Palos Verdes Yoga and Fitness
is featured on LA Yoga!
Read the article here.

Welcome:

Welcome to Palos Verdes Yoga and Fitness, a space to enjoy yoga, have fun, and make friends in an atmosphere of transformation, acceptance, and healing. We are a multi-dimensional studio with yoga and fitness classes for all ages and levels. We have become a pillar of fitness and wellness in the city of Palos Verdes and expect continued growth in years to come!

Note from Kimberly Blaine, owner of Palos Verdes Yoga and Fitness:

I’d love for you all to hear the story of how it came to be that I own a yoga studio in Palos Verdes, CA! It’s a wonderful tale of serendipity, the law of attraction, being in the right place at the right time, and letting the universe show you what to do. It’s proof to me that if you approach life with an open mind and heart, your path will reveal itself with no question. I really never thought I would be in these shoes, but I met such wonderful and supportive people and found a studio that was such a great fit for me, next thing you know, I’m signing ownership documents and agreements. I hope to provide people with a light hearted and accepting approach to their yoga practice as well as their lives. I also hope everyone who enters the studio feels a sense of warmth and welcome. We’re changing lives and creating a community of like minded individuals on their journey to a greater existence. If you want to hear the whole story of how it came to be, we’ll chat after class! Peace and Hugs…..

Wednesday, Feb 22 10:30 am Veronica for Eunjoo
Thursday, Feb 23 10:30 am Jennifer B for Eunjoo
Thursday, April 5 10:30 am Michelle for Eunjoo

FIRST FRIDAY of each month
Yoga Nidra
12:30-2:00
Michael Thomas
$22 Cash Donation
SECOND FRIDAY of each month
Two Hour Restorative
12:30-2:30
$25 Cash Donation

All Levels Flow:

This class includes a Vinyasa Flow series to warm the body and build internal heat. Sequences and transitions are designed for anyone who is familiar with the basic asana of yoga and flow style. Movement, breath, and fluidity are focus creating a rhythmic connection to the body.

All Levels:

This class is available to everyone from beginners to advanced. Instruction is focus and adjustments are offered to assist students with asana. Often this class includes an easy flow series to warm the body.

Level 1+:

This class is perfect for students who are familiar and comfortable with the foundations of an asana practice and prefer detailed instruction. Practicing basic poses is focus with optional advanced asana. Safe for those with injuries/limitations.

Flow 1/2:

Beginner/Intermediate. Get to know the flow! This class begins with a Vinyasa series including semi-advanced transitions between poses. After the beginning flow, movement is more static and poses are held with detailed instruction. Optional advanced asana.

Level 1/2:

This class is perfect for beginner/intermediate students who wish to advance their asana practice with focus on alignment. A simple Sun Series begins the class followed by traditional asana. Options and modifications are provided with space allowed to practice more advanced poses.

Flow 2/3:

This class is for Intermediate/Advanced students who love the dynamic rhythm of breath and movement. A creative series of asana linked with graceful transitions create the Vinyasa warm up. Next, advanced poses are introduced with specific instruction. Students will explore inversions, arm balances, and strong backbends. Wonderful for those who love movement and sweat tied together with rhythmic groove music.

Level 2/3:

Perfect for strong, athletic types. This class is for Intermediate/Advanced students who wish to explore the asana on a deeper internal level. Traditional Sun Series warm up creates mobility and heat in the body. Then, intense holds and specific instruction is provided to break down advanced arm balances, inversions, and back bends.

Morning Flow:

All Levels. Rise and shine. This class is the perfect way to start the day off with some gentle Sun Series warm up and basic asana. Enjoy a standing and stretch series to get you moving.

Yin Blend:

All Levels. This class is a blend of Level 1/2 (see description above) and Yin/Restorative. Students will explore long, deep floor stretches which are specifically designed to create healing and flexibility. The poses go deep into connective tissues and open the pathways of the body.

Cardio Rhythm Mix:

A fitness experience including a unique cardio warm up dance series. Prepare to have fun and crank up the tunes while sweating out the toxins! Interval weight series mixed throughout the class and ending floor abdominal work.

Cardio Sculpt:

Perfect to define your lines and burn fat and calories! A fitness class including cardio warm up series and interval weight routines.

Yoga for Athletes:

Elite athletes all know the beauty of playing “out of the head” and “in the zone” where the mind, body, and breath are working together. Yoga teaches competitors how to tap into “the zone” so come game time, they can find that focus with greater ease. Combining cardio movement with controlled breathing, yoga increases flexibility, relieves tension, and decreases the risk of injury. Yoga for Athletes is held in a private group setting designed specifically for each team. Athletes of all sports are encouraged to participate. Please contact the studio and we will work with you to set up a time convenient to incorporate yoga into your athletic program.

Class Tips and Etiquette

Yoga Mats
If you practice regularly, enjoy the cleanliness of your own mat.
If you borrow a complimentary loaner mat, please wipe it down with sanitary wipes provided, roll it up neatly and return it to the bin.

Please arrive on time
Classes start and finish on time. We understand that schedules may cause you to be late on an
exception basis. Choose a class time that is appropriate for you so that lateness is minimal. Please be mindful and respectful of your fellow yogis and enter quietly. Take a place in the spot most
easily accessed. Never leave during Savasana.

Practice on an empty stomach
It is recommended to refrain from eating 90 minutes to two hours before class.

Print your name on the sign in sheet
Please print your name neatly and legibly on the sheet. This is our reference for paying the instructors and keeping records of your accounts.

Please do not bring cell phones into the practice room
Your personal calls are a distraction to a group yoga
setting and counterproductive to what we are trying to achieve in the room. If you need to check your phone, leave it in your car or the lobby and quietly step outside.

Cleanliness
Excessive fragrance or odors are distracting to others and non-serving to you. Please keep your mat and your body clean. Towels are recommended for all classes. If you leave any sweat in areas around your mat, please wipe with provided wipes.

Choose the level of class that is appropriate for you
Yoga is available to everyone, but we all have our own limitations and preferences. Classes are described in detail on the website. If you are not certain which class to choose, please consult your instructor for guidance. We want to find a fit that will inspire your on-going practice in a welcoming non-competitive atmosphere.

Let your teacher know if you have any injuries.

Eunjoo

Eunjoo Pacifici, Pharm.D., Ph.D. has been practicing yoga for over ten years under the tutelage of a number of wonderful teachers including Maggie Mellor (traditional Hatha style) & Linda DiCarlo (Iyengar style) at the Westlake Yoga in Westlake Village, California; Tracy Bogart at the Triangle Yoga in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and most recently, Robyn Marin (vinyasa style) at Robyn’s Energy in Motion. Eunjoo’s own teaching style emphasizes proper alignment and breathing while moving through deep and slow flow yoga. As a licensed healthcare professional and a university educator, Eunjoo explores ways to holistically incorporate yoga practice to enhance one’s overall quality of life.

Jennifer

Jennifer Allen Richard first practiced yoga at the Jivamukti Center in New York City in 1985. Since then, Jennifer has studied a wide range of yoga disciplines – including Jivamukti, Ashtanga, and Iyengar – and has worked extensively with Rodney Yee, Erich Schiffman, and Chuck Miller.

Jennifer is also an author and a journalist – her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, ESPN.com, and most recently on NFL Network and NFL.com. Jennifer’s father was a pro football coach and she grew up with a deep appreciation of the mental and physical demands placed on athletes. Her experience has inspired her to create the “Yoga for Athletes” program at the Palos Verdes Yoga and Fitness Studio. Working with individuals and teams, she has taught baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse and tennis players – how to calm the mind and breath within each pose – tools that they can carry off the mat and onto the competitive field.

Jennifer is a certified RYT with Planet Yoga. She has been a teacher in the South Bay since 2003.

Kimberly

Kimberly Blaine is the owner of Palos Verdes Yoga and Fitness. She grew up camping and hiking the East Tennessee area of the Appalachian Trail and studying martial arts and gymnastics. Kimberly began her yoga journey in 1999. Her passion for yoga bloomed from the very first class she took as she set her goals on becoming a teacher. After practicing in Florida and East Tennessee, she found herself in California under the instruction of Chappell Foote, founder of Harmony Yoga, Redondo Beach. Here, she immersed herself in her practice and then participated in the first Teacher Training offered at the studio. Upon completing an intensive training course in 2004, Kimberly was certified as a Yoga Instructor and began to teach and assist immediately following. Her instruction is based on the Vinyasa Flow technique which creates a union between breath, movement, and building strength. Alignment is included for beginners and to protect students from possible injuries. A soft vocal delivery combined with an intelligent, challenging sequence has become Kimberly’s unique style. The class is designed for anyone who is seeking peace and acceptance in their body today. Come with an open mind and an open heart.

Quote from Kimberly…..

“When I first experienced Yoga, I embraced it and sought it on a deeper level with intentions to ultimately share the magnificence with others. Yoga has taught me more than asanas, but a way of life, and to seek inside myself for love and consciousness for that is where it truly lies. It has opened my body, my mind, my heart and soul to each and every form of life. Because of my devotion to my practice and meditation, I am aware of the small miracles happening around us every day and I offer gratitude for those bestowed upon me. I thank all those who have encouraged and instructed me along my journey, as I have approached this moment to share this love and knowledge with others, to teach. This is what I have experienced and know to be a transformation beyond imagination. So, I offer to you my instruction that I have devoted to those seeking a state of consciousness where peace truly lies. Follow it and believe in it, but most importantly believe in yourself and the divine power that already exists within you and every other being. Welcome, yogis, to enlightenment…..Namaste”

Veronica

VERONICA WOLKOW is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher. She began studying yoga in 2005 for stress relief while working in the investment management industry in Los Angeles. After leaving a career in financial services in 2007, she completed the YogaWorks 200-hour Teacher Training and 300-hour Professional Program in 2008 where she studied closely with Jasmine Lieb and Christine Stein.

Veronica is a devoted Iyengar practitioner who enjoys teaching principles of alignment and postural integrity. Her classes blend yoga traditions and provide students with a safe environment to practice with mindfulness and healthy movement.

She received her Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College and Master of Business Administration from University of California, Irvine.

Michael

Each time we step onto our mat or open our hearts to the practice of kirtan, we are opening up to experience our Self as pure love and unchanging equanimity. As we engage in Nirodha (the stilling process) with an open heart, we touch our true nature. In “The Age of Turbulence” we are now living in, maintaining a yoga practice is no longer a luxury or a way to take care of ourselves from time to time. Instead, yoga is a necessity that gives us clarity, strength, vitality, self acceptance , and the understanding to see things as they truly are.

In 2004, while visiting Southern California, I wandered into Bryan Kest’s SMPY. It was an event that would change the direction of my life, and eventually inspire the birth of a vibrant yoga and kirtan community in Baltimore, MD.

I had been practicing yoga for years, but it wasn’t until I spent some time in Maui that I tasted what yoga had to offer. It opened up something in me that I had never experienced before. So I made it a point whenever I traveled to seek out yoga communities. This is what brought me to SMPY in 2004. I was so touched, inspired, and humbled by the vibrancy of the community I experienced within the SMPY, it was as though I had come home.

In late 2005, my father began treatment for cancer and two weeks later my mother had a heart attack and stroke. It was right after this that I knew what a gift yoga had been to me. It became my mission to share that gift with as many people as possible. This was the inspiration behind Parkside Power Yoga, Baltimore’s first donation based yoga studio. I founded the studio based on Bryan Kest’s SMPY.

In 2007, with the guidance and encouragement of my friend Govindas, I began the practice of Kirtan in Baltimore. And by February 2008, with friend and founder of Baltimore Yoga Village, Anjali Sunita, we began weekly Kirtan in Baltimore.

I have helped clients and students work through the greatest booms and busts of human history. I have seen firsthand what fear and anxiety can do to the fabric of our lives. My classes are focused on breath, on being present and opening the heart as a practice of purification ,acceptance of our changing limits and devotion (Bhakti Yoga). My classes draw on the wisdom and experience I gleaned as a musician, coach, and as a professional estate planner .

I have been guest lecturer and yoga instructor at Johns Hopkins Hospital and University system as well as an instructor to professional athletes and college and high school sports teams.

Sarah and Kelly

Kelly Irwin is the Office Manager for Palos Verdes Yoga and Fitness, and works tirelessly at handling student accounts and profiles and keeping all the paperwork organized and up to date. A permanent fixture on her mat in the southeast corner of the yoga studio, Kelly is a loving mother to three wonderful children and has recently returned to the work force doing something she loves; working with and teaching kindergarten students. Kelly also enjoys doing volunteer activities with her children, both in conjunction with their schools and serving meals with her son Shane at Samoshel, a transitional housing facility and project of OPCC.

Sarah Jessup does her best to keep the accounts running smoothly for the studio. Additionally, she proudly serves as Board Chair to OPCC, a social services organization whose important vision is to end homelessness, break the cycle of domestic violence and assist people suffering from mental illness (website at www.opcc.net). She is also the CFO at a custom software development company in Santa Monica, and wife and mother to Peter and Ralphie the dog, respectively.

The two work closely with owner Kimberly Blaine keeping everything balanced and running smoothly.

Sarah and Kelly are lovingly referred to as “Gifts with Purchase.” They have been students and friends since the beginning of the studio under the operation of Robyn Marin. When it went up for sale, they raised their hands to handle the operations while shopping for the right owner. They did such a great job through the transition, Kimberly adopted them into these roles. Now their energy bubbles all around Palos Verdes Yoga and they are truly part of the heart of the place. Not only are they taking care of business, they love to monkey around and have fun while staying safe and enjoying health and fitness.

Claire

Claire Brown is a native Canadian who teaches Anusara style Yoga. Claire
began Yoga and Meditation at the age of 15 and was immediately drawn
towards teaching. She has studied Anusara for 15 years and has explored
many other styles of Yoga including Kundalini, Iyengar and Astanga.
Claire received her Teacher Certification of Hatha Yoga in 2002.

Claire’s teaching style is dynamic and playful calling on her life
experiences. Her teachings continue to evolve from her own practice and
she continually strives to improve her teaching to better serve her
students. She challenges her students to practice in life what they
practice on their mat. Her goal is to inspire her students to attain a
fuller and greater life. She is currently teaching at Ofie’s Elite
Physiques and Loyola Marymount University in addition to many other Yoga
Studios in the South Bay.

In addition to teaching Yoga, Claire studies body mechanics and anatomy
and is a fabulous licensed massage therapist. She is also a Reiki master
and does energy work. Some of Claire’s other hobbies include being a
student of art and making and selling jewelry. Claire enjoys living life
in Southern Californian!

The most important element of Yoga is about divine love…

Jennifer

Jennifer began her journey with yoga nine years ago when a friend encouraged that she join her at a class instead of hitting the gym one night after work. Having participated in sports (softball, tennis, dance) all her life, then embracing weight/strength training towards the end of high school and throughout her time at UC Berkeley, she questioned how much of a workout yoga could be. At the time, Jennifer had just begun training for her first triathlon, and between that and her full-time job in feature film development, fitting in time for yoga was challenging. It wasn’t until the birth of her daughter that she fully embraced the calming, introspective benefits a regular yoga practice could bring. She fell in love with the mental focus required, in conjunction with physical agility and strength, and knew she wanted to share her passion for it with others. Mukti trained, Jennifer has over 250 certified hours. Looking to further her yoga education, most recently Jennifer completed a specialized elective of Yoga for Athletes, taught by Julie Rader. She currently teaches Hatha/Vinyasa flow classes, which focus on alignment and enjoys challenging her students both mentally and physically. Constantly expanding her own yoga practice with other teachers throughout Southern California, Jennifer loves the strength, balance, and peace yoga brings to mind, body, and soul, and thrives on the opportunity to share it with her friends, family, and fellow students.

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Kathryn Anorga

Palos Verdes Yoga & Fitness IN HOUSE massage therapist,

"Upon returning from a 2 month journey to the islands of Bali & Java, I was reflecting on the trip and how massage on the beach with warm oils centered my focus for the rest of the day. At that moment, I decided to study the Healing Arts. Within 20 years, I ran the Palos Verdes Health Spa, taught aerobics, weight training, health and nutrition, kids yoga, extended education in pregnacy massage, sports recovery, Lomi Lomi, Cranial Sacral, Reiki and I am currently enrolled with Doula education program for pregnacy. I grew up here in Palos Verdes Estates and returned to live and practice the Healing Art. Firm believer in yoga incorporated with massage and healthy diet for longevity. "

Call for an appointment today…warmest wishes, Kathryn…
310.377.6683

MASSAGES

DEEP TISSUE

Targets deeper layers of the musculature tissue. This massage is specific to areas of tension and may not cover the full body if appropriate.

Half $55   Full $85   Deluxe $105

RELAXATION

A full body Swedish style massage with light to medium pressure. Very effective for the overall well-being of the energy flow in the body.

Half $50   Full $80   Deluxe $100

STONE THERAPY

Massaging wit the penetrating heat of the smooth lava stones and the hands, your therapist is able to more deeply and effectively soothe your muscles.

Full $85   Deluxe $105

REFLEXOLOGY

A deeply relaxing foot treatment that relieves stress and improves circulation, bringing balance to the body. This treatment includes hot towels.

Half $50

DETOX

Helps to cleanse the lymphatic system. This massage helps rid the body of impurities and correct circulatory blockages. Dry brush.

Full $85   Deluxe $105

PREGNANCY MASSAGE

Relieves aches and discomfort and improves circulation. Helps lower back and feet. Must be out of first trimester.

Half $55   Full $85

COUPLES MASSAGE

“Table for Two.” The two of you, side by side, will drift into blissful state of relaxation with the sounds of soothing music and a nurturing massage.

Full $90   Deluxe $110
(price per person)

AROMATHERAPY SCALP MASSAGE

Warmed aromatic oils applied onto the hair/scalp followed by massage on head, neck, and shoulders.

15 minutes $30   30 minutes $55