Teacher Spotlight

Some yoga teachers begin their journey because of a physical or emotional crisis; Cindy Berk was introduced to yoga in a high school PE class. That early exposure became critical when Cindy later pursued a career on Wall Street. Amidst all the noise and craziness of that environment, yoga enabled Cindy to stay grounded. Yoga became her anchor.

After decades of practicing yoga in a variety of studios, Cindy became a certified yoga instructor in early 2017. She immediately started teaching at Leela Yoga (later renamed the Breathing Room) and continues to offer a Thursday morning class from 9-10am. Her basic Hatha class is open to all levels, although Cindy specializes in working with beginners and those recovering from injury.

Cindy is committed to helping students feel a sense of mastery in one or two poses. To this end, she focuses on different body parts each month: hips, hamstrings, shoulders, heart space. She encourages newer students to gently challenge themselves.

In addition to the Breathing Room, Cindy teaches at the First Presbyterian Church of Alameda, Temple Sinai in Oakland, and Herrington Park on Bay Farm Island, Alameda. As a newly-minted Reiki Master, Cindy hopes to incorporate Reiki in her yoga classes. She is also a certified flexibility coach.

Cindy’s philosophy and guiding principle is that yoga is less about what we do on the mat and more about how we live off the mat — with balance, awareness, and a sense of calm.