SF Review: Yoga Tree

As a countdown to my 1 year anniversary of living the dream in San Francisco, I would like to honor and highlight each studio that has welcomed me to teach yoga to its community.

Where do I begin? Ever since I first learned about Yoga Tree many years ago, I knew it was highly revered and widely respected as showcasing the best of the best of yoga talent in the bay. So if I was going to “make it” in the city, I knew I had to be a part of it.

Yoga Tree is the San Francisco Bay area’s premiere yoga center with 7 diverse and local yoga studios featuring the top yoga teachers in the area and from across the globe. Featuring world-renowned teachers like Janet Stone, Jason Crandell and Darren Main, the Yoga Tree studios move beyond the idea that yoga needs to be this commercialized experience and remind our yoga community to appreciate high-quality yoga instruction.

Getting into this club was not easy. Even though I knew I wanted to teach at a few of its premiere yoga studios, Yoga Tree only holds auditions a few times/year and I had to wait 2 months before I had a chance at bat. I know of several peer teachers that had to audition several times before being invited to sub but fortunately, I was accepted after my first try. Once I was invited on the Yoga Tree sub list, I started to sub classes at studios all over the city. After the students experienced my class, some would relay feedback to the studio managers so they could be better informed about where I might fit.

In June, I accepted a 3PM Tuesday/Thursday slot at the Hayes studio but today will actually be my last day teaching this class. I lovingly joke that I am pledging the Yoga Tree fraternity so I’ll consider this transition to be a part of the pledging process.

In addition to my regularly scheduled classes, I also sub for my teacher Jason Crandell and new yogi friends like Yvonne Kingsley, Laura Burkhart and Mira Valeria. I still plan to be a part of these studios, just waiting for another class opportunity to come my way!

If you find yourself in the bay area, these studios are a mandatory stop! With numerous yoga offerings in Vinyasa, Hatha, Kundalini, Prenatal, Restorative and Meditation, there is something for everybody. Join me and my peer teachers for a well-rounded experience that will leave you with a piece of serenity before stepping back out into the big city.

Thanks to Yoga Tree for welcoming me hOMe. I am honored to be a part of your lineup.

Namaste Yoga Fam,

Denelle