creating breathing room

Why Breathing Room? For us, it is a fitting reflection of what we need at each moment, the challenging times we live in, and our vision of community: inclusive, expansive, supportive, nourishing and inspiring.

We are committed to fostering our growth as humans in a world in need of compassion and courage. We welcome all who come with the value of acceptance regardless of skin color, body shape, age, religion, family ancestry, country of origin, love preference or gender identity.

we don’t really know what we’re doing, and that’s okay

We can’t say we ever thought we would own a yoga studio. But Leela Yoga was a special community to teach in and be a part of, and we didn’t want to see it go away. So in December 2019, when Leela Yoga’s founder stepped down, we saw the need and the opportunity, and — after taking a deep breath (okay, a lot of deep breaths) — we stepped up.

In early 2020, through the excitement, anxiety and logistical puzzles of creatively imagining what we wanted to offer, a name for the new studio came to us simultaneously: Breathing Room. For us, it is a fitting reflection of what we need at each moment, the challenging times we live in, and our vision of community: inclusive, expansive, nourishing and inspiring.

Just two and a half months in, COVID-19 descended on us all, and on the eve of the shelter-in-place order, Breathing Room went completely online, offering classes through Zoom. After our initial dismay at seeing the studio go unused — and, needless to say, a few more deep, slow breaths — we looked again to find a moment of growth and with the generous energy of so many friends, we worked our butts off to breathe fresh life into this beautiful space.

Ten months of blood, sweat, tears and empty paint cans later, Breathing Room is now open for in-person classes. We will continue to offer online classes and create opportunities for community connection and growth through our hybrid and online workshops. Check out weekly schedule of in-person, virtual and recorded classes, upcoming workshops and deeper study opportunities through Breathing Room Academy.

It goes without saying, this last few years have been challenging for everyone. We appreciate what you’ve done, individually and collectively, to help hold it together as humans. We can’t tell you how excited we are to share our space and to breathe in community together!

The Breathing Room yoga studio in Alameda, California offers social-distanced in-person yoga classes.

A yoga student in legs-up-the-wall pose next to plants at Breathing Room yoga studio in Alameda, California.

A yoga teacher demonstrates downward dog pose at Breathing Room in Alameda, CA.

Spiritual icons and crystals decorate the yoga studio of Breathing Room in Alameda.

Jade Yoga cork block at Breathing Room in Alameda, CA.

Partner downward dog pose at Breathing Room in Alameda, CA.

meet our family

The teachers at Breathing Room aren’t here to tell you who you are or how to be — but to help you uncover, discover, and recover that wisdom for yourself. Drawing on ancient yogic traditions, modern paradigms, and deep wells of experience, our teachers will support you — with clear instruction, effective techniques, and gentle guidance — in creating and shaping your own skillful practice to move the body and focus the mind.

We teach what we’re passionate about, are invested in our own growth and align our yoga practices with how we live. We hope to inspire you to show up for yourself just as you authentically are — creative, thoughtful, goofy, tender, hardworking, compassionate… We’re just guessing, of course!

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