else’s. When I’ve left items behind in class Poh and the staff of Namaste have gone out of their way to insure that my items are returned to me. I can’t say enough nice things about Namaste and Poh.

The facility is clean, calm, and welcoming to newbies.
I did Vinyasa 1 – 3 with Jillian and it was the best yoga class I have ever had. I had a rough week and this was blissful I kept referring to it as the equivalent to having the best stretch ever.
Relaxing, Energizing, and also productive enough to make me sweat and be the good kind of sore the next day.

This article was written by your teacher Judy Rukat in a national blog. Is this what you guys practice at this studio? It seems that this kind of thing should be kept on the low down because of all abuse that has been prevalent in the Yoga community. Guess you guys didn’t get the memo…

Some vague effort toward obliging maximum occupancy would be very much appreciated. We are people, not sardines!
Also, having taken hundreds of yoga classes across two dozen countries, I don’t feel their high prices are at all justified.

The boutique is beautiful, with lots of wonderful malas and clothing to choose from. The studio has a little tea and water center outside and is super nice and spacey. However, I was not a fan of the class itself. The teacher seemed to be reading off a script and barely warmed us up before getting us into deep asanas. Definitely didn’t feel it was worth the drop in rate.

I really enjoyed visiting this studio and bought a pass.
Here are the positives:
1. Great, friendly customer service
2. Genuine & skilled and kind instructors
3. Wonderful merchandise selections
The challenges:
Parking if you aren’t walking distance
Sometimes classes I particularly desire do not fit into my schedule
Check then out and see how to make yoga part of your life.

I cannot express how much I love this studio. Each teacher has such a vibrant, and unique energy that I always end up leaving refreshed, renewed, and inspired.
My absolute favorite teachers are David Moreno, for his deep and thought provoking classes. He also has a sense of humor that comes out with impeccable timing during class. Ashley west Roberts focuses on alignment that is safe for YOUR body type… not a one size fits all model. She has a slower vinyasa but they can be as challenging as you want them to be depending on your DEDICATION to the practice. Judy Rukat has invigorating, challenging handstand and arm balance bonanzas and I loooove learning new asanas and variations on them from her. Sparkles class sequencing is soooo unique and intriguing. I never get bored in her classes and her playlists are always awesome to yoga it up to. Annamarie has healed my pulled hamstring amd she continues to heal my hips every time. I literally had hamstring pain for half a year and thought I would for life. I went to her class one saturday and afterward for the first time in 6 months I FELT NO PAIN. I literally cried from happiness. Nubia… oh…where do I begin… I love her use of pranyama, visualization, use of bandhas and deities and mantras, and her bits of inspiration from her daily life. She keeps it real and she is such a breath of fresh air.
There is something here for everyone. I love how it is a space where you can connect with others or simply come to work things out on your own in a corner peacefully.
Its not power yoga or hot yoga or yoga just for working out although it I guess it could be if you wanted to, but that kinda defeats the true purpose of yoga. Just saying, but to each their own, I suppose.
Im so grateful for this space and the offerings they have. I am a happy to have a yoga sanctuary that has always allowed my own energy to contribute on its own terms without any judgement or criticism. Feelin the love here:)

My first negative review. I’m writing it because I found the business through Unilocal.I purchased a yoga strap on the recommendation of a physical therapist. I had a pleasant chat with the employee behind the counter and manager. I explained I would be taking the strap to my next PT appointment to make sure it was the right kind, and that I would return it if necessary. The strap was not the right kind — it was 8′ — not long enough. When I dropped by the store two days later to return the unopened strap, I was told that I could only get store credit towards classes, etc. I explained that I don’t live in the Grand Lake area. Nor do I regularly take yoga classes. I had only come there to get the yoga strap.

I recently got a membership at Namaste. I’ve had a couple of bodywork sessions with Nathan and he’s amazing. He’s very friendly and his touch is incredibly attuned. He knows when to make things lighter or deeper, and he’s great at explaining what he’s doing so I can actively participate in the session. He also gave me some very helpful exercises to try at home.
I’ve also gotten a lot out of the yoga classes. Not all of the teachers fit my preferences, but it’s easy to try someone else and find someone who does. They’re good at helping students work with their bodies without overdoing it, and the classes are a good balance of asana and flow.

I like any place that serves free tea. Tried out their intro promo of $ 30 for 3 classes and am glad to say that all 3 were pleasant experiences. The instructors were nice and there were plenty of cubby spaces for your things. The only downside is that weekend classes tend to get super packed. Not ideal if you like your space. But I guess that just goes to show how much people like it!

Judy, Ashley, Poh — different training (background) and classes but same philosophy: It’s YOUR yoga class, do what feels right for YOUR body, do what you CAN and NOT what you THINK you SHOULD do.
Judy Rukat — training in ashtanga & rocket yoga — classes range from being «Hard» to «I can’t believe I’m doing THIS!» to «OMG — really? No way!» I can count on Judy to challenge me whether it’s closing my eyes while balancing on toes or doing mountain walker (knees to shoulder) in chataranga (way harder than doing it in plank!) AND I can count on her to inspire me (her demos all the arm balancing are impressive to witness). Because of Judy, I learned how to do the following: 1. fall without hurting myself; 2. enjoy being upside down. Common adjustments: a. stretching your lower back while you are in downward dog and she is doing a handstand with her feet on your back. b. if she is supporting you in handstand, she will enourage you to raise your legs straight up and down (takes incredible core strength) which is super hard while she is holding your hips. Despite her challenging class, Judy’s attitude is very mellow (you can take child’s pose or skip a pose or do another pose) and her sweet voice will remind you to just try and smile and breathe. I like her core strengthening exercises (especially in plank pose), her routines (most complex of any teacher I know) and her ability to make me laugh at myself (after I fall). Occasionally, she’ll load up on arm balancing (like one Wed where she introduced THREE ways of getting into Eka Pada Bakasana PLUS Dragonfly PLUS arm balancing in LOTUS — that day, I felt like an observer vs doer, but I did try all of them.) Most of the time, she’ll have more flow sequences. She will do wall work when requested (splits against the wall and hand stand splits with one foot against the wall — this is now a fav of mine). The more of Judy’s classes I take, the stronger I get BUT I have to watch my ego — meaning come out of poses when I have reached my max OR suffer the consequences. Judy is a talented teacher — she will teach to the level of the students and is sensitive to the mood/​energy level of the class in general. Example: she says her 5p Sunday class is mellow, but if the class wants to work, she will teach a normal class. On the other hand, if she is subbing for someone, she will teach a class similar in style to that of the regular teacher. After class, I feel as though I have accomplished something big.
Ashley West Roberts — training in anusara from hallowed Katchie Ananda — her self-​deprecating humor, precise commands, insights and long holds are a weekly treat for me. Plus she gives awesome adjustments and has an assistant, the lovely Misia, who gives adjustments as well. Ashley is the only yoga teacher I know who makes up words like «Thass» which stands for thigh + ass, as in «Use your Thass to lift your right leg.» Thass is a particular fav of mine. :) Her corrections have changed my practice — upper back bending back during side plank to stabilize the shoulder joint. She is a fan of eccentric stretching (which I have never heard of until Ashley mentioned in class and if you google, it apparently it builds stronger muscles & healthier for muscle). Plus,
she can still make me sweat in her long awkward and warrior poses. She is careful about shoulder blade placement in chatarangas and downward dogs. She is the ONLY teacher who spends time on TRANSITIONS (for example — from downward dog to putting right foot forward to high lunge — she’ll stop you before you get to high lunge and show you how to come up without jamming your lower spine, which tends to happen 100% of the time). She also does wall work AND she will emphasize using rhomboids in upper back strengthening and lifting legs using glutes (instead of lower back). She has month long themes — so if you take her class more than once a week, be prepared to do some of the same poses, but there are variations day to day (and if you double and she sees you in her 2^nd class, she will change up the poses). Even though Ashley’s pace is relatively slow, she still challenges me. For example, this month, working on core strength — I thought I had a strong core, but stand with legs apart, bend down, left hand on hip, right hand grab right toe and without shifting too much to the left, LIFT up your right leg (keep it straight) just using your abs. I can barely lift my leg off the ground! Ashley’s class is good for beginners to more advanced yogis. She doesn’t mind if I do more chatarangas or vinyasas in between poses nor does she mind if I take child’s pose. Apart from that one pose (ha ha) l, I feel very stable and strong in Ashley’s class. Her emphasis on twisting from upper and middle spine and stretching muscles — not joints and using core + legs and not lower back — is definitely healing for my body.
Ran out of room, see my review of Poh’s class under Groove Yoga (Judy also teaches at Groove & Flying)

Loved this place and the yoga class! The instructor is super helpful and friendly and the environment is very relaxing. Parking may be hard around this neighborhood but overall I truly enjoy this place!

I am a registered yoga instructor who is new to the bay area. Namaste is one of the first yoga studios I visited after moving here to take part in my own practice, and I continue to return.
The studio is clean, spacious, Om-​ey and in a prime location. The instructors that I have taken class with have been extremely knowledgeable. Bethany Hobbs’ hatha class is magnificent. This studio also hosts a variety of workshops from well-​known yogis across the country. I recently took part in the Max Strom workshop which I really enjoyed and learned a lot from.
If you are serious about yoga and wellness, I suggest you give Namaste a try.

Call me shallow, but I do not need to spend 15 minutes in Savasana. If I want to nap, I’ll do it at home, not face-​up on my yoga mat. Maybe I need to learn to enjoy the nothingness, but I’m not that enlightened yet…
That being said, Namaste seems like more of the «yoga as religion» type of studio, vs. the «yoga as sport» kind of studio I’m used to at Corepower. I have memberships at both studios (yoga whore? you could say so), and appreciate both for their differences. Namaste is great for really soothing, deep, slow-​stretch classes that make you feel deliriously sleepy and blissful afterwards. Their teachers fit the yogi stereotype — they speak in peaceful low tones, use spiritual metaphors, and drop Rumi quotes throughout class. Which is totally fine by me — that’s why we go to yoga class right? I feel thoroughly loosened and lightened when I leave their classes. Lily is my favorite teacher, by far.
The studio is really lovely, with complimentary tea in the lobby, cubbies for your personal items, and yoga mat storage so it’s always there waiting for you. The folks at reception are also really pleasant.
What I don’t love so much: most of their classes are 1.5 hours, which is a big time chunk especially when you’re squeezing it into your work day. One-​hour classes would be perfect (just shorten those long savasanas!) Also, the schedule is pretty limited at Grand Lake with only about 4 – 5 classes per day. They do have other studios in Rockridge & Berkeley, which your membership is usable at too, but I like to keep it local.
Overall, I appreciate having this studio within walking distance — which is really lucky because parking is near-​impossible on Grand! Namaste-​away the road rage.

18.00 for a drop-​in. Eh. Loved the instructor, Judy. But 18.00 for 90 minutes of yoga seems a little steep. The facility was nice, but there wasn’t enough seating for us all before the class. Not enough room to store our things, and the cubbies were too small. And the class felt a bit overcrowded. Would I go back? Not sure.

I am not sure what is going on with the CA yoga community but there seems to be a common theme when it comes to yin yoga classes. Three of the four locations I have visited within the past eighteen months and four of the five instructors were significantly not qualified to teach or offer yin yoga classes. Yet they all did and advertise that they do. One would think someone in the community would be concerned about ethics. One would think that persons who belong to the yoga teaching community would be ethical, but alas this is not so.
This place is no exception to that rule. Their yin yoga instructor was clearly inexperienced at both yin yoga and teaching yoga, or if you ask me interacting with people on a decent level. From my opinion she had some ego issues that clearly impacted her ability to be a yin yoga instructor. She also lacked an understanding of yin and yang.
Aside from the lackings of the instructor, the location was purposefully smelly. They were using some sort of aroma therapy. Smelled like eucalyptis or something similiar. I query, what is wrong with fresh air especially when doing exercises that center on breathing. What if your personal aroma therapy tells you to avoid prolonged exposure to the odors that they hold dear to part of their classes? There is no warning that you will be exposed to what they consider proper aroma therapy for all.
The facility was also overcrowded. What good does reserving a space in a class do when the instructor maintains no control over the population of the class. Just keep inviting people in no matter how late they show up or how crowded the room is. Instead of practicing yoga, it is more a matter of practicing how to exist next to someone so closely without getting intimate.
The facility was also quite loud. Apparently during the class that I took, there was another class scheduled on the other side of the wall. According to our instructor, it was a live music class. Way to go facilities manager, schedule a yin yoga class under the stage of a rock concert.
The place was also quite hot. I understand that some yoga is purposefully done in heat, others in warmth. That is yang. Yin is not hot, by definition. So do to yin in a sauna like setting is to say the least inappropriate and above all else, not yin yoga.
Their lighting also should be corrected. They provide eye pillows for a reason. You will need one. Not only are their lights an incorrect design for such a studio, but the instructor plays with them throughout the class. If you do not have an eye pillow blocking this all out, you more than likely will be affected by the changing levels of lighting, and if you happen to be positioned directly under a light, you will be impacted by it.

Out and about, running some errands, turned on my heel and took a closer look. Oh, yeah… This used to be Gap Kids… But now, it’s a beautifully appointed space for Yoga, Accupuncture, and the Holy Grail for the Mad Hattrix: Bodywork.
The space is beautiful, with lovely amenities in a space that is friendly, warm and exceptionally gracious. Thank you, Sophie — for letting me know about the 3×60 minute massage special — a steal for just $ 208. I signed on the dotted line and was able to get an appointment with a great therapist, Jeff.
I am not the best of sleepers. I was frazzled and trying to fit too many must-​do errands into the waning day and I happily discovered a respite here — complete with a nicely merchandised retail area, bottled water for just $ 1 and an open tea bar, free to patrons before and after their sessions.
One of my sisters is a CMT, and I don’t like «relaxation» type massages, since I have really gnarly knots in my back and shoulders — that’s where I carry most of my stress, and have — for years. Decades! I like myotheraphy, which utilizes the elbows and heavier pressure to release unhappily bunched up muscles. I see my bodywork as physical therapy, really — as in: if I’m not doing lamaze breathing, it’s not gonna cure what ails me.
I’ve had two CMTs tell me that I have the highest threshold of «pain» of any client they’ve worked on. I know that’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but Jeff was able to work on my trouble spots — his technique was very refined and deep, without being harsh. I have rediscovered my range of motion and could not be more pleased with my service.
I will definitely return and explore some of the other workshops. I’ve got plenty of yoga gear, but should you want quality, comfortable attire for classes, Namaste has all that you will need to build your practice and be excited about it.
* Colorful Mats
* Yoga Attire
* Beautiful Candles
* A comprehensive book selection
* Welcoming staff
* Monthly membership extremely reasonable + discounts on other workshops
Thank you so much! My back will be back very soon!
Namaste.
Kim