WELCOME
Welcome to Bay Area Yoga Center for Health and Healing
At Bay Area Yoga, we offer flow-based (vinyasa) yoga classes grounded in the Ashtanga tradition. Our approach emphasizes proper alignment, safe practice, and mindful movement—all within a welcoming, peaceful atmosphere.
Rooted in the eight limbs of yoga, our practice goes beyond the physical. We integrate lifestyle, breath, movement, meditation, self-study, and service to support holistic well-being. We also draw from Ayurvedic principles, incorporating seasonal awareness, energetic balance, and mindful living to help students align with their natural rhythms and optimize health.
Our flow yoga classes are designed to enhance strength, flexibility, and endurance, while cultivating balance and body awareness. Taught by nationally certified and registered instructors, each class includes clear instruction and demonstration of postures. Students are encouraged to move at their own pace, honoring their individual needs and experience level.
Flow Yoga at Bay Area Yoga blends gentle and challenging poses with a steady, self-centering energy. The pace is slower and intentional, focusing on alignment, muscle engagement, and the harmony of breath and movement. This style is suitable for all levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners.
Our Studio
Private Sessions
Work privately with Kat Kelly to heal your body or improve your practice through yoga. Private sessions provide a setting in which your individuality can be completely addressed. As an international Yoga Therapist, Kat Kelly can help you find relief in your body.
Classes, Events & Workshops
Yoga is not about levels or rating your practice, but about joining with your own effort and being. Our classes do vary in pace, intensity and heat so variations in all of our classes are demonstrated for beginners and experienced students. You are encouraged to listen to your body and adjust to your needs on any given day. On some days you may feel the need to take it slower and rest more during your practice. On others you may feel the desire to work to your edge with more intensity.
Speaking Engagements
Does your group need a speaker for it’s regular meeting, or are do you have an upcoming event that you need a speaker for? Kathleen Kelly is an experienced public speaker and can engage your audience with a variety of topics. Her passion for healthful living will inspire your guests. Subject matter includes:Back and spine health and alignment; Hips; Breathing Practice – Pranayama; Yoga Meditation; Yoga Philosophy or Kathleen will tailor-make a topic specific to your group.
Yoga Teacher Training
An exciting journey of self discovery and transformation. Our comprehensive programs cross the boundaries between various schools of yoga. You’ll develop a well-formed and mature practice that focuses on the physical aspects of yoga and the psychological and spiritual benefits as well. Whether you intend to simply deepen your understanding of this ancient and diverse practice, currently teach yoga or you aspire to teach and share with others, this training will prepare you for your journey.
Testimonials
“I started yoga with Kathleen almost 10 years ago and have been addicted to her from the very start! She challenges me to recognize my strengths so that when I’m ready, she can help me take my practice to the next level.
When a certain part of my body is calling for some extra attention, for example, a muscle I may have pulled over the weekend or, my thyroid needing to be exercised, Kathleen will modify my practice so I can get the most out of each session.
With her ability to correct and tweak my alignment in the various poses, I find myself gliding out of her studio feeling longer, taller and completely restored.”
— Christina Toonen
“I haven’t been to the chiropractor since I started doing yoga… and yoga is much more fun!”
— Barbara Koller
“Three years ago I came to the Bay Area Yoga Center with chronic sciatica, very tight muscles in my neck and shoulders resulting from a cervical fusion, and a new diagnosis of lumbar stenosis with referred pain to my back, shins and ankles. Today my sciatic pain is gone, and my neck, should, rs and hips continue to get more and more flexible as I continue my yoga practice. I am not pain-free yet, but I am so much better than I ever expected to be, thanks to the excellent teaching of Kathleen and her fine staff.All the teachers at Bay Area Yoga have modified poses and taught me the correct posture of other poses that allow my continuous progress. To my surprise, my blood pressure is also lower. I am a very grateful student! Yoga, for me, is a way to achieve physical and emotional health…and a long life.”
— Nancy Kaufman
“On November 7, 2004, I walked very stiffly into the center on the suggestion of a local immune system specialist. At 50 years of age, I had a chronic digestive/ immune system illness that caused symptoms that had perplexed the doctors for over 2 years. The toxin overload in my body was caused, in part by food allergies, and in part, by the drugs I had been prescribed for symptoms of arthritis, fibromyalgia, allergies, excess acid, digestive pains and elimination complaints that I will not describe in detail! 6 different daily drugs! The results were that I could not bend over, stretch up, raise my arms above my shoulders or even grab hold of my bed sheets at night! I had severe facial and body rashes and no energy for life. Kathleen Kelly Hoffman suggested I joined gentle yoga. I attended three classes a week and my pains began to disappear. Slowly my joints began to move again. Within three months I was attending yoga every day. Kathleen gave me advice about my diet and the dual approach resulted in me becoming healthier, stronger and more flexible than I have ever been in my life. Now I’m attending level three classes. I can even attempt the wheel pose! I am convinced that without Yoga I would still be feeling very ill, taking my 6 drugs a day. Now I take no drugs, I am full of energy and practicing yoga every day. Thank you, Kathleen.”
— Lynda Bentley
“Bay Area Yoga is the first studio I visited after my initial college experience and they are fantastic at everything they do. The physical yoga practice helps me stretch and strengthen my body while the spiritual side motivates me. With their help, I was able to complete my very first marathon. The experience I take away from yoga is worth every cent of the monthly package and now that I have the monthly package I am there almost daily. Thanks, Kathleen!”
— Patrick Rauland
“I started yoga about five years ago, 63 years old, stiff, weak, overweight, and not expecting any big changes. I came once a week for a while, missing weeks here and there. I enjoyed the stretching and appreciated the acceptance of my limitations… always an alternate way to do the things I couldn’t…or didn’t think I could…do. Then I started to come twice a week. A big difference! I started to notice small improvements: I could get out of my car easier! I could bend over and tie my shoes standing up! I could reach the cereal box on the top shelf! This was amazing! I thought I was too old to expect much. But the changes in my everyday life are real. I can climb 3 flights of stairs in the subway and walk comfortably for the first time. I have more energy, flexibility, better balance, improved range of motion, and best of all, a sense of wellbeing that I’ve never had before. I’ve lost over 50 lbs. in the last 4 years, with yoga as my only exercise. I enjoy the class and the women I’ve met there. Thank you, Kathleen, for making these years the strongest and most empowering ever.”
— Judy Periolat