Ken Breniman, LCSW, RYT

I have been coming to Ken for private yoga sessions for some time now. He has a very nurturing and caring personality, and this comes out in his sessions. I usually have pain and mobility issues in my neck and shoulder areas and he tailor makes the session to make sure you have an integrated yoga workout, yet makes sure your problem areas are addressed. He does wonderful assisted stretches, which helps with my neck, shoulders and back. Highly recommended.

Ken has such a kind and gentle presence about him, it is easy to feel like you can trust him very quickly. I attended his Yoga for Grief workshop and his warmth and care for each person was consistent and unyielding. He is so authentic and true to himself in a way that is very refreshing. I highly recommend his workshops and can imagine he is a phenomenal psychotherapist, as well. His level of compassion and ability to connect with people is a gift to the healing arts world.

Most days, I go to a yoga class, or try to incorporate some home practice along the way. I always feel I benefit a lot in some way by having gone to yoga class.
Ken’s yoga class, however, brings a completely different experience. Don’t know why, but, while practicing yoga in Ken’s class, my body and mind feels light and free. (Even with my cranky arthritic hip and the ups and downs the day brings.)
How is that I wonder? Well, whatever the reason, it makes my day exceptionally better. Ken has such a wonderful outlook on life and on each and every moment.

Yoga tremendously changed my life in ways I couldn’t possibly imagine when I first made its discovery back in 2010 with Ken Breniman. I found yoga hoping it would allow me to avoid a surgical process that would have implanted steel rods near my spinal columns. Prior to beginning my yogic practice, both doctors and chiropractors agreed this surgery was necessary to further prevent hunching in my spinal region, which at that time had already begun to compress both my lungs and stomach. After doing one-​on-​one sessions 3 times a week with Ken for nearly a year, I was able to see my body completely physically restructure itself in flexibility and posture. I can honestly attribute this to Ken’s personal skills as a teacher in reading the specific needs of each students individual needs and a genuine compassion and care for them. He really helped me grow in so many ways!
As the tension and pain from the scoliosis subsided, through Ken I developed a newly found love and awareness for my body. I can proudly contribute this state of connective consciousness and this feeling of connectivity within my body to yoga and Ken who has helped me comprehend what takes place beneath the surface of the body and mind as well as the connectivity of the mind, body, and spirit on a deeper level than I ever had.
Now, five years later – in our present day – I am in the position to give the gift of instruction. It was only the handful of years ago when Ken and I first met that I couldn’t reach past my knees when bending toward my toes, but after an amazing journey full of encouragement and motivation from Ken, I am able to accomplish things I would have formerly thought of as impossible. So now I am also a yoga teacher continuing on with the tradition of help and inspiration Ken taught me, showing we all have the ability to transform ourselves within our hearts, bodies, and minds as long as we approach our lives (and the trials within them) with patience, dedication, a willingness to learn, and, most important of all, a great love for ourselves. Thank you Ken for being a part in changing my life!

Ken is one of my favorite yoga instructors. His classes are the only ones in which I’m not interested in looking at the clock. To anybody who does yoga for 90 minutes at a time, you know I need say no more. Ken Breniman is as good as it gets.

Ken is a wonderful and, more importantly, patient Yoga teacher. He understands the holistic nature of Yoga and how it is more than a set of physical exercises. To this understanding, Ken brings an earnest, empathetic and quirky approach that makes beginners and experienced practitioners alike feel comfortable. For example, two classes ago, I was unable to do headstands on my own. Today, I did one without any assistance.
I would highly recommend Ken to anyone looking to hone their practice or interested in learning more about Yoga…

Thank you to Ken for leading a healing yoga for grief workshop. I felt very comforted amidst the busyness of the outside world and the tumult of my internal grief. I enjoyed being able to share a photo and story about my loss and hear the experiences of others. I also reached a level of very deep relaxation in the long restorative poses and savasana (accompanied by acupuncture). Thank you!

Can’t believe I haven’t reviewed Ken before now. His reputation as a compassionate and skilled healer is known far and wide, but it was a few months ago that I took his workshop on stress reduction for healers and was able to experience his teaching first hand.
What a great workshop! I learned a few simple poses that can be done without even leaving my desk and especially enjoyed sharing experiences with the other participants. His energy and attitude are infectious. I am an acupuncturist and quite honestly thought I knew much and more about self care, but Ken has shown me there is always room for growth. I consider him a teacher, healer and colleague, and recommend his various classes and workshops to yogi and yoginis of all ages and levels!

I took the grief yoga workshop with Ken in February at the Sun Room. I found the workshop to be a positive experience both physically and emotionally. Ken creates a very calming atmosphere where a person can honor a loved one while also getting in touch with one’s own grief.
Healthy snacks and tea were provided and I appreciated the optional acupuncture that we could try. The studio has some materials that can be used to assist you in the yoga poses if you need them.
The yoga was challenging but not so much so that you would get stressed out. The class is broken up into optional introductions, a vigorous yoga portion, group exercises, a restorative yoga session and a meditation session. Ken also gives instructions on how to practice calming techniques at home to help through the grief process.
Though I still left Ken’s class struggling with my loss I felt that I had gained a few techniques to help me work through my grief over time. I will probably return to Ken’s grief workshop in a few months.
Bring plenty of water. I would also recommend going with a friend if you are feeling vulnerable. Classes at the Sun Room can be warm.

Ken is such a very warm hearted and kind person. I’ve had the privilege of taking two yoga retreats with him. It was this last time in Palm Springs where we were able to connect deeply. Enjoyed my yoga practice with Ken. Great teacher who I look forward to getting to know better.

Ken is a compassionate, smart, funny, and thoughtful yoga teacher. I have been taking his class for over a year, though I can no longer make my regular class, I will work it back into my life… evenutally!

Ken is the sweetest yoga teacher! His classes are extremely approachable, fun, and calming.

Ken is more than a teacher, he is a healer. He is compassionate, his demeanor in class is calming and peaceful, and he truly understands the connection between the mind, body, emotions and spirit when it comes to well being and health. I am a huge fan.
I’ve taken his regular yoga classes (not that I would call his classes regular) as well as a Yoga for Grief workshop and would highly, highly recommend both. If you are lucky enough to catch his workshop on grief (not sure how often he does it), do yourself a favor and go. It was a 4 hour workshop that incorporated mediation, yoga, restorative yoga, yoga nidra and acupuncture, and throughout Ken would read poignant quotes. We also had an altar to put a memento of a person, relationship or idea we’ve lost, and light candles as we set personal intentions for our practice. It was a tremendously healing and touching day, a great way to let go of old emotions/​barriers that no longer serve. There were people there for a variety of reasons: new losses, old losses. And I think Ken’s workshop was amazingly healing for everyone who attended. It certainly was for me!

I came to Ken’s partner yoga class not knowing what to expect and boy was I blown away! He is incredibly down to earth and really has no sense of holier than thou which I really appreciated. Lots of room for laughter and for me to be myself in the workshop. Ken demoed several of the poses with his lovely partner Tim, which helped make the poses more accessible. On that note I was amazed at how seamlessly he was able to make a class that I really enjoyed as a teacher and other newer students were clearly having as much of a juicy good time in. Check out his next workshop– you won’t wanna miss it!

Ken led a beautiful partner’s workshop for Valentine’s Day. I had never worked with him before and my partner and I both enjoyed his easy, open-​hearted approach to practice. I am a teacher and I resonated to his flexibility (no pun intended!) and his quick solutions when alternative asanas or adjustments were called for. I recommend!

Yoga classes with Ken are as Tony the tiger would say, «grrrrrrrrrreat!». Ken is an excellent instructor, very attentive to his student. He asks ask the class what areas we would like to focus on from there the yoga begins. Throughout the class, he performed positions that were new and challenging for me. Yet, the whole time, I am relaxed and with calm breathing. Yeah to Ken!

Ken always so clear and assuring that I find myself doing the poses that I have never imagined doing. He has made me feel comfortable and has shown me patiently how to adapt poses so I can work towards improvement. All while being one of the most joyful people I have met lately.

Because I’m a lazy butt who doesn’t do yoga as much as I wish, I’ve been a handful of times instead of weekly. But that’s no reflection on Ken, I mean I love his yoga classes! At risk of sounding hippy dippy, he has an amazing vibe that fills his classes with joy. I’ve arrived to Open Heart Yoga in Oakland on days when I just didn’t want to be there, when I was feeling stiff, down and cold. And I’ve always left feeling loose, revitalized and warm. Ken is not just a yoga teacher but a therapist, and I truly find his classes therapeutic.
Ken is a friendly, responsive and sensitive teacher. He takes inventory on how each person is doing and of what they hope to get out of the class. Then he gives modifications to make sure people are getting what they need. I’ve been to classes where people who wanted a «workout» were worked out while for those who needed something more relaxing, he focused on restorative poses (if I’m using the right language for that).
I’ve brought a couple of friends to his Open Heart Studio classes, and they completely agree that Ken’s classes are wonderful. He teaches well for both beginners and more advanced students. One of my friends had done little to no yoga before and this class was perfect for her. And then I’ve done sporadic yoga for 12 years and this class meets me at my level too (note I’m still intermediate not advanced and cannot attest to whether he teaches that level, but I’m pretty sure he can throw in advanced poses too).
Finally the classes are affordable with a sliding scale fee.
Ken has a sun-​shiny heart and his classes are a blessing. I could not give a higher recommendation.

We did a yoga retreat with Ken and found him to be an absolutely wonderful instructor. He is knowledgeable, intuitive, respectful and helpful. We can highly recommend him!

Ken is the gold standard by which I compare all other yoga teachers. I was lucky enough to have him as a teacher when I first started my practice. He is kind and compassionate, knowledgable but humorous. Love his classes!