Overview
Heart Shaped Yoga represents the practice of Rachel Stern, a Yoga Alliance registered teacher based in Portland, Oregon. Operating primarily through The People’s Yoga community studios, she teaches All Level Hatha Flow classes that blend somatic awareness, stretching, and skill-building with a focus on alignment and mindfulness. Beyond group classes, Rachel offers fully customizable private sessions, a unique 6-week Empowering Teen Girls With Yoga program, and workshops that range from introspective to playful. This teacher-centered approach is particularly well-suited for beginners, individuals seeking personal connection, and those looking for a warm, community-oriented entry point into yoga that emphasizes self-exploration and authentic expression.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | – | |
| Tuesday | – | |
| Wednesday | – | |
| Thursday | – | |
| Friday | – | |
| Saturday | – | |
| Sunday | – |
Studio in Details
A Teacher-Centered Approach in Portland’s Yoga Community
Heart Shaped Yoga is not a traditional brick-and-mortar studio but rather the practice and teaching identity of Rachel Stern, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) based in Portland, Oregon. The essence of this offering is deeply personal, built around Rachel’s philosophy and the community she has cultivated. Her stated intention is to empower students to listen to their full beings, holding space for them to discover what is best in each moment. This translates into a teaching style that visitors describe as uniquely warm and connective. One person notes Rachel has a “potent combination of a skilled knowledge of asana, anatomy, infused with her incredible sense of warmth and fun.” Another long-time student mentions her “special ability to explain the yoga techniques in a way that is easy to follow along and makes every student feel comfortable,” highlighting the beginner-friendly and supportive nature of her guidance. The vibe is consistently described as joyful and community-oriented, with one visitor sharing they “actually met my wife in Rachel’s class,” pointing to the warm, friendly community she fosters.
Rachel’s background informs this approach. She began studying yoga very young, took a long break, and rediscovered a consistent practice over the past two decades. She is a Yoga Alliance registered teacher who received her 200-hour certification in Interdisciplinary Yoga from the Nosara Yoga Institute. She believes yoga is an inquiry into the whole being, encouraging students to experiment with movement and breath to unlock inner wisdom. Her philosophy centers on the idea that the best yoga is what feels good in your body, inviting self-love and helping you discover your own authentic expression. This focus on somatic awareness and personal exploration is a thread through all her offerings.
Class Styles and Program Offerings
The primary yoga style offered through Heart Shaped Yoga is Hatha Flow. Rachel teaches All Level Hatha Flow classes at The People’s Yoga, a low-cost community studio in Portland where she has been teaching since it opened in 2008. She offers classes at both their Southeast and Northeast locations. These sessions are described as a “joyous blend of deep somatic awareness, stretching, strengthening, and skill building.” The sequences incorporate both flowing movements connected to the breath and some longer holds, with a focus on alignment, body mechanics, exploration, and mindfulness. Visitors do not mention other specific styles like Vinyasa, Ashtanga, or Yin in the provided feedback, so the core offering remains this accessible, alignment-focused Hatha Flow.
Beyond weekly group classes, Rachel provides several specialized programs. She offers private yoga sessions, which can be held at a client’s home, place of business, or rented space at The People’s Yoga. These are fully customizable and pitched as ideal for building a consistent home practice, working with injuries, or overcoming apprehension about starting yoga. She also conducts a unique Empowering Teen Girls With Yoga series, a 6-week program for girls* ages 13-18 that includes movement, breath, meditation, and reflection. This program explicitly welcomes non-binary, gender-curious, and transgender participants, creating an intentional space for exploration. Additionally, Rachel hosts workshops that she says range from “profoundly introspective to very silly,” and she mentions creating retreats. She also integrates life coaching into her practice, offering combination sessions that blend talk, movement, and meditation based on a client’s desired outcome.
Practical Details and Who It’s For
Accessing Rachel Stern’s classes primarily involves attending her sessions at The People’s Yoga community studios. These classes are offered in person and via livestream, providing flexibility for local and remote participants. The People’s Yoga operates on a drop-in model with a mentioned rate, and visitors can pre-register through the studio’s website. For private sessions, workshops, and the teen series, contact is made directly with Rachel via the provided email or phone number to discuss scheduling and pricing. Visitors do not mention specific details about studio amenities like showers or retail boutiques, as the focus is on the community studio spaces she utilizes and the personalized service she provides.
This approach is particularly well-suited for several groups. It’s ideal for beginners or those apprehensive about yoga, thanks to the emphasis on clear explanation, going at your own pace, and the option for introductory private lessons. It appeals to individuals seeking a personal connection with a teacher who checks in with each student and tailors the practice to the room’s needs. The teen girls’ series serves a specific demographic looking for a safe, empowering space. The community aspect strongly resonates with people looking for more than just a workout; as one visitor put it, the warm community “motivated me to continue my practice to grow as a student and as a person.” Ultimately, Heart Shaped Yoga represents a personalized, philosophy-driven entry point into Portland’s yoga scene, centered on the experienced, joyful, and connective teaching of Rachel Stern.