Get Into Position for Georgetown Yoga – Alumna Offers Yoga Classes for Physical, Mental Release – by Lucye Rafferty

Calling itself an “urban oasis”, Georgetown Yoga provides a great physical and mental release for the busy college student. Yoga is one of the fastest growing new fitness trends, portrayed as a fantastic way to improve overall fitness, gain flexibility and even rid some of that pre- and post-exam stress. Even the experienced yoga-goer will be very impressed by the Georgetown Yoga studio, less than a 10 minute walk from campus, located at 1053 31st street next to the C&O canal. Margaret Burns Vap (SLL ’93) worked in New York City for L’Oreal before opening the one-room studio this September. She offers yoga classes in a wide variety of styles and levels at various times throughout the week. If yoga at Yates just doesn’t cut it for you, or if you want to try something new, you should definitely take a class at Georgetown Yoga.

Each individual class costs $15; however, you can also purchase a 10 class punch card for $130 that lasts three months or an unlimited monthly pass for $120, which might save you money. The price is well worth the small class size, qualified instructors and bright blue surroundings you receive. With all this individual attention, the most difficult aspect of going to Georgetown Yoga is choosing what class you want to take. Yoga I and Yoga II introduce basic yoga poses in hour long classes and are fantastic if you are new to yoga or if you want to refresh your memory. If you don’t know what a downward facing dog is, then this class is for you. These beginner classes move slowly, as the pace is only as fast as the slowest student, but you can still expect a vigorous work out. For an introduction to stretching and relaxation, these classes are great.

For the more experienced yoga student there are the more traditional Ashtanga Yoga classes, which follow the primary series of standing, seated and finishing postures. This class is also offered in two different levels, with the latter taught at a slightly more challenging pace. The studio also offers a Mixed Levels class which is open to all students and as a result changes pace from week to week. The Ashtanga Mysore class allows you to practice the Ashtanga series at your own pace without formal instruction. You can even have cheat sheet that clearly shows all the postures to follow, and the instructors are not afraid to correct your form. These traditional Ashtanga and Mysore classes provide all of the anticipated rewards of yoga. Other classes include Power Yoga, a fast-paced, more advanced class, Restorative Yoga, which focuses more on stretching and relaxation than strength and stamina, and Hot Yoga, where the room temperature is set between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit allowing for the most intense stretching. These classes keep yoga fresh and innovated by following a slightly different routine.

All of the classes are small and encourage you to practice yoga at your own level and pace. However, at the same time, the studio wants each student to get the most out of the class and challenge them to perform at their peak. The current schedule can be found at www.georgetownyoga.com. This website has more information about the instructors and even allows you to pre-purchase class passes. The website also has more details on the studio’s special events, such as a workshop with the Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York City that the studio is hosting on January 25 [2003].

www.thehoya.com