The Hottest Way to Cool Down
September 3, 2004
By Chrissy A. Balz Hoya Staff Writer
It's hot. It's intense. It's rewarding. And Madonna does it.
Yoga is sweeping fitness routines everywhere, creeping in as an alternative for those who shudder at the thought of logging mile after mile on a treadmill. Its results are threefold: a great work out, fantastic health benefits and an after-class euphoria that sends the “runner's high” packing.
After an in-depth look at a wide array of Yoga studios in and around Georgetown, The Guide has selected favorite picks for the ultimate way to work up a sweat.
Best New Addition: Flow Yoga Center, 1450 P St. NW
Opening just three weeks ago, Flow has already developed a dedicated clientele. The amount of space is perfect for the two studios and the location next to Whole Foods makes it easy for the studio to be entirely organic and, wherever possible, 100 percent consumed-brand recycled.
The types of yoga offered vary with the class and level — Flow offers every style from Ashtanga to Pre-Natal. The Sunday night Women's Moon Yoga promises to be a favorite, described as a class that will “synchronize your rhythms and align [you] more fully with nature.”
The intermediate Flow 2 class is formidable, though not impossible and involved several original sequences. The new schedule, which begins September 20, promises a beginner's Pilates class in addition to the 24 already-scheduled classes weekly.
Don't forget your Jamba Juice on the way out.
Style: Flow, Ashtange Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, Kundalini
Levels: Newbies to Advanced
Special classes: Afro-Brazilian Dance and Bellydancing
Cost per class: $16 or class passes
Web site: www.flowyogacenter.com
Like any fitness endeavor, the best idea is to develop a routine, work at it and then shake it up. For the best results, take a class from several different teachers and sects of yoga. Find a studio you like and stick with the practice; the more you go, the more rewarding it gets.
Best of all, it's called a practice — so you never have to worry about getting it perfect.
