Announcing our Fall 2026 program:
May this find you well. Our Fall session begins with two new courses starting Sept 26, 2026. Both courses will have 4 in-person sessions taught at the Alembic in Berkeley, California, and 8 online sessions. We have also added more recorded courses available for new or continuing students, and for experienced practitioners. We look forward to supporting you in your yogic sadhana.
Our Offerings
We teach Shadow Yoga and Nrtta Sadhana with a variety of offerings for both new and experienced students alike.
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Preparatory Work (Vyayama)
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Shadow Yoga Prelude Forms
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Individual Asana
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Special Focus Yoga Courses and Workshops
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Nrtta Sadhana
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Asana Angahara
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Yoga Practitioner Training
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Private Yoga Consultation
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Yoga Teaching Mentorship and Apprenticeship
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Yoga Retreats
In-person courses and workshops are taught at the Alembic in Berkeley, CA.
We also offer hybrid courses which include both on-line and in-person teaching, with online-only options for non-local students.
Fall 2026 Courses
Fall Practitioner Intensive
awakening the subtle body thru the power of synergy
with Mark Horner
Sept 26 to Dec 19
12 Saturdays
4 sessions
at the Alembic in Berkeley, CA
and 8 sessions online
6:45 to 8:30am
Nrtta and Asana Angahara
Ananda Tandava & primary seats
with Mark Horner and Judy Yu
Sept 26 to Dec 19
12 Saturdays
4 sessions
at the Alembic in Berkeley, CA
and 8 sessions online
8:45 to 10:15am
Recorded Courses
For Continuing Students
For Experience Practitioners
Progress thru the Preludes
mastering the preliminary tools of Shadow Yoga
Tools of an advancing Practice
nrtta, asana, kriya, & mudra
Karttikeya Mandala
and primary asana vinyasa
Nrtta and Pranayama
establishing the container
Nrtta Sadhana:
Eight Palms short form
and primary asana vinyasa
Fall 2025 Practitioner Intensive
mindset, tools, and application
Nrtta Sadhana:
Lasya long form
and primary asana vinyasa
Winter 2026 Practitioner Intensive
Developing skillful response and adaptation in Sadhana
Nrtta Sadhana:
Ananda Tandava form
and primary seats
Spring 2026 Practitioner Intensive
building congruence in sadhana and outer life
Our Approach
We opened Hatha Yoga Shala East Bay as a school of Shadow Yoga to provide a comprehensive yoga training program and a supportive setting and context for the discerning student.
Our focus is on quality, in-depth teaching that builds within the student a proper foundation coupled with discernment to allow the teaching to unfold organically from within. The teaching of yoga is a process of transmission from guide to student. The understanding and embodiment born of years of personal sadhana within the guide is the power which ignites this process.
We teach Shadow Yoga and Nrtta Sadhana in a course-based, pre-registration format, so the teaching can be built up progressively from class to class. This requires a greater commitment on the part of both student and teacher, yet the reward is a more profound depth of learning and understanding.
Mark Horner
Mark has been teaching Hatha Yoga since 1990 and is an acknowledged Shadow Yoga teacher. He has studied closely with Sundernath (Shandor Remete), the founder of Shadow Yoga since 1994, as well as Emma Balnaves. Mark's teaching is enhanced by 8 years of bodywork practice as a Certified Rolfer as well as many years of classical piano study, rock climbing, and the study of Ayurveda.
Judy Yu
Judy is an acknowledged Shadow Yoga teacher since 2011 and a dedicated practitioner since 2006 when she met her teachers Sundernath (Shandor Remete) and Emma Balnaves. From her first introduction to Shadow Yoga, Judy was immediately drawn to the intelligence, depth, and effectiveness of the approach. She is one of the executive producers for the award winning film Agniyogana.
About the Sadhana
What is Shadow Yoga?
Shadow Yoga is a hatha yoga system which utilizes prelude forms for training and places great importance on preparatory work as the foundation for meaningful progress. The Shadow Yoga prelude forms combine strong stance work with round, spiraling movements, rhythmic breathing, and bandha. The three Shadow Yoga prelude forms: 1. BALAKRAMA: Stepping into Strength 2. CHAYA YODDHA SANCHALANAM: Churning of the Shadow Warrior 3. KARTTIKEYA MANDALA: Garland of Light Shadow Yoga was developed by yoga master Sundernath (Shandor Remete) to make use of the methods and practices common to classical Hatha Yoga and the self-cultivating arts (both martial and dance). This skillful, systematic preparation frees blockage in the Marma System (Vital Junctions), leading to the unobstructed circulation of the life force. This sets the stage for the inner work of asana, mudra, pranayama, and meditation. See shadowyoga.com for more information
The teachings of Shadow Yoga are based upon the ancient Hatha Yogic texts which state that all fixed forms should be designed to develop the practice of freestyle
What is Nrtta Sadhana?
Nrtta Sadhana is the pure dance of Shiva. The forms in the Nrtta Sadhana contain the karanas for self-cultivation and restoring the body’s natural energetic responsiveness. The four forms of Nrtta Sadhana: 1. ANANDA TANDAVA: Shiva’s dance of dissolvement 2. ASHTA MATRIKAS: Eight mother palms 3. LASYA: Kali’s creative dance (long form) 4. SHIVA TANDAVA: Wild dance of Shiva. The Shadow Yoga Preludes prepare the student for the smaller, more subtle and refined movements of the Nrtta Sadhana. See shadowyoga.com for more information
The Nrtta is that Sadhana (way of accomplishment) by which the sadhaka (aspirant) rediscovers the rhythmic life currents hidden within the body by means of unimposed natural positioning