Yoga for Beginners in Oakland
Grow Your Practice at Nest Yoga
New to yoga? Welcome—we’re so glad you’re here! At Nest Yoga in Oakland, we offer beginner-friendly classes to help you get started on your journey with your personal yoga practice. Our classes take place in a bright, welcoming environment - providing space for yogis of all levels and all backgrounds to come together and practice in community. Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or returning after a long break, we’d love to have you practice with us and join us for an upcoming class.
Benefits of Building Your Yoga Practice
Yoga isn’t just about flexibility—it’s about feeling good in your body, calming your mind, and building resilience from the inside out. Our beginner classes focus on simple poses, mindful breathing, and gentle movement, helping you:
Improve flexibility & strength
Reduce stress & tension
Increase balance & coordination
Cultivate mindfulness & relaxation
No previous yoga experience? No problem. Our teachers offer modifications for all levels.
Why Start (or restart) Your Yoga Practice at Nest
Nest Yoga is the latest chapter of a yoga community that has thrived on Piedmont Ave in Oakland for decades. Some of the world’s leading yoga teachers - including Richard Rosen - have been sharing their unique approach and wisdom with our community for nearly 40 years. Richard teaches his signature class - Complete Yoga - as well as special workshops regularly at Nest.
Annie Carpenter, a worldwide yoga phenomenon - if we may say :), teaches her trademark class SmartFLOW Yoga multiple times a week at Nest. Dedicated, advanced students from around the globe tune in for classes with Annie to deepen their practice and benefit from a truly one-of-a-kind yoga experience that is rooted in both modern anatomy and ancient yoga philosophy.
Nest Yoga is currently led by Kim Lally.
While many of the teachers at Nest have decades of experience - like Richard and Annie, as well as Leslie Howard, and Margi Young - we also are a hub for newer teachers from those right out of training to those with a few years of experience. This mix creates a special kind of energy at Nest and also allows us to offer a huge variety of classes for all levels including beginners, intermediate and advanced yogis.
Beginner-Friendly Yoga Classes at Nest
Not sure where to start? These classes are perfect for beginners:
Yoga Stretch – Stretch, breathe, move, flow. Great for true beginners.
Gentle Yoga – Gentle and often slower paced class where you’ll link breath with movement.
Hatha Yoga – Focus on foundational poses, alignment, and deep breathing.
Restorative Yoga – Melt into relaxation with supported postures and deep rest.
Our teachers are here to answer questions and help you feel at ease—please introduce yourself and ask any questions you might have at the beginning of class.
Yoga for Every Body
One of the best things about Nest is our diverse community of teachers. Inclusivity is very important to us and we are intentional about having representation among our teachers. Every person is welcome at our Nest haven in Oakland.
We also offer sliding scale classes throughout the week, with classes starting at $5, to make more yoga accessible to everyone in our community.
Class Pricing and Memberships
Below is an overview of class pricing at Nest. Visit our class pack and membership page to learn more.
We offer a new student special to first timers at Nest! It’s the best deal in town - $55 for three weeks of unlimited yoga.
Regular drop-in classes are $29.
Community classes are sliding scale/pay what you can, starting at $5.
We have multiple monthly yoga membership options - from our mini (4 classes a month) to our midi (8 classes a month) to our unlimited membership.
Class packs are also available - purchase a five or ten class pack and use up your classes over the course of six months.
Not in Oakland or travel a lot? We also have an at-home membership and a yoga on-demand library.
What to Expect in Your First Class
Wear comfortable clothing you can move in.
Bring a yoga mat (or rent one from us - first mat rental is free).
Arrive a few minutes early to settle in.
Most importantly—breathe, relax, and enjoy!
Find Your Flow at Nest Yoga
Join us at our welcoming Oakland studio (or online) and experience the benefits of yoga in a warm, inclusive community.