Laughing Lotus Yoga Center

It’s a few blocks away from BART and worth a stop. My friend Patrick was teaching one day, so I decided to check it out. The fee was donation-​based that day, and the classroom space was well-​lit, lovely, very zen and cheery. Patrick was wonderful taking us through all the hatha yoga moves and poses and patiently and gently coached us through as needed. Loved it! It was a great workout in addition to a spiritual cleansing! I will definitely come back, especially when Patrick is teaching. Thank you!

This place is amazing and one of my favorite places (not to mention yoga places). Everything feels light and smells so good (incense/​natural orangey stuff) and so clean.
cons:
It gets a bit crowded sometimes and the cut off time is very strict. A couple front desk people can be kind of eh… and some weeks the classes can be quite repetitive whereas other times they vary quite a bit with new asanas to work on.
I kind of want to keep it more low key so it doesn’t get too popular but alas I love the place and must proclaim my love for it.

Some classes are very desirable some are not. Alex is amazing for yin and the level ²⁄₃ classes are great.
They don’t do hands on assists in level one classes or at least not for me.
Lots of great energy from most of the teachers but a woman working the desk (possibly the owner)
Bitched at me for putting 2 small cups of their tea (that is put out for enjoying) into my water bottle was that consisted of mostly green tea. I really just wanted to bring plastic not glass in the studio and that was for her clients safety wasn’t leaving the premises trying to steal .03 cents worth of tea. Didn’t seem very yogi like and put a bad taste in my mouth. Especially because I give this place a lot of business. I am here 2ce a day a few times a week on good weeks and at least 3 times a week. Plenty of yoga studios around I can spend my money else where. Won’t re-​up my unlimited pass. Sad too because I really did enjoy Alex’s yin class.

I absolutely love Laughing Lotus! I’m currently a member of Classpass, but if I ever decided to cancel I would make this my dedicated studio. The room is large and never feels cramped. I love walking into a studio which burns incense. I’m all about the meditative and spirtual side of yoga and find that their routine of incense and chanting really help to facilitate this.
That being said, I’m not a fan of the long winded lectures and readings on the Hindu Gods. My boyfriend (who is Hindu) mentions almost every class how they are «bullshitting.» I feel that if you aren’t a practicing Hindu (and yes, I am making an assumption that they are not) then why teach about the Hindu Gods? I don’t mind the chanting, or the singing (I particularly like listening to Brima at the end of class!) but could simply do without the lecture portion. As others have said, Dana does spend quite a bit of time on lectures but is otherwise a phenomenal teacher and vocalist. My boyfriend would like Dana to sing him to sleep — ha!
Overall, I find Laughing Lotus a delight. My ideal yoga studio would be one in which there was incense, Canartic music, and challenging classes. Laughing Lotus is the closest to that. The studio accommodates quite a bit of people, but considerably less than Yoga Tree locations. Unfortunately, most of the instructors don’t offer many adjustments even when the class sizes are small.
It would be wonderful if several like minded studios banded together and offered their own version of ClassPass. I would happily pay a monthly membership fee to have access to Yoga Tree, Yoga Garden, and Laughing Lotus!

Things to know:
— Parking out in front (unmetered) for 2 hours
— Monday street cleaning (9am-​11/​12???)
-$ 2 for mat rentals
— The room is pretty big so you don’t feel cramped
— Cubbies inside the room, changing space available, water fountains
I took the beginning Lotus Flow ½ with Rebecca. This class is considered beginner/​intermediate and I think that it is true to it’s name. It is slow enough for you to figure out what is going on, but fast enough that it’s not boring. The instructor, Rebecca was great with demonstrating the poses and talking you through. If all else fails, just look around. Nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ve been in a pose while everyone else was already in a different pose. No one judges you except for yourself ;)

I feel so lucky to have found this gem of a studio!
yoga was part of 2015 resolution of self discovery, awareness and positivity. Lotus has made such an impact in all of those areas by fostering a studio of community, individuality and reminding us urban yogis what the practice is truly about.
unpretentious, calming and inclusive, Laughing Lotus teaches students of all levels with a wide variety of classes and schedule times great for a girl with a retail schedule.
Tip: Ella’s Wednesday class is a must-​do!

I love the Morning Flow class at Laughing Lotus! It’s a great way to start the day, and it’s not that intense of a class for the morning, which I like. I am just recently getting back into yoga after some injuries, and I like classes where I can easily make my own modifications.
I’ve taken the class with both Astrud and Minerva, and both have their unique styles. Astrud’s class had a lot of chanting for the beginning portion, which I’m not used to and not that into, but I liked the rest of the class, including the bright essential oils at the end. Minerva’s class was a combination of sweat, relaxation and thoughtfulness, and I really enjoyed her class.

This is my favorite yoga place! I always feel great there and great afterwards. All of the teachers are friendly, and the walls are painted gorgeously, so that you feel as if you’re in a temple. I like the complimentary tea too. And, as if not getting injured weren’t enough, the prices are very reasonable too!

I love Laughing Lotus! If you are looking for an energizing, enlightening practice, this is the place to be! I often attend the happy-​hour class on my way home from work and always leave feeling refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated. There are so many class times that you are bound to find one that meshes with your schedule. They offer bathrooms and changing rooms which are convenient for people like me, coming directly from work. The teachers are experienced, and well-​trained but always fun and never snooty.
Every time I take a class here I am overcome with the amazing sense of community Laughing Lotus seeks to create in an environment that fosters positive energy, support and guidance on the path to a healthier body, mind and spirit. It is truly an environment where anything goes, so don’t be shy about breathing, chanting, or singing — it is the perfect outlet to get all the funk out and let all the good stuff in! Candelight flow and restorative classes are also among my favorites.

Friendly and they have classes on Wednesday afternoon! Just what I was looking for. Their donation classes serve the community.

I’ve been to Laughing Lotus for several Morning Flow classes.
The instructors here usually start classes with singing, chanting, and reading. (I know some people hate that. It isn’t my cup of tea, but I sit through it.) All the spiritual stuff aside, the instructors here have beautiful voices and positive energy. They do walk around and give hands-​on help to students, but as with most large yoga classes, you won’t get that much individual attention.
The classes themselves are fast-​paced and challenging. As a relative beginner, I get lost sometimes, and I see others in the class struggle to keep up as well. I still enjoy the classes though.
Complimentary hot tea in the lobby, which is especially nice on cold mornings.

I’ve been coming to Laughing Lotus since it opened several years ago and decided it was time to show some love! This place has so much heart. You can feel it in the space, in the teachers and in the people who practice regularly there. It’s not only a wonderful yoga studio, but also a community and a sanctuary. I especially love the classes taught by Jasmine, Astrud and Brima. What’s remarkable about the Lotus is that it doesn’t just offer a work out, it’s also a place to deepen one’s meditation and bhakti practice. It’s the real deal.

Pros: Studio is clean; staff and instructors are friendly; easy classes for beginners; welcoming practice space; great new student special; studio space is not heated.
Cons: Heavy use of incense and essential oils (this is a big issue for me as strong odors trigger my asthma); lots of singing and chanting in Hindi; long-​winded sermons and readings of ancient proverbs; Reiki.
I enjoy yoga as a workout, but do not wish to attend a religious ceremony when I come to class. Probably will try a different studio once my new student trial ends.

I hate giving yoga studios 3 stars, but everyone looks for specific things in finding the right studio for them. 3 stars for me means it’s a solid studio, but I’m not convinced to sign up for a membership yet. It’s quite possible I just haven’t found the right teacher or the right class here, so I’d still come back to try other classes.
I tried out Laughing Lotus with ClassPass and went to 2 classes with Dana: Happy Hour and Lotus Flow 2.
Dana herself is really nice and cheery. She has a great personality and seems to like to go around greeting new students before class starts, which I appreciate. Not a lot of yoga teachers make the attempt to connect with their students and build a community :)
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The classes themselves:
** PROS **
–Not heated. I’m not a fan of heated or hot yoga. The heat is nice only to loosen up muscles, but I prefer sweating because of a challenging yoga sequence rather than because of a heated room.
–Inversions! I can’t believe how hard it is to find yoga studios in SF that actually set aside time to practice inversions. There wasn’t enough time in the Happy Hour class for inversions, but Dana left a few minutes in the Lotus Flow 2 class for inversions.
–Adjustments! I LOVE teachers that go around class providing students with adjustments. Even though I didn’t see Dana give that many adjustments, I’ve found very very few teachers in SF so far who provide any adjustments at all, so I appreciate her doing so.
** CONS **
–The Happy Hour class was much too short for me. I’ve been to classes before that were also 60 minutes long but that were a lot more challenging.
–This is minor and some people may dislike me for saying it, but Dana spent a lot of time in both classes I attended talking about Shiva. I have nothing against teachers sharing the spiritual side of yoga (in fact, I generally like these teachers), but she spent a little too long at the beginning of class doing so.
–Music. I don’t need music to do yoga. I know some people like having music to give them energy or to make the class more fun, but I find it distracting. I’m okay with meditative yoga music quietly inn the background, but other music or loud music makes it hard for me to focus on my breathing and detracts from my practice.
–No core work! I’m used to yoga teachers in LA incorporating a core sequence somewhere in the class that’s sure to make my core burn.
–Flow. This is the main reason I’m not convinced to sign up for membership here. Yoga teachers have their own style when it comes to the structure and flow of classes and Dana’s style is very different from the normal vinyasa that I enjoy.
Overall, I like the vibe and community of this studio. The classes I’ve attended are solid, but not quite the structure or challenge that I’m looking for.

Laughing Lotus might just be my favourite studio in the city.
No, it isn’t in a cool loft (Urban Flow, Yoga to the People), and it doesn’t have any mirrors (Core Power, Yoga Flow — Union /​AHA). There is a changing area, but there aren’t fancy lockers or showers or towels like more trendy places. However, like Josh E. said, the teachers here are so sincere, and you can tell that they’ve dedicated their lives to the practice.
The studio itself looks a little tacky because the colours are so bright, but it’s kind of charming in that way. I wouldn’t necessarily come here if you’re a beginner because it might be hard to figure out whether you’re doing the correct form without a mirror. The studio is not heated, so expect a practice where you relax mentally, rather than get a cardio-​yoga sweat like Josh E has mentioned. There’s some chanting, which you might find weird but if you actually do it, it’s quite relaxing!
If I were to ever train to be a yoga teacher, I would likely do it here!
I’ve taken classes with Jasmine, Dana, and one other person that I can’t quite remember. Dana is my favourite, but Jasmine is really really wonderful, too.

Came here last night for my first ever yoga class. It was wonderful! Rebecca is a wonderful instructor. I loved that she began the class with a story and based the class around the story’s theme. The music played throughout the class was perfect. Luckily, this was the «All Levels» class, so I wasn’t too lost. Although it was an hour and 15 minutes long, it didn’t feel like it. The class was invigorating and a great workout! I definitely was sweating, and I am a bit sore today.
The studio is beautiful! They have free tea available, and prices are reasonable. I highly recommend Laughing Lotus!

Laughing Lotus is my yoga home in SF. More then any other studio I’ve gone to this studio is dedicated to the actual science of yoga, and teaching asana as one branch of 8 in the yogic tradition. The teachers are sincere and you will definitely work in class.
A couple yoga logistics to be aware of:
1) It’s not hot yoga (though you will definitely get sweaty). It’s also not cardio yoga, you’ll get your heart rate up, but it will be because of good sequencing and adjustments.
2) Yup, there’s usually some chanting at the beginning of class. If this is your thing, awesome, if not, I encourage you check out the center anyway because they instruction and classes are so outstanding.
3) They have mat rental, changing rooms, good intro specials.

I have been coming to this studio for a several months now. The studio is cute and all the staff and instructors are super friendly. I have gone to several different classes on Mondays with my best friend and we both love all the instructors. Some are more challenging than others but they all teach the about importance of loving yourself, trusting yourself, breathing techniques, principles of the yoga practice, inversions, meditation, and much more.
A little bit about the studio itself, before you walk into the studio you must take off your shoes and leave them in the cubbies at the waiting area. They do have other cubbies in the studio for personal stuff like purses. They also have 2 bathrooms inside and some changing rooms:) After a nice relaxing yoga class you can hangout for a bit in the waiting area, talk to the instructors, and have some tea and cookies. I can’t get enough of this studio. Just walking in you feel the calm atmosphere… Try it out, you wont regret it…

Wow, this is long overdue! I’ve been coming to this little sanctuary since March of this year. Since I don’t work far from the studio, I figured this would be the place to go get my early AM yoga on. If I don’t get my fix in the morning, my day just doesn’t start off the right way, ya know? I’ve been to a variety of classes and I have to say all of the instructors I’ve had are AMAZING ;)
Special thanks to Mireia, Valerie, Rebecca, Chika, Alex, Roche, Inbal, Katherine, and Laura (and wonderful front desk staff!!) Your classes are intensive, soulful, and fun. My body is transforming with each class, I always feel wonderful when I walk out the front door. Your lessons have taught me to learn to love myself, imperfections and all. You guys are a true inspiration, and I thank you. If anyone is looking for a great studio to practice at, look no further. Laughing Lotus is a wonderful place ;)

Laughing Lotus is my new yoga home. I just moved to San Francisco after two years in New Zealand, where I went to a fantastic hot yoga studio every day. I did my teacher training there, taught there… basically, my old studio had A LOT to live up to.
So I basically went to every single yoga studio in San Francisco to find a replacement. The second I walked in to Laughing Lotus I knew I had found it.
First of all, EVERYONE is delightful. From the receptionist to the teachers, there is no «yoga patronization» here. People say hi, they ask your name and they talk to you after class.
This particular studio has a sort of branded flow, but each teacher puts his or her own groove into it. Each month has a theme and there’s something some woo woo hippie shit going down. So you absolutely have to be in to that to enjoy this studio.
The other fantastic thing about Laughing Lotus is the music. Again, each teacher has their own groove, but the playlists are always amazing and the sound quality is fantastic.
On top of all this gushing, there is always something going on: continuing education, weekend workshops, retreat and midnight yoga! My first experience with LL was their midnight yoga class — two hours in a dark room with live music. One of my finest nights in San Francisco.
Laughing Lotus folks, you guys have made an incredible studio here. For the rest of you, I urge you to try it out! You won’t regret it.