Explore our Programs
We offer Values-rooted wellness programs to support the whole human experience.
We cultivate resources for growth and healing.
We tend boundaries within which folks can explore joy, grief, rest, healing, self-inquiry, and community.
We believe everybody deserves wellness.
And yet, too many folks think “wellness”, be it yoga, meditation, movement, or bodywork, is not for them. You may not have enough money or time (to even search out a class or teacher). Maybe you weren’t given appropriate, spacious options for your body or mind - to tend to body size, age, injuries, conditions, or disabilities. You may have had a harmful or uncomfortable experience. Or maybe you didn’t have access to teachers with shared identities or lived experiences as you.
At TendWell, we’re curious about all of these complicated and interconnected reasons and how we can do better.
We are currently focused on cultivating relationships in the SF Bay Area, while embracing the larger ecosystem made possible by virtual connection. We are just one piece of the puzzle, and we celebrate the work of others addressing specific issues or working with specific populations. Reach out if you’re interested in collaborating with us!
Public Studio
We collaborate with values-aligned independent teachers and small local studios to offer a curated selection of their existing classes to the TendWell community - on a single schedule and booking system.
Booking with TendWell pays forward to our other programming. And, we’re non-competitive. Meaning, you are always welcome to support our collaborators directly if that works best to you.
We’re cultivating a diverse schedule in terms of types of classes and teacher identities. And we’re exploring more equitable business models for pricing and teacher payment.
Most public classes are virtual, which means you can practice from home, when you’re under the weather, and with friends and family from all over! Our live online classes are intimate and community driven.
We offer outdoor classes and pop-up’s in the SF Bay Area. We continue to explore sustainable rentals and our long-term dream of co-owning community space together.
What people are saying about public classes:
“TJ [Burleigh]'s classes never fail to invigorate and inspire. The class today challenged me to feel and think about parts of my body that are often ignored. TJ's diligent care in planning the class and attending to the individual is immensely obvious and appreciated!”
— Lori
Devon’s WITHIN Meditation class “was my first full meditation class. I’ve done quick short meditations in the past as I am a therapist myself. Having a whole class devoted to meditation was incredible."
- Ashley M
“Megan [Windeler] is skilled attentive and committed to encouraging her students to move and keep moving. She refreshes each of her sessions to balance accomplishment with challenge. She is flexible allowing workarounds and props to allow for diverse ages and abilities to cultivate a movement practice. MW is a gift that keeps on giving.”
— Cheryl M
"Excellent. All that restorative yoga should be. I especially appreciated the individual guidance for positioning."
- Linda M
“Exactly what I needed. Katy [Steadman] is warm, and inspiring. She gets to know each student and somehow provides generalized and specific instruction throughout class. I always come away calmer and more in tune.”
— Susan R
"I was able to follow along even though this was my first class with Ritu and first yoga class in a long time. Ritu's guidance on how to modify the poses or deepen them was very helpful."
- Angela L
Community Events
We believe that being in intentional, yet casual community with each other is critical for our collective well-being. It helps us feel seen, share ideas, work through challenges we’re facing, and fill up our soul-cups. Whether we gather in-person or virtually, our goal is to provide folks the option to show up as they are, right then.
Community events may look like New Moon Reflections, Experiential Book Clubs, or Dance Parties. They often have a free option.
What people are saying about community events:
New Moon Envisioning: "I was guided, with meaningful prompts, to check out my life at 85 and think about how I need to see and organize all those diverse years. I am going to make a linear outline and fill it in with real and mental pictures and share. I will need much help, but I am determined!!"
- Judith S
New Moon Fireside Chat: “Just a super relaxing and inviting space with great interesting people. Natural conversation with lots of laughs. Thank you! -my soul needed this!!!”
— Andrea R.
Virtual Dance Party: “Amazing!!!! Thank you for creating such beautiful spaces, always.”
— Ren
Experiential Book Club: “This zoom experience was so well thought out and organized. Unlike any zoom experience I’ve ever had. It was grounding not chaotic. Simple and effective. Heartfelt. Truly healing. The emphasis on health and rest ensured things could feel more real, more honest rather than heady or presentational.”
- Camie G
Affinity Support Groups
Affinity support groups are spaces cultivated for folks who share a specific identity, similar lived experience, common interest, or goal.
For some folks, affinity groups provide safer spaces for healing from oppressive systems, inequities, and injustice. Groups may also be for folks to support each through specific life experiences, like grief.
Skilled and attentive community members shape and hold these spaces. Facilitators do not claim to be subject matter experts or to know your experience They may invite guests, experts, and other perspectives into the spaces on occasion.
Participation is free with optional sliding scale contributions. Our other programming supports paying facilitators.
Our current and forming groups include
Women of Color Wellness Hour with Treina Alexander - Mondays at 12pm PT via Zoom - more info
Mindful Parenting with Andrea Stern - Thursdays at 11:30am PT via Zoom, resuming in 2023 - more info
Queer Folks who have experienced sexual or gender-based violence, discrimination, or trauma - contact us if you’re interested
Contact us to let us know what type of shared community you’re in need of:
Service and Mutual Aid
We want to live in a world where we work together to make sure our needs are taken care of without expectation of a return and without unnecessary justification. We gather to serve our community at specific events, like the Euc-a-thon at Pie Ranch (pictured). And we uplift mutual aid efforts, or grassroots support, to respond to urgent or specific community needs.
Our community spent $1,521+ in 2021. Funds went to Mutual Aid India for COVID-19 relief; the Euc-a-thon supporting Pie Ranch, Amah Mutsun Land Trust, and San Mateo Resource Conservation District; specific community members in urgent need; and the purchase of supplies to complete RestWell kits.
Find Service opportunities on our community events page.
RestWell Kits
In 2020, as our beloved brick and mortar yoga studios were closing…we gathered and cleaned used props: several carloads worth of mats, bolsters, blocks, blankets, straps, and eye covers. And we created something new: RestWell Kits!
Yoga props can help deepen your practice. Especially true for restorative yoga, where you build a nest for your body so that you and your nervous system can really sink into a place of rest.
Yet, the cost of props is inaccessible for many! We’re proud to have delivered 40 free RestWell Kits in 2021 - valued at $4,788+ total.
Want a RestWell Kit? Fill out the form below.
Have old props or fitness equipment that we could reuse? Also fill out the form. We’ll coordinate a pickup and take care of the rest (pun intended).
What people are saying about RestWell Kits:
“I just got back home to unbox the kits, and I feel so held and loved!”
— Abi
“Wow this is amazing - such nice gifts. Can’t thank you enough! Thank you thank you thank you!”
— Jenn
“Thank you! This is so generous! I’ve always wanted to buy a bolster & I’m just so grateful.”