i am letting go of my Thursday afternoon class at Bernal Yoga at the end of June. thanks to all who have joined me there for this sweet class. what a joy it has been to roll on the floor in the afternoon sun with you! i'll still be teaching at darling Bernal on Wednesdays.

"Yoga, a physical activity, has understandable benefits for cancer patients, in whom it helps restore strength and flexibility to muscles weakened by treatment. Alicia Chin has been taking a weekly yoga class for cancer patients at the Osher Center. 'Yoga reteaches the muscles how to work, and it makes me feel good,' says Chin, a 46-year-old San Franciscan. She had a lumpectomy and had two lymph glands removed last March, followed by radiation, and now is enrolled in a clinical trial of a new chemotherapy regimen. 'You get all these drugs pumped into you, you don't want to do anything,' says Chin, a paralegal. She still doesn't have the strength to reach up and paint a ceiling, as she puts it, 'but it really makes a difference.'"

"The healing art of thai yoga massage is an ancient and sacred system of healing with roots in Yoga, Ayurvedic Medicine and Buddhist spiritual practice. It is a unique and powerful system of Yoga Therapy, which combines rhythmic massage, acu-pressure, asanas (Yogic stretching exercises), gentle twisting, energy work and meditation. Thai Yoga Massage stimulates and balances the flow of healing energy within the body, opening the areas which are blocked bringing the person deeper into balance and harmony for health, happiness and wellness of being. This system creates a powerful release of stress and tension, an increase in vitality and well-being and it deepens the connection between mind, body and spirit in both the giver and receiver."

Kristie delights in incorporating bits of thai massage into her group classes and private sessions. full sessions of thai massage offer profound goodness and last 2-2.5 hours. currently Kristie is sharing thai yoga massage sessions at half her usual rate as she deepens her skills.

"one of the best massage treatments i've ever received (and i've received a lot). kristie's touch is attentive, penetrating, and energetically engaged... i feel balanced, energized, clear. all through the session i felt... filled with a child-like happiness."

"the session with Kristie was phenomenal - she obviously already carries with her a tremendous body of knowledge about touch and the body as a system. what i found most amazing about this session was the way that Kristie addressed my physical and energetic body so fully and completely. she was always very aware of making me comfortable so i could go deeper into the stretches and very in tune with my unfolding, knowing when to keep pushing and when to back off. overall excellent!"

"it was a thoroughly relaxing experience. I was put deeply at ease by Kristie. she felt in tune to how my body was responding to her work. i was in a trance throughout."

"it felt like a more holistic experience than a different sort of massage -- the stretching adds so much!"

"I came into the session tired, stressed out, and fighting a cold. after two and a half hours (it seemed like less than an hour!) of Kristie's careful attention, I was delightfully non-verbal and relaxed. I was surprised by the quality of her awareness of the structure of my musculature. I am looking forward to my next session."

Correction, connection, imagination, alignment attunement ... we will explore these ideas to expand your teaching toolkit. Some of the tools we may discuss and practice implementing are: the use of touch, partner work, palpation, anatomical descriptions, diagrams and models, imaginative instruction, structural instruction, mindful demonstration, and thoughtful sequencing. How can we add a variety of techniques to provide richness and depth, reaching students with different learning styles, interests, and physical abilities, while staying true to the heart of simplicity which allows the practice to shine? Come see!

full details and registration right here

Kristie's workshop healed my heart and my body. she has a deep and broad understanding of the body, of the spirit, and of Yoga. her love flows out of her and lights up the workshop, creating a powerful container for health, harmony and healing that keeps everyone's spirits high. her workshop is a magical experience. it doesn't get better than this. "

"I had a wonderful time and wish it wasn't over...."

" the meditation and yoga is sticking with me, and I am feeling really grateful for that practice! thank you again for such a beautiful weekend. it was amazing how much different my body and mind felt by the end."

in Kristie's Castro Home studio:
$75-95/hour

at your home:
$110-140/1st hour, $75-95/hour after

"my session was so amazing; it really grounded me in ways i can't even understand/explain. I'm still feeling intense equilibrium and wellbeing in reaction."

"when practicing yoga following a video tape aggravated some shoulder pain that had been on and off for a few years, I asked Kristie to take a look. on close inspection she was able to identify that I had been cheating through a position with incorrect shoulder posture (probably the original source of my pain). Kristie taught me the correct posture, repositioning my shoulders and shoulder blades, which activated under-used muscles of the arms, chest and back, real strength! the effect of these adjustments was instantly felt in almost every pose of my practice. the adjustments also applied to my posture in everyday life which freed up a constant tension in my neck and provided better support to my middle back, especially sitting. one position correction, 3 aches gone! thanks, Kristie!"

"Kristie tailors each of our sessions to my state at that moment. this morning, after last night's six hour plan flight, Kristie created the perfect decompression for me, and what a great day I had."

"Through Kristie's generous spirit, I have learned how to let life bring my its gifts rather than forcing them to come to me. I believe this is the reason I have not had an episode of MS since I started my practice with her."

"Kristie was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, reliable, caring, communicative, and creative throughout her tenure with us. teaching in an office setting presents different challenges than teaching in a yoga studio: encouraging busy workers to take time out to nurture their bodies, working with students with a wide variety of aptitude and flexibility, and recognizing that the classes are presented within the greater framework of the office environment. in our case, this was doubly challenging, as Kristie has helped to support our staff through our public stock offering, 10 mergers/acquisitions, 2 layoffs, various changes in management, and other various impacts of the Internet roller-coaster ride of the past few years. Kristie was consistently able to provide a centering and creative environment in our office."

"Kristie has worked with all ages within the Hamlin community, ranging from kindergarten classes to the faculty. Kristie shares her love of yoga with her students and inspires, excites and motivates her pupils. the students love and respect her and the community has embraced the teachings that she has offered."

- Danny Meyer, After School Academy Director, The Hamlin School

"we hired Kristie to teach twice-weekly yoga classes at my company, and it proved to be an excellent decision; she is a wonderful teacher. Kristie is very responsive to the needs and abilities of whomever is in a particular class and also to the changing needs of a class itself as a unit."

"Kristie's sessions helped our team of two to be more at ease with each other. by sharing the physical poses and meditation, my colleague and i became better attuned to one another, and our writing project flowed much better."

"Kristie is truly an outstanding teacher, one whose generosity of spirit inspires students in amazing ways. her teaching is nurturing as well as challenging. while Kristie easily articulates the physical aspects of the practice, she also weaves in the philosophical in a seamless and lovely manner. she has clearly studied yoga from myriad perspectives and is deeply rooted in traditional teachings. at the same time, she is quite comfortable with improvisation and can be quite adaptable and flexible depending upon the class and what challenges the students present. Kristie is an individual with deep integrity. she is inspired and inspiring to work with, on every level.

Kate Randall, Art Department Chair, The Urban School of San Francisco

"in our program Kristie leads special workshops that focus on the subtle aspects of Hatha Yoga. these workshops focus on challenging students to search within their own experience so they can teach from an authentic and compassionate place. over the past few years I have come to rely upon Kristie’s expertise. not only is she a great resource for my own questions, but I know that our students are being enlightened by her teaching. I cherish Kristie’s addition to our program."

- Reverend Jivana Heyman, Teacher Training Coordinator, Integral Yoga Institute.

a community favorite since 1999, this class has rave reviews on yelp.com. the studio is a hidden gem, a long bare-brick room where eight huge skylights bring summer sunlight or the sound of winter rain.

"last night's class was a miracle; your teaching combined with the adjustment I had earlier in the day had my physical body vanishing into light posture after posture."

"working with you for has brought to my entire being a sort of unity I have never known before. I feel unity between my body and mind, a brand-new set of shared ideas where before there were mainly commands from above and complaints from below. I feel unity and connection with the warm, generous beings in the space around me, my community, where before I saw 'other people'. and I feel unity with something big and quiet and open, where just being is enough. you have taught me to ask myself questions that lead to real insights, where I never even knew there was a question to be asked. your voice is my graceful guide through my practice, drawing poetic, illuminating explanations of each movement and adjustment with encyclopedic knowledge, and continually drawing me back out of my head with words of thoughtful inquiry, encouragement, and wisdom. am I stronger and more supple than before? sure. but the real gift of your teaching is in what you impart of yourself; not to teach me what I can do, but to show me who I can be. and so I say, what you have taught me through yoga has changed my life."

"I've been practicing yoga with Kristie for close to five years now. her choice of words to describe an asana or to relay some yogic benefits or history is always so thoughtful - every word and every breath for the benefit of the class; nothing done casually or without purpose, and yet it always flows naturally."

a nice brisk early-evening class. there are numerous delicious dinner options within a couple blocks. the Liberty Cafe is a particular favorite, with outstanding local, seasonal, and organic foods. their wine bar often has fine music, too!

"I have never felt so comfortable in class. just minutes into the class and I feel like I've arrived at home. and blissed out for the rest of the evening!"

"she's an expert at guiding students toward expanding and deepening their individual practices without sacrificing the unity of a group class. I found her yoga classes to be my favorite ever."

"I just wanted to tell you I'm a believer."

"Kristie brings a spiritual energy to her classes, honoring the mind as well as the body. she simply asks that you do, too. her instruction is non-judgmental and imparts her own sense of peace in its delivery. she invites you to push a little more and yet accept what your body is willing to do today. every day is different. corrections of asanas are gentle and there is no feeling of competition with others in class. she brings light to class and invites you to do the same."

"my meditations were always the 'best' (deepest, longest, calmest) at the end of her classes, when we would sit for meditation. and that's when I realized that Kristie was a true teacher/mentor for me. through her guidance I was able to go much deeper, and not only in meditation, but my body too, was able to do new stretches and asanas for the first time. she inspired me to continue with my personal, daily practice, and before long I was studying to teach yoga as well - I wanted to know what she did!"

$110 for 10 or $14 drop-in.
new student special 3 classes for $20.
all mats and props are provided.

California Pacific Medical Center's Health and Healing Center has a beautiful new yoga studio! high ceilings, a wall of windows that looks out into the Healing Garden, a stunning mural. a lovely environment for practice.

"I am still floating. thank you for a truly transformative experience."

"Kristie's classes are simply incredible. for me, they provide the perfect balance of mindfulness and physical engagement. I recommend her classes without any reservations."

"a year and a half after I became certified and began teaching yoga, I still find her to be one of the best yoga instructors in San Francisco. I schedule my work hours so that I can take her class at least once, preferably twice, per week. I take classes in different traditions and with different teachers, and often learn a lot from them, but it is only in Kristie's classes that I actually integrate that information into what is yoga."