The Yoga Shala

Yoga Shala, where have you been all my life? You mean to say, you’ve been over on 19^th St NW all this time and I didn’t even know it? Of course I didn’t. You’re just south of 16^th Ave. I wouldn’t have had occasion to find you until I was looking for yoga classes in my area. But find you I did!
Yoga Shala has a really easy and low commitment kind of way for anyone to come check them out. Every Saturday at 1pm there’s a free community class. It’s a different instructor each week and a different style yoga, but each one is geared towards beginners. They also collect donations to help a charity (100% of donations go towards it!). Last Saturday, they were helping fundraise for a fund to help support a young girl who’s mother is battling cancer.
The studio was a relaxing space… as yoga studios should be. I love it when I walk through a door and feel like the buzzy outside world stayed outside.
If you’re touring some yoga studios and trying to find the right one… come check out the community class!

Ohm Is Where The Heart Is — Bent like a pretzel, stretched like a child’s Stretch Armstrong doll, and your mind given an excuse to empty itself, is cool by me. Talented instructor Carmen was attentive, thorough, knowledgeable, kind, and had a great sense of humor. Her panache almost helped mitigate the explosive burning of being in utkatasana. Nobody said the quest for inner peace didn’t involve lactic acid! Eat, Pray, Love, Unilocal

I have been practicing yoga for a long time and due to a move had to find a new studio. I found this by using the MindBody app and have been in love ever since!
I find their class schedule to be diverse and convenient (I can usually find a class any day that I enjoy to do). I’m generally in the Ashtanga level 1 – 2, but have also been doing the restorative and yin classes due to an injury.
The teachers are wonderful and helpful, they are very in-​tune with their own practice and are able to guide you and push you further in your personal practice.
I will continue to go here for as long as I can.

Wow– no one’s reviewed this studio yet? I’m surprised, as it seemed pretty busy during the month I attended. Maybe that’s because they had a Groupon though. In fact, my friend gifted me said Groupon, which gave me the initiative to finally try out the studio this past spring.
I enjoyed their self directed mysore practice (try it, if you’re up at 5:30am), as well as their «Hips and Hammies» class, despite the tacky name. I also noticed that they have a pretty comprehensive beginner’s Ashtanga workshop. A friend of mine went and that is what got her into practicing.
I feel the instructors at the yoga foster a nurturing environment for growth, and if I were still living closeby, or still passing through on my way home from the University, I would probably be a long term member at the Yoga Shala. I know quite a few people who are pretty dedicated to this studio.
Also, the change rooms are very tiny, so I would maybe recommend showing up already changed and ready to go if you have the chance. There is only one room for practice, which is both cozy aaand spacious… kinda feels like I’m practicing in someones giant loft apartment.
Lastly, sometimes you can get pretty good deals at the Yoga Shala for passes compared to other studios. I was looking the other day, and saw they are offering 3 months for $ 179 at the moment, which is a pretty decent! :)