Abode of Iyengar Yoga

Rita’s classes are superb. She is especially sensitive to each individual’s physical condition and needs. Truly the best.

For the first time in 12 years going to Manouso, I am reading some reviews. There are 2 that made me so sad that those 2 individuals did not see the brilliance and that their own egos (not in any way meant to be mean, just stated) got in the way of some vast knowledge of yoga.
Manouso has a sight, a knowledge, a grace that once you can get a taste of it, and can implement it, it is kind of like a ‘fountain of youth’. Each class I am blown away at something I have learned. Lately I really do feel like I have found a treasure that people search their lives for.
Manouso spent the time to turn my breach baby (never putting his hands on her this was through using props and assistants moving my body in poses) and help me facilitate a healthy birth for my healthy baby girl. He is the only person I would have trusted to do such. Only someone who is incredibly loving would take this risk. He knew what he was doing. The assistants told me they could see her head move into position.
Manouso yells, but it is funny. He utilizes his body to help us learn our own body. There is no Air Conditioning at The Abode of Iyengar. And if Manouso is adjusting you, you are lucky. You will be better for it. Trust me! And I am so grateful that Manouso and Rita do not allow perfume at The Abode. It gets in the way of my experience when someone has heavy creams or perfumes on. Manouso will smack you in the back to get you to feel an area of your body. Him doing this gets one a deeper understanding of what is going on in their body. I don’t think someone who dedicates their lives to helping their students can be considered anything negative. This is a gift to share knowledge. Everyone teaches differently, but it is love to give so much of oneself.
I could go on and on of my personal experiences. Finding Iyengar yoga and finding Manouso to be my teacher of Iyengar yoga is the best gift I have given myself.

Looking at notes about Manouso, just would like to add:
He is extremely wise, crystal minded and very sensitive genius, who is saving people
spiritual lives and physical health. If you do not have intellectual parity with Manouso,
do not advise him what you are not happy with, just step back, PLEASE!
You made this negative experience by yourself for yourself.
Manouso helped me to improve my health the way that doctors couldn’t.

If you are an Iyengar yoga practitioner this is the place.
A clean, well lit, well propped yoga studio with the best teachers.
Manouso Manos, is the kindest, toughest most demanding teacher.
He demands the student take responsibility for their practice and for themselves.
He is tough in that he will ask you to work.
He is kind as he will remember everyone who practices with him, maybe not by name but by what they are working on, what ails them and what they should be working on To add to this he has a great sense of humor!
He is a teacher you follow and listen.
You take his direction because he knows what he is talking about.
If you are expecting someone to play music and heat the room, sing kubaya this is not the place for you.
Get a year of practice under your belt, IYENGAR YOGA PRACTICE, not Bikram, not Flow (and this is not to knock any other type of yoga, they all have their value and place) before you work with Manouso.
This is out of respect for him and especially for you.
He has spent his lifetime following Mr. B.K.S Iyengar himself. Respectfully give him the courtesy of being prepared when you come into the studio.
He does week intensives which will blow your mind. Read the notes on the site about how to register etc as it is important to know before you show up what to be prepared for and expect.
He is the DUDE.
Hands down the best teacher in the US of this lineage of Yoga.
If you can study with him do not pass GO.

The negative reviews here are exactly what are to be expected. People who think they know about yoga expect a Krishna Das soundtrack, a super-​heated room and a mock sattvic teacher who mentions «shakti» as often as possible.
Manouso was trained by B.K.S. Iyengar when the great hatha yoga master was at his most creative, powerful and demanding (and that is not a put-​down of Mr. Iyengar’s current abilities at age 94). Over many decades, Manouso was challenged and tested at every turn by Mr. Iyengar and he answered every single one. He continues his studies with his guru to this day. Consequently, Manouso possesses one of only two Senior Advanced Iyengar yoga teaching certificates awarded. He is one of the guiding lights of the Iyengar method — which, by the way, is rooted deeply in the Indian yoga tradition and not the New Age-​infected smile aerobics of California. Manouso’s a nice guy, but he can get on you if you’re not paying attention, or if you’re a general doofus. He’s not for the faint of heart or the ultra-​sensitive. Those people should stay at home and read «Chicken Soup» books.
If you’re prepared to work, are receptive to change, are not afraid of challenge and want to see your hatha yoga practice leap forward, Manouso is for you. The Abode is the finest and best-​equipped yoga studio I’ve ever encountered, anywhere in the world. The other teachers there are superb, especially Manouso’s delightful wife, Rita. If you’re new to Iyengar yoga, or are deemed not ready by Manouso, you may need to study with them first, but that should not be considered a relegation to the corner. Their careful guidance will prepare you for Manouso.
Yes, Manouso can go off. It’s part of his charm. What you REALLY don’t want is for him to ignore you. It’s worse than a little bit of temper. If you don’t think you’re ready for the real thing, as envisioned by B.K.S. Iyengar, there’s always «Candlelight Flow» at Yoga Works.

I am writing this review for the new student who wants to come to a class with Manouso. Here is what you should know:
1. Only come to class if you have been regularly studying with another Iyengar teacher for at least one year. You will be asked the name of your teacher. This also means you know how to do headstand and shoulder stand.
2. Take your shoes off in the hallway before you step on the carpet.
3. Bring a check or cash. The studio does not accept credit cards.
4. Do not arrive late. Class starts exactly on time. Always.
5. If you are new, arrive early so that you can introduce yourself to Manouso. He graciously sits in front of the class for 15 minutes before the 9am class so that he can address students’ questions.
6. Have an open mind. Don’t lead with, «I can’t do headstand because…» State your problem areas and then listen for advice.
7. Listen. Listen. Listen. Watch the demos. You’re there to learn.
8. Don’t wear perfume or heavily scented soap or shampoo since some students have allergies.
9. Manouso is a master teacher. He does not need more students. He will be direct with you.
10. Class ends exactly on time. Always.
Manouso and his classes have helped me immeasurably.
More generally, every teacher at the Abode is outstanding. The Abode is one of the best yoga studios in the entire country. We are lucky to have such lovely people teaching in San Francisco.

HAD THE MOST NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE OF MY YOGI LIFE HERE.
About me:
I absolutely love yoga. I am an advanced practitioner and dedicated student who hasn’t met a pose I didn’t want to master or a handstand I couldn’t hold. Recently moved to SF and was super excited to take his class. I arrived 20 minutes early and humbly chose a seat in the back corner.
About Manouso’s class:
1. He was strict. He YELLED, literally yelled, during the entire class.
2. He demoed every single pose. He also felt the need to demo where the «inner groin» is by cupping his penis and balls to the side with one hand and pointing to the inner groin with the other hand. Unfortunately, he was wearing short shorts.
3. Adjusted me (and everyone else) by aggressively poking/​slapping/​repeatedly yelling same phrase.
4. It was freezing and every time it started to get warm, he would turn on the AC.
5. I was the youngest person there by at least 30 years
6. $ 25 for a drop-​in
7. We used multiple props for every single pose
8. We probably only made it thru 6 poses during the ENTIRE class. SLOW AND COLD.
9. very detailed and good instruction
…all of this was fine with me.
MANOUSO the MEAN :
The entire class was weird and cold, but fine… that is, until we got to shoulder stand. He instructed everyone to use 5 blankets.
Note: this is not normal… most people use 3 in iyengar. Using 5 is unusual and makes the balance tricky.
He storms over to me and booms: what pose do YOOOOOOOU think you’re doing!!! pulling me off the ground by my ankles.
***I am no shoulder stand expert, but I am pretty sure you shouldn’t adjust someone by lifting them completely off the ground from their ankles. ever.
Then he screams WHO IS YOUR TEACHER!!! …YOU CANNOT WEAR PERFUME IN YOGA. THAT IS NOT TOLERATED IN YOGA.
…not wearing any perfume and never been told I don’t know how to do shoulder stand before. He picked on me (NOT helped me) for the entire 5 minutes we held shoulder stand and CONTINUED during savasana. I was fine with the strictness. I wanted to learn. But certainly not fine with being BERATED and EMBARRASSED BY MANOUSO DURING CLASS. I would have rolled up my mat and shimmied my fine yogi ass outta there if it hadn’t been the last pose.
He is an asshole (and possibly a psychopath?). This, to me, is not yoga.
Manouso needs to take a zanex /​get laid /​stop grabbing his junk during class.

A must stop for any serious student of Iyengar yoga.
Every time I visit San Francisco, I try to take one of Manouso’s classes. I’ve been lucky so far in getting to his classes at this studio, as Manouso travels extensively around the US and the world to teach.
Manouso requires one year experience in Iyengar yoga under a certified instructor to attend one of his Level 2 – 5 classes. It sounds strict, but what he is teaching is built upon what one learns in basic Iyengar classes.
He, his teaching staff, and his students are very dedicated practitioners. While Manouso directs the class, his staff and apprentices adjust students who require assistance in each pose.
Today we did «standing» poses. He used a chair in poses which required one to stand and twist to take out the balance issues and to focus on the «actions» of the pose. Very detailed.
In today’s class, there was a woman in a wheelchair who participated. His staff was able to give her accommodations in each pose so she can do the actions to her capacity.
His class also included salamba sirsasana (supported headstand) and salamba sarvangasana (supported all-​body pose or shoulder-​stand).
If you are new to this style of yoga, the studio offers introductory and level 1 classes. I have not had the opportunity to attend classes with the other teachers at this studio, but most have a high level certification in the Iyengar system.
It takes one several years just to attain the minimal requirements to teach Iyengar yoga.
Needless to say, you are in good hands here.

Every single time I take a class with Todd, I learn more about my body and my self. This is a very well equipped studio, easy for me to get to, and attracts pleasant diligent students.

If one is a hard core baseball fan, one needs to go to Fenway Park and watch the Boston Red Sox. If one is a hard core golfer, one needs to go to St Andrews in Scotland and play golf. If one is a hard core skier, one needs to ski Chamonix, France. If one is a hard core mountain biker, one must ride Repack, north of Mt Tam.
So it is if you are serious about yoga and The Abode (at least in San Francisco). It is a *beautiful*, clean studio with a skylight, real wood floors and a beautiful statue of Patanjali in the corner. Every class begins with a chant/​invocation to Patanjali. All the teachers have been and it seems go to Pune, India to study with the Iyengars on a yearly basis. If you practice here for 6 months to a year, you will have the opportunity to practice with Manuoso.
I think of Manuoso as the Vince Lombardi of yoga teachers. Like Vince Lombardi, Manuoso can be abrasive and loud, but ultimately he is a very inspiring teacher. Like Vince Lombardi, Manuoso get the most out of his students. I couldn’t help but notice most of the teachers that I had studied with my first several months, were almost always in Manuoso’s class.
Bottom line: you get out of the Abode what you put in!

Updating for 2013: My teachers now include Brian Hogencamp and Cynthia Bates, both of whom I admire and adore for being excellent at what they do. Honestly, a week without the Abode and I feel lost. The Abode is a gift to San Francisco.
Pranamami Pantanjalim. I am so grateful to have discovered this amazing place for Iyengar yoga classes, so close to my home. I used to trek to the Iyengar Institute in the outer Sunset out of loyalty to my instructor there — but no longer. I was stunned by the beautiful Abode studio, which belied its nondescript entrance on Monterey Boulevard. The clean hardwood floors, gorgeous natural light, high quality props.
I take classes with Osha and Athena — compassionate, experienced and focused instructors. I have several issues (glaucoma, neck and back) that require adjustments, and these wonderful women provide me with individualized attention — with no fuss.
In my experience, other studios have either been hesitant to accommodate special needs, and sometimes I’ve had to endure ungracious comments — which could make someone push through pain and conditions that will eventually be harmful. I don’t have to worry about that at the Abode.
I also very much appreciate Osha’s sense of humor, and Athena’s focus on women’s health during her Friday afternoon class. Athena also serenades you during shavasana. If I were to describe my perfect day, it most certainly includes yoga classes at the Abode! Namaste.

This studio is not about showing off or proving something. This is a healing evironment. As a beginner I haven’t met Manouso yet. Rita has a level of sensitivity and awareness that makes other yoga classes seem absurd by comparison. Even as beginners we reach deeply into changing our bodies and receive an amazing level of individual attention.

i have had good luck with iyengar in treating a chronic physical issue, and this place is by far the closest yoga studio to where i live. i actually heard about it from a friend in LA who said that Manouso is supposed to be one of the best around.
Manouso is a tactless, belligerent ass. I’ve been told and read that you just have to get to know him, but i’m sorry, first impressions do matter. I intentionally walked into the building when i knew a class was ending so i wouldn’t disrupt anything. Manouso confronted me in front of a large group of people and started making accusations before i could even get a full sentence out. «So you want me to just heal you so you don’t have to do any work?!» … all i was trying to ask for was a schedule of classes and a recommendation for which class i should take.
surprisingly, i guess because it’s close (and it IS a nice studio space), i did go back a couple times. i took two classes from Brian, and he was great. his classes were helpful, but that place just has a bad feeling. Manouso’s arrogant way is far from what i’m looking for from yoga.

Manouso Manos is a very, very special teacher. He is a guru in the best and true sense of that word. This is not the place for people who are doing yoga because it is trendy or because is is a good workout.
However, if you are interested in changing your body AND your life and doing serious physical and mental work, you should start going to the beginner’s classes here. You need at least a year of Iyengar training before you can join Manouso’s class.
I don’t think I could move away from SF after finding this teacher. He is incredibly kind and eerily intuitive once you get to know him.

I have been going to the Abode for a few months, upon the recommendation of Octavia (who also teaches at another yoga studio that I go to). It’s a bit out of the way in Glen Park since I live downtown, but if you are serious about doing Iyengar yoga, this place is for you.
The studio is large and airy (with a large skylight right over the middle), and has an extensive collection of props to help with your practice. I love my instructor, Octavia, and she’s really been instrumental in helping me through my shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. I haven’t taken classes from any of the other instructors, but I would definitely recommend taking a class from Octavia!

Manuso is the absolute best yoga teacher! He’s hard on you, but only because he wants you to get better in whatever way you need to. Sometimes you don’t even see these things yourself. It’s almost as though he has x-​ray vision down to the bones. Take his class only if your a serious student and have practiced yoga for at least 6 months. You’ll learn so much about yoga and yourself!

I have been going to this yoga studio for the past year and a half, and I love it! When I first started, I was very apprehensive but the instructors are great at helping you get started and adapting the moves so that you can learn how to do them. They have certainly helped me improve over time. I am a particularly big fan of Janet Um who teaches an intro class on Saturday at 12:30 and a beginning level class on Sunday at 12:30. These are not particularly popular times so her classes tend to be small, and you definitely get lots of personalized attention. Janet is very knowledgeable and is great at explaining each move in extreme detail which makes it easier to learn… so check it out!!!

After about three classes I was hooked on this place. I took up yoga because I had to cut back on dancing every day due to a foot injury. I had heard good things about this studio from a friend in dance class. She was absolutely right! The studio itself is pleasant, well lit, and easy to get to; but even better are the range of instructors who teach there. As a plus size woman I didn’t know how things would go for me in a yoga class, but every instructor has impressed me with their knowledge, skill, their good nature, and their interest in tailoring the class as much as possible to each person in it. From beginner to expert, everyone gets the instruction they need. I leave feeling stronger, balanced, and more flexible. I bet you will, too.
Update ¹⁄₂₀₀₉: Unfortunately, I have to lower my rating of the Abode due to my interaction with the teacher I work with most often, Todd. While I appreciate his dedication to his work and his seriousness about the subject of yoga, in the last few months I have observed and also been the target of what I can only call a tongue-​lashing in class because of a perceived infraction. Instead of gentle correction, he has more than once basically dressed someone down in front of the rest of the students. Class with an instructor who is moody and prone to this type of behavior feels unsafe to me and is far from stress reducing. I will not be going back to Todd’s class.
On the other hand, Octavia Morgan is a highly dedicated, professional, and inspiring instructor. I get a great deal from her classes. She is firm but compassionate and deft at tailoring classes to whatever is going on with you that day: pain, fatigue, injury, etc. I highly recommend Octavia both for her work with those new to yoga, and also those more experienced.
Other instructors I can highly recommend are: Osha, Athena, David, Brian, Victoria, Rita, Janet, and Tamarie.
Overall, I do recommend the Abode, but would suggest selecting an instructor who suits your style. I personally do not need to be yelled at to do well, preferring to be pushed with kindness, and so I have chosen my instructors accordingly.

This is the best Iyengar Yoga studio in Northern California! Forget the free yoga sessions at your gym, this is the real deal!
First of all, the yoga teacher– Manuso Manos is basically the rockstar of the Iyengar school of yoga! Manuso was one of B.K.S. Iyengar’s first students, and actually was part of the making of Iyengar yoga. [Iyengar– the guy who founded this school of yoga, which is basically a more practical version of Hatha yoga, and one of the most popular schools in the West. Iyengar was partially blamed for diluting and popularizing yoga, but as long as people are doing yoga, I think that’s A-​ok]
Now, Manuso is tough– he won’t take you into his classes unless you’ve done yoga seriously for at least 6 months, and there will be none of that «get in touch with your inner self» bs. This is all about the asanas [yoga poses], so you’ll get a killer workout.
This is hard core yoga– after a few years at the gym, I thought yoga would be a breeze and I was OH SO wrong! My whole body [which I considered strong and limber] felt like it was hit by a train, and then a cement mixer. but in a few months I felt unbelievably great!
Which brings me to the last, very important point– people who do yoga seriously are in AMAZING SHAPE! They are lean and mean, and really really happy — Manuso says that the «happy» comes from doing handstands and headstands. personally I think it comes from looking in the mirror.