Vision and Mission

We seek to spread an attitude and value system of holiness, eternity and peace. Our vision is expressed in the Sugi name.

By honoring ourselves and all life on earth, we express holiness in the world and stimulate profound change.

Eternity reflects the idea that when respect and honor are primary intentions for all stages of life, positive reverberations are felt not only in one own’s life but future generations as well.

Peace is a way of being in the world that fully incorporates holiness and eternity as spiritual attitudes that bring peace into everyday life. Everything we do in Sugi embodies these beliefs.

The Meaning of Sugi

People of all ages are being told daily that they must learn to live with mental, emotional or physical pain and limitations. These restrictive beliefs might be voiced by medical professionals, friends, loved ones or even ourselves.

At Sugi Health and Fitness our voices are different. We are Amy and Ofer Erez the founders of Sugi Health and Fitness, and we have learned from experience that people can improve almost any situation or physical limitation. By working from a place that is comfortable and at a pace that is easy - injuries, bad habits, attitudes, even limiting disabilities from disease can be improved and often eliminated.

More than 15 years ago, as newlyweds, we both became Reiki Masters. While designing a Reiki certificate for our students, we traveled to San Francisco’s Chinatown to buy a kanji stamp for our last name. The artisan translated the kanji for Erez, which is cedar tree in Hebrew, as “holiness, eternity and peace”.

Opening our first studio in Pleasant Hill in October 2002, started us on a new phase of our journey. While choosing a new name for Ofer’s unique style of yoga, we decided to rename the studio as well. Reflecting on the Erez kanji from so long ago, we chose Sugi – Japanese for cedar tree. Thus Sugi Yoga was born and our studio was renamed Sugi Studios.

With our program offerings expanding and the introduction of our new school- Sugi School of Health and Fitness - it is fitting that the name“Sugi”encompasses all we are today. As Sugi Health and Fitness, our services have become richer and created solely for your benefit.