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About Us

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Our Story

Bija Yoga Studio in San Francisco in 2002 with the intention of planting the seed (bija) of Yoga for the benefit of the community. Bija Yoga is dedicated to the transformative practice of Iyengar Yoga, renowned for its precise alignment, use of props, and emphasis on mindfulness. We teach Hatha Yoga based on the 8 limbs of Yoga. Our studio offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where students of all levels can deepen their understanding of the mind-body connection. Guided by experienced instructors, Bija Yoga provides a structured approach to improve strength, flexibility, and balance while fostering inner peace and self-awareness. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, Bija Yoga is the perfect place to explore the profound benefits of Iyengar Yoga and enhance your overall well-being.

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'Yoga does not change the way we see things. It transforms the person who sees' B.K.S. Iyengar

Our Teachers

Becoming a CIYT, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, begins with long-term term thorough and dedicated practice. One is a student of Iyengar Yoga before becoming a teacher. In the assessment process itself, candidates are carefully observed and evaluated as they demonstrate asanas and Pranayamas and as they teach a class of students.

LL Lopez

Founder and Teacher

Larry’s journey into movement began as a teenager, studying martial arts under Doc Fai Wong in San Francisco for seven years. At 18, he discovered yoga, which soon became his lifelong path. In 2002, he co-founded Bija Yoga

Ramanand Patel

Teacher

When Ramanand was 12, his father introduced him to yoga philosophy and asana, and he learned early on to embrace yoga with a childlike joyousness and delight. In 1968, after coming across a few other yoga teachers, Ramanand

Andrea Graziosi

Teacher

Andrea Graziosi is a yoga and pranayama teacher, meditator with nearly 20 years of daily practice. She trained extensively with yoga teacher Ramanand Patel, and her thinking has been deeply influenced by

Anne Saliou

Teacher

Anne has had the privilege of studying directly and extensively with the Iyengar family in India since 1989, and with many senior teachers in the U.S.  She has benefited firsthand from the therapeutic value of Iyengar Yoga to rehabilitate her back from a sports injury.

Jennifer MacGregor Lopez

Co-owner and Teacher

Jennifer MacGregor Dennis started practicing yoga under her mother's guidance, who is an Iyengar Yoga teacher. After moving to New York City, Jennifer obtained formal training at the NY Institute and became a certified teacher in 2013.

Barbara Wiechamann

Teacher

Barbara has been teaching yoga in San Francisco for 50 years. Her primary teachers are BKS Iyengar, Ramanand Patel, Firooza Ali Razva, Swami Dayananda, and Vijay Kapoor. Still, she also loves to take classes with Larry Lopez, Jennifer

Savi Natalya

Teacher

Savi Natalya has been practicing yoga for 25 years, integrating deep knowledge of Ayurveda and Vedanta into her approach. Her journey has led her through many styles, but she found her true home in Iyengar Yoga,

Janet MacLeod

Teacher

Janet MacLeod began studying yoga in London in the late 1970s and continues studying with the Iyengar family both in the West and India. She has been a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) since 1983.

Kathy Alef

Teacher

Kathy has been a student and practitioner of yoga since the late seventies. Along her journey, she studied with many knowledgeable teachers and was blessed to meet and study with Guruji, B.K.S. Iyengar, in Pune.

Valerie Valardie

Teacher

From an early age, she enjoyed all forms of movement. She earned a Master’s Degree in Dance Arts from Mills College and danced and taught until 1983, when she discovered Iyengar Yoga. While remaining true to the methodology

Nicole Leong

Teacher

My design background helps me see art in everything, including yoga. Yoga, to me, is both an art and a science, and it continuously sparks my curiosity to learn more. Inspired by BKS Iyengar’s idea of Involution,

Julia Stirling

Teacher

Julia discovered Iyengar yoga in her 20s after a long relationship with dance and movement and was immediately drawn to yoga's rejuvenating properties. The work of BKS Iyengar and his extended family

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"Bija Yoga is a warm, spacious, well-equipped, and welcoming studio. The teachers are skilled and generous in sharing their deep knowledge of yoga. If you wish to grow and study the art of yoga, Bija yoga  is the place."
Betty Roi
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