San Diego Yoga Center

04/02/2026

🌟 Teacher Spotlight: Dave 🌟

Meet Dave, whose yoga journey began back in the 80s at UCSC—“I was surprised by how much fun it was and how great I felt”—and he’s been coming back to the mat ever since. What started as a fun surprise turned into a lifelong practice that keeps his body, mind, and spirit in balance.

“Without it, my body mind and spirit routinely tend to go downhill.” Dave reminds us that yoga isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up. Even after years of practice, “the balancing poses on my left leg always challenge me”… but he keeps going, embracing the process and never giving up. 💪

Since joining San Diego Yoga Center in 2019, Dave has found a home in the welcoming community, energizing hot room, and uplifting atmosphere—“I love the friendly people, great staff, high ceilings and hot room.”

🧘‍♂️ “Every time I practice I leave feeling that much better for having done it.”

03/23/2026

Happy Spring! We have a sale for you as we transition into a new season. 🌸 Different package options based on your schedule and needs. On sale now through next weekend!

It’s been heating up in SD 🥵 Stock up on your electrolytes which are also on sale 💦

03/18/2026

03/16/2026

✨SUPER SPECIAL POST✨

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLENE! 🥳
SDYC Owner and Instructor 🧘🏻‍♀️💚

A message from Charlene:

“Yoga came into my life unexpectently about 20 years ago while I was in college and looking for ways to stay active. I was previously a high school athlete and cheerleader and was always drawn to physical fitness. A friend invited me to a bikram yoga class in 2005 and I was immediately hooked. I loved the heat and enjoyed that I could use my natural flexibility while also building strength.

I started practicing more regularly and decided I wanted to become an instructor. I attended teacher training in fall 2011 and started teaching full time. In 2014, my husband and I started a family and teaching took a back seat as I became a mother. Anthony and I kept in touch and I was still teaching here and there. In 2016 he approached me about being a co-owner. It was always something on my mind and I thought it would be a good option for me so I could continue to dedicate my time to my family while also having something for myself. Anthony and I worked well together and after 7 years as co-owners, his life was slowing down and I felt mine was just starting. I've been sole owner for almost 2 years now and I'm happy to continue the legacy that he started.

Yoga has always been there for me and is my constant- even as my own life changes and the world around us changes- my practice is always there. What once began as a form of exercise has morphed into something much more for me.

My goal is to make our studio a place where everyone feels comfortable, can grow their practice, take care of themselves and have a sense of community. I realize now that this is my calling and I'm lucky to be able to share what I'm passionate about with others.”

–Charlene

Thank you, Charlene, for your leadership, passion, work ethic, and everything you do for the staff and students at SDYC! We love and appreciate you every single day! 🧡🙏🏼

03/12/2026

✨ Student Spotlight✨
🩵Sommer Lovejoy 🩵

For longtime SDYC student Sommer Lovejoy, yoga has always felt like “coming home.” Nearly two decades into her practice, she still returns to the mat for what she calls “the ultimate reset button,” sharing that she loves the detoxifying benefits for body, mind, and spirit. “It forces me to block out all of the noise and just breathe, ground myself, and be fully present in the moment.” 🧘🏼‍♀️

A 4th-generation San Diegan born in La Mesa, Sommer has always been drawn to health and wellness. She worked her way through Esthetician and Massage Therapy school while attending Grossmont College and waiting tables, eventually launching her own skincare business in 2007. Later, she paused her business to support her husband’s Navy career in Virginia, where she started her family and became a Registered Nurse. 👩🏼‍⚕️

After moving back to San Diego, Sommer served as a District RN during COVID while pursuing advanced aesthetic certifications and rebuilding her skincare practice. Today, she is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in cosmetic injectables, lasers, weight loss, hormone replacement therapy, anti-aging, and functional medicine, while also running her small business, Sommer Lovejoy Skincare, in San Carlos on Sundays. 💞

Through it all, yoga has remained a constant. Sommer shares that one of her biggest challenges is maintaining a consistent schedule with the demands of work and family, but she always finds her way back to the mat. Yoga has also shown her that she is “stronger and more capable and resilient than [she] thinks.” And what keeps her coming back to SDYC after all these years? She says it’s “[her] yoga family and the beautiful space that we get to share together.” 🧡

03/08/2026

Eagle? 🦅 Standing Bow Pulling Pose? 🏹 Savasana? 😌

We all have THAT pose we love ❤️ (and maybe one we avoid 😅)

What’s your favorite yoga pose? Drop it in the comments and see if anyone matches! 👯‍♀️

03/04/2026

At San Diego Yoga Center, we DON’T care…

✨ …if you’ve never done yoga before — that’s why we offer plenty of beginner-friendly classes.
✨ …if you don’t have the “right” outfit — wear what you can MOVE in.
✨ …if you’ve never been to our studio before — we’re so glad you’re here.
✨ …if it’s been years since you’ve worked out — we all start somewhere, and it’s never too late to begin.
✨ …if you take breaks — child’s pose is always welcome here.
✨ …if you modify every single movement — we honor what our bodies allow us. It’s different every day.
✨ …about your age — you’re never too young OR too old for yoga.
✨ …about your size — yoga is for everyBODY.

We DO care…

🤍 That you show up.
🤍 That you listen to your body.
🤍 That you take breaks when you need them.
🤍 That you feel supported in our community.
🤍 That you leave feeling more grounded than when you walked in.

Your mat is waiting. 🧘‍♀️✨

02/26/2026

Yeeehaw! Cowgirl in the desert 🌵 Thanks instructor Tammy for sharing this sweet shot! Between this photo and the recent weather, warmer days are on our minds.

Traveling somewhere? and tag us!

02/24/2026

Every Bikram class at San Diego Yoga Center ends the same way: with the breath. 🔥

We close with Kapalbhati (“Blowing in Firm”) — a powerful breathing technique that helps you transition out of the heat and intensity of class with clarity and control.

Here’s what’s happening in those final rounds:

✨ Cleansing Reset – Rapid, forceful exhales clear stale air from the lungs and create a deep internal “reset” after being in the hot room.

✨ Core Strength & Activation – Each sharp exhale contracts the deep abdominal muscles, reinforcing the strength and stability built throughout practice.

✨ Increased Lung Capacity – The controlled, rhythmic breath strengthens respiratory muscles and improves breath efficiency over time.

✨ Boosted Circulation & Energy – The steady pumping action enhances oxygen exchange, helping you leave feeling alert, refreshed, and recharged.

✨ Digestive Support – Repetitive abdominal contractions act like an internal massage, often supporting digestion and creating a lighter post-class feeling.

✨ Mental Clarity & Focus – The rhythm demands concentration, cutting through brain fog and bringing you fully into the present moment.

✨ Nervous System Shift – After intense physical effort, Kapalbhati helps transition the body into a grounded yet energized state before stepping back into your day.

It’s the bridge between effort and equilibrium. Between practice and the rest of your day. Stay present for every exhale—that’s where the reset happens. 💨🔥

02/23/2026

We had so much fun during the Acro Yoga workshop today!
Thanks so much to Jenna for leading us and thank you to our participants for opening themselves up to trying something new! 🙃
We’ll definitely do it again!

02/12/2026

Student Spotlight: Lynette ✨

Lynette’s yoga journey is one of resilience, healing, and rediscovering self-care.

“In my 20's I decided to try and get active,” she shares. After back injuries, she began practicing yoga, but life eventually got busy, and her practice faded. Years later, after caring for her father until his passing, she found herself in constant pain. “I was so stiff and swollen and ached all over all the time… I couldn't even tie my shoes or pick something off the floor.”

Encouraged by a friend, Lynette returned to the mat and made a powerful decision: “I decided to commit to using some of the time I had spent taking care of my father, to taking care of myself.”

After four years of consistent practice with SDYC, the transformation is profound. “I can now easily tie my shoes. I no longer need arthritis medication, and no longer have daily back or joint pain.” She’s hiking with her children again and finding joy in improved mobility.

Yoga has also strengthened Lynette mentally. “Putting yourself in stressful situations like bow pose, and then relaxing into savasana… has started to improve my ability to handle stress, outside of the yoga studio.” Spiritually, she feels that the more she learns and studies yoga, the more benefits she receives.

What keeps her coming back? “I look forward to seeing the teachers and other students every time. I am inspired by the students in their 70's and hope I feel like this practice is something I can continue the rest of my life.”

We’re so honored to be part of your journey, Lynette 💛🙏🏼🌱

02/10/2026

Join Sam this Saturday for some fun IHP Partner Work! No need to bring a partner—show up and we’ll pair up! 👯‍♀️✨👯‍♂️

Wear RED, PURPLE, or PINK! ❤️💜🩷