Welcome to Lighthouse Yoga Center!
We are Washington DC’s premiere Yoga studio for Kundalini, Hatha, Pre/Postnatal and Flow Yoga.
Lighthouse Yoga Center is located in the Northwest Washington DC residential neighborhood of Brightwood Park, on the Kennedy Street commercial strip.
Lighthouse Yoga Center is Washington DC’s only Kundalini Yoga studio and is a flagship studio for alignment-oriented Hatha Yoga. Our wonderful teachers and students have created a beautiful space for peace and healing in the heart of Northwest DC, and we are grateful to all of those who have been part of our growth.
Lighthouse prioritizes inclusion, diversity and community. We are a “come as you are” studio, and offer classes for all ages, shapes and sizes. At Lighthouse, we believe that yoga is a way to help us feel better. When we feel better in our bodies, we’re able to start to calm our mind. When we’re able to calm our minds, we can connect with our spirit. When we put all these aspects together, we empower ourselves to make changes in our lives and the world.
As we continue to grow and fortify our commitment to our community, Lighthouse Yoga Center will continue to be a beacon for inner peace in Petworth, Brightwood and beyond. Our mission is to serve our students and neighbors by providing a space that is open and welcoming to all.
Our Classes & Workshops
We offer a variety of classes and workshops in-person, live online and on video replay!
In-person
Join us for in-person classes in our bright and airy studio! Just bring yourself, a willingness to try and a smile. Lighthouse Yoga Center supplies all the props (mats, blankets, belts, blocks, etc.) you’ll need. Wear comfortable, preferably stretchy clothing, such as shorts or leggings. Changing areas/bathrooms are available at LYC, and personal belongings can be stored in our cubbies. Doors open 15 minutes before the class starts, and we ask that you register online for the class prior to arriving to ensure space in the class, and because our desk is not always staffed to register you. Please note that the doors at LYC are generally locked 15 minutes after the scheduled class start time, so please try to arrive on time.
Online Yoga Classes
We offer livestream online classes via Zoom. These classes are live and interactive. You can ask questions, and engage with the teacher and other students before and after class. These classes are held at specific times and can be found on our schedule. Some of these classes are held in the studio (called hybrid classes), so that students can choose either in-person or online, and some are taught only online, often from the teachers’ personal studio. Classes that are offered online only are recorded for later use as on-demand video classes. Classes taught in our studio with live people in-person are not recorded for on-demand replay.
Video-on-Demand Classes
Our video-on-demand classes are recorded replays of our livestream classes. You’re getting the same great content but can practice whenever you want! Video-on-demand classes are included in the Lighthouse membership at no extra cost.
Workshops
Weekly classes are wonderful, but sometimes our teachers and guests want to offer our students a taste of their Yoga specialties! Check our workshops and events page here for upcoming workshops (usually on the weekend, 2-4hrs) and workshop series (usually a 1-2hr weeknight class offered 4-8 weeks in a row). These are purchased separately from weekly classes, but members get a discount on all workshops and series! All workshops that are offered hybrid or online are recorded for later use by workshop participants (not shared publically).
What is Kundalini Yoga?
While Hatha Yoga (the type of Yoga that most Americans are familiar with) is taught as a series of individual postures or sequences of postures, Kundalini Yoga is taught in Kriyas.
A kriya is a series of postures, breath, rhythm, and sound that work toward a specific outcome. These Kriyas can strengthen the nervous system, boost the immune system, balance emotions, and create an overall sense of harmony and wellbeing. When we start to come into balance, we train ourselves to respond, rather than to react. We build stress resilience, to stay steady even during the most trying times.And we are empowered to take action when needed, to create a world that is free, fair, just and equitable for all. Practicing a kriya initiates a sequence of physical and mental changes that affect the body, mind, and spirit simultaneously.
A Kundalini Yoga class typically starts by tuning in with a mantra, often the Adi Mantra, “Ong Namo Guru dev Namo” . The teacher may then lead you through some warm-ups that include pranayam (breathing exercises) or physical stretches. Then the kriya begins, and depending on the length and difficulty of the kriya the teacher has chosen, you may take short breaks between the exercises. The class finishes with a meditation and savasana (final relaxation). Meditation is a key aspect of this practice. Meditation in Kundalini Yoga contains specific, practical tools that carefully and precisely support the mind and guide the body through the use of breath, mantra, mudra, and focus. Kundalini Yoga can be practiced by everyone, regardless of age, flexibility, body shape or size, or other factors. Modifications are offered for many poses. If you can’t sit on the floor, there are chairs available for you to use. With a regular Kundalini Yoga practice, you will build your strength quickly, but in the meantime, take breaks as needed during the exercises. While many teachers and practictioners choose to cover their heads and wear white, it is not required.
What our students say about us:
“I REALLY love the space at Lighthouse Yoga! Every class has been amazing, especially Fundamentals and Body Image! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being so supportive, generous and flexible. <3” — DD
“Seriously, I’m so grateful to have Lighthouse in the neighborhood. It’s a godsend, and the best yoga studio I’ve experienced in 7 years of practice.” — LMJ,
“Thank you for showing me how wonderful yoga is… It has become an integral part of my existence.” — SN,
“Your teaching and this practice continue to have a profound and positive impact on my life; can’t thank you enough for your enthusiasm and encouragement.” — AF,
“Lighthouse is one of the few places that I found that had a non-flashy, authentic class schedule.” — LN