Almaden Yoga

So, I participated in my first ever yoga class last night thanks to a Livingsocial purchase I made in September (yes, I’ve put it off for so long.) I took Yoga Basics with Carrie and OMG it was the most incredible experience. For 25 years of my life (I’m 32) I have struggled with body image issues. The last 7 years have been incredibly better for me when it comes to loving and accepting my body, but I’ve still been in search for activities to do that challenge me but also make me feel good.
YOGA was so much more than I thought ANYTHING could be. I so sincerely recommend it to any and all people who feel they need to get more in tune with their body. I’ve heard that yoga is a spiritual experience, but I did not realize that I could find such spiritual connection to my body. Carrie, AY, and the YB class helped me celebrate my body like I never have before! I left feeling proud, capable, and light. I cannot even find the words to do the experience justice. Carrie was patient and so clear with her instructions. I could not be more jazzed about the next 9 weeks (I got 10 classes from Livingsocial)!
And, for my BBW/​Ms… this is definitely a body positive studio!

Great studios, great staff and owners really do bend over backwards! I can’t understand the negative comments on here — probably from scammers. There are two locations, one in the Almaden Plaza and the other at Via Valiente in Almaden. The studios are clean and all the props are available for use at no cost: mat, blocks, bolsters, blankets. New clients (only) can use a Groupon, Living Social, voucher, Passport or the Welcome Offer — 30 consecutive days for $ 30, a screaming deal! Regular clients have multiple price options to choose from. Nice selection of classes for all levels from: hatha, flow, yin, restorative, just to name a few. Favorite teachers are Anuja, Deepa, Noelle, Kayla, Iris, Nanci, Patti, Maria, Joan but none of them will disappoint.

Awful. Worst studio I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to studios all across the Bay Area. They’re NOT passionate about yoga, but only want your money. Scammers. Try bikram yoga, yogasource, or breathe. I would give it zero stars but it won’t let you post it so that’s the only reason why there’s one star

Think yoga is all about relaxation and finding your inner zen? Think again when you come to Kathryn’s yoga tone class. I had a Groupon to try this studio out and after my trial was over, I didn’t even hesitate to get a monthly subscription. It’s awesome how many different class package options they have so anyone on any budget can find something reasonable for their budgets. As I was saying earlier, I absolutely love Kathryn’s classes. She definitely encourages her students to push themselves to reach their goals and to keep improving. Her class is definitely a hybrid of power yoga with ballet influences. As for the studio itself, it is really nice and open. Though they don’t have showers, they do provide changing rooms and designated places to hold your stuff. If you’re looking to get toned up and increase your flexibility then check out Almaden Yoga.

Great class selection. I actually feel relaxed afterward, instead of stressed about not being able to contort myself.

I find the instructors here are of better quality. Feels more of a real yoga studio. I focus way better here than at other studios.

I went to the 7:45AM Sunday class, Heated Detox, a few months ago and I liked this studio much more than the Via Valente location.
It is a bit bigger and does not have any mirrors — while proper form matters and mirrors can help you attain that, a studio without mirrors provides a much better environment to focus on meditation and your sense of self. Wei was our teacher and she is wonderful. She tries to give everyone personal attention and is very encouraging and motivating. She always asks if you are comfortable with being touched to help improve your form and is very gentle.
I think this studio is more for beginners than advanced yogis but since I consider myself still a beginner, I love it!

I’ve had my fair share of cycling around yoga teachers at the start of my practice when I was back in SD, but I really do miss my favorite power yoga teacher.
I have yet to find my yoga teacher here at Almaden who whips my butt the same way she does with her chair poses, handstands, repeated chaturangas, and power yoga mantras. However, I bought the ever-​popular Groupon deal and am loving my journey at this studio so far. I have been to a few classes in the Blossom Hill location and my favorites are Anuja’s and Ron’s way of teaching. (I’ve also taken Allison’s Hatha class, but it’s a bit too meditative and calm for my preference. BUT she is a sweet and calming guidance as well)
The way Anuja guides the class and speaks is VERY calming and composed. She really directs your train of thoughts to making the class about YOU (and she was my first yoga class here) so that really helped calm my first-​day-​of-​class-​nerves and jitters for my first time taking yoga up in the Bay Area. I really recommend her Flow class if you are an intermediate or beginner looking to challenge yourself. I have been practicing for almost four years now, but I would totally take her class in a heartbeat because she gives many options to all yogis of different levels.
I also just took Ron’s flow class early Saturday morning, and he is probably my favorite teacher yet. Although Anuja has the perfect words and guidance a strong teacher should have, Ron really pushes me to challenge my practice with my favorite learned word, «ocean breathing,» and his different options for all sorts of levels. I think I have found my favorite teacher at Almaden Yoga because of the level of yoga I want to practice at the point in my yoga journey. Shoutout to all my power yogis!
Come early, don’t be late. For classes later in the morning, don’t expect people to make room for you if you come bumbling into the class. I suggest bringing your own mat (but if you don’t have one, they have plenty) because of sanitary reasons. ALSO they provide you with all of the trinkets you might need during your session (mats, blocks, straps, etc.), so that’s really awesome. Sometimes your teacher will play background music… it helps when passerbys walk by the studio and you temporarily get distracted by the outside noise.

I came here with a Groupon and was pretty disappointed. It’s a small studio tucked away in a pretty empty plaza. I hate giving yoga studios low ratings when the teachers and staff are actually really nice and friendly, but the classes just didn’t impress me.
The first class I tried was either a Heated Detox or a Flow class. Can’t remember the teacher’s name, but it was a pretty basic class. No challenging poses, but we did spend a minute or so working on inversions, which I appreciated. It was mostly people putting their legs up against the wall and just me and maybe one other person attempting handstands. I also liked that the teacher came over to me to give me tips on handstands. But overall, a pretty beginner and gentle class. I wasn’t impressed but thought I’d give the studio another try the next day.
The second class I went to was with Ron Victor. That class completely turned me away from the studio and I didn’t even want to bother using up the rest of my Groupon and trying more classes. Again, the class was pretty beginner/​basic. What I really didn’t like was that Ron would provide people with adjustments, but his way of providing adjustments was to grab people’s hands and arms and yank them around. I don’t know if the students minded, but it was unpleasant for me to watch. I’m used to teachers providing gentle adjustments that really help deepen a pose or stretch. His adjustments were very sloppy and didn’t seem to accomplish much.
Overall, I think this studio might be good for a very beginner yogi, but I still think there are much better beginner studios out there if you’re just starting your yoga practice.

The only class I’ve taken at this Blossom Hill location is Yoga Tone with Katherine and I return twice a week. HOLY HELL it is intense. Throughout the entire class, beginning in the first five minutes, here is my thought process: «Ok… This isn’t so bad. I could do this for a while. Starting to feel it now. Wow that’s beginning to burn. Jesus did they raise the temperature in here? My sweat is about to drip onto my mat. Oh sweet Buddha make it stop! This hurts I should just leave class now. No I must save my dignity. I can’t feel my limbs? (Finishes move) Oh thank god thank Buddha thank Katherine let’s just take a nap now.»
SO WORTH IT! I am so energetic and happy after class, not to mention more confident with my body. I can see the muscles building in my core, arms, and thighs. I wish they offered this class everyday!
By the way, the class is incredibly popular, no arguments why. That means, get to class early. 15 minutes early. 10 minutes before class started it was already more than half filled. If you come right on time you will have to squeeze.

I loved the ambiance at the Blossom Hill location. The room and the instructor were very peaceful and relaxing.

I’ve been to a couple of Yoga studios and by far this is one of my favorite spots. My sister bought me a Groupon to try this place out and I haven’t been disappointed. My favorite class so far is Flow on Wednesday from 12:15 — 1:15pm and is taught by Lily Lu. With in that 1 hour period, she really works your body out. She’s a great instructor and the staff are all so friendly.
This studio is very clean with 2 bathrooms and 2 dressing rooms and plenty of cubby space for your personals. There’s plenty of parking space in this area since it’s located in a shopping plaza. The only thing I would see a problem is maybe on the weekends.

I was introduced to Almanden Yoga through groupon (they frequently have deals a great way to try them out) and I loved it so much that I bought a package and continue to go to classes. They have a wide variety of class options from gentle and restorative to hatha and flow. The schedule is easy to find online and offers a variety of times and two great locations in the Almanden Valley. The studios are simple, calm, peaceful, inviting and a place that I always leave feeling stretched and relaxed. The instructors are all very knowledgeable and dedicated to their yoga practice. Great studio.

Great studio! Very, Clean and centering. I got a fabulous deal on groupon to try it out and enjoyed many of the instructors. I tried a variety of classes that were all surprisingly challenging yet easily modified to meet me where I was at the time. There are 2 locations in close proximity to each other with most classes 15 minutes apart so if you miss one, you can run down the street and catch another!

I signed up for the Thursday night 7pm class a week in advance. I show up, early, and the place is locked! ‘Class has been canceled.’ Uhhhhh, I live 20 miles away! Shouldn’t they contact their customers in advance if they are canceling a class?

Sweet yoga oasis! Really welcoming studio with kind, knowledgable instructors. No mirrors at this studio, which I really like.
Easy in and out with plenty of parking on the South side. I love this studio!

AMAZING class! I have taken yoga classes here and there at both large chain gyms and smaller studio type locations. This is by far my favorite yoga class I’ve taken. I love how I feel after a good yoga class but I usually get bored. This class was so wonderful, I didn’t feel bored during the class and I felt so rejuvenated and healthy after the class. It probably helped that this class happened to focus on legs and lower back (my problem areas due to an injury) but either way, FIVE stars :) Anuja was wonderful, I will be coming back for her classes again and hope to try some of the other classes offered.

Customer Service here is awful. I set up a Unilocal account because it was so bad. I have never gone to a yoga studio where people weren’t friendly and attempt to accommodate. I have gone to both locations and had adverse interactions with the staff. If you want to relax and have positive interactions with your community do not go here.

This is the new Almaden Yoga (second location) located in the plaza with Barnes and Noble, TJ Max, Trader Joes, etc. It’s slightly hidden and in the inner pathways of the plaza. If you see either a Ross, Yopop or See’s Candy, then you’re in the right area. This location seems slightly bigger than the other location on Via Valiente and has two restrooms and two changing areas.
I’ve attended a couple classes here and thoroughly enjoyed them both. The instructors are patient and help adjust your poses if needed. One thing I noticed is they don’t have a mirror in the classroom. This is the first time I notice there is no mirror in a yoga studio (but then again I’m not a hard core yogi so I’m not sure what the norm is). They also don’t offer as many classes as their other location — could be due to this place still being new. The studio itself is spacious and very clean.
Overall nice, clean studio in a convenient plaza. You can be real behaved and drop by Trader Joes after yoga and buy something healthy to eat, or be a bit devious and grab some froyo with some sugary toppings, or just straight undo what you just did at yoga and indulge in a box of See’s candies around the corner. You can always go walk it off at TJ Max or Ross…

I’ve been trying to get into a regular yoga practice for a while and was super excited when I saw Almaden Yoga was opening a second location closer to my home. South San Jose is really lacking in the yoga studio department, so this is a great addition. I’d tried the Via Valiente location previously and enjoyed it, but it was a bit of a trek from my house.
The studio itself is spacious and serene. The lobby area is quite a bit larger than at their other, which is nice when classes are beginning and ending.
As for the classes, I’ve taken a handful so far and am looking forward to trying more. I’m still somewhat of a beginner and have really enjoyed Anuja’s Basics class on Thursday, Maria’s Yin on Wednesday and Kayla’s Hatha class on Fridays. One of my biggest complaints about other yoga studios is that their Basics classes aren’t often very «basic,» but I feel like Anuja really breaks down poses to make sure you’re getting them right no matter what level you’re at.
Almaden Yoga also offers a lot more membership options than some of the other studios and their class packs never expire. Memberships are also good for BOTH locations, so there are a ton of class options.
I’m looking forward to trying more!