HAUM Studios - Haight Ashbury — Attraction in San Francisco

As a person of color of Indian Ancestry I am especially sensitive of two things

1: the commercialization of a practice of my ancestors for the sake of money 2: virtue signaling by white people

Max Kopeikin personally triggered my trauma as a brown man in his yoga class. He singled me out with rude and insensitive criticism and escalated my body to the point of having a baseline heart rate of 120 just standing in the lobby, fuming.

I am lead to believe he is a therapist as well and if yoga’s philosophy is do no harm and he did this much harm to me I cannot imagine what must happen to his clients seeking his support for mental health.

I am disappointed in Haum for allowing such a teacher to conduct hostile practice towards people of color

I am disappointed at having to be the only brown person in the entire room.

The only redeeming aspect of my experience was the front desk attendant who was validating and kind (I’m still livid so I...

I love Haum! Because of pandemic I started doing a lot of at-home workouts and have only just started going back in person. I forgot what I was missing and why its worth the time, effort, and money to do it. I'm so glad Haum Haight opened!

I've taken Vinyasa classes from Shannon and Nat and both were exceptional! The classes were challenging but accessible. I love as the collective heat builds in the room. I know they have more advanced classes for seasoned yogi's and relaxation classes if you need a different vibe but I haven't tried those yet.

Haum's online interface is very easy and all the receptionists have been friendly and warm. The classes have been full but the space remains inviting vs competitive or clique-ish. The room and bathrooms are clean. And, parking around the area had been surprisingly easy. I actually can't believe I waited so long to come back to in-person classes. Haum is going to be a staple in my 2024. I...

Giana Gambino is truly a fabulous yoga teacher and her classes are my absolute favorite at Haum. I deeply appreciate how she chooses a monthly theme and thoughtfully structures each class to focus on improving that specific area. It adds purpose and progression to the practice and I always find myself looking forward to the next theme she carefully plans.

Her classes strike the perfect balance in difficulty for me: I enjoy a moderate level and Giana provides excellent pose variations that allow me to challenge myself while feeling supported. Her communication is clear and precise; she explains each pose thoroughly, and the flow of the class is always seamless. Her music choices complement the practice beautifully.

Giana’s passion and intention shine through in every class. I truly hope to attend one of her yoga retreats this fall as she is without a doubt a teacher to follow...