Ariana
“I find your teaching incredibly skillful, very detailed and very clear. Your classes are full of intimate and effective body knowledge. It is luscious to melt into that level of detail and specificity and that richness of practice.”
-Ariana Oakland, CA
“I find your teaching incredibly skillful, very detailed and very clear. Your classes are full of the kind of intimate and effective body knowledge. It is luscious to melt into that level of detail and specificity and that richness of practice.”
Sarah Arteaga
I've had the pleasure of having Lily as a teacher and a trainer, as well as working alongside her as a colleague. You will be hard pressed to find a teacher who is more passionate, creative, and engaging. From the moment you enter her class, she makes it a point to learn your name, welcome you, connect with you, and hold space for you. Her compassionate, inclusive approach to teaching has helped build a community of dedicated yogis and yoginis from all different backgrounds and levels of experience with yoga. Her diverse classes and workshop offerings give every yoga practitioner a place to begin right where they are, and then she provides the scaffolding to build the self-confidence and curiosity needed to take the next steps on their yoga journey. Whether it's soaking up time in Yoga Nidra during her "Blissful Body" Restorative workshops or trusting yourself as you spring up into your first handstand away from the wall, you know that you are held, you are safe, and you can do hard things when you are practicing with Lily. As a student of Lily's, I have greatly benefitted from her cleverly designed, dynamic, challenging, and playful practices that allow me to lean in to what feels right in my unique body and push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of doing and being. As a Prenatal Teacher trainee, her in-depth anatomical focus, her helpful alignment cues, and the community she fosters with her mamas gave me a blueprint for creating my classroom community and supporting my students on their journey to motherhood. As a colleague, she is extremely well organized, communicative, collaborative, and inclusive. She seeks to connect, to learn, and to grow as a teacher, student, and person with every interaction. She is truly an unparalleled teacher, and I highly recommend her classes and workshops to anyone and everyone, no matter where they are in their relationship with yoga.
-Sarah Arteaga
Jaclyn Melsopp
I've been teaching yoga for almost a decade. I've done trainings both domestically and internationally and have close to 700 hours in yoga study- I can honestly say that I learn something new every time I practice with Lily. I've been practicing with her for years. Her wisdom and presence are unparalleled. Lily's vinyasa classes are challenging and will push you to your limit all while encouraging you to honor your practice and your breath. Her restorative workshops and beautiful chanting will leave you feeling blissed out, grounded and more in connected to your body and to your Self. I was also privileged to partake in her Prenatal Yoga Teacher training this past year; her knowledge and scope left me in awe. Not only did she transition to a virtual platform with grace, she managed to hold space for all of us all while maintaining the training's integrity. Lily has an eye for her students that will help your practice get past any plateau. She sees the body with an expert eye. Due to her breadth of knowledge, Lily always has tools to help you where YOUR practice needs it. She's not one to parrot back cues for the sake of saying words and filling space. Instead she carefully chooses her wording to best serve the people she's teaching while leaving space for you to hear and process what she's said. Lily is a phenomenal teacher and you'd be lucky to train, study and learn from her.
-Jaclyn Melsopp
Julie Ryder
Thank you, Lily, for this and for the workshop. It has been, and is challenging, for me to embrace my new mama body and self. What you said at the workshop about taking the adequate time and letting go of societal expectations of “bouncing back” was what I needed to hear. After leaving the workshop I was finally able to mourn, if you will, my old self and begin to embrace more fully my mama self. I know my old self is in there, strong, but I can give her a break while I nurture my new self and find ways to bring the two together in time. Thanks for sharing your grace.
-Julie Ryder
Georgia Summers
Thank you again and again for the empowerment of prenatal yoga. It got me through labor!
-Georgia Summers
Vanessa Miller
You are such a phenomenal prenatal teacher!! I was just singing your praises to my midwife yesterday.
-Vanessa Miller
Yvonne Tam
Going to prenatal yoga is my favorite thing about being pregnant. It is a very magical moment when you 'hug in to baby' or 'breathe down to baby
-Yvonne Tam
Tanya Tomkins, cellist, Oakland, CA
Lily is one of the most compassionate yoga teachers I have ever worked with. Her knowledge is vast and she was generous, focused and very positive in her work with me as a private client. I can't say enough good things about her private yoga lessons, and anyone who is interested in deepening their practice in a very safe and nurturing environment should try it!
-Tanya Tomkins, cellist, Oakland, CA
Kathy Visas, lawyer, San Francisco , CA
I have been working with Lily for a couple of years now and I am a devoted fan. I love the yoga, but I also love, specifically, working with Lily. She is the most concerned, talented and truly lovely teacher I can imagine. As I have told a number of people who have just begun to work with her: "I guarantee, you will fall in love with Lily." And, in fact, they all have -- fallen in love I mean. I think anyone who has Lily as a teacher will feel very lucky to know her! I highly recommend her.
-Kathy Visas, lawyer, San Francisco , CA
Lillian Dashiell, dentist, Oakland, CA
Lily is an amazing teacher. Her sequences are challenging without being stressful, creative so that you can be immersed in the 'flow', and balanced between intensity and rejuveniation. My body always feels incredible after working with her--the changes are visible! Lily takes you to the edge of your comfort zone, expands your physical experience and creates a safe space for this to happen. I've been with her privately and in group classes for a number of years, and am so fortunate to have found her.
-Lillian Dashiell, dentist, Oakland, CA
Lisa Vonnegut CSCS, PP-S, USAW, CMT Bay Functional Fitness co-owner, Oakland, CA
Lily is the perfect combination of rigorous and restorative, modifying each session according to your body's needs. She is skilled at making adaptations to help you feel the pose, whatever your level. With her help, I've become more strong and flexible, healing several different injuries that stemmed from other athletic activities. What I love most is that each session helps me face the rest of my day feeling grounded and clear.
-Lisa Vonnegut CSCS, PP-S, USAW, CMT Bay Functional Fitness co-owner, Oakland, CA
Robin Strom
I met Lily 7 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest and going to YogaWorks all over Baltimore to take prenatal yoga. I loved her classes! Her voice, how she helped me modify my yoga practice through each stage of pregnancy, and how empowered I became as a woman and a yogi. Our paths crossed again years later when I enrolled in Lily’s prenatal yoga teacher training so I could share my love of yoga and help empower others to connect with themselves and their babies. I am grateful for every class, training, workshop, yoga challenge and virtual class that I have taken with Lily. Her love and immense knowledge of yoga is evident as she guides me to not only find insight and new openings into postures but to see the world with more compassion and find peace within.
-Robin Strom
Johanna Richlin
As a yoga teacher and practitioner, Lily is simply unparalleled. I have practiced yoga for almost 20 years, and have rarely encountered a teacher who so gracefully embodies a multitude of gifts: authentic wisdom, intellectual integrity and curiosity, physical mastery and prowess, deep empathy for human beings and a profound love for the tradition of yoga. I have been her student in vinyasa yoga for many years, and drew on her prenatal program to support me through two pregnancies and two unmedicated births. I adore Lily and am so grateful for all she gives to this world! Anyone who finds her practice will be better for it.
-Johanna Richlin
Meg Taylor
Lily’s prenatal classes, both in person and through zoom, prepared me for labor and birth more than I could have ever imagined. (Including my final class which sped up labor once my contractions had started!) Her kind, calm demeanor and knowledge of the female body and changes during pregnancy in addition to her skills as a yoga instructor make her classes invaluable.
-Meg Taylor
Olga Mehebovsky, Doctor of Physical Therapy, PT, DPT
Lily's classes are unmatched in creativity and fun! Lily builds a fire from the deepest layers out. Each class is so well thought out, so well delivered, and an engaging experience from start to finish. Through the body, Lily guides me back me back to myself. I leave each class inspired both as a teacher and a student.
-Olga Mehebovsky, Doctor of Physical Therapy, PT, DPT
Meagan Shipley
I first met Lily through prenatal yoga and she is the kind of instructor that you don’t forget. She is authentic and kind and makes you feel like you are in the presence of an old friend, even when you just met. She is also an incredible instructor. Even on Zoom, she can talk you through challenging poses and make you feel like you are in the studio with her.
-Meagan Shipley
Jaclyn Melsopp
I've been teaching yoga for almost a decade. I've done trainings both domestically and internationally and have close to 700 hours in yoga study- I can honestly say that I learn something new every time I practice with Lily. I've been practicing with her for years. Her wisdom and presence are unparalleled. Lily's vinyasa classes are challenging and will push you to your limit all while encouraging you to honor your practice and your breath. Her restorative workshops and beautiful chanting will leave you feeling blissed out, grounded and more in connected to your body and to your Self. I was also privileged to partake in her Prenatal Yoga Teacher training this past year; her knowledge and scope left me in awe. Not only did she transition to a virtual platform with grace, she managed to hold space for all of us all while maintaining the training's integrity. Lily has an eye for her students that will help your practice get past any plateau. She sees the body with an expert eye. Due to her breadth of knowledge, Lily always has tools to help you where YOUR practice needs it. She's not one to parrot back cues for the sake of saying words and filling space. Instead she carefully chooses her wording to best serve the people she's teaching while leaving space for you to hear and process what she's said. Lily is a phenomenal teacher and you'd be lucky to train, study and learn from her.
-Jaclyn Melsopp
Gilliane McShane
I took my first yoga class in the studio with Lily over three years ago, and I was immediately hooked. Her teaching style is creative, challenging, nurturing and fun (there’s usually something to chuckle about in class)! I can confidently say I’ve never practiced with a yoga teacher who is so knowledgeable about human anatomy, and her depth of knowledge really allows her to create unique and thoughtful practices. This became even more apparent during our at home practice during covid. Lily has adapted her teaching to a virtual platform so adeptly, that I feel that I am still getting “hands-on” teaching, giving me the confidence to experiment with new poses (handstands!) and to keep refining the foundations of my practice (remembering to breathe!). She is an amazing teacher—patient, helpful, and encouraging you to find your “edge” while being mindful of listening to your body and promoting your overall well-being. It is truly a privilege to practice with Lily!
-Gilliane McShane
I took my first yoga class in the studio with Lily over three years ago, and I was immediately hooked. Her teaching style is creative, challenging, nurturing and fun (there’s usually something to chuckle about in class)! I can confidently say I’ve never practiced with a yoga teacher who is so knowledgeable about human anatomy, and her depth of knowledge really allows her to create unique and thoughtful practices. This became even more apparent during our at home practice during covid. Lily has adapted her teaching to a virtual platform so adeptly, that I feel that I am still getting “hands-on” teaching, giving me the confidence to experiment with new poses (handstands!) and to keep refining the foundations of my practice (remembering to breathe!). She is an amazing teacher—patient, helpful, and encouraging you to find your “edge” while being mindful of listening to your body and promoting your overall well-being. It is truly a privilege to practice with Lily!
Akrita Bhatnagar, Medical Doctor and 30 Day Core Challenge Participant
My progress has been slow but steady. Your teachings are very clear on where I need to build strength. I used to have bad backaches at the end of workday from standing all day/night. They have significantly improved from doing your classes.
-Akrita Bhatnagar, Medical Doctor and 30 Day Core Challenge Participant
Julie Ryder, Postpartum Yoga Student
Thank you, Lily, for this and for the workshop. It has been, and is challenging, for me to embrace my new mama body and self. What you said at the workshop about taking the adequate time and letting go of societal expectations of “bouncing back” was what I needed to hear. After leaving the workshop I was finally able to mourn, if you will, my old self and begin to embrace more fully my mama self. I know my old self is in there, strong, but I can give her a break while I nurture my new self and find ways to bring the two together in time. Thanks for sharing your grace.