Overview
DAYA Foundation functions as both a yoga studio and community hub, offering classes that weave together traditional yoga philosophy, physiology, and neurobiology for transformative experiences. The center provides diverse offerings including Amrita, Bo Yoga, restorative, and adaptive yoga classes taught by caring instructors specializing in various styles. Beyond studio classes, DAYA offers comprehensive 200, 300, and 800-hour teacher training programs with trauma-informed approaches and maintains a strong service component through prison yoga outreach programs. While most visitors describe a welcoming atmosphere for all genders, backgrounds, and abilities, the studio acknowledges varying experiences and offers practical options like a $30 2-week introductory pass alongside monthly memberships competitive with Portland-area studios.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | – |
| Tuesday | Open | 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM |
| Wednesday | Closed | – |
| Thursday | Open | 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM |
| Friday | Closed | – |
| Saturday | Closed | – |
| Sunday | Open | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
Studio in Details
A Community-Focused Yoga Center with Deep Philosophical Roots
DAYA Foundation operates as more than a typical yoga studio; it functions as a yoga center and community hub where the practice extends well beyond physical postures. Visitors consistently describe an atmosphere that feels like “welcome home,” with one person noting that everything about the space conveyed that feeling from their very first visit. The yoga instruction is characterized by people as a soul-filling, nurturing combination that weaves together community, devotion to the tenants and traditions of yoga, and movement informed by sophisticated knowledge of physiology and neurobiology. Many leave their mat feeling renewed in body, mind, and spirit, with one individual stating they always depart feeling calm, refreshed, and centered. The overall identity is deeply tied to its mission-oriented work, with the founder, Sarahjoy Marsh, receiving specific praise for her vision and leadership in offering what one visitor called “this treasure to all.”
The yoga classes themselves are frequently described as wonderful, transformative, and offering an opportunity to learn something new in every session. People mention a variety of caring instructors who specialize in various yoga and meditation styles. Specific class types referenced by name include Amrita classes with Sarahjoy, Bo Yoga classes with an instructor named Nate, and restorative classes with Heather Smith. The studio also offers adaptive yoga classes, which are noted as part of its broader offerings. The environment is often called peaceful, welcoming, and uplifting, with an atmosphere that one person said welcomes all people from all walks of life with all abilities. Another visitor explicitly stated it is a welcoming and comfortable place for people of all genders, backgrounds, medical histories, body types, and abilities.
Comprehensive Education and Specialized Outreach Programs
A significant aspect of DAYA Foundation’s work involves in-depth teacher training programs and specialized outreach. Visitors highlight that the studio offers 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training that are described as truly transformative, life-changing, and designed to deepen one’s understanding of yoga philosophy and yoga therapy practices. There is also mention of an 800 hour yoga therapy training that dives even deeper. The teachers in these programs are noted by people as being well-trained in trauma-informed language and dedicated to the traditional and authentic lineage of yoga. The teachings from Sarahjoy, mentors, and ambassadors are said to flow naturally, providing inspiring and deeply supportive education.
The foundation’s service component is a major point of discussion. Its work in providing prison yoga teacher training and bringing yoga to people in prison is repeatedly mentioned as inspiring and a core part of the organization’s identity. The website content references a “Prison Yoga Dharma Library” and principles based on yogic precepts like the Yamas and Niyamas, framing this yoga as being “for life.” This outreach is described as providing empowering and nurturing support for those who have endured tough situations. Beyond the studio walls, this commitment to service fundamentally shapes the community’s character, aligning with the foundation’s stated mission of “Bringing Light Into Darkness.”
Practical Considerations and Community Dynamics
For those considering visiting, practical insights from visitors provide a grounded perspective. On pricing, one person acknowledges that while it is “a bit expensive,” this is noted as being the case for all yoga studios in the Portland area, and they add that DAYA is actually less expensive for monthly passes than other studios they’ve looked at. The studio offers a $30 2 week unlimited yoga pass as an introductory option, which one visitor recommended. The facility is noted to have excellent assistive devices (props) available. In terms of schedule and offerings, people enjoy not only the yoga classes but also supplementary offerings like dharma talks.
The community feedback presents a complex picture regarding inclusivity. While many visitors passionately describe a welcoming atmosphere for all, a contrasting perspective is strongly presented by one individual who found the place to be highly unsafe and unwelcoming. This person specifically claims that despite the organization being social justice oriented, two teachers in the trauma-informed teacher training were perceived as extremely racist and bigoted, citing a political tattoo as evidence. They explicitly stated they would not recommend the studio to POC, queer, trans, and/or disabled folks. This feedback exists alongside numerous accounts of a universally welcoming space, indicating that experiences may vary significantly. For many long-term students, however, the teachers are the central draw, with one person stating that what has kept them coming back for years is precisely the quality and warmth of the instructors, creating a yoga space that consistently meets both mental and physical needs.