I'm a huge fan of yoga. Feeling the breath rush through my body, stretching and twisting to ambiguously "spiritual" music, calm voices -- for me to get through my beloved city life, I need to also have a space to get away from it all!

DC is home to many yoga studios, with most emphasizing a vinyasa flow approach. If you've taken a few yoga classes and you're familiar with the basics, this would probably be your best bet for a challenging workout that will help you develop your practice. Poses are synchonized with your breath, and the teacher will instruct your movement from pose to pose on an inhale or exhale.

 If you're new to yoga, however, try a hatha class.  This will emphasize postures and correct alignment, building your foundation for a faster flow or more strenuous postures.

While I've only begun to explore the different studios around here - partly due to price, partly to time -- here are two studios with great deals and wonderful instructors.  

Quiet Mind Yoga
A new studio on 14th Street in Colombia Heights, Quiet Mind is building its client base in the community.  This means they have a great intro deal: 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $20.  While it's a small studio with only a few classes a day, the ethos of "radiating peace" goes far with me.  

 3423 14th St NW
(at N Newton St)
(202) 299-0111
quietminddc.com

Studio Serenity
Studio Serenity has a real community following -- though finding serenity on 18th Street in Adams Morgan seems an impossibility, the studio is seriously committed to yoga and spirituality.   I've gone to some absolutely great classes here -- and there are tons to choose from!  There's also an $8 Lunar Lotus class on Fridays at 8.  As an intro deal, Studio Serenity offers one week of unlimited classes for $20.  

2469 18th Street NW
Studioserenity.com