BYC Rental

Berkeley Yoga Center (BYC) currently has class time slots available for rental by qualified and dedicated yoga teachers and teachers of other movement/healing arts. We also rent the spaces out for other activities, such as photo shoots, small private gatherings, music and dance events, etc. Read below for more details.

About The Studios
Berkeley Yoga Center consists of two yoga studios (Studio 209 and C), located in historical buildings that overlook Strawberry Creek Park. Both studios are approximately 1044 square feet and have wood floors, high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and a tranquil atmosphere. (Go through the website to see photos of the studios: you are also welcome to stop by either just before or just after a class to see the studios for yourself — check BYC online class schedule for class times). The studios are stocked with a variety of props: sticky mats, blankets, blocks, straps, sand-bags, and some chairs. There is a sound system in Studio 209 that is compatible with an iPod or iPhone. Both studios have windows that open to let in plenty of air, and a furnace for colder days. There is metered and free parking within blocks of the studios.

Renting the Space for Private Events
If you are interested in using the space for a private event (photo shoots, small private gathering, music and dance events, etc.) the fee is $40/hour. All renters must have liability insurance and provide a copy to BYC.

Yoga/Movement Arts Teachers
Unlike many bigger yoga studios, BYC does not pay teachers to teach; instead, teachers are independent contractors who run their own classes/workshops out of the studios. This model is one that gives teachers a lot of autonomy and supports them to have a direct relationship with their students. It also allows teachers to generate far more income than they would under the big studio model. However, for teachers, it is an initial investment of time, energy, and money.

Regular Weekly classes:

Class times open up periodically for new teachers; you are encouraged to contact the studio, send in your resume, and let us know if there is a particular time you are interested in (cybeleb@hotmail.com or melyoga@hotmail.com).
The rent is $29/hour ($43.50 for a 1.5 hour class; $36.25 for a 1.25 hour class), paid on a monthly basis, at the beginning of the month. The rent is averaged out over a six-month period so the same amount is due each month. Teachers pay for the time slot for each week, whether the class takes place or not, with the exception of official studio holidays which teachers do not pay for (unless they opt to teach then).
A six month commitment is required (either January-June or July-December), but teachers are encouraged to commit for a year, as this is the minimum amount of time needed to build healthy classes.
Teachers can opt to teach in a series format, with particular dates for a particular series, or they can teach an ongoing drop-in class that takes place continuously, every week.
Teachers are responsible for collecting their own fees, keeping track of their student base, marketing their class, and building the class size.
Unplanned class cancellations are strongly discouraged as this reflects poorly on the teacher and the studio.
Official studio holidays are January 1 (New Year's Day), President's Day (in February), Easter Sunday (in March or April), Memorial Day (in May), July 4 (Independence Day), Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day (in October), Thanksgiving Day (in November), December 24-January 1 (studios close for a week).
Teachers must show proof of insurance, through CYTA (California Yoga Teachers' Association) or another reputable insurance company, with BYC named as an additional insured.

How BYC Supports Your Classes/Workshops
BYC prints a paper schedule twice a year which lists classes, class descriptions, fees, teachers' names, and workshop information; we also update our website with more detailed information, including teachers' bios, headshot, and contact information and links. We are in the process of designing a newsletter to go to the larger BYC community on a quarterly basis.

Workshops:

If you are interested in teaching a public yoga workshop at BYC, the rental fee is a 25% cut of what is brought in. You handle the registration of students and pay the rent to BYC after the event.
There is a $35 cancellation fee for workshops that are cancelled.