Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness

I’m giving this studio 3.5 stars. I will try a few more classes and see if I can bump it up.
The studio is clean and smells lovely. They have plenty of amenities — tea, water, mats, blocks, etc. Its spacious and comfortable. They have a community space and healing room, plus two yoga rooms. I think the space is great. It was rather chilly in the studio.
I took a «Lunchtime Vinyasa Flow» class. I felt that the instructor moved a). very quickly b). with limited explanation of the moves and c). without physically demonstrating the moves. She stood at the back and called out the instruction. I have only taken a couple of yoga classes before this, so I am definitely very new to yoga. I do have an understanding of a few of the positions and in previous classes I have been able to follow along without issue, so I do not think this is simple user error. If this class is intended for more advanced practitioners, it should say that in the description!

I have been going to BHNY for about 3 months now, since I moved in to the area. I am so happy to have found this studio. I started on the new student special: 35 $ for two weeks (which my husband is currently doing now after hearing my praise), and after that I switched to the membership be here often (8 classes per month) which I also find competitive. But most of all, it’s a wonderful studio with good to very good classes. I find all classes very good, and the ones that really work for me are the Candlelight flow on Sundays and the Dharma Vinyasa Level 1 on Thursday. The atmosphere at the studio (which is pretty and well organized) is very friendly, and it quickly feels like a some sort of «yoga home». My husband (who is new to yoga) has also started coming and really enjoying it. Definitely a place I recommend.

I’ve been attending this studio thru ClassPass for about 2 months now and really enjoy it. They have a wide variety of great classes and are very welcoming. I normally get there early so that I can enjoy some tea and chat with the teacher and other employees before class. I’ve taken restorative, Dharma, Yin, and Energetic flow and thoroughly enjoyed each. The instructors are good about giving personalized tips to each person.

I took a Gentle Yoga class here. I am new to yoga and I was running late and actually forgot the right pants so I had to wear my business pants in class. I was welcomed at the door by one of the co-​owners, who was incredibly friendly and understanding. She directed me to a place to change and told the instructor that I had arrived. My class was in the smaller studio and consisted of myself and another student. It was great. Marco, the instructor and other co-​owner, walked us through each position and made conversation with us when the time seemed right. I felt incredibly comfortable and welcomed in this yoga studio as a yoga newbie and I will definitely be back.

It was such a pleasure to teach a shamanic soul retrieval workshop this weekend at the studio. I met the owner Sherri briefly in September in NYC and after a quick intuitive reading with her, she invited me to come down to DC to her studio to teach a workshop. Coming to DC for only the second time with little knowledge of the city, Sherri ensured every part of my experience was taken care of; she treated me very professionally welcoming me into her sanctuary and home city. From picking me up from the bus station, ensuring I had all I needed for the workshop, assisting with setup, providing tea mugs, to arranging and paying for car service for me to return to my hotel at the end of the workshop, her open heart and generosity was felt every step of the way. It was clear that she puts love and care into all that she does, her studio a warm and healing space open to all. The following day I spent most of the time at studio doing private sessions– many studio members flowed in and out throughout the afternoon to relax in the lounge area, share stories, tea and complimentary organic snacks and chocolate. Thank you Sherri and Marko for creating such a nurturing environment!

Honestly, I don’t know about this place. First, my fiancée and I went over pretty quick when the studio opened, lured by a cheap first month ($ 50) and the prospect of a new yoga community in the Eastern Market area. We got to the studio at the advertised time, 11:30am on a Sunday and were surprised that the whole place was locked up. There was a sign on the door that gave us a number to call– we called and the owner met us as well as the teacher (Sadie). We were told that they advertised the wrong time and that the following week, class would be at 11. No problem, new studio, crap happens. We had a LOVELY yoga class with Sadie, it was just my partner and me, so we got an awesome deal. This class was advertised as a «flow» and matched my experience and expectations for a vinyasa-​esque class. Sadie was fun, quirky and we loved her instruction.
The next week was crazy for our schedules but we got back two weeks later for the Sunday morning 9:00am advertised «Flow» class with the owner. This is where we were seriously disappointed. Two weeks later, the new student deal had been reduced by $ 5. Cool for new folks, but we felt a bit slighted paying $ 50 a few weeks earlier– it is now $ 45. The owner/​yoga teacher did not lead a «flow» as advertised. Rather, she lead her own dharma style class, with little preparation or explanation for the four participants. She was abrupt, sometimes rude and flippant in her instruction. Made comments like, «I wasn’t expecting to have to demonstrate and wore the wrong kind of pants today» and «tent your hands, TENT YOUR HANDS» with zero demonstration or explanation of what was wrong with the way I was doing it. She didn’t explain the differences between a vinyasa and dharma class and made some comment about teaching children and being «anal about poses being correct» but provided no adjustments and little constructive instruction. Frankly, she seemed annoyed to be there on a Sunday morning.
I also wouldn’t call the space «tranquil.» Florescent lights, rooms without natural light — meh.
This is just not the yoga community for me. I hope it thrives, but my partner and I agree that we will not financially support this uncomfortable place. Again, I would love to learn more about dharma yoga, but that would require a teacher take a moment to instruct and help the students understand… $ 50 not well spent.