Overview
Be The Change Yoga is a women-owned therapeutic sanctuary located in a historic 125-year-old building in Old Town Irvine, founded in 2013 by Allison Martin Prince and Katie Allen. It distinguishes itself as Orange County’s center for higher education in yoga therapy, offering OC’s first and only Yoga Therapist Training Program. The studio provides daily, non-heated group yoga therapy classes focused on stress management, pain relief, and improving strength and flexibility, with instructors offering modifications for all levels. Beyond classes, it offers a comprehensive Lifestyle Medicine Membership for personalized, root-cause care, coordinating services like acupuncture, Ayurveda, and private yoga therapy. The space fosters a warm, community-oriented vibe with a welcoming staff, community Tea House, and regular workshops, though it maintains a strict punctuality policy for classes.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | Open | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | Open | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | Open | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | Open | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | Open | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sunday | Open | 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Studio in Details
A Therapeutic Sanctuary in Old Town Irvine
Be The Change Yoga presents itself not as a typical fitness studio but as a modern sanctuary dedicated to holistic healing. Founded in 2013 by Allison Martin Prince and Katie Allen, this women-owned business operates from a distinctive 125-year-old building in Old Town Irvine, a location people describe as feeling like stepping back in time. The atmosphere is deliberately crafted to be the opposite of a corporate yoga studio; visitors frequently note it feels like home. The space is designed to be a retreat, featuring hand-carved wooden doors from Rajasthan, Moroccan lanterns, and soothing music. It houses two spacious yoga studios, a healing room for private sessions, and a community Tea House where people can gather. This intentional design supports the studio’s core philosophy, which it defines as safe, creative, and life-enhancing. The focus is squarely on yoga therapy, natural health, and lifestyle medicine, aiming to empower individuals to live well by addressing the root causes of imbalance.
The studio’s identity is deeply intertwined with its community and educational mission. It has evolved into what it calls Orange County’s center for higher education in yoga therapy. This is underscored by its status as home to OC’s first and only Yoga Therapist Training Program. The founders and many team members have been collaborating since the early 2000s, fostering a tight-knit community bound by a shared love for yoga and Ayurveda. This long-standing collaboration extends into the wider community through partnerships with institutions like UCI Medical School and outreach programs, including offering weekly yoga therapy in both English and Spanish at a local healthy living center. The studio’s vision is to make yoga accessible as a form of lifestyle medicine, a principle that permeates both its group classes and its extensive training programs.
Classes, Care, and a Comprehensive Approach
The primary offering at Be The Change Yoga is its group yoga therapy classes. These are held daily in non-heated rooms, a deliberate choice aligning with its safety-first philosophy. People mention the classes are designed to be inclusive, with instructors always asking about injuries or special conditions before class begins to offer appropriate modifications. The classes aim to provide tools for stress and pain management while improving strength, balance, and flexibility. Visitors describe enjoying flow classes and note a variety of class types, including therapeutic, beginner, and all-levels flow. Specific classes highlighted by people include a vinyasa flow with Allison, where even experienced practitioners learned new postures, and Amanda’s Roll and Restore class, which uses rubber balls and blocks for myofascial release. Another transformative experience mentioned is Jonah’s sound bath with singing bowls, which helps quiet the mind. The studio also provides high-quality, grippy mats and other props for people to borrow if needed.
Beyond group classes, the studio provides a deeply integrated model of one-on-one care through its Lifestyle Medicine Membership. This program is described as a personalized, root-cause model that coordinates various natural health services. It includes an initial comprehensive intake, a tailored wellness plan, and ongoing support through a monthly membership that provides access to a collaborative team. The integrated services available, both within the membership and à la carte, include Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Private Yoga, Reiki, Yoga Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Nutrition, and Spiritual Counseling. This approach is designed to offer affordable, coordinated care that moves beyond a one-size-fits-all solution, aiming for long-term vitality through sustainable lifestyle shifts. Visitors do not mention specific details on standard drop-in rates or package prices outside of the membership structure.
Community Vibe and Practical Considerations
The feeling of community is a recurring theme in people’s descriptions of Be The Change Yoga. Many note the incredibly welcoming staff and teachers. People say that every person at the front desk welcomes you with open arms, making you feel like part of a yoga family. The owners, Allison and Katie, are described as both warm and welcoming and deeply knowledgeable in their craft. This sense of a friendly, supportive environment is also reflected in the student body; one visitor noted the students were all friendly, which they saw as a reflection of the studio’s values. Charming, personal touches like a community kitchen with tea and a basket of harvested lemons for anyone to take contribute to this homely, generous atmosphere. The studio also hosts regular events and workshops, such as Reiki training, yoga nidra experiences, and informational meetings for its teacher training programs.
On the practical side, the studio offers both in-studio and livestream options for its group classes, providing flexibility. For those looking to deepen their practice or start a new career path, it runs extensive teacher training programs. These include a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT), a 300-hour advanced training, and an 825-hour Yoga Therapist Training, with hybrid online and in-person options available. The studio has a clear operational structure, with specific hours posted. However, visitors do mention a strict policy regarding punctuality. One person shared a negative experience where they were not allowed into a class for arriving one minute late, despite explaining extenuating circumstances. This indicates the studio enforces a policy to minimize disruptions after a class has begun, which some may find challenging. For new students, people mention there is a new student special that provides a great way to try the studio. The overall impression from visitors is of a unique, expert-led space that prioritizes therapeutic, accessible yoga within a warm and intentional community setting.