Business Details
17 Years
experience
Your Premier Ashtanga Yoga Studio in Birmingham
Founded in 2009, Birmingham Yoga has been dedicated to nurturing the local yoga community through traditional Ashtanga practices, teacher training, and community partnerships. Our studio was established by Akasha Ellis, who began teaching yoga in 2000 and pioneered Birmingham's yoga scene. In 2017, Heather Sullivan joined to expand our mission of creating an inclusive, diverse space grounded in yoga's holistic traditions. With over two decades of combined experience, our team offers progressive Ashtanga classes, including Mysore-style instruction tailored for all skill levels. We prioritize individualized attention, ensuring students receive personalized guidance during their practice.Our 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training program has equipped countless instructors across Alabama and neighboring regions. We maintain a welcoming environment where practitioners develop physical strength, mental clarity, and spiritual connection. Our community partnerships with organizations like Trini Foundation demonstrate our commitment to social enrichment. Through virtual sessions, retreats, and workshops, we extend our reach beyond physical boundaries. Every aspect of our operationfrom class structure to teacher developmentreflects our dedication to authentic yoga practice and community building.
Services
Ashtanga Yoga
Yoga Teacher Training
Mysore Classes
Virtual Sessions
Retreats & Workshops
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We offer Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training since 2005
- Our founders have shaped Birmingham's yoga community since 2000
- Mysore classes accommodate all skill levels with personalized instruction
- Community partnerships promote inclusivity and social enrichment
- Virtual options available for flexible practice schedules
Associations and certifications
- Yoga Alliance
What people say
Made to feel at home
Perfect individual attention
Found a yoga home
Completely accepted
Nurtures my practice
Services
Ashtanga Yoga
Our Ashtanga yoga classes follow traditional progressive sequences with individualized instruction. Practitioners develop strength, flexibility, and mental focus through structured postures. The practice integrates breathwork and meditation for holistic wellness, suitable for all experience levels seeking physical and spiritual growth.
Yoga Teacher Training
Our 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified training prepares instructors through comprehensive curriculum covering anatomy, philosophy, and teaching methodology. Participants gain practical experience guiding classes while learning to create inclusive environments. The program emphasizes authentic practice and community building for emerging yoga professionals.
Mysore Classes
Mysore-style sessions allow students to practice at their own pace with personalized adjustments from instructors. Beginners receive foundational guidance while experienced practitioners advance through established sequences. This format fosters community connection while maintaining individual progress in a supportive environment.
Virtual Sessions
Live virtual classes provide accessible yoga practice from any location. Participants join real-time sessions with interactive instruction maintaining the integrity of traditional Ashtanga methods. This option accommodates busy schedules while preserving the community aspect of group practice through digital engagement.
Retreats & Workshops
Immersive retreats and specialized workshops deepen practice through focused themes and extended sessions. Events include seasonal retreats, philosophy discussions, and technique-intensive workshops. These programs offer opportunities for transformational experiences beyond regular class formats in both local and destination settings.
People
Akasha Ellis
Founder
Akasha began teaching yoga in 2000 and established Birmingham Yoga in 2009. He pioneered the city's yoga community through traditional Ashtanga instruction and teacher training programs that have shaped instructors across the Southeast since 2005.
Heather Sullivan
Co-Owner
Heather joined Birmingham Yoga in 2017, bringing compassionate teaching methods and community engagement expertise. She expanded partnerships with local nonprofits like Trini Foundation while maintaining the studio's commitment to authentic yoga practice and inclusive growth.
Questions
What is Ashtanga yoga?
Ashtanga is a structured yoga system with progressive postures, breathwork, and meditation. Our classes follow traditional sequences while accommodating individual needs through personalized instruction for all experience levels.
What are Mysore-style classes?
Mysore classes let students practice at their own pace with individual guidance. Beginners start anytime while experienced practitioners advance through established sequences in a supportive group environment with personalized adjustments.
Do you offer beginner classes?
All Mysore classes are beginner-friendly. We also offer an Intro to Ashtanga 4-week series every 8 weeks with small class sizes focusing on foundational postures, breathing techniques, and yoga philosophy.
What payment options exist?
We provide drop-in sessions ($18), intro unlimited passes ($85), monthly memberships ($115-135), and annual unlimited passes ($1350). Gift cards are available for flexible gifting options.
Is virtual participation available?
Yes, we offer live virtual classes with interactive instruction. Participants join real-time sessions from any location while maintaining the integrity of traditional Ashtanga methods through digital engagement tools.
Reviews (5)
Emily C.
Nov 12, 2020
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Birmingham Yoga is such a welcoming place! I'm always nervous to try a new yoga studio, but everyone made me feel so comfortable! I've been going to the Yin class for several weeks and absolutely love it! It's such a great class to rest and relax after work, and Rachel (the instructor) is awesome! They are also doing a great job taking precautions for covid with temperature checks and social distancing in class!
Constance S.
Dec 14, 2019
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Birmingham Yoga is hands down one of the best yoga experiences I've ever had. I started out with a beginner Ashtanga class 2 years ago. Since that time I've moved into a Mysore practice, which allows all yogis to work through their Ashtanga practice at their own pace with the instruction and guidance of the instructor. Heather, one of the owners and the primary Mysore instructor, works one on one with each participant through the class guiding through the series of postures, assisting with adjustments and teaching added postures as your practice develops. A significant number of the
Paige K.
Oct 04, 2018
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Donation classes (that means you.). Everyone can afford it! Various styles and teachers from ashtanga to Kundalini. Acro to restorative. And of course vinyasa.
Amy S.
Aug 02, 2016
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I practice regularly at Birmingham Yoga and have been doing yoga with many different teachers for about 5 years. This studio and its teachers have always been well equipped, inviting and supportive. I think that any studio is going to take on the intent of it's owner and primary teacher and Akasha is relatively traditional in his teachings. He spent part of his youth learning from Yogi Bhajan and part in India learning from Yogi Vishwanath. I think this very traditional and less filtered view of yoga colors the studio, and not in a negative way. The studio's "vibe" is equal
Janece M.
Mar 19, 2015
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This is another local yoga studio that I enjoy dropping by a few times a month. Birmingham Yoga offers classes throughout the week for all levels of yoga for new and veteran practitioners alike. I always feel welcomed and at ease whenever I drop by and there is typically a diverse (young, older, male, female, etc.) group of people in the classes. The studio also has loaner mats, blocks, and bands for attendees to use if they do not own personal gear or happen to forget it before coming to a class. In addition, the studio offers discounts to students and pay what you can afford for the community
