Down Dog Yoga

I’ve been very picky in my search for a suitable yoga studio for me and I’m very happy to say that Down Dog Yoga feels like home. I just recently moved to the Arlington and as many residents know, there are a lot of competitive studios in the area. DDY stands out for me amongst all of those for a few important reasons:
— The Clarendon studio offers a wide range of class times. This is especially important for the normal working person.
— The classes aren’t OVERLY busy /​crowded. I appreciate this because it gives me the personal time I need.
— It’s much more affordable than other studios — what’s not to love about this?
— Everyone I’ve met through DDY or at DDY greets me by name. It makes it feel like home.
— The Studio is ALWAYS clean and is conveniently located.
Overall, really impressed with this studio and really appreciate the staff for helping guide me (and other students) through my/​our practice.

I don’t know how they do it, but this is yet another top-​notch studio by Down Dog — their 4^th, I believe, in the DC Metro area. I’ve tried 3 of them over the past 12 years and am amazed at the consistency of their perfection at every level: the quality of the instructors, the pleasantness of the atmosphere, the cleanliness and thoughtfulness of the amenities, and the professional and helpful staff. I always feel great just by stepping through their doors, and feel even better when I step out after a class.
You guys are a class act — thank you for making our lives better!

This place is fantastic. Every time I walk in, I’m greeted by name. I started attending two night classes a week because of back pain. Nikki was thorough in guiding us through positions and reminding us how and when to breath. She always explains what we’re doing and why we are doing it. Since starting, my back feels much better. I always leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, even in the following days.
I definitely recommend this location if you’re a beginner or advanced. Just get there early to find parking.

I was excited when Down Dog Yoga opened in Clarendon, as no studio in the neighborhood had the 6am spot covered on a daily basis. The studio is clean, and the practice space is large. I like the heat. There are no showers.
The studio mangers who check you in for class are lovely and kind. They greeted me by name after a week or two. The instructors were not universally as nice. I have attended roughly 45 classes at Down Dog. Not one teacher ever bothered to learn my name, even though the 6am classes are pretty sparsely attended. I was also ridiculed by one teacher for moving into a twisted crescent lunge before it was cued — something along the lines of «oh, the lady in purple thinks its time to twist already» and then the theme for the rest of class became how you need to wait for things to come to you instead of being anxious for them to happen. It was mildly embarrassing, moderately maddening, overall strange because you’re supposed to be moving with your breath and I was ready to exhale (and knew what pose was coming next, see below), and questionable life advice in any event. Why am I just waiting for things to happen to me, instead of going out and making things happen?!
One thing you should know about Down Dog is that you will do the exact same sequence of poses in every class. The only way you will get variety in your practice is to attend a «slow flow yin» class (offered a couple of times per week), or to theoretically attend a «workshop» — a common answer when I asked teachers after class if there would ever be any variety in poses. No workshops were offered in the roughly three months that I attended Down Dog. Eventually, I decided that my practice felt incomplete without the challenge of being introduced to new poses, and it did not seem wise to depend on the promise of «workshops» to fill that void.

The instructors at this location are so much better than those at the Herndon Down Dog studio! I have taken two classes here (instructors Colure and Jenny) both seem deep in their practice and knowledgable about what they are doing. They offer adjustments and corrections which I look for in a class to ensure I am always growing in my practice. Both classes were very different and included arm balances and new variations of poses. So A+ for a class that is challenging yet centered.
I still wish down dog used mirrors though. They believe that you should be able to feel what is right and feel what is aligned, but how in the world would you know what feels right if you are a new yogi? Personally my arched back and unbalanced arms used to feel more comfortable than a straight back and engaged body. That’s definitely not proper posture but if I went by what felt comfortable and no one was there to correct me, then I would never have proper posture and never grow in my practice. You need a mirror to be able to correct yourself and you need an instructor who teaches not just talks. As I mentioned this location does offer corrections so yay, but Herndon is really bad about it and neither have mirrors.

My review is based on 3 «community» classes taken at the Arlington (Clarendon) studio. Based on Down Dog Yoga’s (DDY) website, I believe they follow the Baptiste program. As such, yoga is practiced in a hot studio (Although, it felt hotter than 90F), towels are available at the front desk (or bring your own). The front desk staff, instructors and other patrons believe in community and truly foster an open and accepting environment for all people.
There are curtained changing rooms and two small bathrooms (no showers). There are «cubbies» and no «lockers.» The main studio has a large window viewable from the street (this makes for a few chuckles as the neighborhood walks by the studio with 30+ people in warrior II. I’ve found it difficult to park at this location, but there is a heavy and steady foot traffic due to its location near to many high rise dwellings. DDY is situated between two other popular fitness/​local businesses: Pure Barre and Revolve Cycle.
The one thing I did not like about the instruction at this studio is the connection to the breath seemed hopelessly missing. I can’t discern if this is de-​emphasized by Baptiste or if this is due to the two instructors I’ve had to date. My personal opinion is yoga is about connecting the breath to the movement. The breath should guide you through the Asano and flow should never be based on what drives up your heart rate (but I do other forms of cardio endurance training outside of yoga).
In short, if you like a hot studio and live local to Clarendon, this is a very viable studio option.

Love love love this yoga studio ! They have this great deal that you can pick up a post card at south block juice bar right next door where you can get a whole week for free to try out the studio before putting so much money towards yoga and also if you refer 10 guest then you get a whole month for free (Great deals) !! My first free week of yoga was awesome, front desk is very nice and Khalil Rieber is such an awesome instructor, he’s very nice and patients also gives good vibes and really helps you out if your having trouble, he’s very motivating and congratulates you after ever class even if you did horrible (like me since it was my first time ever doing yoga) so if your a beginner Khalil’s class is the perfect class to attend but overall everyone is wonderful and today I signed up for a full month of unlimited classes and I’m so excited to continue my journey at Down Dog Yoga.

Down Dog Yoga has multiple locations, including Georgetown. Its newest location in Clarendon opened in June 2015. The studio includes one large practice room, a small area to purchase Manduka mats and towels, several changing rooms, cubbies for your things (this is outside the practice room), two bathrooms, and water fountains. The practice room is large and does not have any mirrors. One wall is a window that displays N Garfield Street. Classes are either 60 minutes or 90 minutes. They’re hot and challenging, just like all the other Down Dog studios. The teachers are loud, in control, and direct. Although some of the classes say «all levels», they are assuming that you have practiced yoga before. I recommend new yogis to try a beginners class somewhere else before practicing here.