Yoga Heights DC: Rooting itself in community

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Tadasana-at-Georgia-Ave-MetroYoga Heights recently opened their doors at the intersection of Petworth, Colombia Heights, and Parkview on Georgia Avenue, a fairly rough but rapidly changing street in Washington, DC. When I visited and took a class at the new studio I was impressed by the attention to detail given by the co-owners, Amy and Jess. Every inch of the 2,388 square foot studio reflects their deep rooted intention to serve the community.

“I wanted Yoga Heights to be a place that serves every body, every level and every budget,” said owner Jess Pierno, “We offer deals like first class for free and $30 for 3 weeks of unlimited classes so that anyone can try yoga to see if they like it.  Then if our prices don’t fit in their budget, we find a way to make sure they can keep coming in.”

Every day the wall-sized chalkboard changes to remind students of the daily class schedule and announce new and upcoming events. The studio has a full schedule with local DC teachers teaching a variety of styles and levels from Restorative Yin to Cosmic Flow to Family Time Yoga, totaling over 15 styles including pilates.

The waiting area also hosts a small shop for yogis looking to update their gear, support good causes, and eat locally. Yoga Heights partners with Glyder for apparel and From the Farmer to support local food and healthy living. They also host events and celebrations in their large studio space to encourage students and teachers to meet off the mat. Another way Yoga Heights serves the community is by using donations from the weekly community class to create “Karma Passes” – class vouchers for members of the Yoga Heights community who cannot otherwise afford yoga.

To accommodate over 40 classes on the weekly schedule, there are two separate classrooms, one of which can be used for hot yoga. Upon entering either classroom, one feels instantly calm because of the neutral, calming colors and tasteful design. My personal favorite touches include the eye pillows wrapped in African fabric and the artfully placed mirrors of varying sizes in the back studio. If you’re looking for a unique community yoga experience in DC, check out Yoga Heights!

Biking in DC, with a twist

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Bike Rack

Cycling is a big part of Washington, DC’s culture. Many people living in the district find it easier and quicker to bike to work than any other form of transportation. Biking in DC is easy because of organizations like Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) who advocate for bikers’ needs such as bike lanes and bike parking. My first experience with biking was when WABA held their annual Bike to Work Day on my birthday three years ago. After that I was hooked because I found biking to be a relaxing way to start and end my work day. Biking to work also encouraged me to find out about local bike events and offerings. DC has many bike shops catering to both commuter and advanced cyclists.

The Bike Rack, located on 14th and Q Streets near Logan’s Circle, is one of the community-based shops found in DC. The owner Chuck Harney combined this love for business, bikes, and social awareness when he founded The Bike Rack. The small, hand-picked staff excels in the customer’s needs from fixing a flat tire to building customized bikes. As part of their mission, The Bike Rack creates community by organizing bike clinics, group rides, and teams for competitive riding.

Another unique way The Bike Rack creates community is by offering a weekly yoga class for cyclists. The idea started two years ago when bike enthusiast and yoga teacher, Tatiana, approached Harney with the idea to combine yoga and biking. As a result, the class meets every Sunday at 6pm to practice yoga for one hour. The class is often a mixture of local community members and bikers looking for a non-intimidating atmosphere to practice yoga. Tatiana and Harney decided that the class would rotate teachers as a way to support and encourage a variety of teaching styles and backgrounds.

“Teaching at The Bike Rack has been a terrific experience,” comments John Thurman, a regular yoga teacher at The Bike Rack. “As a community class, you are getting both cycling group members as well as neighbors of the store (including a 9-year old girl!). The setting is appropriate to the group as we are surrounded by bikes and pictures of riding, and it melts away as they work hard to find flexibility and strength in their practice. Lively and talkative during practice, The Bike Rack’s students are a fun challenge to a newer yoga teacher in terms of delivering technically correct instruction that is tailored to a specific athletic practice! This is such a great example of how yoga is a compliment to athletes, and helps them improve their main sport.”

From providing the best gear to a space to stretch and reflect, the Bike Rack does a great job serving their clients’ needs in Washington, DC. The Bike Rack is also excited about their second location to open soon in the neighborhood of Brookland in the northeastern quadrant of DC.