Ginseng Yoga

This studio supplied my yoga fix while I was living in San Diego. While it wasn’t the most convenient for me, I always found it worth heading over to the other side of town for class.
They have a good selection of teachers who bring their different styles and vibes to the studio. You’ll find everything from challenging vinyasa flow to healing, mellow, more restorative classes. They sell some good stuff in their little reception area, and everyone I’ve encountered here is friendly!
The customer service here is worth noting — I had bought a 10 pack of classes when I was doing more crossfit than yoga, and didn’t come as often as I thought I would. When I started coming back more often, I asked how many classes I had left on my pass and was told I had 2. The next time I came in, I got a call after class saying I must have left without paying, and to call them back. When I found out the class pass had expired, the woman on the phone was very apologetic, and let me keep the 2 expired classes because I bought a new 10 class pass on that day. They were super nice and professional even when they thought I had peaced out without paying for my class.
A few tips:
— They have 2 bathrooms that can double as changing rooms (they’re large enough and not gross!), but no showers
— Street parking is easy. There are time-​restricted slots in front of the studio (2 hours and some 30 minute slots, so watch where you park), but there is plenty of free, time-​unlimited street parking a block away if you’re planning on grabbing a coffee, juice, or a bite to eat after class.
— They have a good intro deal if you’re not sure this place will be your jam. Give it a go and try as many different teachers as you can — this is not a corepower style studio where pretty much every class is the same, so if you try one class and the teacher isn’t for you, don’t be disappointed. Try again, because there’s a bit of everything here!

The vibe at Ginseng is warm, authentic and inviting. I never cease to be grateful that this yoga studio is there for the yogis and for the community. The owners Cindy and Brad, operate the studio professionally with a super friendly and accommodating atmosphere. The studio is bright, clean and beautiful.
I believe that some of the very best yoga teachers in San Diego work at Ginseng and that is saying something for a city that is known for excellent yoga opportunities. There are class offerings for all levels of practice– beginner to advanced. Classes and workshops explore a full variety of the 8 limbs of yoga spanning a broad spectrum of styles and approaches. Classes are available throughout the day and evening and one can always find a great class that fits your time frame.
This studio and the teaching team are THE BEST!

My favorite yoga school in SD. It has a yoga vibe rather than a workout facility. Top quality teachers. I love that it is not heated.

Excellent studio! I was visiting San Diego and needed a place to keep my yoga flowing while there. The universe provided. This is like your «total being neighborhood». Ginseng Yoga, Stehly Farms Juice Bar and Grant’s Marketplace all in the same block (South Park region, a must-​visit in San Diego)
Back to the studio. Super clean, super nice, AMAZING teachers. I did 6 or so classes with various teachers and they all rocked. Laxmi is a true yoga goddess. Jen You was amazing, Jules and Jano, so excellent. Go to their site and check their bios. Brad and Cindy the owners have put together a world class team here. If you want, get your yoga chill here, or cross the street and get your power slam going at the partner gym GFit. Wake up with that «pardon me while I hover an inch off the ground» or «yeah baby I’m sore and I love it» feeling.
Thanks y’all!!!

The owners and staff at Ginseng will bend over backwards (pun intended) to help any customer out, whether it’s achieving your fitness goals or selecting a pair of earrings for my wife for Valentine’s Day. Thanks for all you do!

I am in Ginseng Yoga almost every day. Regardless of the time of day, the class style, or my own fledgling abilities, the faculty has been consistently impressive. They clearly care about addressing a disparate level of ability, always providing options of how to make poses appropriate. They clearly care about the physical, intellectual, and spiritual development of their students and strive to explain the interplay of these elements in any given class or style of yoga. They clearly care about their own practice and are passionate about being powerful yogis.
I have taken classes with Bhava Ram, Laura Plumb, Adam Meyerowitz, Rachel Dragonfly, Susan Marcus, Dhyanjot, Laura Dasi, Angela Boes, Jano Galindo, Robert Hammill, Elka Haeckel, Heather Stants, and Jennifer DeMarco, and I commend them for the passion, compassion, and professionalism they display.
Due to their caring and thoughtful work and the atmosphere of learning Brad and Cindy Bennett have created at Ginseng, I have grown and progressed as a student.

I agree with Jean D! This is totally the ‘real deal”! I left Elka’s class feeling a sense of comfort in my own skin that I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m grateful for the reminder to continue to practice daily and to continue to attend classes at Ginseng. #fititforward

SUPER DISAPPOINTED with CUSTOMER SERVICE. I received a 10 visit pass as a birthday gift and was so excited because of the reviews for this place. After reading the beginners portion of the website where it states that newbies are encouraged to call in to get feedback on the appropriate class to take, that’s exactly what I did, I called because I’m new to yoga and being the novice that I am, I thought it would be best to share what I’m looking for in my yoga experience with the experts. These classes are not cheap folks, and everyone is busy nowadays. If i’m going to spend my precious time at a yoga studio, I want to make sure it’s the right fit for me. So I call the studio, super excited, and to my disappointment the person who answers pretty much cut me off and just directed me back to the website, with a super RUDE AND CONDESCENDING tone. I was trying to explain why I was calling (and yes I had read the website), but this lady was so presumptuous and condescending, that she didn’t let me get to my questions because she kept saying «it would take me HALF and hour to explain to you ALL of our options, so just read the website and if you have any questions after that, then feel free to call back and I’d be happy to help.» First off, before redirecting me to the website, maybe she should have LISTENED to the customer before going off on her spiel. If she had taken a breath to listen, she would have known that I had already read the website but I still had questions. Second, when she said she would be «happy to help,» clearly she wasn’t happy to help because she sounded like her time was so precious and much more important than her customer’s. I explained that I thought that Ginseng was supposed to be a studio with personalized service. And she said, «Oh honey, it is, you’re speaking to the owner, but if I sat here and explained to you all of our options it would just take too long so that’s why I’m telling you to read our website.» Yes, I was speaking with the OWNER, Cindy Bennett! NEVER EVER refer to someone as «honey,» that is extremely PATRONIZING language. I was flabbergasted at the awful treatment I received. Is this what we should expect from a mom and pop shop? The whole point for supporting local businesses is to receive personalized and caring treatment, a reciprocal treatment based on principles of community and respect. Which brings me to my third and last point. I don’t feel that this conduct is congruent with the tenants of yoga which emphasizes mindfulness, or the studio’s own website for that matter, which states that customer satisfaction is of the most importance to them. It’s never okay to treat people rudely or condescendingly, especially paying customers. I’m sorry if Cindy was having an off day, but it’s certainly not acceptable to treat customers this way. I find this behavior hypocritical and a coopting of the beautiful tradition of yoga… and it’s a damn shame. Now I’m stuck with a 10 day pass and have no desire to go. I will not recommend this place to anyone, save your money and support a studio that sincerely appreciates their community and customers. There’s plenty of places out there that I’m sure would be happy to take the time to explain the best options for their needs and goals.

This is the ‘real deal’. A «mom and pop» yoga studio of the traditional sort! And, I teach here! Cindy and Brad Bennett run the studio with love, devotion and care. You can choose the type of yoga you’d like to do and find it here.
The atmosphere is loving, supportive and peaceful. You can practice and also have massage or accupuncture! Great clothes and yoga jewelry and all the events a community could ask for — at Ginseng!

Unfortunately I cannot address the yoga offered at this studio, which seemed like a beautiful place to practice, because I was turned away from a ²⁄₃ class because I had never taken a class with that particular instructor prior. As it turns out, the instructor explained the reason to be because of its unconventional style that relied on individual direction. I would have understood this and my disappointment mitigated had I not found this class published to the public without any warning of exclusivity. I was just left with a bad taste in my mouth.

Great space and central location. Accommodates a leisure work schedule and quite a few options and styles daily. The intro deal is great and the owners are very tentative and friendly. Prices are average for that type of space and clientele… Saving up for the monthly pass to treat myself!

I Love this yoga studio! I tried few studios in San Diego, including Bikram and CPY, looking for these individual approach yoga studios, and I found one. All the teachers are very knowledgeable and helpful, every time after class i ask them to help me with this or that posture (headstand) and they spend as much time as needed to teach me how to do it right. I love the area, which is very quiet and rural and gives a feeling of a rest place. I love classes that make me sweat like crazy without any external heat running. Now i am a full time member and really glad about my decision to join this yoga studio!

I love this studio for its authenticity. They allow the teachers here to fully express their true calling and authentic practice that some of them have originated. My most powerful experience here has been with kundalini with Dhanjot Singh. I highly recommend the 5 am Friday class if you want to have an inspired day!

Ginseng was my go to studio (5 – 6 times a week) for 10 years while living in South Park. I can’t tell you how much I miss it since I moved to Oregon. The space is beautiful, the atmosphere welcoming, and the instructors top notch. The owners, Brad and Cindy, are beautiful people and have created a fantastic space for yoga and community. If you are looking for a studio in central San Diego, you can’t do better than Ginseng!

What a special place. Just moved to the area and was made to feel like a regular the SECOND I walked in the door. They have a great intro special. I am now past the ten days and paying for classes because I love coming here :) If you are military they do offer a very grateful discount. The love and gratitude flows from this space! I have been challenged in the most perfect way in every class I’ve taken, felt incredibly relaxed and, most importantly, learned something and evolved my practice and self. Highly recommended for anyone!

I really just go to one class at Ginseng, the Big Love class. I really appreciate that they offer this class as I can’t find it anywhere else (at the time of this writing). I drive from Leucadia to come to this class every week, which amazes me, so you know it must be good (it’s also offered Wednesday evening, but the drive plus the added expense has kept me at once a week — if I lived nearby I would go).
The staff at the front desk have always been friendly and happy to answer my questions. I like the location and how they’ve remodeled the interior of the vintage building. I always feel comfortable going there.

I was visiting San Diego on vacation last week and I walked over from where I was staying in Barrio Logan to Ginseng Yoga in Golden Heights for the 7am Sunrise Yoga 1 – 2 class on Friday morning with Laura. It was exactly the type of yoga I was seeking; slower-​paced, deep stretches from holding poses longer, and a relaxing, rejuvenating, feel-​good way to start the day nice and early! The person at the front desk got me checked in quickly as a guest for a single class ($ 17, a bit pricey!) but didn’t charge me for borrowing a mat (regularly $ 1), and it was a nice quality one also, looking brand new as well. Laura has a calming voice and clearly brings her mind, body, and spirit into the practice and nonchalantly invites participants to do so as well. Water is free and available in the back of the room (this class was in the Yellow Room). I would estimate that about 10 – 15 people were in class practicing that morning, so I definitely had open floor space around my mat and we all weren’t packed in there like sardines. We chanted «OM» throughout different parts of the class, repeatedly in our flow into child’s pose as a part of the flow sequence.
After class, I browsed their items for purchase and selected a purple yoga strap (which I had actually been looking for to use in my practice); the 8 inch size was $ 12.96 total. I was able to thank Laura for the class on her way out as well.
Overall, I enjoyed my yoga class experience at Ginseng. I think their prices (specifically the drop-​in for 1 class and typically charging for a mat rental) are bit high compared to some other studios, but I was on vacation and wanted to try a class there, which was one of the closest yoga studios near where I was staying and had the early morning yoga class I was interested in trying out, so I was willing to pay it as a one time thing. If I were to visit San Diego again, I would consider going back if I were able to get some kind of deal for the week, or if I was only going to take 1 class, I’d probably pay the $ 17 one class drop-​in rate again for it.

I just started yoga recently and fell in love with it. I really believe a huge part of that is due to the staff and community at Ginseng Yoga. Everyone at the front desk remembers my name, even my first week being there. All the teachers are amazing. The other students at ginseng are really nice and easy to talk to.
Some of my favorite teachers are:
— Leah — She taught my first ever yoga class and we ended up doing hand stands in class! It was a little intimidating for a first timer, but made me come back again and again. She always teaches an awesome class that kick’s my butt everytime. I like how she explains how to do certain poses so as not to injure yourself down the line. I always try to make it a point to get myself to her class.
— Laxmi — I find myself laughing a lot in her class… She has such a funny and great spirit. I love that, even in the large classes, she somehow gets around to everyone in the room to help correct postures. What a difference a slight movement makes! I’m grateful she comes by to put me in the right place.
— Jonathan — I love Bheemashakti Yoga. Through his classes I’ve been able to become much stronger and much more open than with just a regular practice. I don’t really know how to explain all the benefits of his classes, but I definitely noticed differences in my practice after starting with him. You’ll just have to check it out for yourself.
— Heather — I’m not always able to get to her class… She’s great at explaining all the steps into getting into different poses and variations.
I haven’t been able to try all the classes and all the teachers, but I always hear great things about all of them.

Look, I love my job so much. I am (in JaRule voice) Livin’ it up.
I work with elementary school kids who are amazing and adorable and bring me such joy, but just like all humans, they make mistakes too, some small but sometimes some of those can make me want to go DMX on my kids:
«Y’all gon make me loose my mind! UP IN HERE! UP IN HERE!»
There are a few things I do to keep me from barking at my kids:
1. Cuddles with my puppy in the evenings
2. Iced coffee
3. A good lunch
4. YOGA
I have been meaning to come to Ginseng for the longest time.
There were always excuses: «Oooh I don’t have enough time.» «Ack, I haven’t been to yoga class in over a year.» «Everyone will be all crazy awesome and I will suck!» «There will be hella crazy ass ‘yoga chicks!’» (Yoga chick is typically a white girl with the hottest bod who can do crazy ass shit, judges others for not doing as many advanced poses, loves showing off, and totally thinks it’s cool to misappropriate yoga and Indian culture because she went to India once and trained there.)
Suck it, excuses. I started with the new student special 10 consecutive days for $ 20.
Because I want the most bang for my buck, I have been going every day, sometimes twice a day. (Talk about crazyass yoga chick).
I have been trying different classes and instructors and they have all been AMAZING! I want to keep going to all of them! From Vinyasa 1 – 2 (which is a little more intermediate) to Healthy Backs (All levels, not too challenging for me) to Deep Healing and the ever-​so-​fun Hip-​Hop Yoga on Fridays. The instructors take risks to make classes fun and challenge you to the best of your abilities. Students are usually on various levels, so there’s no judgment and you are challenged at your own pace and to the best of your abilities. Eventually, I have seen my body get better and better at the poses. When this happens, my heart has a little party.
Ginseng provides two studios, the large yellow room, the smaller green room, massage rooms, and a little boutique to get your yoga gear from (Mats, apparel, straps, blocks, CDs, keychains, etc.)
The downside is, classes and monthly membership (which I would ideally like to get since I could do yoga pretty much every day) are out of my brokeass budget. I’m really having a hard time choosing one class to commit to since I love all the classes I have been to and all the different practices have really been amazing and offered me so many things.
Honestly, these past few days, I have been a more centered, compassionate, energetic and happier person.
If you don’t like piña coladas, nor getting caught in the rain
If you’re into yoga, give Ginseng a try!

WOW after taking a few yoga classes at 24 hour fitness. I came here to try out a real yoga studio. They have a introductory special $ 20 for 10 consecutive days, which is a great deal. It allows you to try all the classes and find which one (s) you like. I think i went 8 of the 10 days! There is something for everyone here, classes for all levels and intentions; even pre natal yoga, which i haven’t tried for obvious reasons. (Well i could but i might get some funny looks)
I found it to be much different than 24 hour fitness. There were many different types of yoga. Some classes were tougher than others, depending on the teacher and the class. Some make you sweat like a pig, others are relaxing and calming, they each had a different focus. They seem to focuses on the spirit, the mind, breathing relaxation, as well as the physical benefits.
Don’t be afraid that you’re not flexible like gumby, there is a class for everyone at all levels. If you are stressed out, have trouble sleeping, have a lot of things on your mind? Try Prana yoga. Got back injuries? Try Healthy backs. Wanna work up a sweat? try a Vinyasa class. New to yoga? Try a Yoga Basics class. The staff and instructors are all kind and welcoming.
Who knew twisting yourself like a pretzel could make you feel so good? I sleep better, have less stress, and am more flexible (still work in progress)
but over all, i feel more centered and self aware.
give the 10 day unlimited $ 20 deal a try, i’m sure you’ll find something you’re looking for.