The Bhakti Yoga Movement Center — Local services in Portland

this is my go-to place for my daily work-out — convenient for me as it is a 5 mile round-trip on my bike plus the yoga, so quite the work-out. the teachers here are amazing and should be — they teach their own yoga school for authorized certification. the style is vinyasa, which is classical hawtha asana shapes flowing one into the other, almost like a slow, tai-chi-like dance. lots of focus on pranayama (breathing techniques) also, and chanting in bhakti, of course (the devotional aspect of hindu yoga practice. what is more, for those who are new beginners, having out-of-shape body issues (as i have had) or past injury issues, they are very good about watching you and making corrections to your positioning or warning you to gently back off a bit — something you always want to have in any yoga studio. there are all levels, from very beginner to the type of energetic vinyasa class that really gets you sweating and challenges you. if you're new, always start at a level 1 beginner class with teachers like jeannie, tasha or marianne. for mid-range to advanced classes, i can't recommend enough teachers like hari-bhakti, monicka, jessica and lisa mae (who is also the shop owner). also, on the second sunday evening of each month, they have a chanting session for 90 minutes by donation, and all funds go to someone in need. regular special workshops also, on everything from special asana focuses (hip openers, etc.) to aruvedic meal planning. your first time there you can purchase one week of unlimited classes for $20, from there there are all sorts of good payment plans, from 10 class cards to deducting monthly for unlimited classes per month from a financial account. you can also purchase workshops and classes on-line at their web site. for yoga for both physical exercise and delving within, this...

I’ve been attending the BYMC for several years now, both in person and virtually because the teachers offer nurturing instruction and understand how to adjust the yoga practice to tailor it to each student’s needs and abilities. I’m in my 70’s, and took up yoga later in life, and because the instructors offer various ways to approach each position, I can safely and enjoyably adapt the yoga practice in ways that heal me, make me stronger, and more agile.

The teachers are warm, welcoming, and interested in all who attend, providing a sense of inclusive community. (They offer a check-in for current requests with each who attend.) In each session, I am enriched by some pearls of wisdom, humor, or down-to-earth acknowledgement of our common experience. It is inspiring. When it is possible to attend in person (I live out of state most the year), I luxuriate in the good vibes and aesthetics the studio offers. I hope seniors like myself, or those recovering from injury, or physically challenged, know they are welcome in this center of all ages, abilities, and orientations. There are even chair yoga classes where true yoga poses are modified with the support of a chair so not to cause stress on the body, and yet you finish the session with a sense of pride and accomplishment that you can participate in this healing and emboldening...

As a Tribal person of these lands, stepping into Bhakti Yoga Movement Center carries a deep and layered meaning. To practice yoga here is not just about movement or breath—it’s about entering a space where the sacredness of many traditions is honored with humility and care. As an Indigenous person whose own people carry embodied practices rooted in land, spirit, and community, I feel a resonance in how Bhakti holds space—with reverence, responsibility, and an openness that feels genuinely welcoming. It’s rare to find a place where cultural and spiritual practices are shared not with appropriation, but with deep listening and accountability. I’m especially grateful to Tara and the incredible teachers who co-lead this space—they move with integrity, love, and an awareness of the histories held within each person who walks through the door. Practicing here is an act of healing, of reclaiming relationship, and of showing up fully—as both a Native person and a human being...