The best yoga studios in san Francisco

Walk-ins are welcome at this five-year-old Dogpatch studio. Run by husband-wife duo Mimi Moncier and Alan Lewis, the spot’s emphasis is on small class sizes—often 10 students or less—and individualized attention. But though the spot’s 60- or 90-minute classes are intimate, the light-flooded space is luxuriously spacious, decked with globe lanterns, fresh flowers, and colorful drapes. The crowd is arty and creative; Lewis is a working architect and Moncier is an exhibiting artist. Giggling Lotus teachers adapt vinyasa and hatha flow styles, but slower-paced yin classes—as well as pre- and postnatal variations—are also available. Drop-in for a weekly meditation class for just $5.

Yoga to the People is a bi-coastal institution, with studios in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Berkeley, and San Francisco. It’s easy to miss from the street level—hit the buzzer to be let up or just look for spandex-clad yogis on their way out the door. But the 5th-floor understated entrance belies the stunning space, fronted by a wall of windows overlooking the city. Wood beams overhead and scattered plants lend a warm, welcoming feel. (The studio is also kept quite warm—literally—thought it’s not hot yoga.) The studio’s motto, “no ego, no script, no pedestals,” is aptly reflected in its by-donation model. The body-positive vinyasa classes are vigorous, but unintimidating, focusing on the interplay between movement and breath. Need a distraction from a shaky pose? Teachers often play modern tracks, from reggae to indie rock to electronica.

With its charcoal-gray walls, complimentary towels and water, and moody lighting, this candlelit hot yoga studio feels unusually decadent. But the steep prices—$30 for a walk-in class—are the effect of a comparably novel business model. Rather than being paid as independent contractors, yoga teachers here are full-time, salaried employees with health benefits, vacation time, and sick days. The upgrade is apparent in the quality of the instruction—every class is staffed by two teachers, one for demonstrating, and one who cycles through the room to give one-on-one support and feedback. The fast-paced flow is synced to energizing soundtracks chosen by each teacher. In one class, you may hear ‘90s hits; in another, pulse-pumping remixes.

This welcoming Mission yoga studio is refreshingly diverse—it’s not all spindly yogis in sports bras. You’ll know it by its distinctive melon-hued facade, painted with hearts and blooms. Owners Jasmine Tarkeshi and Dana Flynn opened this studio in 2007, retrofitting a former plumbing garage into a color-splashed haven for getting your flow on. You’ll find packed classes full of all different ages and abilities. Lotus Flow classes—the signature—move from breath-centered warm-ups to sun salutations, standing poses, inversions, arm balances, twists, and hip openers. For a faster-paced flow—more chaturangas, less chanting—book the Soul Sweat class, which incorporates cardio and core-building. Don’t miss Lotus Live classes, a party-like atmosphere in which local DJs or musicians provide a live soundtrack.

Husband-wife yoga instructors Marisa Toriggino and David Nelson moved their Castro yoga studio to this location in 2004. It’s easy to see why: Set in a turn-of-the-century Victorian in the heart of NoPA, the three light-filled, wood-accented studios are one-of-a-kind. In addition to classic vinyasa, yin flow, restorative, and hatha classes, Yoga Garden offers novel classes to avoid a yoga rut, like boxing yoga, aromatherapy flow, and garden barre. (The candlelight flow on Friday evenings is particularly popular.) The changing rooms here are also equipped with showers, a welcome perk.

If the Marina is known as the land of Lululemon, this sunny, family-run studio is its church. The pristine, two-room space on the second floor of the Clock Tower building is swathed in floor-to-ceiling glass. The 60-, 75-, and 90-minute vinyasa flow classes are challenging and fast-paced, designed to make you sweat. Around 20 teachers work out of the Union Street studio; another 20 oversee classes at Yoga Flow’s second location in Ingleside Terrace. (Book a class with Union Street favorite Tom Lee—and arrive early to snag a spot.)

Founder Gizella Donald has been practicing yoga in San Francisco since the ‘90s, and the community feel is apparent, from the friendly staff to the post-class mingling around the tea station. She founded this studio in 2008 (and since added a second location in Noe Valley), offering heat-building vinyasa classes tailored to build endurance, flexibility, and strength. Advanced classes work on arm balances and inversions, while yin and mellow flow classes foster concentration and balance. Several of the instructors are former dancers, which means there’s a gentle emphasis placed on proper form and an innate sense of varying capabilities.