Mountain Yoga & Massage

This is a very small studio with great teachers and i am glad to have great yoga in my neighborhood. Doing some research i found out that Mountain Yoga has some of the best teachers in the Bay area: Baxter Bell and Richard Rosen.
i’ve been to Bethany’s class on Saturdays, it can get busy, however is the perfect way to start your weekend, she has bright energy and is always paying attention to each individual and their practice. I also enjoy Sara & Anya’s classes, Anja would give you plenty of choices for your practice depending on how you feel or what are you capable of. My favorite class is wednesday night with Richard Rosen, the attention to detail that he gives to each asana is what i look for on my yoga practice, more than a work out. He is indeed a great asset to the Studio.
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This rating is an average. First I’ll rate Ann Dyer. I give her one star. She runs a nice studio of her own creating with many offerings that people enjoy. But, Ann herself tends to be self-​righteous and can be downright nasty when things aren’t the way she wants them. She’s one of those «I want to help people feel good MY WAY» type of people. It’s weird how some people at Mountain Yoga suck up to her «feel good vibes» which don’t always feel so good. 3 – 5 stars for other teachers there. Very nice and dedicated folks. Space is a little on the small side and it can get crowded for some of the more popular teachers.

Love Anja’s Gentle Flow and Restorative classes!
I took a two week leave of absence from my job due to chronic hip pain that just kept getting more and more severe. During those two weeks I attended Anja’s classes without fail. All are mid-​day and the majority of the other yogis are over 65. Which, i think, just shows how attuned Anja is to each yogi’s medical issues and how well she assists the individual in adapting the post to meet their needs. I found her suggestions nothing but helpful. Sara worked the desk while I was there and was very helpful and welcoming. After two weeks of almost daily gentle and restorative yoga, i returned to work virtually pain free and in much better spirits.

This is my favorite yoga studio in the East Bay. Go to Ann Dyer’s class you want a smart teacher who knows how to work with people of all levels — and make it challenging and interesting for everyone. I have been studying yoga for many years and I always learn new things from Ann. By the end of a class with her, I feel happy to be alive.

First off: I am not someone who settles. When something doesn’t work… I move on! That being said, I’ve attended numerous yoga studios and met numerous yoga teachers over the past decade or so, and I have finally found my match at Mountain Yoga. I initially took classes with Antonia Fokken (super lovely), but when she moved on, I fell in love with the woman taking over her classes — Bethany Hobbs! I think yoga teachers are as different as yoga students, so what works for me may not work for you, but I have never enjoyed yoga as much as I have during a class with Bethany. Her classes always have a bit of a theme, as well as time to «center» in the beginning, then movement and breath, breath, breath, and of course, relaxing time at the end. I always feel challenged in her class, but never pressured, regardless of the kind of day my body is having (because some days I can do tree pose, and some days I really just can’t!). People can get hurt pushing themselves during yoga, and Bethany makes an effort to give options for poses (for different experience levels and for people with injuries) and reminds us to take breaks as needed (and she truly means it!). I’ve had teachers who’ve told me to listen to my body during class, but then encouraged me to push a pose beyond my limit (and then gave me a look when I took a child’s pose instead). Bethany is a gentle soul and you can feel that when she teaches. The mood of her classes is always bright and calm, happy and warm. I honestly can’t recommend her enough, except her classes are pretty full already, so for selfish reasons, I will stop my review now…
Oh, in other news, I really like the studio itself. They recently had a «makeover» and upgraded several aspects, including the bathrooms, which is always nice. I’ve also gotten a few massages there (including a prenatal massage) and I feel like they’re a good value compared to the typical spa massage. I think it helps when you feel like the people working at the studio are good people and enjoy what they do. Then you can really enjoy your time there too. Yay Mountain Yoga!

I recently relocated back to the Bay Area and was nervous about finding a good Yoga studio here that would compare to my prior one in Los Angeles. As I consider myself a pretty seasoned Yoga practitioner, I am happy to say Mountain Yoga did not disappoint! They made me feel very welcome from the start, and I am extremely impressed at the various levels of courses which they offer. Glad to be a part of this spiritual community.,

Wonderful swedish massage by Marlene. She has a lovely, gentle temperament and her massage was exactly what this tired mama needed. I fell asleep at the end and was sorry to miss even a minute of it. It was really hard to go back to work afterward. Highly recommend.

I go to Bethany’s class regularly – she’s a wonderful instructor and I love starting the weekend with her class. I’ve also attended classes taught by Ann, Anja, Dominick and a few others – all have been fantastic. I took Ann’s Yoga for Sleep workshop, which she offers every 6 months or so and have finally been able to conquer my insomnia issues successfully – her techniques work far better than any pill I have ever taken and have had a marked impact on my quality of life – amazing! The studio is clean, nice and friendly. I’m so glad it’s in my neighborhood.

ann dyer’s hatha yoga is a gift to the frazzled and crazed. her studio cultivates true community, and ann exudes such joy when teaching. an instant piece of heaven!

Awesome place ! very clean and the instructors are awesome. Dominic is insanely good at what he does hardest yoga class I’ve ever done.

This is a great studio! Very clean, great equipment and the instructors are fantastic.
Bethany’s class (Tues and Thurs night) is a really good workout — for all levels. There is always a mixture of expertise in the classes, and she is very helpful to the advanced and beginners! Anja is a little more gentle but again offers a lot of help and is very flexible with routines in order to appeal to all levels.
Arrive a little early to get a good spot these classes fill up!

I recently had a wonderful massage here, courtesy of a Living Social deal. I told the therapist about my specific issues — bad arthritis in my knees, ankles and hands, and he spent a lot of time doing stretches and focusing on my problem areas. It was probably one of the best massages/​/​body work sessions I have ever had.
The studio is nice and serene with a side sitting room and a large room for classes. A peaceful setting, but a little marred by the street sounds outside. Next time I’ll probably ask the therapist to turn up the soothing music a bit, which should cut out the street sounds.
Recommended!

I feel great! Ann Dyer’s yoga class was like a full body massage. Never too difficult, just long slow gentle stretches with intuitive explanation of what needs to go where. Not once did I think, «Gawd when will this end?» but rather, «I hope this goes on forever».
I am totally hooked!

Our daughter and her husband have been going here for a number of months, and have been raving about it. During our recent visit to Oakland, they were more than happy to treat us to a session of ‘mindful yoga.’ It is easy to see why they love this place!
On the Sunday that we went the class was being led by Domonick Wegesin — He greeted us warmly, and then asked each of us about any needs or concerns — physical or other — that we might have, and he addressed each individually. As a newcomer to yoga, I never felt that I was going to be asked to do anything to overstretch (and possibly injure) myself — and never was made to feel less for it.
The studio was peaceful and comfortable, with a very pleasant Peruvian music drifting through the windows from the live performers across the street. As a bonus, the farmer’s market was just wrapping up as we got out, so we got to enjoy fresh fruit after the wonderful session.
If we lived in the Bay Area, I would gladly become a regular here!

I love this warm, intimate yoga studio in the Oakland Hills that underwent a refreshing transformation under new ownership in the last year. They offer a full schedule of top notch teachers, oodles of fresh new props and a super diverse and interesting array of workshops and special events. In particular look for visits from well respected senior teachers like Mary Paffard and Mark Horner and the studio’s own monthly inspiration series on Friday nights which brings artists into the studio to highlight connections between yoga and the arts (think poetry, dance literature and music = yay!). Ann Dyer is the owner and one of the main teachers at Mountain Yoga. She brings a deep of knowledge of the asanas, chant, spiritual traditions and a passion for the arts to all her classes. Lucky Montclair to have such a high level yoga studio tucked away in its modest little retail district. The closest parking is metered, although after hours and on weekends it’s pretty easy to find spots on the «other side» of Safeway or on Mountain Blvd.

I haven’t gone to any yoga classes yet but I did have a massage and it was wonderful. I’ve been looking for a nice neighborhood-​feel-​to-​it place to relax. Thank you Charles, for a great first time visit. I’ll be back.

This is a small studio in a nice sunny location. Many of Oakland’s best-​known, best-​loved yoga teachers have classes here, including several from Piedmont Yoga, so it’s a great way to get instruction from them in a more intimate environment.
That said, this is a great beginners’ place, too with a lot of personal attention. (That’s a good thing! Don’t be shy!) I took my first classes from the Studio Director, Ann Dyer, and I never felt embarrassed or uncomfortable, though I had ample opportunity.
Ann also has a unique vision for moving the studio beyond just classes and into the art & culture of yoga generally. Definitely check out their calendar for all the events and workshops they bring in.
On a practical basis, you should plan to arrive and leave in your class clothes. There is not a lot of space for changing.
Mountain Yoga also offers massage, ayurveda and acupuncture.

I still remember when I first heard that Mountain Yoga opening, about seven years or more ago: I was so excited to find a yoga studio in my neighborhood, I was vibrating.
And the years were rewarding: classes that started as early as 7:30 am and were available as late as 7:30 at night in a serene, window-​lined studio; an interesting group of teachers to choose from, and a parking lot five minutes walk away. Situated in the heart of Montclair Village at the foot of the central hills, Mountain Yoga afforded me options for after-​class tea and coffee. It felt like such a community asset, and I was a major booster of the studio.
Then ownership changed, and I fell away from regular attendance. My regular favorite teachers moved on, my fitness focus changed … who knows what happened. But recently, I returned to Mountain Yoga, and I still think this studio is a major asset to the Montclair community. The new owner has imprinted the studio with her own style while maintaining its serenity. I opened my mind to a new favorite teacher, and noticed that many of the same faces surround me in class. Others see an asset, as well.
I recommend checking out Mountain Yoga. There are classes for beginners, classes for seasoned yogis, and massage options I’ve yet to check out. There is more public parking than people acknowledged in prior posts: you can prepay for up to 2 hours, and if you’re in a 7:30 class, that’s getting 3 hours out of the meter. Pass your meter script on if you get out before the time expires. Or use the parking lot. It isn’t nearly as far as you’d think.

Did not love this place. When you are paying $ 16 for a yoga class it kinda sucks having to drive around the neighborhood a bunch of times and then pay a whopping $ 4 on top of the yoga class for parking as there is only one tiny street withing a half mile of the studio with free parking, which of course is always full of cars.
The classes are self check in style with a computer, which is hard to figure out the first few times you go to class. The classes I went to were average.
The studio entry is nice with a small common area in front. Bathrooms are in the hall and you need to get a key (also weird when it is your first time and you have to ask all of this). The class and front room are separated by a curtain so any people talking outside of the class can be heard. Classes are all held in the same tiny room.
I did like how the yoga room was bright and had lots of natural light. Also loved their hardwood floors.
With parking expect to pay about $ 15-​$ 20 per class. There are many studios around and I would say this one is all around average.

Beautifully lit and airy space. Very good energy for this type of body work. I just started taking yoga here a couple of weeks ago and am a total convert.