Luma Yoga and Family Center

Luma is such a blessing in our lives, I’m not sure where I would be without their support. I started attending their prenatal yoga classes last fall during my second trimester. This class not only provided great relief for my aching bones and tight muscles, but also a community of other expectant mothers whom I now call friends. Now, my baby and I attend their post natal yoga class which is even more of a magical experience. This class gave me the confidence to get out of the house by allowing new moms like me to nurse and change babies as needed. I like the configuration of the room which allows everyone to practice in a circle rather than rows. They have an adorable gift shop and also provided massage, acupuncture, and other alternative healing practices. My girlfriends and I can even stop in anytime to breast feed if we are downtown. I strongly feel every community needs a Luma!

My boy is now 2 years old and we still love this studio. The staff and instructors are welcoming and my son loves the childcare here. It’s such a relief knowing he is in good hands while I get a little me time in a yoga class. So grateful for a family yoga studio in Santa Cruz!

Wow. Had the pleasure of taking melt yin yoga with Lynda. It was 2 hours of pure yoga bliss. In from out of state I am disappointed I can’t stay and take more classes!

Nice addition to this part of downtown. Great gift shop with well chosen items and local treasures. Nice schedule covers wide range of offerings, nice proximity to Body & Soul for back to back classes.

This is the best yoga studio in Santa Cruz as far as I’m concerned — I moved here a few months ago and tried out several. The classes are a good mix of challenging and relaxing, with many talented instructors. Class sizes are small, the studio space clean, warm and inviting. I have especially enjoyed my classes with Jackie — I hope she starts teaching adult classes more frequently!

These 5 stars are not only for Luma as a wonderful yoga/​educational/​therapeutic healing center but also for Julie Gallant a massage therapist there.
She’s absolutely amazing. I did prenatal massage throughout my pregnancy and she was able to accommodate my growing belly and changing aches and pains. Her touch is a perfect blend between gentle and firm and she seemed to know exactly where my body needed attention being a mom and having two children herself. She uses all kinds of pillows and support devices to get you in the most comfortable positions (you won’t want to leave the table) and she’s able to work on any part of your back and body no matter how huge you are.
She also massaged my partner and he thought she was great. Not only does she have magic hands, her personality is nurturing and compassionate. She’s truly a uniquely and beautiful healer. You will surely enjoy her.

Love Luma. Great service and friendly teachers… I started with their new student special. Then, bought the 10 class package when they ran a special. The hubby and I are now taking Roxanne Cummings childbirth class here.

they are great!!!
I LOVE Lynda and her toddler classes!!!
my kid makes all the choreography at home

Wonderful resource for the community. Classes are offered for all ages and levels and the atmosphere is one of relaxation and acceptance. I very much appreciate the walk in class organization they have, which works well for everyone.

Have you ever just walked into a place and felt right at home? If not, I recommend visiting Luma Yoga and Family Center.
The moment you enter Luma, you get a calm and grounded feeling. Maybe it’s the awesome triangle-​shaped building that houses two yoga rooms, or the ample amount of natural light beaming from the many windows and skylights. Maybe it’s the welcoming and warm staff that greets each person with a genuine smile. Maybe it’s the incredible massage therapists, working their magic. Maybe it’s Valerie instructing yoga with love, knowledge and expertise.
It could be any one of those things that makes Luma a great place to visit. Maybe it’s all of those things plus the kindness that pours out of each person who works at Luma.
I visited Luma for a Unilocal Elite event and was able to enjoy appetizers catered from Whole Foods, a short massage from Gemma (wow! She knows her stuff!), acupuncture from Kate, received an incredible yoga flow class from Valerie, and sampled sipping chocolates from their neighbor across the street (Mutari Chocolate House and Factory).
I now feel like I found a home at Luma and although I live in San Jose, I will take a yoga class or get a massage each and every time I visit Santa Cruz (since I go at least once a week).
The studio and space is clean, tidy, warm and welcoming, light and bright. The price is right, with affordable yoga classes, massages and packages, acupuncture appointments and different products for sale (the locally-​made teas are AMAZING).
They offer tons of different classes and many geared toward family classes, including children.
Love this place and SO glad I found it!

I have been taking yoga classes from Valerie since Luma opened, and I’ve been learning yoga for over 10 years. My yoga practiced has both deepened and blossomed under her expert teaching. Her style actually reminds me of the amazing yoga classes my husband and I went to in Bali on our honeymoon — slow but challenging, focused yet fun, and always with a fulfilling spiritual flavor.
I also really appreciate how she pays attention to each of our individual alignments and offer corrections and improvements when she sees the opportunities.
Thank you for being so dedicated to your craft, Valerie, and thank you for opening a healing space like Luma! It’s making a difference in our community and in my life.
(And for the record, I don’t have kids and I still go here — it’s not just for parents!)

Great variety of yoga classes with helpful tips and alignment adjustments from all instructors… Even more surprising was the incredible full body massage I received from Julie after one of Valerie’s yoga classes today. Julie is extremely sweet and knows how to really work out all the kinks in your muscles. I told her I was a sore surfer and she knew exactly how to take all the stress out of my body. My only regret was scheduling a 60 minute massage instead of the 90 minute. Thanks again Julie!

Oh this center is by far the best I’ve found in Santa Cruz. It is welcoming. The instructors are down to earth — so are the people. It’s family friendly. I don’t have a family but I love seeing the kids, the mommies bonding, the instructors supporting each other and chatting with other students. They serve hot tea for you. Their variety of classes makes something for everyone. I feel like I’ve found my yoga place!

I’m so happy to have found Luma! This past month has really been the first time I have been consistent in practicing yoga, though I have used it in the background of competitive athletic training for a number of years. Pregnancy has given me this opportunity and Luma has been the perfect place to explore my practice. I’m excited to continue throughout my pregnancy and beyond. Valerie rocks my yoga world, though I always look forward to classes with Megan and Mireille as well. The space is relaxed, warm, inviting, and completely without the pretentiousness that I’ve sometimes (often?) found in other studios. I’ve dropped in on classes at two other studios in town, and Luma really stands out as the best.

Wow! Today was my first time at luma, I came for a massage after I saw reviews that Julie Gallant gave a spectacular prenatal massage. Let’s just say I came in feeling tense uncomfortable a little lop sided and awkward. She lives up to the comments on here @, her massage was pure bliss, best massage I have had and I won’t go else where. Every place she touches is done with care and love she really knows what she is doing and you can tell by how great your body will feel after. The whole time I felt relaxed and extremely comfortable. From beginning to end what a great way to start my day. Thank you Julie feeling so blessed now!!! Also my baby has been moving around all day I think he enjoyed the massage as much as me. Oh I forgot to add the ladies at the front desk were very sweet and welcoming see you next month.

Not just for pregnant folks and families!
Luma has classes for yogis of all backgrounds, and most importantly, this studio has more diversity in it’s clientele than I’ve seen at any other studio in Santa Cruz. There are more people of all sizes, races/​ethnicities, genders, and so forth, and this has made me and my big body feel more included and honored in the classes here than anywhere else. I modify and prop the heck out of my practice and all the teachers here are supportive of that and haven’t forced me into any poses that don’t work for me. I have taken post-​natal, toddler, and regular yoga classes here and enjoyed all of them. I’ve used the childcare and especially appreciate that there are three evening classes now with childcare (great for us working parents!).
Prices are in line with local studios, and as with all studios buying class passes and being a member does save you money. I agree in principle that yoga should be low-​cost and accessible to all, and would love to see 1 – 2 donation-​based offerings on the schedule each week, but studios’ gotta pay the rent and for what is offered (childcare, excellent teachers), I do feel I get my money’s worth and more.
After years and years of searching for a studio that meets so many of my desires for my yoga practice, I’ve found my yoga home!
The owners are great –friendly, receptive to feedback, and passionate about their work, the space is beautiful and classes are offered for every level (they’ve even added more restorative/​yin/​gentle classes over the last year — yay!).
Highly recommend!

If you are looking for pre/​postnatal yoga look no further! Luma is the absolute best studio I have ever had the pleasure of attending. This is such a power house for women (and men) but especially for women who have children, the women’s circle on Tuesdays is so uplifting and such a breath of fresh air. Hannah’s postnatal classes on Thursday’s are an absolute must she is a stellar teacher and very encouraging; and you can bring your baby!

Luma is my happy place.

Luma is a beautiful yoga and family center! I’m a first time expecting mommy and I just moved to Santa Cruz, so finding this place has been a huge blessing for me. I’ve taken 2 prenatal classes and one Vinyasa class and have really liked all of them. People hang out and drink tea afterwards so it’s very easy to make new friends here. I’m looking forward to the birthing classes they offer, and the nursing circles. This is a great place to go if you need a village of friends if you’re pregnant and need people who can relate to you!
Yay Luma!!!

Great community center for yogis fulfilling a need in the market of mothers-​to-​be and families!
The prenatal yoga classes with Journey rock! She provides an all-​round yoga experience and everything mothers-​to-​be would need; including the right music to go with her exercises.
That brings me to one of my little pet peeves: Wouldn’t it be nice if all yoga classes would go with music in the background to block out the traffic noise that is bound to distract from the yoga experience in most inner city yoga studios?
In conclusion, the yoga classes I have experienced at Luma were worth the $ 14 for drop-​in customers; with the caveat of my little pet peeve for the one non-​music — high traffic-​noise class taught by V.
Luma also offers attractive discounts on yoga classes and their other products for members of the Center. The very friendly staff behind the reception desk will help you to learn all about current offers for memberships.
Check out Luma and Enjoy and Soak in the Zen!