Ah, Yoga Flow SF. The Noe Valley location was everything one dreams of in a studio… superb vibes, friendly staff, clean, beautiful, and heated to a reasonable temperature. I’d not experienced a studio heated with infrared heaters before, but I am a big fan. They were quiet (as opposed to what I’ve typically experienced; those giant noisy behemoths looming over you from “the hot corner”), with the sounds of a soothing sauna — occasional ticks and groans, cooking you from the inside while you vinyasa. The recessed adjustable colored lighting gave each class its own unique aesthetic, and the wood floors and pitched wood ceiling lent a “sauna-mojo-dojo-cabana” vibe which felt inviting and inspiring. Finally and most importantly, all the classes I took were truly baller. A very reasonable $35 got me a week of unlimited classes meant I could sample a class (or two) a day, and that I did indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed every class I took, and even learned something in each, whether it was a fresh take on savasana or a new transition into an arm balance (yay!).
Natalie Donnell’s heated vinyasa class was some solid and straight-up, down-to-earth, super-grounded secular yoga, that clearly came from a place of deep personal practice and work. I found balanced opportunities for both challenge and chill, and Natalie provided “food for thought” as we moved through class together. She truly left space for our own practice inside the container of her instruction, guiding us with thoughtful cues and nuggets of wisdom. She is also a lovely human — we chatted after class for a little bit. Danimal Padilla’s playful and challenging class was just plain fun. Lit in a deep purple-blue and full of every variation on side bends from seated to standing to lunge to balance, this spine-lengthening class *actually* made me feel taller at the end. I also took a class from a gentleman who subbed for Danimal, bringing us a fun challenging flow with the MOST opportunities for arm balances I’ve ever had in a class — arm balances are my fave so thank you mystery sub! Leslie Glaser’s class was yet again different. Bathing us in a celestial light blue light, centering us with guided breath work and pratyahara. Her cuing was crystal and targeted instruction, for movement and breath. The flow was intentional and well-paced.
Brad Brockbank’s heated vinyasa class was a full-on multisensory experience, and I was swept along in the current of the class from the first resounding OM. After our OM, Brad proceeded to rhythmically stomp whilst leading us in a chant. Bathed in nightclub-esque red lighting, packed cheek to jowel, I was a hesitant to take him up on the “handstand opportunity” in the first 15 minutes of class lest I accidentally blow it and fall onto my neighbor. However, there was plenty of opportunity and encouragement for challenge remaining. Where Natalie’s class left space for introspection, Brad provided more guidance with leveled cueing and the occasional *CLAP* to accentuate that lift into salabasana or one-legged/one-armed plank.
Shout out to Dalton at the front desk for wiping all those mats and guiding me through my own mat rental situation, as well as the charming Shawn who hooked it up for my next visit. I am already plotting my next yoga studio field trip out to Yoga Flow SF, to bask lizard-like in the heat as I vinyasa and chant and om and breathe and be. I have already used much of what I learned in my own yoga classes, and can’t wait to learn more from these amazing teachers in this lovely space.
Namaste friends!