WORKSHOPS

Willow Street Yoga is excited to offer a variety of special events and workshops that expand the practice of yoga. Our teachers and world-renowned guests specialize in a variety of topics that encourage our community to learn and grow. Members receive 20% off workshop registrations!

See Our Full Schedule!

FEATURED WORKSHOPS

Yoga Nidra For Resilience - Winter 2025 with Carol Mermey

Sundays, Feb. 9th, March 23rd | 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST | Online | $20 per class or $55 for entire series

Resilience -- Returning to the wisdom of your body & mind to deal with life’s challenges.

Strengthen your ability to bounce back from life’s challenges by reconnecting with the inner resilience of your body and mind. Through the guided meditation practice of Yoga Nidra, discover a deep source of stability, clarity, and self-empowerment. This workshop is designed to help you release tension, calm your nervous system, and restore your energy.

In each session, you’ll:

Learn centering and relaxation techniques
Practice gentle stretches for joints and muscles
Explore mindful breathing practices
Experience a complete Yoga Nidra session

Yoga Nidra is practiced lying down or seated comfortably. No experience is necessary—everyone is welcome.

*All registrants will receive recordings of these practices.

About the Facilitator:
Carol Mermey (E-RYT 500, MPH) has been teaching yoga since 2004, guiding students of all ages and abilities to “start where they are, use what they’ve got, and do what they can.” Her classes emphasize healthy alignment to build strength, flexibility, and balance, promoting a sense of well-being and empowerment. Carol enjoys teaching students of all ages, and her teaching settings range from yoga studios and workplaces to health clinics and senior centers.

Certified in ParaYoga Nidra, Yoga for Osteoporosis, and Yoga for Healthy Aging, Carol is also a Brain Longevity Specialist. She has completed iRest Yoga Nidra II and Integrative Yoga for Seniors, and she continues to study with Rod Stryker in ParaYoga. Currently, she is involved in a study on yoga for improving core strength and balance in older adults.

Yoga Nidra

Radiant Rhythms Ecstatic Dance with Clara Fang

Saturdays, March 8th, April 19th, May 31st | 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST | In-Person | $30/$150

Break free from screen fatigue and daily stress with ecstatic dance—a wellness practice that encourages free expression through movement. In an immersive, interactive space, participants can release tension, gain mental clarity, and connect with others through nonverbal expression.

Suggested Arrival Time: 6:45PM

Benefits:

Stress relief and relaxation
Somatic healing
Self-expression
Exercise and play
Community connection

No experience is necessary! We’ll start with an opening circle to share intentions, followed by a 75-minute playlist of non-lyrical, new age, and tribal music arranged in a “dance wave.” We’ll close with reflections, creating a meaningful and often trance-like experience.

What to Bring:
Water bottle, loose clothing (expect to sweat!), optional yoga mat.

Note: Please refrain from bringing food or alcohol.

Radiant Rhythms Dance

4-Week Prenatal Yoga Series with Stephanie Preller

Thursdays, February 6th, 13th, 27th & March 6th | 9:45am - 10:45am EST | In-Person | $85 entire series/$25 per session

Join Our 4-Week Prenatal Yoga Series! Embrace this time with a supportive community of people also on the pregnancy journey . This series is designed to help you relax, create space, and build strength and flexibility while connecting with your body and baby.

What to Expect:

Learn yoga poses and breathing techniques to ease pregnancy discomfort.
Cultivate strength, length and release in the body to prepare you for labor and postpartum.
Explore calming practices, body awareness, and inspirational themes in each class.
Connect with other pregnant people to share resources, questions, ideas, and challenges.

**The series is open to people in all stages of pregnancy and welcomes all levels of yoga experience, including beginners!

Prenatal Yoga Series

Tai Chi Series for Mental Health with Robert Anderson

Sundays, February 16th, 23rd, March 2nd, & 9th | 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST | In-Person | $99 for all sessions

WHAT IS TAI CHI?

Tai Chi is a gentle, low-impact exercise that originated in China as a martial art. It involves a series of slow, controlled movements and postures, along with deep breathing and a meditative
state of mind. Tai Chi is often called “meditation in motion” because its designed to harmonize the body, mind, and energy levels. It can help with a variety of health concerns, including flexibility and strength, balance and coordination, stress and anxiety, depression, and pain relief.

Tai Chi has evolved from a martial art for combat and self-defense into a sport and form of exercise that's increasingly practiced all over the world. There are five popular styles of Tai Chi, each with its own unique methods, principles, and lineage.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:

Balanced Arts workshops around Tai Chi are designed to introduce students to the Yang style of Tai Chi. Using seated, standing, and moving forms, the workshops leverage partner drills (push hands), as well as some Tai Chi ball and Chi Gong. Workshop participants experience introductory basics as well as advanced movements and exercises in order to gain a full understanding of Tai Chi’s philosophy so that they can begin to incorporate it into their everyday wellness practice.

*You will also obtain a digital course workbook for this 4 part series.

What You’ll Learn:

Foundational movements from the 8-form and Yang style
Partner drills (push hands)
Practical applications for self-defense and daily life

Benefits of Tai Chi:

Tools for managing stress and emotions
Simple breathing techniques to promote calm
Techniques for focus, relaxation, and grounding
Retraining the brain for self-control and more mindful states and perspectives

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR:

Robert Anderson is an executive, educator, and lifelong martial artist with over 30 years of teaching experience. He is the founder of Balanced Arts, an education company specializing in wellness, self-care, and personal growth. A black sash martial artist and certified Kung Fu instructor, Robert has trained in Shaolin, Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong, and Wing Chun. He also holds a personal fitness certification (AFAA) and is currently pursuing mindfulness and wellness coaching (NASM). His expertise extends to working with athletes, executives, business teams, seniors, and teens, helping them cultivate strength, resilience, and mindfulness.

Tai Chi Mental Health

Origami Bird Workshop with Maria Elena Montero

Saturday, February 22nd | 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST | In-Person | $25

Escape the cold and join us for a cozy afternoon of creativity and connection! Instead of birding outside, let’s bring the birds indoors with an Origami Bird-Making Party hosted by the DC Bird Alliance.

Megumi will be our guide as we in learn the beautiful Japanese art of paper folding and create our very own flock of birds—no experience needed!

All materials are provided, so just bring your curiosity and a love for nature. Whether you're a bird enthusiast, an art lover, or simply looking for a fun and relaxing experience, this workshop is for you.

Origami Bird Workshop

Subtle Body Series: An Introduction to the Energy Body with Claudia Neuman

Sundays, February 23rd, March 23rd, & April 27th | In-Person & Online | $65 per session or $160 for entire series | Early bird: $150 for all three sessions by 2/1

From the perspective of the Sri Vidya Tantra Tradition of Yoga, the body is considered the altar of transformation. This workshop series invites us to experience the body in an empowered way by accessing the energetic foundation of the physical and spiritual experience — our 'subtle body'.

Through a combination of foundational teachings and experiential practices, participants will learn about the energy anatomy, including the Panchakoshas, Bandhas, Prana Vayus, Chakras, and Nadis. Most importantly, each session will be an experience of practices that help us draw the relationship between our subtle body and physical body.

Session 1: The Navel Center · Lunar · Foundational | 1:00pm - 4:00pm EST

Discover the 72,000 energy channels known as Nadis, with a focus on the three main Nadis that flow along the spine. Learn how to activate and balance these channels through breathwork, poses, and meditation.

Practices: Breathwork, asanas, Yoga Nidra (sleep), and meditation.

Session 2: The Heart Center · Solar · Purifying | 1:00pm - 4:00pm EST

Explore the five Prana Vayus—specific flows in the body that govern the functions of our lives—and learn about Bandhas (sacred energy locks) that help us direct and contain these flows.

Practices: Breathwork, asanas, and meditation.

Session 3: The Third Eye Center · Fire · Transformational | 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Discover the Panchakoshas (five layers of being) and use pranayamas (breathing techniques), Bandhas (sacred locks), and the activation of Sushumna, the central energy channel of the spine. This session focuses on cultivating transformation and clarity.

Practices: Breathwork, asanas, Yoga Nidra, and meditation.

Who Can Join?

This series is open to all levels of practitioners. Each session will have some lecturing, discussion, and practice of poses, breath, meditation, and Nidra (when indicated).

Energy Body

IN-PERSON

ONLINE

Full Workshop Schedule

Workshop Schedule