About Woodley Park Yoga
Reviews for Woodley Park Yoga
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parking: street good for kids
Woodley Park Yoga is a welcoming studio for both total novices and seasoned yogis. The atmosphere is welcoming and the community is cool. The studio is sizeable, located on the third floor of a four-story building in Woodley Park above a restaurant, with no elevator. Classes like the Saturday Guided Beginners Class and Tuesday Guided Quarter Primary are informative and enjoyable, especially for beginners. Instructors are wonderful, with calming voices; they go over poses for new folks, encourage through difficult poses, and provide excellent assists and communication. They listen and observe, making everyone feel seen. The beginner class is easier for those with some prior experience. Be prepared to sweat a little. The studio allows 13-15 people maximum. You can store your yoga mat in the back room where there are wipes. Blocks or towels are not always readily available, but you can ask. A small bathroom is in the back. You can reserve your spot online but must purchase classes directly at the studio, so buying a pack of classes is recommended for regulars. Checking in uses an honor system with a card. It is a highly recommended place to begin or continue a yoga journey.
My first experience as a total novice joining a Saturday, Guided Beginners Class was welcoming, informative, and enjoyable. I'm continuing with private lessons to build my knowledge and develop a routine. Elsie is a wonderful instructor, especially if you are a beginner. I'm glad I began my yoga journey here!
Background: I'm nearly 40 and was brand new to yoga six months ago. Was not a regular exerciser and felt intimidated by group classes. If it wasn't for the welcoming atmosphere and convenient location of Woodley Park Yoga, I don't know if I would've kept up my practice. As a newbie to yoga, I take the beginner class on Saturdays at 11am and the guided quarter primary class on Tuesdays at 7pm, both taught by Elsie. She has a calming voice, goes over the poses for new folks, and encourages you through the more difficult poses. The beginner class is easier if you've at least tried yoga at another studio or at home with YouTube videos. Be prepared to sweat a little! The studio is sizeable and allows 13-15 people max depending on the class. You can store your yoga mat in the back room, and there are wipes for your mat. I don't usually see blocks or towels readily available, but ask if you need them. The studio is on the third floor of a four-story building in Woodley Park, above Uni Sushi (no elevator). There's a small bathroom in the back of the studio. If I can think of only one downside, it's not being able to pay for classes online in advance, even though you can reserve your spot online. You need to go to the studio and purchase classes directly with the teacher, which takes time before/after class if you're waiting for others to pay too. Better to just buy a pack of 5, 10, or 20 classes if you plan to come back regularly. Checking in relies a bit on the honor system: you write your name on a card and the number of classes, then cross each number off when you show up to class. Whether your a seasoned yogi or a newbie like me, I highly recommend dropping in Woodley Park Yoga for a class!
I don't have a teacher in my area, so when I found out I was going to be in D.C. for a conference, I was thrilled. I knew there had to be some great teachers there and I was right! Faith, Diana, and Donna are all excellent. They listen and they observe. I am *not* a superstar ashtangi and they still made me feel seen. I attended Mysore twice (excellent assists and communication) and went to one led 1/2 primary (such a cool community). It's amazing how when you practice with really good teachers, you make progress in such a short time!