Yoga House Studio LLC was officially formed in 2005.

As early as 2002, Elizabeth began renting space and teaching classes around the District. At that time the only other center for Kundalini was in Sterling, Virgina – an hour out of the city. It became clear that Kundalini yoga needed a home in the District, a place we could do early morning sadhana together as well as hold daily classes.

Thanks to Sherri and Jess Campisi, 2 yoga students that fell in love with Kundalini Yoga and were on a Petworth listserv, Elizabeth found a suitable space in a developing ‘hood in Columbia Heights, 2 blocks below Petworth and the Metro there. An old retail row house was transformed – the old crack house and the barber shop were gutted and transformed into a restaurant and a yoga space.

Yoga House Studio occupied the second and third floors, with big windows, tall ceilings and bamboo floors it was beautifully lit, the largest and arguably the most beautiful yoga space in the District. It was positioned perfectly to watch the moon rise for meditations or to view July fireworks from the roof.

Soon after we moved in, in September 2005, the Washington Post wrote an article about Yoga House and Elizabeth Greathouse which spoke about yoga studios leading the way in urban development. We were the first new business on that block in many years and heralded the start of a changing Columbia Heights and Petworth.

We made peace with the noise from the bar, most of the time, and watched as a lot of the junkies moved off the street. The fellows who frequented the liquor store on the black called me “yoga lady” and often said, “you must be doing something right,” which I took as a compliment.  We watched an elementary school get built right next to that liquor store, a CVS go up, and the whole Metro stop transform.

Meanwhile our classes continued to grow, we hosted 7 teacher training courses and offered Kundalini yoga, Vinyasa yoga and even Nia dance. And most importantly, some great friendships were formed and personal transformations took place.

We loved our cosy nest – but like all nests, sometimes one has to move out of them to grow. My intuition was so loud: move out! And as a Kundalini yoga teacher if you teach anything, it’s that developing the intuitive mind is what makes you human. So I listened and I am so happy I did!

 

We are in the process of growth and change now, and I am loving the energy of it.

We are now holding classes in the Church of the Holy City on 16th Street, Dupont Circle neighborhood. Our classes have more than doubled in size in this more accessible neighborhood. Kundalini Yoga and this Church go way back – Yogi Bhajan led a tantric in the Chapel in 1972 and before opening Yoga House, Elizabeth had taught classes here.

Going Forward with Yoga House Studio.

Elizabeth’s goal in going forward is to create another dedicated space – one in which a community of folks come together to support a space, to share the responsibility and the joy of being in a gracious space.

Currently the only persons who can really make a living with yoga are the owners of studios – and yet we all give a great deal to make these places come to life. It’s because the owners take all the initial risk, that they also get the greatest gain when it succeeds.

It is my intention to create a core group of people who want to share the risk, and then put in the energy to make their own success. If you are one of these people, and have been a part of our community, please let yourself be known.

You won’t teach for me – you will teach for yourself. You will be responsible for whatever you create there. You must be part of our community first – to practice with us, to feel this energy and to see if this is where you want to be. Not just to drop in – but to commit first. I believe this is the only way it will successfully work.