We recommend that new yogis start with our Relaxed Flow classes. If you’re brand new to yoga, we also recommend one-one-one private sessions. But we understand that that’s not in everyone’s budget, so our MasterClasses are a great budget-friendly alternative. For Privates and MasterClasses, email info@eastsideyogadc.com.

For each class you’ll need a mat (you can rent one from us for $2 if you don’t have one) and we recommend you bring a water bottle and a towel if you get sweaty.

We recommend you dress comfortably and wear clothes that allow your body to move. Typically, stretchy pants, workout tops, athletic shorts and well-fitted t-shirts are great for yoga.

We recommend you bring your own mat. If you don’t have your own, we have mats available to rent for $2. Rental mats are the same as the mats we have for sale in the studio and are the best on the market! If you want to purchase a mat, we recommend you rent one and give it a try before making the investment. We have two different styles of mat available both for rent and for sale, so you can figure out which is the best fit for you before you buy!

The interior studio and massage studio are shoe-free zones because we want keep the floors as clean as possible. This is also a nod to the Indian custom of removing one’s shoes before entering a home, holy place, or any place of importance, out of respect for the space.

We recommend you take off your socks to reduce slipping and sliding during the practice.

Yes! Feel free to keep some water next to your mat while you practice and pause for water breaks whenever you need to! If you need to step out for water or to use the restroom during class, you are of course welcome to do so at any time.

Inside the studio, there are blue vertical lines on the baseboard. Please line the front of your mat up with one of those so the rows are even. The farm door at the far end of the studio is the “front” of the room. We recommend that you practice towards the back of the room for at least your first couple of classes. That way it’s really easy for you to look around and see what everyone else is doing if you’re unsure of what’s going on - and feel free to look around as often as you need to, no one minds! Our teachers don’t demo much, as they are usually walking around offering hands-on assists, which is why it’s useful to be able to see what the other students are doing.

Yoga props help keep proper form and alignment and make certain poses easier. For each class, we always recommend 2 blocks and a blanket. Some teachers recommend using a strap, depending on the class. Don’t worry, if you have no idea what to do with them, the teacher will fill you in.

We begin each class at ESY with a few minutes of Centering, where you find stillness in a comfortable pose and bring awareness to your breath. This important part of class gives you an opportunity to transition away from your busy day and its accompanying thoughts, and to check in with what your body needs for today’s practice before you begin moving.

Savasana, or Corpse Pose, occurs at the end of the practice as a way to come back to your intention set at the beginning of class and to bring awareness to how your body feels now that class is ending. It is meant to be a relaxing pose to conclude your practice.