San Francisco and Berkeley Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
NEWS:

I have been blessed to take over management of The Sun Room yoga studio in the Mission in San Francisco. Please check out our great donation based yoga classes and our excellent Mysore Ashtanga and Quantum Martial Arts programs.

WEEKLY YOGA CLASSES:

The Sun Room at 2390 Mission St in San Francisco, CA
Vinyasa from 4:30pm to 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays


We always start slowly and feeling out where we find ourselves in this moment and then move on to a warm-up of modified sun-salutations. What happens after that depends on you. We may explore a variety of poses: balancing and stretching poses, arm balances, back-bends, hip openers and inversions. One thing remains constant, however, a focus on mindfulness and on the breath. I believe strongly that one size does not fit all in yoga and given the intimate size of the Sun Room's beautiful studio I am able to gear each class to the yogis in attendance. Look forward to a playful and challenging class with modifications given to satisfy both the most beginning and most advanced yogi in the room.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING:
I am honored to begin subsitute teaching at The Mindful Body in San Francisco. Check The Mindful Body Schedule or look here for these classes.


SEMI-PRIVATE CLASSES:

If you are interested in creating a semi-private yoga class at your location, please email me and we can discuss your needs for a class.


PRIVATE CLASSES:

I greatly enjoy being able to tailor my instruction to an individual's specific needs. Please send me an email to enquire about private instruction. As an artist myself and a believer in making yoga available to all, I price my private classes on a sliding scale.

Rich Risbridger Yoga
Why "Instar"?
I have a particular fondness for moths and butterflies and their process of transformation. Instars are the stages of caterpillar metamorphosis between each molt. As the caterpillar grows and successively sheds its skin, it transforms. I find a similar process in the practice of yoga--ever evolving toward taking flight. Though the caterpillar may only know it is eating, whether or not it has an intent to transform, it is the nature of the being to do so. To me, the process mirrors the human being involved in the practice of yoga.
Here is a fun page explaining the metamorphosis of a butterfly
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Bio:
Rich began practicing yoga in gyms in 1999 but thanks to the teaching of Jen Malone and David Vendetti in Boston, he gave up the gym membership for a full time commitment to Ashtanga yoga. In early 2006 he left his home in hurricane ravaged New Orleans to pursue his devotion to yoga and his passion for performance in San Francisco. Rich completed his teacher training with Clayton Horton and David Lurey at Greenpath Yoga in 2006 and has diversified his training since then with teachers including David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Max Strom, Cameron Shayne, Ana Forrest, Dharma Mittra, and Les Leventhal.

Rooted in his own experience, Rich believes strongly in the principles of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika--that physical yoga is spiritually transformational. The hatha yogi need not seek transformation, for in the practice transformation finds the yogi. Rich’s vinyasa classes mix elements of traditional Ashtanga with his experience as a circus aerialist and acrobatic dancer. With variations provided for students of all levels, his classes challenge one to mindfulness of the body and focus on the breath while striving to further one’s personal practice in a spirit of humility, compassion, and playfulness. Rich strives to provide a meditation in motion that leaves one both energized and full of tranquility.

In addition to his activities as a yoga teacher, Rich does graphic and web design for the the yoga, healing, and arts communities with clients including Yoga Tree San Francisco, tells original fairytales as Onkel Woland, and performs with the Dreamtime Circus, the Lucid Dream Lounge, and Copper Lantern Fire Theater. He is also a metalworker who regularly volunteers and takes classes at The Crucible.

Rich Risbridger Contortion

a little pranayama for you...

Breath of Fire

Design by dragonbutterfly design.  
Yoga photos by Daniel Garcia, Focal Intent Photography
Fire Breathing Photo by Curtis Finger, Finger Photography

Tribal Yoga
510.717.5607 rich@instaryoga.com
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