I Love DC Yoga!
adapted from Washington Post Express Night Out, images from Flow Yoga Center
Shiva Rea visits Washington regularly, but the renowned instructor has never led one of her signature trance dance sessions here before. The Trance Dance is part of the Summer Solstice Regeneration Weekend Shiva will offer June 23-24. Sign up today!
Over the “Summer Solstice Regeneration Weekend” she’ll offer a series of workshops and a two-hour session explaining the history of ecstatic movement and giving participants a chance to feel the release that comes from this very different kind of yoga. More info
“It’s all music-driven. There is no trance dance without music,” says Jessica Lazar, a local senior prana flow teacher. The experience begins with Rea cueing collective movements, such as lifting arms, crawling and jumping. “There’s something about doing the same thing that takes away pressure to bust out the best steps,” Lazar says.
When students get comfortable in the rhythm of the dance, there are short spurts of free movement, giving them the chance to connect with their creative sides. June 23 at 7:30 p.m.; $50; All Souls Church, 1500 Harvard St. NW, Flowyogacenter.com
Photo by Jess Molina Photography
Hi! I am Darcy White and I love teaching yoga in DC because it enables me to provide a vehicle for individuals to cultivate a more fulfilling life in a local culture known for its demanding and stressful work environment.
In my own practice, I feel a sense of release and surrendering of life’s nuisances every time I step onto the mat, and the concentration and awareness the asanas require deepens my sense of connection and acceptance of who I am—who we all are!
While every yoga experience is unique to the individual, I love being able to provide an avenue for others to relax, explore and make it their own.
Being deaf, yoga is not fully accessible in most DC studios, although I cannot make that statement without praising the many DC yoga instructors who have, through their own initiative, accommodated that in creative ways. With DC’s diverse population, I am inspired to make yoga accessible to everyone.
I’ll be a teaching a series of yoga classes in American Sign Language on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:30pm, at Luther Place Memorial Church in Logan’s Circle. Classes start June 6th and go through July 18th (no class July 4th). Hearing, Deaf, Signers, Non-signers welcome—voice interpretation will be provided! Message me for more info!
Do you know any deaf yogi’s (or aspiring) please tell them about my classes!
Vanessa King is a Certified AcroYoga teacher, sharing the practice in DC since 2008. She’ll be at Yoga on the Mall leading the group warmup and a demo by AcroYoga students from Yoga District, Capitol Hill Yoga, Yoga Chai, Flow Yoga Center, Willow Street Yoga, Rivers Edge Yoga, Annapolis Yoga and Embrace Yoga.
Describe AcroYoga
AcroYoga brings people together, since by nature, you can’t do alone! It’s a partner practice that fosters community. It’s rooted in diversity- a combo of yoga from India; acrobatics, originating from Greece and healing arts such as Thai Massage, from Thailand/India. Yoga is the glue.
My first yoga studies were based on Patanjali’s teachings of the Yoga Sutras. AcroYoga embodies the full spectrum of yoga outlined in his four chapters on freedom- practice and surrender, strength and sweetness. An AcroYoga practice can travel from the deepest surrender of receiving therapeutic flying or Thai Massage to the dynamic action of high flying acrobatics.
I’ve heard that our highest yoga is that of relationship. AcroYoga is that kind of yoga. The union not just with the divine in yourself but the divine in another person. It develops trust, connection and playfulness in practitioners and inspires clear and positive communication. I’ve learned so much about myself and humanity from its practice. I find it fascinating that almost universally we are more capable of being there for others than believing others can support us.
What do you like about teaching AcroYoga in DC?
DC is a serious town. We live big questions! However, after teaching AcroYoga in various countries, I have to say the DC crew make the biggest shift- from ultra serious to ready to play and laugh and have fun together in a second. I love this community and am always excited to come home. We are loud and boisterous and everybody has a voice. It’s powerful and all love. Show us your Acro yoga with a photo reply!
Shauna Simon, Instructor/Owner - Simon Says Yoga Studio, Shops at Sumner, Bethesda
DC is intense! So the DC Yogis are super mindful and focused during Yoga, creating a deeper practice ~
At my studio, I love the diversity of yogis, from young to old in the same class, coming together to share a common focus, taking the time to unwind, strengthen, and bring balance to their lives.
I’m inspired and uplifted by the sense of Community before, during and after Yoga~
Shauna
Dear fellow-DC-Yogis,
Somewhere around 2006 we had the idea to include a Yoga on the National Mall with our annual DC Yoga Week. The first year we tried this, it was about 50 degrees and drizzling.
We did yoga with frozen hands, hoodies, and down coats. Nearly 100 people showed up anyway! We organizers thought they must be crazy, but we knew that DC Yogis wanted to be together as a community.
So we persevered and kept offering Yoga on the Mall, through difficulties with port-a-potties, high humidity, and helicopter landings.
Last year we were given the threat of 80% chance of severe thunderstorms, and so at 5 am on the morning of the event, Deb and I reluctantly decided to cancel. For the rest of the day we madly texted asking each other, where is the rain!?? We were discouraged at having wasted efforts, but decided to keep moving ahead for 2012 preparations and be sure to include a Rain Date.
This year, we will hope for a sunny beautiful day on Saturday, May 19, but if it does rain, we have learned our lesson, and have a rain date on Sunday. I am sad that this is the very first year that I won’t be able to join you there, but I know it will be a huge success. Have a great time! xo, annie.
Paige Lichens loves teaching yoga in DC! (She teaches awesome classes at Lil Omm.)
“I like watching faces of those coming to the mat, offering suggestions and seeing them surprised about themselves, abilities and experiences. No matter what the motive is for someone coming to yoga, I like teaching about the breath, concentration, posture and expanding overall awareness outside of the classroom so function, stress and health is improved.”
Paige is a Licensed Yoga Teacher (200 hr), completing her teacher training in 2008. She continued her training, attending Teacher Training for children’s yoga at YoKids (2009) and in the Spring of 2010 she completed Prenatal Teacher Training with Janice Clarfield. Always continuing to learn, she is now completing a 2.5 year yoga therapy training to work with various injuries.
She incorporates a variety of yoga styles that includes Jivamuki, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin/Yang, Sivananda, Dharma Mittra and Iyengar.
April Puciata – Teacher at The YOGA Fusion Studio, Willow Lane, Bethesda
It was scary going from teaching the same classes for years and years to studios where no one knew me! The DC yoga community made me feel so welcome as I transitioned here from NYC, where I taught and practiced for 10 years.
That meant a great deal to me and I feel it helped me take my teaching to a whole new level. I feel we are always students. Moving to the DC area allowed me to explore new teachers, studios and meet new people - and the area is filled with amazing teachers, studios and practitioners.
There are so many open minds and hearts here! The connection to yoga and to service is inspiring and I feel very blessed to be able to teach in another amazing city. I am grateful for all the opportunities here, to my teachers (and future teachers), and for all the support from the DC community.
Peggy Mulqueen. I am so lucky to share Ashtanga and Asthanga-inspired Rocket yoga classes at Little River Yoga, Flow Yoga Center, and Embrace Yoga DC. - but even luckier to be a part of such a diverse, yoga-friendly city. I love that I can walk down any street or sidewalk, and nearly any time of day, and see someone with a yoga mat strapped across their shoulder or harnessed on their bike.
In DC, it doesn’t matter why you practice - to wind down, become strong/healthy/flexible, express yourself or find yourself - there’s a class, a studio, and a teacher just for you.
So yeah …. what’s not to love?
