Mind The Mat

I joined this studio in September 2015 and I highly recommend it. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. The class scheduled is varied and works for many lifestyles. Very clean and professional environment. Try it, you’ll love it!

I survived my first yoga class, it was pretty awesome, the space was peaceful, the teacher went at a great pace and being able to sign up and pay for my class online was very convenient. I was a little nervous going into this, coming out I feel great. Fast forward 3 months in and I love this place more and more, I’ve taken numerous classes with several different teachers, although I do have my favorites, all of the teachers and classes are fantastic.
I can’t say enough great things about this place! 5 stars, namaste.

Prices are high even compared to other high cost of living areas (e.g., San Francisco). Typical drop in out there runs 18 to 20 where as at MtM it’s 25. The classes are good though.

For the 300^th review… yoga, because, why not?
I love this place. I’ve been coming here for nearly two months and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The handful of instructors I’ve had classes with have all been knowledgeable and capable. The other attendees are all legitimately interested, too. This is a great change from the usual set of people who would show up at classes at Gold’s who treat it more as «look at me» than taking it seriously.
Classes range from beginner to advanced, including yoga (hot, flow, gentle, barre and combinations of) as well as Pilates. I’m nowhere near balancing on my forehead and fingertips, but the assistance and advice of the instructors have greatly improved my practice. As someone who’s physically designed to run through obstacles, it’s amazing to learn how I can still be flexible.
I took advantage of the monthly unlimited membership with a military discount as it’s the most cost effective if you plan to attend 2 – 4 sessions per week. The sheer number of classes held each day with a wide range of start times makes scheduling around work pretty feasible. While the monthly cost is high, consider that it’s a deterrent to keep the more committed attendees around and build a consistent core.
The neighborhood is a great bonus to the Alexandria location. Plenty of small shops and casual eateries within a few blocks. It’s a nice transition to be able to take a weekend class and grab lunch after.
Well worth the price for the Alexandria location, although I have not yet had the opportunity to visit the Arlington location.

My favorite place in Del Ray. From the moment I started there they have been just outstanding. Can’t say enough good things about the care they put in to making this business work. From the outstanding teachers, great programs, extra-​helpful staff, and well-​kept facilities, this place is excellent.

Update — 9÷11÷15
Laura from Mind the Mat reached out and explained that they increased prices to reduce membership. She apologized for the crowded atmosphere, and suggested classes that have less people enrolled. I appreciate the reach out and explanation and have changed the rating.

Have to check in and give MTM another five stars. This studio has literally changed my life. I started there having zero Pilates or yoga experience, within a year I was going to a class practically every day, sometimes two because with all variety of classes it never gets boring (or easy!). Absolutely love the boot camps (as much as you can love torturing your body into quivering submission), the hot Pilates is probably my favorite — especially in the winter it is a haven/​Sanctuary of peace and inner strength. My focus over the past year was my pregnancy, delivery and recovery and once again MTM was there for me through the entire thing — to the point where the surgeon doing my c section commented on my stomach muscles mid surgery — when the heck does THAT happen! Huge shout outs to Megan, Laura and Martina for their ability to make working every muscle in your body fun, interesting and a true lifestyle. These ladies are by far the absolute best in the business, hands down.

Uh-​mazing.
The Yoga Barre is a great combo of stretching and bar method, while the Pilates Barre class is more intensive. Both Natalie and Laura are two of the best teachers I’ve ever come across.
All around a very clean and good feeling place.

Mind the Mat offers many varieties of yoga and Pilates to choose from. The teachers are good and the studio, which was recently renovated, is lovely.
I do find that the studio focuses on the 20 – 45 year old demographic, and does it very well. Not to say that the 45 plus ‘ers don’t enjoy this studio, but they tend to be very much in the minority.

Absolutely amazing. I bought the unlimited for 3 months just based on the reviews.
First class I took– yoga happy hour. Completely full. Levels 1 & 2. But the people were great, truly positive energy. The instructor provided modifications for those of us not at the advanced level. It was wonderful and hard. Relaxing and a workout.
Hot Pilates express. Also fabulous. 45 packed minutes. Very challenging.
Hot deep stretch– as a runner this class is a must. Great stretches and the warmth helps so much.
The manager is so nice and all instructors have been amazing. Truly. The entire place has a great happy vibe. Sad we are moving in August as I will miss this place.
I’ve already signed up for the next week of classes.
Cons– some classes are too full.
Pros– clean, intelligent, nicely decorated, wonderful place.

I love Mind the Mat. I have been coming here for almost a year now since, serendipitously, they started offering a Monthly Unlimited plan shortly after I moved to Del Ray. After a few months of trying every type of class they offer, I figured out which classes and instructors’ styles suited me best and I try to attend those classes every week. Some favorites include Yoga Barre with Natalie Berkeley, Pilates Barre with Laura Rose Schwartz, and Hot Pilates classes. MtM has made me stronger. They truly deserve the «Heart of Del Ray» and I can’t wait for my class tonight.

«The practice of Yoga brings us face to face with the extraordinary complexity of our own being.” — Sri Aurobindo of Auroville fame
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had this notion that pregnancy was about being one with the miracle of life a woman is growing, and all that jazz. They don’t tell you about the aches and pains, emotional rollercoaster, and this funny little thing called Hyperemesis gravidarum that you probably never heard of until Princess Kate, unless you’re one of the few unfortunate ones to be blessed with its diagnosis. So, having been experiencing a bed rest ridden pregnancy, I was delighted when my midwives finally cleared me for prenatal yoga, and encouraged me to start taking it twice weekly. Mind the Mat has come up in my searches for the perfect studio before, but I decided to wait and try it for whenever I got pregnant. Well, lookey here.
I had some questions about what the pilates classes entailed, and Becky was quick to respond to my e-​mail inquiries. The schedule boasts a wide array of classes including yoga barre (can’t wait to try this after baby), pilates barre, yoga, pilates, HOT YOGA!, and pre and post natal classes. There is truly something for everyone at at time that works for our busy schedules. Online booking was a breeze, and I scored a new client special of 5 classes for $ 39. I chose to attend Paige’s Sunday morning prenatal yoga class, and was very excited to try her out since we are Unilocal buddies. They have a couple of parking spots behind the studio, and there is plenty of metered and unmetered street parking nearby. I was able to park right in front of the studio. Check-​in was easy peasy, and I waddled my way up to the second floor studio. The first thing I noticed, was the cushioned hardwood floor. It felt great to my feet. The window filled studio was inviting, clean, and spacious. There’s a bathroom in the studio in addition to plenty of props and storage space for your belongings.
The class had about 10 women in it all in various stages of pregnancy. The class was glorious. The only way I can describe it is with the quote above. Paige helps you work with what you’ve got going on, and just be kind to yourself in this current stage of life. With that being said, this was not your boring prenatal yoga dvd. This class had some flow y’all! Much to my giddy delight, there was pigeon pose, half moon pose with the wall, and a few planks. Before you click off– it was as easy or as challenging as you needed it! Remember it’s prenatal yoga. so there was no need to compete with yourself or others. We used props and the wall, in addition to taking breaks and modifying the poses. Paige was mindful to tell us how the poses would help us for labor and birth, as well as breathing through what is here as well as to come. I felt like I got a workout, relaxation, labor and delivery prep, and new friends all in one 60 minute class. Afterwards, people chatted with one another, and I appreciated the friendly faces. I haven’t made a lot of friends since moving to the area, and it’s nice to connect with other local pregnant women in the area. I loved the class so much, I plan to sign up for one of the 6 week prenatal yoga workshops starting soon. They also have a large pilates following, and pre/​post natal pilates and yoga workshops.
Long story short– this has been some of the best yoga I’ve had in six months. Wait, it’s the only yoga I’ve had in six months, but amazing all the same!

It’s been awhile since I last reviewed MtM, and I think it deserves an update. I have been attending Megan Brown’s Pilates Bootcamp class every Saturday morning for many years now, which is a testament to this establishment in of itself. The class is 50% cardio/​bootcamp and 50% pilates, but kicks my butt 100% of the time. Fun music always accompanies the class and when the weather is nice, Megan will take you outside in true bootcamp fashion (think sprints across the parking lot and other a$$-kicking activities). However, the real reason I come back is for Megan herself. Not only does she have her masters and her doctorate in physical therapy, she is the most fun person I know, which in combination makes her the best Pilates instructor to walk this earth – no joke. Her classes are so much fun, you (almost) forget you’re getting an awesome work out! She is engaging, tough, and provides personal attention and modifications based on preference and injuries. The only downside to this bootcamp class is how popular it is! Come early to mark your spot and bring sneakers (as well as a sweat towel and water)! Don’t be one of those curious spectators walking by wondering where all the fun music is coming from… Oh, and her butt-​routine is insane. =O #notjustsquatsfordays

I took the Prenatal Yoga workshop with Sara and just signed up for another series. Sara is very knowledgeable about the best and safest positions for you and your baby. She also gives good tips about exercises we can do at home to prepare your body for labor. I love her energy and she is the main reason I’m continuing at MTM. I also attended a free Essential Oils class, which was very interesting as well!

This place rocks. I have been going to mommy and me pilates. Not only does the instructor kick your postpartum butt, she totally ‘gets it’ when it comes to new mommies. She reminds you to be proud of yourself for getting to the class in one piece, but also tells you how each move is slowly helping you bring your body back. It is a super effective workout and everyone is incredibly friendly and not intimidating.

I am in love with MTM. I’ve been attending classes here on and off for about two years after searching for a studio I could enjoy. I primarily attend hot yoga classes and find them challenging and enjoyable. While all of the instructors are quite good and welcoming, I absolutely adore Georgia and Ha. The environment is bright, clean and spacious.

I just finished the 6-​week Yoga Fundamentals workshop package at MtM. Overall, I found the value to be very good ($ 96 for 6 classes — $ 18 per session). The class experienced a lot of attrition during the 6 weeks, but I attribute this to busy DC schedules vs. bad experiences.
Our group of «fundamentalists» had the opportunity to be taught by two instructors, as our main instructor, Jen, unfortunately had to travel out of town for the last two classes. Experiencing a different instructor provided nice insight to what your true yoga practice would be like, with different instructors and teaching styles from class-​to-​class.
I loved the first four weeks with Jen. She encouraged laughing and having fun. As complete beginners (I think 1, maybe 2, other students had previous long-​term experience), it was nice to be given permission to enjoy ourselves and laugh — to be reminded that no one is ever perfect in yoga practice, especially in the beginning. While there was a lot of verbal instruction, Jen made sure we were moving constantly, and we definitely got more than our fair share of exercise in the 75min class. I definitely recommend her classes — especially if you are an early riser, because she teaches Mon/​Wed early morning hot yoga classes at the same location.
The substitute instructor, Laura, was also good. She definitely had a different style of teaching and focused much more on the flow practice. In our second class (the last class of the workshop), Laura, as Director of Programming for Mind the Mat, asked for feedback, which the students freely gave — mostly positive, but some constructive. I did notice that Laura immediately applied some of the feedback in our last class, and this was greatly appreciated.
Mind the Mat is a great studio for beginners, and they offer much, much more for more experienced yogis. It’s conveniently located in Del Ray and there is usually ample street parking in the few blocks around the building.
If you have the opportunity to try yoga or pilates at Mind the Mat, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

A decent studio with one major flaw: the lack of a monthly membership option makes it perhaps the most expensive place in the DC area for a daily practice. Yes, I know yogis who are serious enough to practice every day tend to have a strong home practice, but I’m not disciplined enough for that. I need the energy and adjustments of a class.
First the good: I prefer Mind the Mat over other studios for hot yoga. The instructors do creative flows. Even the slower flows are energizing in a relaxing way. In some ways, I feel like a beginner all over again, learning asanas that aren’t part of a typical Baptiste class. «Hot hatha, 26 poses at 110 degrees» is also on the schedule, if you’re a Bikram refugee. The hot yoga room is gorgeous. Luxurious red walls and ceiling feel indulgent when the lights are dimmed and the outside is dark; lack of street noise is an additional pleasure. It’s intimate without being claustrophobic. One wall is partially mirrored. There’s a grand mural of MtM’s second logo, which is inspired by Arabic calligraphy (I like it a lot, and it makes me see the primary logo, a partly-​rolled yoga mat, as more of a flying carpet).
Although only a handful of hot classes are scheduled each day, they are at times that folks with a day job and a commute can actually attend! (So many studios … don’t get this right.) The morning classes are at 6:00. There’s an evening class after 7:30 every weekday. And at $ 99 for 10 classes (good for hot yoga only, not sure how long this offer will last), MtM is actually more affordable on a pay-​per-​class basis than other hot studios. Not that there are many non-​Bikram options on this side of the river. I can’t get a feel for how crowded MtM classes usually are; some have been mat-​to-​mat, while other have had only 3 or 4 people. In general, the first class of the day appears to be more crowded than the last class of the day.
As for regular classes… Mind that Mat is not my studio of choice. Caveat: I have no use for prenatal or mommy & me classes, and pilates is not my cup of tea. So 90% of MtM’s offerings aren’t really my style, anyway. Paying $ 400 a month for daily vinyasa classes (using the most cost-​effective package of 15 classes for $ 205 on auto-​renew) is hard to justify. Not in a market where several studios offer monthly rates for under $ 100, where the going rate without a contract is around $ 150, and where even high-​end and specialty studios stay under $ 200 per month. Granted, most people aren’t going to go to class every day – my own target is five a week – but even attending just three or four classes a week at MtM will set you back $ 200 a month. Yes, the instructors (at least the ones with experience) are good, but almost all of them also teach at other studios.

I had such amazing experiences here with their prenatal yoga. I usually went Sunday afternoons and the classes were so calming. The drive is a bit far for me now that I’m further along in my pregnancy but it was worth going the distance. I plan on going back after having my baby. The prices were also very reasonable as well.

A lot of older men and women at this location. And they are selfish people who take up a lot of floor space. Please MTM, establish a studio culture wherein students line up their mats in two rows. If a student arrives early and wants mirror space, then they can just line up at the mirror. Maybe you should cap classes at 10 or 12. Students here seem to take DC crowding coping and defensive mechanisms and apply them to their exercise experience.
Angela’s class was crowded and women were haphazardly spaced, taking up more space than necessary; the room was cold, and some of the older women actually asked Angela to open a window, making it colder; she did not do a proper warm-​up, forgot to have us do the other side on several occasions; and generally seemed to lack a plan for the class.