Overview
The Yoga Shala is a dedicated yoga studio with locations on Judah Street in the Inner Sunset and Balboa Street in the Richmond District of San Francisco. Founded by Brittany Lamb, it serves as a community haven offering primarily heated vinyasa power yoga, influenced by local San Francisco yogis, with classes designed to challenge practitioners and translate lessons to life beyond the mat. The teaching team brings diverse backgrounds and approaches, from posture-perfecting flows to creative, grounding sessions, all within a supportive environment. The studio runs its own 200-hour teacher training program and offers an introductory 30 days for $50 for new students, maintaining a strong focus on fostering human connection and providing a transformative space for both body and mind.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Pricing
| Plan Name | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single Class | Drop in | $35 |
| Monthly Unlimited Membership | 1 Month | $159 |
| Yearly Unlimited | 1 Year | $1549 |
| Mini Membership (4x per month) | 1 Month | $89 |
| 5 Classes Pack | 5 Classes | $160 |
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 7:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Tuesday | Open | 7:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Wednesday | Open | 7:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Thursday | Open | 7:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Friday | Open | 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | Open | 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
| Sunday | Open | 9:00 am – 6:30 pm |
Studio in Details
A Community-Focused Yoga Space in San Francisco’s Neighborhoods
The Yoga Shala operates as a dedicated yoga space with two locations in San Francisco: one on Judah Street in the Inner Sunset and another on Balboa Street in the Richmond District. The studio describes itself as a place where community gathers to practice, created as a labor of love, creativity, and transformation. Its stated philosophy, “Lokah Samastah sukhino bhavantu” (May all beings everywhere be happy and free), reflects an inclusive intention. The environment is designed to help people create a separation from daily business and transform their way of being. The primary offering is heated vinyasa power yoga, which the studio says is completely influenced by the yogis of San Francisco. People mention the practice is intended to challenge and change practitioners, with tools learned in class translating to life beyond the mat.
Founder Brittany Lamb describes the studio as a haven that disrupted her own life, leading to a deeper connection with body, self, and others. She feels honored to witness the full human experience—patience, perseverance, joy, struggle, and love—that pours out during practice. The space aims to help people remember their humanness and connection to others. Several teachers note the studio became their “third place” or a warm hug of a practice, emphasizing its role as a community anchor. The expansion to the Richmond District was driven by a desire to create more opportunities for the community to gather, move, and connect, with the new location intended to complement the original studio’s vibe.
Diverse Teaching Approaches and Class Experiences
The teaching team at The Yoga Shala brings varied backgrounds and intentions to their classes. Founder Brittany Lamb focuses on helping people remember their power in vulnerability and their impact on the world. Teacher Peter Bartesch describes his classes as challenging, with a focus on perfecting postures and progressing into advanced ones, incorporating mobility and strength components with traditional stretching and asanas. He starts each class with meditation before working up a sweat. Amber Ovalle shares her passion for deep breathing to enhance practice and deliver power, adding humor to her sessions. Teacher Emily McCune offers creative, grounding classes that invite students back into their body and the present moment, with an emphasis on breath, embodiment, and curiosity.
Other instructors highlight specific elements. Adrienne Zand aims for inclusive, all-levels classes powered by instrumental and upbeat music, leaving students feeling challenged and restored. Lucas Marsh teaches fast-paced, strength-building flows inspired by his gymnastics background, blending dynamic movement with mindful mobility work. MG Brills describes offering sweaty vinyasa flows with playfulness. Alicia KP focuses on well-balanced classes with moments of challenge and relief, set to vibey playlists. Joshua Lundell, an ERYT-500 certified teacher, has studied multiple asana styles including Ashtanga, Baptiste, Bhakti, Bikram, Hatha, Iyengar, Jivamukti, Kundalini, Sivananda, and Yin. He commits to lovingly challenging students at the edge of their practice. Many teachers express a goal of creating safe, supportive spaces where students can explore their individual relationships with yoga.
Programs, Community, and Practical Details
The Yoga Shala runs its own teacher training programs. Several teachers, including Jessica Ito, Megan Keir, April Anderson, Abi Lidar, and Veronica Moss, are graduates of the studio’s inaugural 200-hour YTT. Jessica Ito mentions gaining an incredibly supportive community of yogis through the training. The studio also offers an intro offer of 30 days for $50 for new students. Visitors can view the class schedule on the website to join for a session. The studio encourages people to sign up for email updates to receive news and updates. The website includes team pages with teacher bios, but visitors do not mention specific details about amenities like showers, lockers, or prop availability. The focus remains on the practice and community experience.
The studio’s teachers come from diverse personal journeys with yoga. Many found the practice during times of need—through injury recovery, grief, stress, or life transitions—and now aim to share its transformative power. For example, Jessica Ito turned to yoga as medicine for a hip injury and found healing for both body and mind. Barbara Zachariassen discovered yoga’s power during a time of grieving. Haley Bendis was drawn to yoga’s playful and non-competitive spirit while seeking accessible exercise with her mother. The collective teaching philosophy emphasizes creating containers of love and support, honoring each student’s journey, and fostering connection both on and off the mat. The studio serves as a gathering point for San Francisco residents looking to explore yoga’s physical and spiritual dimensions in a heated, community-oriented environment.