Our studio
The Space
We’re located next to Jam on Hawthorne, at 1431 SE 23rd Ave in Portland, OR.
Eight Limbs occupies the former home of Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic. It spans about 1400 sq ft and can comfortably fit around 25 mats. Our floors are concrete, and our ceilings are high, and this is most definitely an urban studio designed as a respite from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside our doors.
We are a communal space, meant to be shared and enjoyed. This ain’t your mama’s silent yoga shala. We’re vibrant and chatty and we crack dumb jokes all the time. We want everyone to feel welcome here. Stop in to say hi, do some yoga, and make a friend. It’s that simple.
The space will play host to all kinds of yoga-related activities, but we want it to be more than that. It’s a space for community, and we’re open to any and all ideas for events or bookings, so feel free to reach out if you have something in mind!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, our sign work and hand painted windows were done by the amazing Raine Fredrickson from Thank You Lettering Co. Support local businesses, artists, and makers. Duh.
Relax. It's just yoga.
Why “Eight Limbs”?
A lot of people ask us what Eight Limbs means, and no, it’s not a spider shop (that happened twice!)
Long story short: a very long time ago, a sage named Patañjali wrote The Yoga Sutras, which was one of the first, if not the first, codified explanation of the path of yoga. In it, he illuminated the “eight limbs of yoga”. Think of them as pathways, or branches on a tree, all leading us toward enlightenment. They are:
Yamas, or ethical guidelines for how to exist in the world. They include
Ahimsa - nonviolence
Satya - truthfulness
Asteya - non-stealing
Brahmacharya - personal restraint
Aparigraha - non-posessiveness
Niyamas, moral observances that include
Saucha - cleanliness
Santosha - contentment
Tapas - self-discipline
Svadhyaya - self-study
Ishvarapranidhana - surrender
Asana, basically just means “a comfortable seat,” but what we’ve come to understand as the physical postures associated with yoga.
Pranayama, control of the breath and the direction of prana, or life force.
Pratyahara, or sensory withdrawl.
Dharana, concentration.
Dhayana, AKA meditation.
and Samhadi, which means “putting together, joining with, union, harmonious whole.”
So those are the Eight Limbs of yoga, and we chose that name as a reminder to ourselves that yoga is more than just exercise, more than just stretching, more than just Asana. It’s a whole system designed to work together to help us become better versions of ourselves and teach us how to relate to the Self and the world around us. Plus, we thought it sounded cool.
Classes
We are open 7 days a week and offer various types of classes throughout the day. Generally speaking, you’ll be able to find at least a 9 AM and a 6 PM vinyasa every day of the week, but aside from that, you’ll want to check the schedule. We will do our best to keep the schedule up to date and try not to cancel classes when we can avoid it, but hey, shit happens!
In the spirit of accessibility and inclusion, we offer two pay-what-you-can classes: Yoga Happy Hour on Fridays at 5 PM and Yoga for the People on Sundays at noon.
It’s always best to register ahead of time to make sure we have a spot for you, but we will happily welcome walk ins as space allows.
Please try to arrive early, especially if it’s your first time, so you can get the lay of the land. We will lock the door 5 minutes after the class is scheduled to start, so be there or be square.
Classes are designed to be accessible to practitioners of all levels. They may be challenging, and you might get sweaty, but your teacher will always work with you to make you more comfortable and ensure you’re feeling supported. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek guidance when you need it, that’s what we’re here for!
Many of our teachers offer hands-on assists but those are always optional. We’ll say it again for the folks in the back: hands on assistance is always optional. Consent is key, and your personal space will always be respected. Don’t be shy about telling us to buzz off and keep our paws to ourselves, if that’s what works best for you.
You are encouraged to bring your own mat and a water bottle, but we have those things available if you need them. And no, you do not have to “rent a mat.” That’s silly. You can just borrow one if you need to. We also have all the blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets you could want so go nuts!
Intentions & Values
We have no idea who that lady is in the photo, she came with the Squarespace template, so sorry to her. She’s just there to illustrate a point. Many yoga studios like to use perfect photos of perfect bodies in perfect outfits doing perfect poses.
All due respect, but we’re not really about that.
Perfection is an illusion. It doesn’t exist, and even if it did, we wouldn’t want it anyway. Yoga is a practice — so practice. Whoever you are, however you look, just…practice. That’s what counts.
All bodies are welcome here. All ages, all races, all levels of ability, genders, shapes, sizes, etc. etc. You get the point. And that’s a two-way street. You’re always welcome here, but we expect you to welcome everyone around you in return. Make space for others, and they’ll make space for you. Don’t be creepy. Don’t touch other people without their consent. Don’t photograph or film others. Basically, don’t do anything you’d have a hard time explaining to your mom if she found out about it.
Many people come to yoga for exercise, and that’s fantastic, we love that. But this is a not a competition, and being super good at handstands or whatever is not an indication that you’re “advanced” or better than anyone at yoga. Chill out.
And we get it, it’s 2026 and we’re all glued to our phones, but OMG put it down when you’re here. No, you can’t film yourself practicing. No you can’t take a call while everyone is in shavasana. We try not to judge others, but if you do that kinda stuff, you better believe we’ll judge you for it.
To learn more about our values, check out the How We Practice Together page.
We love Portland and we know you do too. It ain’t perfect, but it’s home, and we wouldn’t want to do this anywhere else.
Whenever possible, we want to create connections with other local organizations who help make Portland a better place. Ask us about our Community Partnership program for your employees and our Yoga for the People program helping bring access to wellness to everyone!
Oh, and in case it needs to be said: