I took my first beginner yoga class at Past Tense late last year, and it was the best decision I've…read moremade for physical and mental health. I enjoy the studio's welcoming atmosphere and quality instructors, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a yoga studio. First, their Beginner Yoga classes are excellent for both new and seasoned practitioners; the instructors teach and correct form as needed. I still attend beginner classes because I enjoy the slower pace and focus on instruction and form. I prefer slower/intentional-paced yet still challenging classes, so I go to Slow Flow classes. Slow Flow has been my favorite class at Past Tense so far. Highly recommend trying Slow Flow if you enjoy feeling your muscles/body working. As for other reviewers complaining about being locked out of classes for being late, I've never experienced that because I'm usually so eager to take a class that I show up early! The studio makes it very clear that late attendees will not be admitted. If you're someone who struggles to show up on time to places/events/work, showing up to yoga classes early so you won't get locked out is a wonderful opportunity for self-improvement--my two cents.

A great community with great teachers. Always feel welcomed. A big variety of classes and teaching…read morestyles. Highly recommend this studio!

I've practiced all over the US and in Europe for about 15 years now, and Jarrick is among the best…read moreteachers I've ever had. His technical skills as a practitioner and teacher are obvious, but he's also the right mix of the guide who effortlessly helps you connect the physical and spiritual elements of your practice, the coach who reminds you of everything you're capable of, and the cheerleader who celebrates your breakthroughs. I leave sweaty and energized and with a complete sense of grounded calm. Jarrick is the real deal!

I joined Margaret for the prenatal yoga class. I have done a couple sessions with her so far. I had…read morepretty severe leg and groin pain and Margaret personalized my session to work on the specific issue. Not only she has a deep knowledge of movements and physiology and the experience to go with it but she also goes the extra mile for her clients. She genuinely seems to love what she does and is very good at it. I benefitted a lot after the session and the pain was significantly reduced after just one class and I felt great over all. The studio is simple and low key, that works for me as long as the classes are good. I wish the session would not end at 6 weeks and would go on longer.

Those of you that have had an excellent Yoga teacher in the past will be very impressed with…read moreMargaret. She is highly knowledgeable in the practice, and as importantly, in the human body. As others have noted, she pays great attention to your alignment, which is very important as doing yoga improperly can cause problems, especially in the knee and wrist. She is good at remembering individual limitations and injuries and reminds you to modify or pass if a particular move is not right for you. I am still on the initial Groupon trial, but am liking it very much. I have taken the Sat 1045 vinyasa class, which seems to be popular. Each Saturday there are a few more Groupon newbies, so sometimes Margaret modifies to accommodate, but you still get a great class. This is a good class and can be a reasonable "power yoga" workout if you are properly putting all your muscles into it. If you want more of a challenge for flexibility and advanced poses, and strength, then try the Ashtanga offering - there will be a lot fewer people too (or certainly fewer once you get invited to the intermediate Ashtanga class.) I have not tried the Vinyasa flow "experienced", I suspect that is a more rigorous class than the Sat Open Vinyasa. Hmm, sounds like a plan. The studio is small, but adequate, you don't need a big, fancy health club to do good yoga, I suspect the opposite is true. I like the plants in the front of the room, they add a pleasant touch. Some have complained about the door buzzer, I can understand that. So next time you buzz in, why don't you hang out at the door and let the next person in so there is one less buzz ;-) Pay it forward, when you are let it, hang at the door for the next person or until the studio opens for class. If everyone did that, there would only be one buzz a class. Easy street parking. May 2013 Update: went back and took the Vinyassa "Variation" class today and enjoyed it. Margaret has decided to mix Vinyassa up a bit. This month she is concentrating on arm balances. Aug 2014 Update: after about 6 flow classes I was invited to Primary Ashtanga, which I instantly loved. It is the same routine every week, which is prep for the next Ashtanga, which is prep for the next... So it is not for everyone, but if you also want a "power" yoga workout, you can really push yourself on this and make it very hard. You will need an invite, please don't just show up if you have never practiced it before! Note to Ashley: Margaret has addressed your concerns and the class start and stop time are much more exact . You are correct, it not appropriate for a dog to wander around, so dogs are no longer permitted.

I came with a group of friends to try out the power yoga class. The area unfortunately no longer…read morehas a parking garage so I struggled for about 20 minutes trying to find a street park. This made me 5 minutes late to the class, but luckily they still let me in. The class was so great and the studio itself was so cute. They even had pure green in the studio after offering fresh juice samples and also had enough on site for purchase. Will definitely be back to try out more classes.

Lūneh Yoga had its grand opening this weekend. The space is very relaxing and evokes serene vibes…read morefor yoga practice. I enjoyed the Lūneh Vinyasa class with Jessica, who made the class very welcoming to students of all levels. Mats, blankets, and yoga blocks were provided during the class. I look forward to trying another class in the future. Congratulations on the grand opening, Lūneh Yoga!

Tara teaches excellent restorative yoga experiences. Specifically for anyone who has a D.C. area…read morejob that causes a lot of stress: taking Tara's restorative classes and workshops melts away the stress gunk. If you meet one of Tara's longtime students, they will share with you how her classes have helped them heal and return to daily life, restored. Tara is also a great yoga teacher. She instructs well, provides modifications, corrects you gently if you are out of alignment, and makes everyone feel good.

Tara is a terrific teacher and mentor. She took a rapidly aging man from no background in yoga to…read morethe point where I not only continue my regular lessons but also attend classes and have begun practicing at home. It has made a remarkable difference to my life and health. Tara is patient but demanding, a natural communicator who radiates her enthusiasm.

On Sunday I suddenly decided to try yoga for the first time. I googled yoga places near by and…read morefound Allay Yoga which was offering a yoga workshop in about an hour. I decided to try it out. The place was literally 5 minutes away from my house, so it was very convenient to get there. They have only a couple of parking spots available in front of the building, so I was not sure if I can park next door, but took my chances and everything was fine. When I stepped in to the studio, I was surprise how small it was. It was just one room in the front and one in the back. I was welcomed by the instructor and filled out a short form. The workshop lasted for 2 hours and was an overall introduction to yoga. It was very nice, I enjoyed the session. There was about 7 people, 5 women and 2 men. I liked the pace and that the instructor talked about the different poses. Overall it was a great experience for my first time yoga and I will definitely come back for some classes - if my schedule allows or I will try another studio close by. But this experience gave me a go ahead for yoga and that was my goal! Thank you!

I have been practicing yoga for several years in studios around the DC metropolitan area, including…read moreWillow Street, Thrive, Tranquil Space, and Blue Heron. However, once I discovered Allay Yoga in the Fall of 2010, I was hooked and have been exclusively at Allay since. The absolute best thing about Allay is Pam, one of the instructors. On the first day I went to the studio, she inquired about my yoga experience, my level of comfort with different styles and poses, what parts of my body were open and tight, and even the style of music I liked. Then, this is the best part, she incorporated my unique desires and needs into that class session and everyone thereafter. Pam even goes so far as to ask at the start of each session what kind of practice we want that day, and then leads a class that reflects our desires. This means that some days we focus on deep stretches, some days are more restorative, and others push us to find our edge. I also love the small class sizes and Pam's hands-on approach. I am a fairly advanced yogi, so I enjoy going beyond the basic sun salutation. Pam always provides opportunities for more advanced poses, even when others in the class are at a beginner level, but always is there to guide my body into alignment. This is the definition of individualized attention and the reason that I am dedicated to this studio.

The location: There are actually 3 different locations for…read moreall the classes, and they aren't right next to each other...so if you make it right on time...to the wrong location, you don't have enough time to get to the other. This is my biggest complaint because I did it once and felt so dejected. I did send them an email and they excused the class for me. Their reminder emails come 24 hours before the class, which isn't too helpful if you are going to a class every day or every other day--it confused me instead. The classes and instructors: * Sivananda Yoga - Very interesting instructor. He jokes a lot, which is strange, because I feel like I should be calmed and focuses instead of laughing at stuff. But it allows for a calm, relaxed environment. He works on a lot of breathing technique. It was in his class, and with his specific-detailed instruction that I was able to do my FIRST ever tripod. And I've been to maybe....30-40 classes prior to this? Kudos. No music in the background. * Bootycore - Instructor is funny, and he encourages all to keep going and addresses people specifically and individually. I just don't think 30 minutes is really enough to get a good workout. Yes, it burned at the moment, but I didn't feel sore the day after. It was maybe a little over a handful of the same exercise repeated over and over for a period of time that included squats and leg exercises, and then ab exercises. Not sure if I actually got anything from the workout... * Power Yoga - I think the instructor is a little new or is not yet comfortable with teaching. She confused left and right side a couple of times (of the handful of classes I went to), and when we are supposed to have our eyes closed (I peeked), she was practicing or stretching to prep for the next positions, which--I guess I feel like should be done prior to the class starting? I didn't feel too challenged in the class. She also plays pop music...which, in my opinion isn't too conducive to a yoga environment...because I wanted to sing along. But I guess maybe that's where the "Power" part of the class name comes from. * Flow Yoga - She is GOOD. I was even sweating a little. This takes yoga 'flow' to the next level, and you basically move through Vinyasa multiple multiple times with few breaks. The music that she plays is interesting, with a good beat but not too distracting--a mix of music with Indian/African-like beats. A little more up tempo to go with the fast pace of her instruction. When we had only a handful of people, we were treated to a quick lotion massage on our hands and neck areas. * Total Body Blast - Pretty good instructor. It was hard work and I think about 3 groups of workouts with 2 sets each. He wasn't very personal, "great job, class" and addressed everyone at the same time. This was located in the basement of the Crystal Towers so it was cool temps. I felt a little sore the day after. Good danceable, singable pop music to keep me distracted from the burnnnnn. I had a negative experience at first because I went to the wrong location...but then I contacted them and they waived that class instead of counting it. I was more careful from then on. If you are regular enough you remember when the classes are anyway. Pretty good instructors, and their classes are a pretty good deal and especially convenient if you live in either of the two buildings. Street parking wasn't that difficult to find.

I wish I could get my money back for the Living Social deal I purchased...it was so close to my…read morehouse that I thought I shouldn't pass it up, but in retrospect I soooo wish I had! First of all, I didn't realize they have 3 different locations, depending on which class you take - confusing, right? And it's not at all easy to find them (I was lucky and happened to walk into the building behind someone else attending the same class, so I didn't get as lost as I would have otherwise). The classes are held in a party room, not a fitness studio by any stretch. The flow yoga class was marginal at best. I was hoping to try out the power yoga class this evening, but due to their website being unavailable, I wasn't able to register in time. I called and was informed that the cut-off deadline had passed and I wouldn't be able to attend... as if it isn't bad enough that they only offer a handful of classes to begin with, they won't even let me attend the only one I wanted to go to. They felt it was more important to enforce their "policy" than to provide good customer service - which could have been their only saving grace. CONS: confusing multiple locations, unprofessional facilities, very limited class offerings, marginal quality classes, unreliable website, poor customer service PROS: close to my house Bottom line, I am very disappointed - and surprised they've managed to stay in business, and that they only have a couple reviews on Yelp! *I'm editing my original review to say I've really enjoyed the shape & power yoga class with Liana Kachakhmadze on Tuesday evenings. She creates a nice ambiance and leads us through a variety of moves that are challenging but manageable. I feel great after class!

About 9 year ago I was diagnosed of a "frozen shoulder" - physical therapy did not really work -…read moremy motion was still limited, and my orthopedic surgeon recommended to try pilates. After 8 weeks of weekly sessions with Ryan I totally forgot about my frozen shoulder, felt great, lost body fat. So I decided to continue my pilates training, then TRX and a combination of both. Now, after 8 years of training with Ryan I achieved the results I ever imagined was possible -at my 55 I am in much better shape than when I was 25 years old, as I always hated to exercise! Ryan is an outstanding trainer - he is very knowledgeable, patient, motivational, focuses on my specific goals and problems (scoliosis is just one of them) - always varies exercises to create an effective workout for me, combining pilates, TX, assisted stretching. I highly recommend Twist Pilates to anyone who wants to live a better life!

I've taken three classes here so far and have loved all of them! All instructors have been…read morepersonable and really knowledgeable. The space is nice and I appreciate how small the classes are. I would highly recommend if you're interested in a more classical Pilates class