Photo by Robert Bejil on Flikr
Soon Capitol Hill residents will have a new yoga studio option in the heart of Capitol Hill: East Side Yoga.
As I’ve reported before, there are many good yoga options on the Hill, but East Side Yoga at 518 10th St NE, hopes to set itself apart by dedicating itself to the stressed out Washingtonians who live in the neighborhood.
Studio owner and three-year yoga teacher Alia Khan teaches the spiritual style of yoga without delving into the religious aspects that she finds some people don’t relate to. Her goal is to “translate the yogic philosophies into modern-day language and anecdotes that resonate with my students’ every-day experiences.”
Alia uses examples like stressful experiences on the Metro (which we can all relate to these days) to illustrate the principles behind her practice, and she plans to hire teachers who share her philosophy. The studio’s motto is, “A modern approach to ancient wisdom.”
Photo by Alia Kahn
As for the studio itself — Alia, a former corporate attorney and real estate agent, came across the large space while helping her partner search for office space and immediately knew she had to open a yoga studio there. The studio is among row houses on 10th St. NE, not in one of the main retail strips, and is 1,600 square feet including bathrooms and a spacious reception area.
This type of large commercial space is rare in the Hill neighborhood itself, and Alia plans to make it feel as much a part of the neighborhood as she can. The furniture will all be custom built. She’s using salvaged materials that her boyfriend – Gary Barnhart, the owner of GL Barnhart Construction – has pulled out of old Capitol Hill homes during renovation projects. Alia also plans to partner with as many local businesses as possible. She has already started talking to Curbside Cupcakes about featuring goodies from their line of healthier options at her studio’s launch party.
Photo by Alia Kahn
For more information on the studio, to see more photos of the space or to help Alia get to opening day, check out her Indiegogo video.
And look forward to another review post from me once the studio is up and running!
did 10th Street Auto Repair close?
Nope. There has been studio space above the garage that’s been different things over the years.