Yoga Program Class Descriptions

Trauma Informed Restorative Yoga:

This practice will be a welcome nourishment to any folks with an exhausted brain, tired body, and overworked heart. For anyone who has not had the opportunity to experience trauma-informed and restorative yoga, you can expect to go slow and easy. You will be provided options but this will be YOUR practice- you can try an option or two that are suggested, or just lie down on your back the whole time. It is up to you. This deep resting practice will provide opportunities to slow down the mind, blood pressure, and heart rate and guide you towards a reset nervous system through breathing, gentle and slow movement, and meditation. This class will be an invitation to slow down long enough to listen to our bodies, our hearts, and see what areas of ourselves might need a bit more nurturing or soothing. Please bring a pillow and a blanket!

Facilitated by Rebecca Berry

 

Fire Flow: Heat-Building Yoga & Ritual Movement:

This BIPOC series engages participants in a rhythmic flow to move energy, release stagnation, and restore inner fire. This series is designed to ground you in strength, breath, and divine power.

Facilitated by Malcolm Hatch

 

Reiki Infused Sound Bath Meditation:

A Reiki-infused sound bath with Shantice is an immersive and restorative journey, blending both the sacred practices of Reiki and sound healing. You’ll be gently guided into deep relaxation through breathwork and visualization, then taken further by the soothing tones of crystal bowls, the harmonic resonance of tuning forks, and the subtle, loving flow of Reiki energy. Each offering is intuitively layered and lovingly curated. Guests are invited to pull oracle cards at the end of the session, offering grounded reflection and spiritual clarity. Whether through vibration, energy, or message, Shantice's work is an invitation to return to flow and inner alignment.

Facilitated by Shantice Edwards

 

Ancient Flow: Union of Body, Mind, and Spirit:

Step into a timeless practice where the wisdom of Africa meets the heart of modern Yoga. In this class, we explore the spiritual roots of yoga, grounded in the concept of—the union of the Higher Self and Lower Self, and the profound teachings of indigenous African spiritual tradition. Our practice weaves together postures, breath, and meditation to support your orí (head), iporí (consciousness), ori inu (eternal consciousness), and okan (heart) to function as one so that you may experience perfect alignment. 

Long before the concept of Yoga made its way to India, its roots were deeply embedded in the spiritual soil of Kemet. Kemetic people practiced psychophysical exercises and meditative disciplines to unite with the Divine. 

This class invites you to deepen your practice beyond physical postures and strengthen your aṣé (vital life force) that connects all living beings. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced yogi, this practice will help you discover a deeper sense of inner peace and alignment with your higher purpose. Through this class, we’ll explore a system of sacred postures that mirror the Divine Forces of Nature. By acting in union with the Divine Forces of Nature, we invoke their energies, activating our highest potential in mind, body, and spirit.

Facilitated by Yoko

THE SANCTUARY IS AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO MEET YOURSELF AGAIN (AND AGAIN) AT YOUR ALTAR.

The Sanctuary is more than a place—it is a portal into remembrance, where healing, culture, and spirit converge.

We are a 100% sustainable, Black queer woman (Olòrìṣà) owned apothecary, botánica, apparel, and home decor boutique located in the heart of Oakland’s vibrant Grand Lake neighborhood.

Read About Our Founders

Every offering—from the herbal blends we craft to the garments we design—is rooted in Earth-honoring practice, ancestral wisdom, and cultural integrity.

  • Our herbal remedies are handcrafted on-site by our co-founder, a Clinical Herbalist and Ayurvedic Health Counselor with over a decade of experience. Each formula is intentionally designed using organic, non-GMO, fair trade ingredients, many of which are locally sourced.

  • As the only botánica in the Bay Area offering fresh, organic, non-GMO, fair trade ritual herbs, we are deeply honored to hold this sacred responsibility. All of our spiritual baths, candles, oils, powders, sprays, and amulets are prepared in-house, guided by traditional divination and spiritual practice. Our spiritual tools, including handmade Lukumí, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, and Palo supplies, are ethically sourced and crafted by knowledgeable artisans rooted in these traditions.

  • All of our apparel and home decor is mindfully made using eco-friendly organic and/or recycled materials. Sustainability is indigenous. We believe that all that touches the body and adorns the home is spiritual and should be made with care for both the planet and the people.
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To restore balance to the Earth, we must restore balance within ourselves and our communities. This is the path of sacred remembering.

Our Vision

The Sanctuary is a living temple of Earth-centered wisdom, spiritual healing, and cultural restoration. Rooted in the sacred teachings of Ifa tradition, we are a lighthouse that guides people toward personal transformation and collective liberation through communion with nature, community, and ancestral knowledge.

Our vision is to awaken the divine spark in every being by remembering the sacred interdependence between humanity, spirit, and the Earth.

Our Mission

We are a transformative Black eco-system dedicated to:

  • African-American cultural preservation
  • Cultivation of heirloom plants essential to the African American pharmacopeia
  • Stewarding of knowledge of African Diasporic plants used for spiritual ceremony
  • Climate activism through an Indigenous African lens
  • Healing racial and ancestral trauma through centering culture as a form of healing 
  • Preserving the sacred
  • Re-membering African Indigenous, and Earth-based spiritual traditions

Every item you find at the Sanctuary is made or curated with intention and deep cultural respect. We serve our community with the utmost ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ and with a profound commitment to honoring the indigenous African spiritual traditions of which we or initiated to.

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3344 Grand Avenue, Oakland, California