Overview
OG Yoga operates as a unique nonprofit yoga studio in San Diego’s Normal Heights neighborhood, founded in 2015 with a clear social mission. Its innovative model uses revenue from public studio classes to fund trauma-informed and diversity-sensitive yoga programs for vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness, poverty, incarceration, and PTSD. The studio specializes in gentle, accessible classes like Restorative Yoga and Yoga for Healing, with all instructors being Yoga Alliance certified and trained in trauma-informed practices that emphasize verbal guidance and personal autonomy. This creates an intentionally welcoming environment for beginners, seniors, people in recovery, and anyone who feels excluded from mainstream yoga spaces.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Tuesday | Open | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm |
| Wednesday | Open | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm |
| Thursday | Open | 2:00 pm – 7:30 pm |
| Friday | Open | 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | Open | 9:30 am – 11:00 am |
| Sunday | Open | 9:30 am – 11:30 am |
Studio in Details
A Nonprofit Yoga Space with a Social Mission
OG Yoga operates differently from most yoga studios. Founded in 2015, it functions as a San Diego nonprofit with a clear, dual-purpose model. The organization’s core mission is to deliver trauma-informed and diversity-sensitive yoga to marginalized and vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness, poverty, incarceration, PTSD, and substance abuse. To fund this outreach, it runs a public yoga studio in the Normal Heights neighborhood. This setup means that when people take a class at the studio, their participation directly supports the nonprofit’s broader community work. The studio describes itself as an altruistic affordable yoga studio, explicitly aiming to make yoga accessible to people of all ages, body types, skin colors, and abilities. Visitors echo this, noting it is not a typical fitness yoga studio but one dedicated to accessibility and supporting a great cause.
The organization’s impact is significant, having served over 6,000 individuals through more than 10,000 class visits via partnerships with 50+ nonprofits across San Diego County. A recent collaboration with Connected Warriors expands this reach, offering specialized classes for military, veterans, and first responders dealing with PTSD. The leadership, including founder JoAnn Jaffe, brings corporate and nonprofit experience alongside advanced yoga credentials, with all instructors being Yoga Alliance certified and possessing additional specialized training in trauma-informed practices. The overall identity is one of compassionate service, where the practice of yoga is framed as a tool for healing trauma, rebuilding lives, and fostering positive social change.
Gentle, Accessible Classes and a Supportive Community
The classes at OG Yoga are consistently described by visitors as gentle, compassionate, and step-by-step. The studio offers a range of classes, but the emphasis is overwhelmingly on accessible, mindful movement rather than intense physical exertion. People mention specific classes like Restorative Yoga and Yoga for Healing, the latter originally developed for cancer survivors. One visitor describes Yoga for Healing as a moving meditation where you literally lay on your back the whole time and can even be done from bed. Other class types visitors reference include qi gong and yoga for back health, indicating a variety focused on specific wellness goals.
A defining feature, repeatedly highlighted, is the instructors’ approach to modifications and autonomy. Visitors say every instructor offers multiple options for poses and strongly encourages practitioners to listen to their bodies and do only what feels right. One person notes this is the first time they’ve felt truly comfortable (and encouraged!) to take modifications of poses, to prop myself as much as possible, and to take breaks whenever I need. They appreciate that instructors use verbal suggestions rather than physical adjustments, respecting individual autonomy. This trauma-informed methodology makes the space welcoming for people managing injuries, recovery, or simply seeking a non-pressured environment. The sense of community is powerful; people feel part of a group when they sign on for virtual classes, and instructors like Jean are noted for holding space at the beginning of class for a check-in, deepening that communal connection.
Who Finds a Home at This Studio
This yoga space is particularly well-suited for individuals who might feel excluded from or uncomfortable in mainstream yoga environments. It explicitly serves beginners, people in trauma recovery, those managing injury or illness (like brain injury recovery mentioned by a visitor), seniors, and anyone seeking a gentle, low-impact practice. The studio’s work with specialty populations—including youth, disabled individuals, and those in the justice system—informs its inclusive studio culture. Visitors who have completed the studio’s 200-hour teacher training program praise its emphasis on trauma-informed and diversity-sensitive yoga, making it a destination for aspiring teachers wanting to work in community wellness.
The hybrid format of in-person and virtual classes adds to its accessibility. People appreciate the flexibility to practice anywhere! Outside, in your living room, sometimes even in your bed. While the studio is located in Normal Heights, San Diego, its virtual offerings and nonprofit partnerships give it a reach beyond its immediate neighborhood. The closing impression from visitor feedback is one of deep gratitude and belonging. People describe the studio as a lifeline, with instructors who make them feel taken care of and a community that feels supportive. For those seeking yoga as a tool for holistic healing, personal autonomy, and connection, rather than just physical fitness, OG Yoga presents a unique and purpose-driven sanctuary.