East Side Yoga is now open on the Hill, and it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. I had the pleasure of stopping in for a class, and wanted to fill you in on a new yoga option near you.
The Location
The studio is located on 10th St NE above the auto repair shop on a residential block. One of my favorite things about the space is that it isn’t located on a major road or in a commercial strip. That means you don’t hear sirens or other street noise throughout class. It’s also nice that it’s in the middle of Capitol Hill, so you can easily walk or run to class from home.
Photo by Lauren Walens
Photo by Lauren Walens
The Studio
East Side Yoga Owner Alia Khan did a great job morphing the space into a soothing, trendy yoga studio. When you walk in, you’re greeted by a dark wooden desk and bench seating with comfy pillows. There’s ample space to wait and mingle before or after class. They even had complimentary cucumber slices, dark chocolates and cucumber water – they know the way to my heart!
There’s a bathroom with changing stations, so it’s no problem to come straight from work.
Photo by Lauren Walens
The actual studio is large, with cubbies so you can store your personal items near you during class. They provide blocks and blankets, and you can rent mats for $2. My favorite part of the studio was the ceiling, which is strung with lights and covered in burlap – it gives you something beautiful to focus on throughout class.
Photo by Lauren Walens
The Class
I attended a Monday evening Energetic Flow class, taught by Alia herself. It is brisk-paced, meant to keep you moving and even get a little sweaty. It was a good class – I certainly felt stretched out and grounded when I left. The studio also offers Relaxed Flow classes, and plans to introduce prenatal and family classes soon.
True to her goals when she opened the studio, the class stuck to the yoga and left out the religious aspects of practice that many people don’t relate to. Alia even played modern-day music throughout class.
You can drop in for a class for $18, or buy three- or six-class passes.