Down Dog Yoga

This is my absolute favorite yoga studio in the DC area (additional locations in Bethesda/Herndon). It's a hot power vinyasa class, which means it's hot (95-99 degrees) and involves a great deal of cardio and strength. The class begins with a series of oms and goes into sun salutations, followed by hip openers, balancing poses, some ab work, inversions, and any other poses the instructor feels like adding. I always feel amazing by the time the class ends - both tuckered out and refreshed. A couple things to note: if you have never taken yoga before, I'd suggest going to the basics class before attending all levels classes to understand the terminology and basic poses. Also, depending on the time of day, the class can get very crowded. I've never found this to be a problem because you really only need the space on your mat. You also absolutely need a towel so you don't slip, and the yogitoes towels that they sell there are a great investment if you plan on going regularly. One of the best things about this studio is that, unlike some Bikram studios I've been to, it smells awesome despite the fact the people are sweating in there for hours each day. I even bought the same type of incense to use at home because it instantly calms me.