Tag Archives: Yoga

Weekend Warrior: April 2 – 4

Posted on April 1, 2010 | 1 Comment
Weekend Warrior in summary:

Friday, April 2
To do:

  1. Pick out outfit for Cherry Blossom Yoga on the Mall tomorrow.
  2. Pack mat and assorted yoga accoutrement.
  3. Mentally prepare for awesomeness with Peg Mulqueen, Faith Hunter, Michael Hall, and others.
  4. Frantically call, email, facebook, and tweet ALL friends to make sure they are all coming down to participate in the event.
we luv cherry blossoms!

Saturday, April 3
Get up early, have a warm breakfast, and leave early to arrive on-time and maximize ideal mat placement at Cherry Blossom Yoga on the Mall, beginning at 11 a.m.

Sunday, April 4
Recover from Cherry Blossom Yoga on the Mall, check WelcomeOmDC for pictures of self in a rockin’ dancer pose, warrior II, or chillin’ in Savasana under the cherry blossom trees.

And scene.

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Pose of the Week: Triangle

Posted on March 30, 2010 | 1 Comment

Triangle pose or utthita trikonasana (extended three-angle pose) in sanskrit, is a pose that many students, beginner to advanced, can try with modifications and enjoy the opportunity to create length in the body on all sides. Triangle pose is a lovely standing pose to take after a few warming surya namaskars (sun salutations) to open the heart, lengthen both sides of the torso, and play with the energy and weight distribution between the arms and legs.

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Deal of the Week: Free Classes at Unity Woods

Posted on March 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Baddha Konasana with Straps, by apolaine

Have you been wanting to try Iyengar yoga but haven’t had the chance? Perhaps you’re an Iyengar student who cut yoga out of the budget in this downer of an economy… OR, maybe you just like FREE yoga where strangers strap and block you into asanas (poses) both familiar and not? 

Regardless of your reason, this is your week to try or return to Iyengar yoga because three locations of Unity Woods Yoga Center in Woodley Park, Bethesda and Ballston are offering FREE classes all week long. Yes, multiple free yoga classes in one week! 

Iyengar is the style of yoga known for its use of props – blankets, straps, cushions, blocks, etc. for helping students find proper alignment in yoga poses. The style is very precise in its postures, and teachers are heavily trained to assist students of all levels to get into poses with awareness, precision and proper alignment to prevent injury and maximize benefit. 

BKS Iyengar, one cool bendy yogi

B.K.S. Iyengar, the founder of this method, was named by Time magazine as “one of the 100 most influential people in the world”. Mr. Iyengar’s approach to yoga is supposed to develop self-awareness through precision in movement and attention to the subtleties of body, breath, mind, and spirit.

Investment: FREE. And there is no sign up in advance required for these free classes - just show up and enjoy. What better time to try Iyengar yoga on for size!

Posted by: Jamie

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Posted in Deals and Discounts, Yoga: All Studios

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Studio Review: lil omm

Posted on March 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

Tucked into a cute little nook behind Black Salt restaurant in the Palisades is DC’s latest newcomer to the yoga studio family – lil omm. WelcomeOmDC was happy to attend their opening party last Saturday to check out the space, chat with the owner, and snap some photos of prospective students young and old(er).

An inviting entrance

It should be stated up front that lil omm is NOT just a studio for kids. The studio caters to a range of students from newborns all the way to adulthood (including a cool sounding class for the whole family and one for tweens). Classes are available for kids of all ages, and there are plenty offered classes for adults only (with daycare provided for those who need it) including Kundalini, Abs, Mixed Style Yoga, Pilates, and TOUGH/love. Moms-to-be will find pre-natal classes, and all teachers are prepared to teach postpartum women in any of the adult classes. Adults of all levels are welcome to the studio, regardless if they have children or not.

Child Care Room

The studio is open, filled with light, and very welcoming. The child care room on the side of the studio offers a comforting and safe space for little ones to play while parents practice. The staff are friendly and inviting.

Little touches (like an intention wall, how sweet!) are spread throughout the studio and really make it feel like a space that you (and your kids if you’ve got them) will want grow, relax, and maybe make a new friend or two.

What a wonderful asset for the neighborhood and the yoga community overall – Welcome Om lil omm!

A cute little student tests the bamboo-styled floor


lil omm is located at 4830 V Street, NW just off MacArthur Boulevard in the Palisades.

A quick minute with owner Pleasance Lowengard Silicki

Catching up with Pleasance, the owner

Mom-to-be Stacey places her intention in the intention wall

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Posted in Studio Reviews, Yoga: In Your 'Hood

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Pose of the Week: Cobra

Posted on March 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

Photography by Brandon Bloch. Graphics by Brandon Bloch & Kiril Tchangov.

Cobra pose, or bhujangasana, is one of the basic poses in a vinyasa style yoga practice. It is a wonderful upper back opener, and is a relatively easy position to master with practice and time.

Traditional texts claim that Bhujangasana increases body heat, destroys disease, and awakens kundalini.

Getting into it: First, turn over on the stomach and place your hands on the floor beside your pectoral muscles. Next, place your hands, palms down, under the shoulders on the floor. Inhale, and without lifting the navel from the floor, raise the chest and head, arching the back. Stretch as far into the pose as possible, holding the breath. Hold the pose for 15-20 seconds. Exhale while slowly lowering to the floor.

Why we love it: The more you practice cobra pose, the more love you invite into your life… really! Cobra pose creates more space in the heart muscle: space to give and receive love.

The other physical and mental benefits of cobra pose are countless. Cobra strengthens the spine, firms the buttocks, and stimulates abdominal organs. The pose stretches and opens the chest, lungs, shoulders, and abdomen.  Cobra is also said to soothe sciatica and asthma.

For beginners: Beginners should be careful not to stretch past their comfort zone; doing so can cause back strain. A good indicator that you are at the correct height is if you can raise your hands off the floor while comfortably holding the arch in your back. If not, then it’s time to lower down a little.

Where to Practice Cobra: On Sunday, March 28th, Boundless Yoga Studio (1522 U Street NW) is offering a Cobra Pose Workshop as part of the studio’s “One-Pose-At-a-Time” series. The workshop is from 2:15-3:45pm, and is only $10. Register in advance online, or arrive early to register in person.

Share Your Comments and Questions: What tips can you share for readers on getting into, and holding, Tree Pose? What poses would you like to see featured here in the future?

Photography & Graphics by Brandon Bloch.

Graphics by Kiril Tchangov.

Yogini: Kristen Neishi.

Posted by: Kelly

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Yoga in the District: By Neighborhood

Posted on February 23, 2010 | 1 Comment

In this post, you will find a comprehensive listing of yoga studios in the District, categorized by neighborhood. If you hear about a new studio, or feel that we left something out, give us a holler!

Logan/Dupont/U Street

Flow Yoga Center, 1450 P Street NW, 202.462.3569

Tranquil Space,  1632 17th Street NW, 202.328.YOGA

Yoga District, 1635 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202.265-9642 (also located at 1910 14th Street & 1830 1st St NW)

Boundless Yoga, 1522 U Street NW, 202.234.9642

Balance Gym, 1111 14th Street NW, 202.216.9000

Vida Metropole,  1517 15th Street NW, 202.588.5559

DC Bikram Yoga, 1635 Connecticut Ave NW, 4th Floor, 202.332.8680

Evolve, 2024 P Street NW, 202.955-5555

Results Dupont, 1612 U Street NW, 202.234.5678

Mount Vernon/Shaw/Convention Center

Shakti Yoga Studio, 1302 9th Street NW, 202.783.6463

Results Mount Vernon, 445 K Street NW, 202.234.5678

Vida Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, 3rd Floor, 202.742.1940

Chinatown

Vida Verizon Center, 601 F Street NW, Suite 100, 202.393.VIDA

Adams Morgan/Mount Pleasant

Yoga Chai, 1744 Columbia Rd. NW, 2nd Floor, 202.746-YOGA

Studio Serenity, 2649 18th Street NW, 202.518.9642

Mint, 1724 California Street NW, 202.328.MINT

Stroga (Yoga and Crossfit), 1808 Adams Mill Road NW, Opening March 2010

Past Tense, 3252 Mount Pleasant Street NW, 202.462-9642

Quiet Mind Yoga, 3423 14th Street NW, 202.299.0111

Capitol Hill/H Street

Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill, 410 H Street Northeast, 202.547.1207

Capitol Hill Yoga, 641 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202.448.9640

Results the Gym, Capitol Hill, 315 G Street SE, 202.234.5678

Woodley/Cleveland/Glover/AU Park/Friendship Heights

Unity Woods, 2639 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202.232.9642

Cleveland Park Yoga, 4321 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Woodley Park Yoga, 2625 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202.280-9328

Hot Yoga – 3408 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 202.966.3095

Georgetown/Palisades

Downdog Yoga, 1046 Potomac Street NW (behind the Dean & Deluca), 202.965.YOGA

Spiral Flight Yoga, 1826 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 202.965.1645

lil omm yoga, 202.257.3544, Coming in March Palisades! 4830 V Street NW

Takoma Park

Willow Street Yoga, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD, 301.270.8030

Bikram Yoga Takoma Park, 7324 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD, 301.270.4777

Petworth

Yoga House, 3634 B Georgia Avenue NW, 202.285.1316

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Posted by: Kelly

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Posted in Yoga: In Your 'Hood

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