Everyday People features the people who make the greater Ingleside neighborhood a special part of San Francisco.
From front desk attendant to yoga teacher, Yoga Flow's Michaela Duncanson does it all.
After job hunting in 2022, Duncanson stumbled upon the studio's Union Street location. Her interest in the meditative practice quickly turned into her passion over the last three years after seeing how its disciplines changed their students' lives. Now, she operates out of the Ingleside location.
“I was not really in the yoga world at all before,” Duncanson said. “It was just a job that I took, and now I love it.”
Duncanson has also started teaching at the Ingleside location and completed 200 hours of training. She leads the slow flow yoga classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights, guiding participants through the slower method of meditation that focuses more on breath work and posing.
Though she’s only been at the Ingleside location for one year, Duncanson's favorite part has been interacting with the community.
“The community is really special,” Duncanson said. “Everybody comes for different reasons, and we all come together and just breathe and move for an hour. It’s sweet.”
The Ingleside Light met with Duncanson to learn about yoga in the neighborhood.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What does a typical day at the studio look like for you?
Here at the desk, I get here at 8 a.m. to open the studio. At least for this shift, the morning session, we have three to five classes, depending on the day. We have some in the big room and then some in the little room. I open the space, make it welcoming and turn on the heaters. I make sure the teacher is set up for success in their classes. We welcome 10 to 50 people per class, so I welcome them, get them checked in and give them anything they need.
Why should people do yoga?
People come to yoga for so many different reasons. I think a lot of people start to get into being more active or, if they are already active things, they may have an injury, and can come to yoga because it’s still like you're moving. Also, it’s more approachable and slower paced and really based on breathing. There are a lot of different branches of yoga to try. The yoga philosophy is that yoga meets you where you are, so all body shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Everyone belongs in yoga. It’s very inclusive, and there is something for everyone here.
What is one piece of advice you have for someone starting their yoga journey?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If something isn’t totally resonating with you, try something different. There always are ways to accommodate whatever you're feeling in the moment. There are different ways to be more supportive of your body. Everything is about breathing through the moment and just kind of understanding what you’re experiencing and moving accordingly.
Anne Marie Kristoff (she/her) is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University's journalism program. She enjoys writing about the arts, entertainment and nature.
