Pure Prana Yoga Studio

I’m a fan! This place is well located in the heart of Alexandria on a very cute street. It’s will stocked, the floors are clean, and the staff are very nice.

I’ve taken several classes at Pure Prana over the last 18 months.
Their prenatal yoga classes are excellent and I was excited to return post-​baby for some regular classes.
I recently attended a Friday evening Post-​Work class at the Alfred studio that was a bit disappointing. The class is described as «designed to clear your head and unkink your body after the workday» but the instructor played upbeat music throughout and I was unable to truly relax into my practice. The drop in rates have risen since I first tried the studio (now $ 20 for a drop in class) and I felt that the one hour class was mediocre. Hopefully this was just my personal bias, as I didn’t feel I received my money’s worth from the class.
I’ll likely return to try another class and recommend Pure Prana for anyone looking for prenatal classes.

Not enough challenging vinyasa classes. The instructors I like don’t teach often (Beth and Deborah). I bought 10 classes and asked if the studio if they would extend the expiration date, but they wouln’t. So I’m stuck rushing to finish up using my yoga classes. Ridiculous! :/​I’ll buy classes elsewhere going forward.

I have tried pure prana on and off since I moved to the area a few years ago. At first it was ok, but as my practice progressed I have repeatedly left classes completely dissatisfied and frustrated. I ended up taking my business elsewhere (mind the mat among other studios). Since I left the studio I have given it another shot a few times and leave everytime asking myself «why do I keep trying?» Completely underwhelmed and unchallenged. Some teachers are just kinda hokey too with long opening meditation and «teachings».
Pure prana supposedly addressed the lack of variety of classes to include more «vigorous» or advanced options, to no avail in my opinion. I attended a «vigorous vinyasa» class recently hoping the studio had evolved. I was overwhelmingly disappointed. There was nothing vigorous about it nor was it even really a vinyasa class. There was almost no flow. The class felt disjointed, awkward and we often had to stop while the teacher explained things. On and on. I was actually bored. This was also a case where the opening meditation was way too long, waaaay too long repetitive chanting, and we had to listen to «teachings» from the teacher that kind of seemed to just go on.
Please don’t mis-​advertise classes. The studio really should advertise themselves as a mostly beginner studio in general. It does have an older crowd which could be related to old town population. Just an FYI statement.
As long as you’re seeking more basic or beginner or mild classes, then I guess it’s ok. Happily I have been challenged and been able to advance my practice vastly, it’s just unfortunate I had to keep looking elsewhere to get that. I will not likely be returning.

I loved the last three classes I have taken at Pure Prana. The teachers are passionate and are teaching from the heart. The studio has a quirky laid back vibe. I had an easy time finding street parking within a block at each visit.
I love the variety of classes offered throughout the day which is great for people with freelance type schedules.
Most of all I was impressed by the level of healing that the owner Natasha offers with her teachings. I am looking forward to attending some interesting workshops and continuing to enhance my practice.

Best yoga studio I have ever been to. Been taking yoga classes in the DC area for the past four years and this is as good as it gets. The instructors are amazing (Lewis is my fave), the studio is bright and clean, and the staff are so helpful and welcoming. Classes aren’t cheap, but you get your money’s worth. I recommend signing up for their email list because they periodically send out notifications when you can buy gift cards at a reduced rate. I buy gift cards for myself and use them to purchase class packages. All in all, fantastic studio!

The real deal! Not only body but mind, so many studios lose the connection, but not Pure Prana. Open, accepting, challenging and hands-​on correction are what you can expect. Yoga is so individual, so if you don’t enjoy one class try another instructor. Both depth and breadth at Pure Prana.

I purchased the new student month of classes for $ 30 and I must say I enjoy this yoga studio. After stressful days, it is a great place to relax and refocus. As an experienced yogi, I have enjoyed each class from the beginner to advanced classes. I only wish I could go to their classes for hot yoga too!

Friendly staff… Melissa lead a well-​paced happy hour class. Very airy studio. No charge mats, and plenty of optional blocks, blankets, eye pillows, straps for added support.
The class was longer than I expected, which was a welcome change from fast paced 1 hour classes. It really allowed for more time to explore each asana. Thank you for this zen-​like, soothing, and yet vigorous practice.

I have enjoyed deepening my practice at Pure Prana over these past few months. I am a huge fan of the fact that they have the $ 30 day pass for unlimited classes during that time period. That allowed the flexibility to try out different types of yoga classes without having to worry about paying the drop in class price for each one.
I hope to, one day, become certified yoga instructor. So, I decided to rebuild a solid yoga foundation by purchasing the Beginners Yoga I/​II courses. I have not completed the second portion, but I really enjoyed the 8 weeks of instruction that I had, particularly with Rajni.
Due to some scheduling conflicts, I had to miss a few of the classes. Instead of having to forfeit them, the studio is very graciously allowing me to have make up courses. Additionally, since I purchased Part I and Part II together as part of a 16 week total session and now they are offering 14 weeks for the first two courses, they owe me three classes since I am also entitled to the $ 20 discount for purchasing both sections in advance. So, they are going to add 3 Green Free Yoga Passes to your account for you to use in any of our drop-​in classes! Suh-​weet.
I appreciate that they truly seem to care about the practice of their yogis and yoginis. I have truly enjoyed the way that this business is run and will definitely continue to attend classes here.

After 2 years and 2 months after my initial review, I’m re-​visiting and re-​framing my thoughts on Pure Prana based on both private messages with the owner, as well as two recent visits to the studio — to Theresa’s class last Friday, and Faith’s class last night for Candlelight Restorative.
1) Cleanliness — re: mats, blankets, bolsters, eye pillows:
Natasha initially addressed my comments in a message 9 months ago with this: «Our students are very dedicated to cleaning any community mats they use at the end of each practice with our signature mat cleaner. We make this cleaner in-​house from purified water and pure essential oils that have antimicrobial properties and it is always available in each studio room. We also now make available the CYM system (
), a chemical-​free, UV-​C-​light-​based technology used for sanitization in hospitals and clinical settings. In addition to the regular cleaning delivered by students, our communal mats are cleaned in-​depth by the studio staff several times a year.»
That’s all well and fine — in theory. In both of my classes last night and last week, I used a communal mat because I had forgotten mind. Without instructions after class on what to do, I rolled-​up my mat, folded my blankets and put them away, stacked my bolster, and — not having any idea what to do with — put away the shared eye pillow that I had used (in last night’s class — with a kleenex [courteously provided by Faith and her assistant] — between my eyes and the eye pillow, for hygiene — that was a nice gesture). But again, no cleaning method was announced, no directions were stated, and so I laid there wondering — hoping — that there was some kind of behind the scenes cleaning process and procedure in place.
2) Teachers:
First of all, the drop-​in rate increased to $ 20. And the packages have changed. That’s fine. Macroeconomics has also changed since 2011. With prices being neither here nor there, my true thoughts are simply that I am not in support of 200-​hour «teacher» training, and think they’e dangerous to the ancient philosophy and practice of yoga that was initially developed in The East. As a result, I may revert back to Iyengar. If you’d like to know more on this controversial subject, look on Elephant Journal.
All the above withstanding, I like Theresa and Faith as teachers.
I also really appreciated the owner, Natasha’s thoughtful response on co-​teaching:
«First, thank you for your comments regarding our co-​teachers. Co-​teachers in the final phase of our 200-​hour Holistic Yoga Teacher Training and are being guided by experienced teachers, so I trust that they are working together to provide the best yoga class possible. I realize having the regular teacher plus a novice teacher leading a paying class is less than ideal for the students but always hope that the class is a fluid yogic experience that everyone thoroughly enjoys. Your feedback has invited me to revisit the way that we present co-​teaching classes to the public so that all students can make an informed decision regarding their attendance.»
And I appreciate her insight here:
«Faith, the regularly scheduled teacher for Candlelight Restorative Yoga on Friday evenings does not play music during her class since this is not a traditional element of the practice. From time to time there can be some noise from Misha’s at the beginning of class. We have an outstanding agreement with the Misha’s team to keep the sound level low, but there’s little we can do to remove it entirely. However, even with some noise the class can be very peaceful and effective as it’s one of our most popular classes. If you like the gong, we have a number of Kundalini classes that use this wonderful instrument, as well as Gong Healing, which is part of our Yoga for the People program.»
3) Course selection:
Elise D. wrote a thorough and thoughtful review describing this, as well as the community-​nature and vibe of Pure Prana, and since I agree with her views, and welcome the light she shed on this topic, I’m going to defer to her review on this topic. As mentioned in my compliment to you, great review, Elise!
In short, in addition to the above three points, I do really enjoy the Candlelight Restorative Yoga class as a way to purposefully relax and wind down from the week — shifting our focus from 55−60+hour M-​F work weeks to weekend chores, and perhaps even fun & leisure (if we’re so lucky), or to more work as well. ;) It’s nice to have a way to capstone the week, as well as an opportunity to purposefully and intentionally relax, slowing down both the mind and the body (the benefits of practicing here vs. alone at home include: #1 if you’re anything like me, the minute a to-​do list item pops in your head, you’ll rush to tackle that vs. allowing and giving yourself time to realax [as instructed by the teacher]; and #2 you miss out on the community atmosphere & ambiance — which often contributes to growth, progress, and life learning).

I was looking for a yoga studio near my home, and decided to try out Pura Prana. They were running a month-​long promotion which included unlimited classes for only $ 30. I also chose this studio because of it offered Pilates mat classes as well and it was pretty close to where I live.
I wanted to get the most out of my month-​long pass, so I literally went to almost every class, and have to admit that each class was amazing in it’s own right! I loved the selection of instructors and the difficulty of the classes. The Pilates mat and barre classes are just the best I have ever had. Katy teaches them and is both amazing and hilarious! She actually made me look forward to doing the 100s and leg routines.
The meditation class is also amazing. You would think that being located in the middle of Old Town with tons of traffic would make it difficult to meditate, but it really becomes the background «music» of sorts that further adds to the ambiance and atmposphere of this studio.
My absolute favorite class (well, they are all my favorite, but this is the second favorite after the Pilates mat and barre classes) is the Yoga Nidra. Something magical happens and I’m transformed whenever I come in and leave this studio. It is a truly magical experience and I just love it!
I would say the only con is the parking situation sometimes. Although it’s relatively easy to find parking during the day, the night classes are a bit difficult and if you are driving, I recommend leaving early to search for parking. There is also no free parking (only metered parking, which is free after 7pm). Also, if you think you are running late, do call in advance and let the receptionist know. The classes tend to start on time and sometimes there is no one sitting in the waiting area.
I highly recommend this studio for those who are thinking about getting into yoga or have been studying for years. At $ 30 for a month of unlimited classes, you really cannot beat that deal.

I’ve practice here a few times, especially when I travel and stay in the area. They offer an array of classes for every level. They have tons of classes throughout the day so there’s something for everyone. The instructors I’ve had are experienced and know their stuff. Parking can be tricky so get there early. There is a metered lot located next to the building off King Street. Although I haven’t had an issue with a packed class, it’s good to sign up ahead of time. I also had the pleasure to meet the owner, Natasha. She’s insightful, knowledgable shows she cares a lot about the practice and the students.

I’m pretty bummed to see some of the less-​than-​stellar reviews of Pure Prana. I’m shocked and I couldn’t disagree more. Pure Prana is a delightful, friendly, enjoyable place to do yoga and I prefer it to any of the other 3 local studios I’ve tried.
To be clear, I’m no yogi. I’m just a 35-​y-​o lady looking to do some relaxing and challenging yoga or pilates in a gentle, healing, restorative and nice place. I find that at Pure Prana.
I took the Pure Prana Foundations of Yoga course in 2009 with Mina (who ROCKS), and have done drop-​in classes every few weeks since then.
Each class has its own flavor and feel and all of the teachers bring their own individual experience and style to their class. It’s like anything else in life — there will be some sessions you like more and some you like a little less. If you don’t have a great experience, try a different instructor, a different class time, a different class!
I just finally went to the newer space over on Alfred Street a few weekends back for a Saturday morning Open to All and it was fantastic. The space is so beautiful and the instructor was awesome.
Don’t be scared to try this place. Come on in, be who/​where you are, breathe, enjoy yourself and if something isn’t perfect then provide feedback at the studio and come try it again.

Prior to moving to Alexandria, I searched high and low for «the» yoga studio. I read reviews from the trusty Unilocalers, I looked at websites, schedule, and then finally set out to try some of these places out upon moving here. I bought a package to Pure Prana after attending a free teacher audition class with Nina during Snowquestration! I loved Nina’s class so much, and she was so stellar I just knew she would be on the schedule soon. That was back in January…
There are two locations. The main location is on S. Patrick St, right off of King Street. I had no problems taking the metro to King St, and then walking or catching the trolley to the studio. The other location is literally on the corner across the street, less than a block away. Most of their regular vinyasa classes are held at the S. Patrick location. Both studios are charming, spacious, and clean. I prefer the S. Alfred St. location based on pure décor tastes only, but since I mostly take Vinyasa 99% of the classes I took were at the S. Patrick St. location. But again, both locations are very nice.
The schedule boasts a wide array of classes to choose from, at various times during the day. However, for the working crowd, there is usually only a 6:30pm Vinyasa that may or may not be listed as «experienced» as opposed to «all levels» (which can deter some from coming yet most working professionals can’t come until 6:30), and then another class at maybe 7:45 — 9:15 or 9:30 at night. I don’t know about you, but I work from 7:30 — 5:00, and don’t get home until 6pm. As much as I LOVE yoga, I just can’t be doing sun salutations at a yoga studio at 9:00 pm when I have to wake up at 5:30 the next morning. I cant imagine if I had young kids to tend to in the evening as well! It would be nice if they had more than one 6:30 pm offering. Especially since they have two locations. I tried a class other than Vinyasa (I think it was Slow Flow), and we spent half of the class sitting on our mats listening to the teacher discuss how to deal with our fears. That’s great if you’re looking for therapy, but the class wasn’t advertised as such. Not only did I not feel like I was getting my «yoga on,» but it was after 8:00 pm, and it’s all this seriousness going on. I have a heavy caseload. That provides me with more than enough seriousness to last me the whole week. I prefer the exploration and playfulness that awaits me every time I step on the mat. Not so here. I also took a Pilates Barre class here. While I got a good workout, there was no «barre.» We used foldout chairs that we got from the closet, and mostly did bodyweight strength training exercises with a wall. After that I just spent my «barre» money on going to an actual barre studio.
The community here leaves a bit to be desired. Sometimes I didn’t really feel like my business was wanted. Not only are do some of the staff act pretty high and mighty, but once I was told I couldn’t wait in the reception area while that particular teacher began teaching her class since the teacher for my class was running late. Cool no problem. I enjoyed a coffee downstairs. When I came back, there was another patron sitting by herself in the reception area while the first teacher was teaching her class, and our teacher still hadn’t arrived yet. She wasn’t elderly, pregnant, or disabled. The only thing different was she was a white female. Hmmmm, even though I’m decked out in lululemon just like the rest of them I wasn’t allowed to sit alone in the reception area. Things that make you go hmmm. Also, sometimes the newsletters they send out are condescending. Additionally, after class once, a patron asked me numerous questions about where I work, & berated me, and was like jealous! No class. Who wants to pay to take a yoga class with people like that?
I tried different teachers, and Nina was the only one I liked. She did not make it onto the schedule with her own classes until last week. Yes, last week of June. She has been subbing, and would pop up at random times on the schedule. It’s hard to plan my schedule around that. The other teachers I tried were okay, but not worth buying another 5 classes for $ 80 package. Especially since the one teacher I loved teaches class when I’m at work!
Lastly, a few observations. This is definitely an older crowd. Which isn’t a bad nor good thing. But, I found it interesting. There are so many young professionals in this city, tons of young people that love yoga, but they’re not here. I’ve even come to yoga here in the middle of the day on my off day, and still no younger men or women. I know they’re here, I see them out with the baby strollers shopping and what not! I’m usually a good 15 – 20 years younger than the next youngest woman here, and I’m over 25! I’ve since found a much more welcoming studio that wants my business, and offer more than one awesome teacher with a good schedule!

I go to the Saturday morning ‘open to all’ class taught by Debby and it’s a great class. Debby is very tuned in to her students needs and abilities. Each class usually incorporates something the students want to do along with a round of sun salutations. The new studio is absolutely beautiful and has a very relaxing vibe. I think the best part of the class is everyone can join in becauses the poses can be kept simple for beginners or modified to be more challenging, depending on each person’s own comfort level.
I started off in the yoga fundamentals series at this studio a little over a year ago and would highly recommend those classes as well.

The good: The studio is among the nicer in the area, and the prices are comparable to the going rate. The location is good, and parking was surprisingly not an issue, despite being smack in the middle of Old Town. These items are, however, base-​level expectations and get the business only a single star, when compared with the negatives.
The bad: The teacher mumbled and the music was cranked up quite loudly, making matters worse. I have been a student of yoga for 15 years and I could not understand what this guy was saying. To add to my annoyance, he added weird little flourishes to, I suppose, create variation on a «typical» vinyasa flow. They were not artfully executed, however, and seemed to make the flow more awkward than engrossing or challenging. This was the first yoga class I have ever attended where I could not freaking wait for savasana to be over so I could get up and leave. Worst yoga teacher ever. Reading his bio, it looks like he received his training from Pure Prana itself, so that really does not inspire me as to the competency of its other instructors.
The bad, but fixable: Additionally, they really need to mark their floors, a la Down Dog. The class was quite crowded, which in itself is not a problem, if it is managed correctly. People were throwing their mats pretty haphazardly across the room, without being conscientious of neighbors’ spaces, or the fact that someone else needed to squeeze in. Marking the floor with tape helps my favorite studio, Down Dog, cram everyone efficiently into the room, while still maintaining enough space to work. Marking the floor will help Pure Prana get enough folks into the class and minimize confusion/​annoyance.
The gross: The studio does not sell bottled water, which is odd considering the types of classes they offer. When I asked, the receptionist said I could «borrow a cup» and pour some from the dispenser. I assume this is an attempt to be environmentally friendly. When I served myself a cup of water, however, I noticed a nasty-​looking film floating on the surface of the water. I am unsure if this was due to a malfunctioning water filter or an unclean cup. but regardless… eww? I did notice a sign above the stack of cups saying, «If you use one of our cups, please clean it before you put it back.» So, apparently, they are depending on the virtue of their customers to appropriately clean/​sterilize the common stack of cups. This strikes me as disgusting and unsanitary.
Bottom line: I will not be back to this studio. I think I’ll stick with Down Dog when I want my butt kicked, or Mind the Mat when I want to relax.

I really like this yoga studio. It’s by far my favorite of the ones I’ve tried in the NOVA area. Most of the instructors (Jennifer is my favorite) are kind and patient with those of us who aren’t superstar yogis. I really like the lunchtime yoga classes and usually shoot for attending those sessions on my work-​from-​home days. The bonus for this time of day is that parking is generally a breeze.
The downside is that the classes are quite expensive when purchased on a one-​off basis; buying a pass or package gets you a better deal.

This is a great neighborhood yoga studio, friendy to walk ins and easy to do business with. The Fundamentals class was good for us beginners but I highly recommend Strength and Conditioning. Excellent way to kick off a Sunday morning. We practiced intense poses and focused on strengthening the body. I felt worked out!
Downfall…this place is expensive, $ 18 per class is a lot compared to anywhere.

Meh.
After attending two classes, I just wasn’t that impressed, or challenged. We seemed to spend a lot of time sitting on our butts. I was looking for something a bit more athletic.
South Boston Yoga in (yep) Boston seriously spoiled me and set my expectations. I wanted to move, to stretch, to challenge myself. Perhaps do a headstand.
When the mister asked how class was, I told him we spent most of the noon time ‘ladies’ yoga class breathing through our reproductive organs. He found this hilarious. I found it a waste of $ 15. Great if you’re looking for gentle stretching and some less serious meditation. Not for an athletic yogi.