Black Dog Yoga

Black Dog Yoga was founded in 2002 in Sherman Oaks, California, and offers students a beautiful, peaceful, and friendly environment in which to practice yoga. The studio offers classes every day of the year – for students new to yoga, as well as for those with an ongoing intermediate or advanced practice.

The original intention behind the founding of Black Dog Yoga was to provide our neighborhood with the highest-quality yoga instruction in a clean, pleasant and neighborly environment. After very humble beginnings, Black Dog Yoga has grown into a first-class, full-service, two practice-room studio with round-the-clock classes, a roster of extremely gifted instructors, and a continual flood of interesting and cool workshops and events – including a Teacher Training & Deeper Studies Program. In a world where the Big Boxes love to muscle out the Mom & Pops, Black Dog Yoga remains family-owned - and we live in Sherman Oaks!

Each class is a combination of flow, strength, and flexibility work based on varying Hatha Yoga styles. "Hatha" is a broad term for any type of physical yoga and encompasses a variety of systems, or styles. At Black Dog Yoga, most classes are based primarily on the Anusara and Ashtanga Vinyasa systems, which means that the classes focus on incorporating flowing movement and breath with good alignment and heartfelt spirituality. The speed of the flow and the style of instruction will vary from teacher to teacher, depending on their influences. The yoga being taught here is not only rigorous, but instructive and progressive. Our teachers will often complement the flow with some nuance as to proper alignment in the poses, or with work on increasingly-challenging poses.

Our classes are categorized by Level, on the one hand to guide you to an appropriate class, but also to protect the integrity of the level of challenge desired by other students. The range of Levels is as follows:

If you are brand new to yoga and would appreciate a thorough primer on the basics of Hatha Yoga – possibly before jumping into a public Level I class – we offer an INTRO TO YOGA course nearly every month, on a Sunday afternoon. Check the Workshops/Events page of this site to see when the next INTRO TO YOGA course is scheduled.

We also offer pre-natal yoga, Baby & Me yoga, kids yoga, and half-price "Community" classes Monday through Friday.

Black Dog Yoga's instructors are exceptional people. We celebrate their uniqueness and talent by providing an ego-free space where freedom and inspiration can flourish. Classes at Black Dog Yoga will vary according to the creative direction of each instructor, and we invite you to try out several different classes to find those that are right for you.

Private yoga instruction is available to you as well – just inquire with the studio owners.

Some Frequently-Asked Questions

"Do I need to be flexible to do yoga?"

No. Some people are naturally flexible, others must work to attain flexibility. Flexibility is not a pre-requisite to starting a practice – it’s a benefit of the practice. A regular yoga practice will gradually increase anyone’s flexibility. And all the other benefits of yoga can be experienced regardless of whether or not you can touch your toes.

"What if everyone else seems more advanced than I am?"

Every yogi was a raw beginner at one time. The practice of yoga is about individual development. Each student is working at his or her own level and pace within the same class. (Although classes we’ve designated as Level I-II or higher will demand of you a familiarity of the basics, in addition to a certain degree of stamina and strength.) There are variations to many of the poses that allow students to lessen – or increase – the difficulty. It is also important to remember that a new student, or someone who is not able to practice regularly, is doing as much work (and receiving as much benefit) as the advanced or more-regular student.

"What do I wear?"

Wear comfortable clothing, but nothing too baggy (so that instructors can read your body). Yoga is practiced in bare feet, and ideally practiced on a relatively-empty stomach (1 to 1½ hours following a meal).

You should also know that we have Gift Certificates, really cool yoga wear, and all the props for sale, too.