Past Tense

They offer such a variety of classes! Levels 1, 1.5, 2, yin, and they have fun things like happy hour and a foam roller class. The instructors have all been great. This place has a nice community feel. One of my favorite studios in DC!

After years spent looking for the right yoga studio in DC, I was so relieved to find Past Tense. In just a few months of regularly going, I’ve seen more progress than ever in my practice, and it’s all because of the fantastic teachers here and the comfy, noncompetitive environment. Sonja’s classes are really special: slow-​moving and tougher for it. Caitlin and Alicia give excellent cues and will make you sweat. And Chantelle’s Friday morning class is the perfect way to start the day.
The teachers all have different styles – some have a more spiritual bent than others – so there’s plenty of variety. A few classes on the schedule can get crowded but most give you plenty of space to stretch out, a welcome change from other studios around town.

I took a class here with Jeanette Lee… absolutely loved it. When I first walked in I was really cranky because they do warm yoga classes (78 – 82 degrees), which I hadn’t realized before I got there. I really don’t like warm yoga… I like a cool studio. But I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. It was a perfect cool down after a crazy week, and Jeanette did great adjustments.
Note: I do yoga in order to stretch out after other workouts. If you’re looking for a really intense workout yoga class, the class I took probably wouldn’t do it for you. But if you’re looking to just focus on your practice, it’s a great choice.

Took a class here while visiting my best friend. It’s a cute, cozy studio that felt very inviting. The class I took was at ten am on Saturday. It was a solid class, really focused on balance.
The teacher was thoughtful in her instruction and very helpful with personal assistance. My only real complaint is that she didn’t play any music. I know this is not something everyone would agree with, but I really love music in class, especially in a balance class where you can really get in your head. Otherwise, a lovely experience.

Past Tense is my new favorite yoga studio in DC… it might have something to do with the fact that it takes me 5 minutes to walk there from home… but it is a beautiful space (albeit a little oddly shaped and pretty cozy) with great teachers and really solid classes… the perfect blend of a workout and meditation.
In my quest to try every yoga studio in DC (and take advantage of as many new student passes as possible) I have tried classes at Kali, the Studio DC, Stroga, and Epic. Past Tense definitely ranks highly if not at the top of my list (need to try a few more classes). I really like the instructors I have had at Past Tense (Caitlin and Michael), their unique styles (all the instructors I had at the Studio DC were very similar and it felt a little redundant… have not had that at Past Tense at all) and great music choices. Everyone has been very welcoming and friendly.
Commitment is something I usually run away from as quickly as possible… but this place has me actually thinking about joining long term. That definitely says something.

Super pleasant yoga studio! Past Tense offers a good mix of classes in a non-​competitive environment. One of the teachers is a professional photographer and the walls are lined with her fantastic photos. The staff and teachers are very welcoming.
The website has very clear descriptions of the yoga class levels, down to what to expect and who the class is geared to. They also have descriptions of all the ‘special classes,’ like singles yoga and the cosmic class.
I tried out the new student 10-​day unlimited pass that costs $ 20. It’s great when studios offer a trial like this so that students can find the teachers style that they prefer. Alexandra and Sonja stood out to me. They both had nice sequences and gave good verbal corrections. Tori’s fuse pilates class was excellent. She teaches three times a week. They also offer piloxing (pilates and boxing) twice a month. Jennifer is one of the most positive and motivating teachers I have had in a while. It is nice that Past Tense offers other classes besides yoga in their regular schedule.
The studio has two cons though. Unfortunately, the teachers do not do many hands on corrections. Sometimes verbal corrections are not enough so I hope that this changes in the future. The other con is the space. The actual studio space is nice, but the space to check in is really small. They open the door 15 minutes before class if there is not a class going on, and if a class is going on they open the door right when it is done. So don’t expect to have a place to hang out for a while. They have one studio space and can only offer a couple classes a day. If you are used to a yoga studio with multiple class spaces that can offer multiple classes at once, this studio would seem limiting. Also, they don’t have a dressing room, just a small restroom.
Overall though, Past Tense is a very friendly studio, the classes are not packed, and I would recommend people trying it out.

I’ve tried so many yoga places and have been unhappy with the prices. Past Tense is so accommodating to students. They offer a $ 20 10 day pass for new students which is an unheard of deal for yoga studios. The place itself was also great and easy to go to as a newcomer. They also offer free mats with each class! I was very very pleased with Past Tense!

Look here y’all, I am nobody’s yogi. My breathing is usually off and I am really not that flexible. I have tried several different studios around DC and I am always a bit intimitated by the slim, trim hyper-​flexible devotees that crowd the classes. My lack of coordination must be blocking their karmic flow.
Alas, I decided to give yoga another chance after my new doctor recommended it for some joint pain I’ve been experiencing. A dear friend suggested Past Tense which is around the corner from me and I agreed. I am SO happy I did! Kelly and the staff at Past Tense are accomdating, non judgmental and friendly to the max. I took the Happy Hour and Ahhhsome classes over the weekend and was very happy with both experiences. No matter your level of experience PT offers a gentle a relaxing environment that encourages you to push yourself while letting go.
I am totally blissed out after my sessions and cannot wait to use up the rest of my 10 day pass!

I love this studio! There aren’t too many classes, but they are offered at good times and never too crowded. The prices are right, the space is calming, and the customer service is amazing! The teachers are all really friendly and have a variety of teaching styles. So glad this place is in my neighborhood!

I wanted to get back into yoga after not going for a couple years. I was really tired of the «gym scene» at the Washington Sports Clubs, but I was also afraid of going to a stuffy, crowded, stressful yoga studio. I can’t say how terribly un-​relaxing it is to be crammed into a room with strangers after a long day at work. Strangers who do not care if they step on you, steal your yoga mat, etc.
Past Tense welcomed me with open arms. 5 stars. Beautiful space, water, free mats, and nice staff.
They even sign you up for an annual discount membership if you use the 10-​day pass for $ 20. If you’re thinking of getting (back) into yoga, get the 10-​day pass and take a few different classes.
Favorite classes are the Flow Yoga, Ahhh-​some, and Fuse Pilates.
One last tip: be sure to get there ten minutes ahead of time to relax and grab a space!

I’ve only come for two «Date Night» yoga classes two months in a row. I love John, the instructor. He is very helpful for people who are very new to yoga (like my boyfriend), and he is encouraging, but not pushy, in offering alternatives and ways to go further in postures. I also love that we do a «couples massage» after the yoga session. How relaxing! My boyfriend had never done yoga before, but he really liked it, and was up for another class the next month! He also said he was super sore the next day. Yoga is not for sissies!
The space is nice, but it was interesting that the «studio» is RIGHT when you walk in… and that the bathroom is in the studio. The space is kind of small, too, which may prove difficult for larger classes that don’t position their mats right next to each other (like we do in Date Night yoga).
I’m interested in getting a student-​discount monthly package, but I may wait a little bit more and try something closer to my apartment. But any studio that gets my boyfriend to like yoga gets an A+ from me!

I am actually giving them 4.5.
I started going to Past Tense last month after not having done yoga for a long time. I was a bit nervous the first time since I am not really into yoga culture. Sometimes I find it rather elitist and judgmental and I don’t want to chant or talk about Eastern spirituality. No offense if that is your thing– it just isn’t mine. I also hate class where the instructor does their own practice at the front of the room and never walks around. It is helpful to have some more advanced positions demonstrated at the front but I don’t need to watch the instructor do «downward facing dog» for the 300^th time and I also want them to be help us get the positions right and make minor corrections.
I was very pleasantly surprised after the first class. It is a small one room studio but I love the space. The instructor was friendly and helpful and definitely did not stay planted at the front of the room. She also asked the class what they wanted to work on: core, balance, shoulders, etc. Since then I have found all the instructors to be great and they have a wide variety of teaching styles. I would suggest trying out several classes to see which ones are to your liking. There are a few instructors that do guided meditation and chanting but I have mostly found it to be within my tolerance level. There are also some fun nontraditional classes such as the Friday Happy Hour class which is high energy and done to pop music.
I would definitely recommend Past Tense to Beginning to Intermediate students. Advanced students might find it a bit too easy. However, they always give the more advanced variations of positions. If you are looking for a more difficult workout, I would also suggest asking the instructor to concentrate on core… one legged plank is a killer.
They offer a $ 20 10-​day trial period which is a great value if you want to try it. Mats are always available to barrow or you can bring your own. They also offer tea and there are water glasses if you happen to forget your own bottle. If you are a student, don’t forget to ask about student discounts on monthly passes and packages.
The only reason that I am not giving them 5 stars is that I wish they had more morning classes. The offer one EARLY morning class each day during the week either at 6:30 or 7:00. However, it would be nice if there were some classes later in the morning. 8:30 or 9:00 maybe? I am sure that I am not the only person that doesn’t work a 9 to 5.

So I went to my first class there yesterday, Let It Flow Level ½ — and I have now met my yoga class in shining armor. Talk about an intense core workout. The instructor, Jessica, was a spitfire. If only she could follow me around my day I would be 5x more of a productive person. The only con was that there were 3 different intoxicated, homeless people wandering near the entrance of the studio and messing with people coming in. I hope that’s a rare occurrence because the yoga was great!

My boyfriend and I are pretty much complete newbies to yoga. I have had sporadic experience through videos and theatre-​training. Past Tense’s Virgin Yoga class, offered regularly once a month, is a great introduction to all the basic poses. For a $ 10 New Student fee for the 1.5 hour long class — this is a great deal!
The owner, Kelly, takes you slowly through the basics, correcting individuals with a hands on approach when necessary, and explaining all the variations (easy to difficult). There was special emphasis placed on what to do «if» — if you had neck, back, hamstring, etc, issues — in each pose, which I really appreciated as it helps you get the most out of the class.
This would be a great class if you are completely new to yoga and want to see what it’s all about, or if you have been studying on your own and want to transition into a class setting. I love that they are in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and there is a casual friendly nature to their studio and an open door attitude. I’m excited to visit the other classes they offer and get on the road to a healthier lifestyle.
The only reason I gave four stars instead of five, is because I’ve only attended the one class.

The classes and teachers are great of course, but what I really love about this place is their community spirit and customer service. The owner has twice sent me a personalized email with special offers tailored to my situation, and they offer community mats, tea, and sponsor special neighborhood events. If yoga is meant to incorporate every aspect of peace into one’s life, then this studio does it better than any other I’ve ever seen!

3.5 stars
I really want to like this studio — it’s only 2 blocks away from my house. Unfortunately, I’m not awarding it more stars because of two things. They don’t have that many classes — there is only one space. Also, the classes that I have taken were not the best. The instructors are very nice, but I wish that their classes were more challenging.
On the other hand, Ximena teaches here several days a week. She teaches jivamukti, and I’ve taken her classes many times at another studio, and she’s awesome. The problem is that her classes are not at the most convenient times for me, think 9am on a weekday.

‘Tis my favorite Yoga Studio so far. They have a number of different yoga type classes & pilates, and a great intro deal at $ 20 unlimited classes for 10 days, including mat rental. Its a good place for non-​expert yoga folks in addition to those who are more experienced. I’ve just gotten to the point where I know what the hell’s going on the entire class, and I’ve felt comfortable from day one.
Customer service was a strong point, & I the personalized emails by the owner made me awww.

Lovely clean studio, good selection of classes, both in terms of styles offered and times. Friday night Happy Hours are a terrific way to wrap up the work-​week.

I’m so happy Past Tense yoga studio is in my neighborhood! I started taking classes at Past Tense as a relative newcomer to yoga, and have been hooked ever sense. The instructors are very welcoming and helpful and provide a comfortable learning environment. I particularly enjoy their Happy Hour yoga on Fridays. Yoga has never been this fun and rewarding.

So glad Past Tense is in the neighborhood! Great classes, good prices. The classes I have taken have been unique, challenging, but not overwhelming. The space is great, and they have a good schedule that accomodates working people. Yay for new studio!