Epic Yoga DC — Local services in Washington

Warning- my personal belongings were stolen here!

I went to Epic Yoga DC after work on a Friday. After enjoying my class, I headed back to the locker room to discover that while I was in class, my iphone, cash, and cards had all been stolen out of my LOCKED locker (the locks are built into the lockers and provided by the facility.) Upon discussing this with another woman in the locker room I was told that her wallet had been stolen the day before (admittedly out of a unlocked locker) and that there had been several break-ins/thefts at this yoga studio and others in the area recently. She also noted that this was why other students had kept their bags with them during our class.

When I reported the theft to the front desk employee (the only staff on duty besides the instructors) she appeared unsurprised and offered no assistance. She told me that she had seen two “suspicious-looking” women walk in during the time when I was in class and had immediately called the police, but that the police did not arrive in time to question them. When I asked if she had tried to prevent them from entering the studio/locker rooms I was told “there was nothing she could do to stop them.” I can think of a few things- how about ask them if they are members/have a reservation for a class? Refuse to let them enter? Follow them into the studio? Stop a class to ask others for help? Obviously if they had been armed/tried to physically intimidate her this would have been a different situation, but according to our conversation this did not happen. Then, as soon as they left/classes ended, ask people to check that nothing is missing, rather than pretend that nothing happened and wait for someone to report it? Similarly, the management, which clearly knew that thefts were occurring, had 1. Failed to notify students that their personal belonging were not safe and should be kept by their person, 2. Failed to staff extra people so that someone could monitor the lockers rooms/provide support to the lone staff member on duty, 3. Failed to institute a check-in system that requires ID/ proof that persons entering the building are in fact members.

I was not offered the management’s contact information, nor have I been contacted by the management (I left my contact info for them to file a police report and also filed my own.) Nor have I been offered any apology or compensation. While I understand they may not be liable for stolen items, an offer of free classes or reimbursement for the cash that was stolen would’ve eased the pain of having my valuables stolen from a presumably secure locker. I hope my experience can serve as a note of caution to other yoga students at Epic Yoga or other...

This studio is about only one thing: making money. I was already less than impressed with the really negative environment in this studio- a ton of frowny-faced Beckies. What was really off putting was the fact that they spam you with emails with constantly changing deals and reminders to come back. The first time I went, they were running a special that gives you the first class free. You can’t but it online, only in person. I only found out after purchasing a class online. The woman at the desk said she’d apply it to my next class, but when I came back for another class, I was charged again for it.

I then received an email about a deal for 40% off for 5 classes and purchased it. But it disappeared in their system and their website and app were making me purchase a class again. So I went to the studio early to sort it out, but the class was full. When I finally got to speak to someone about the issues, she said that my 5 class pass had already expired. I just bought it a couple weeks ago! She got super arrogant and entitled and said “those deals aren’t even offered by us, it’s an outside company.” I asked if she would consider extending the expiry date because I had to go overseas for work and had been away the past two weeks. She then tried to upsell me that if I spent another $90 five-class pass, she’d roll over my classes. I travel once a month overseas for work and don’t have the time or luxury to do 10 classes in a 30 day time frame. I asked if they could do a longer expiry date but she refused and tried to upsell me further on a $140 pass.

I asked if she could apply the credit that receptionist promised to apply to my account, and she basically accused me of lying to get a free class.

Least zen yoga experience ever... this studio is a hard pass for me and probably for anyone who isn’t a daily yoga practitioner with no outside life. I’m sticking with yoga district and hot yoga DC- much better vibes, the focus is on the yoga and not the money, and less claustrophobic/...

If I had only 5 words to describe Epic Yoga DC, I'd say: magical, inclusive, passion, peaceful, and strong.

Luckily, this isn't a tweet, so I have more room!

If you're looking for a yoga studio, great, try out Epic Yoga. If you're looking for something more than a yoga studio, great, you should definitely check out Epic. They're a yoga studio and more - they're a community!

The space | Can it get more stunning? Art on the walls. Exposed brick. Fireplaces as homes for yoga blocks and floor pillows. lots of real wood! skylights in nearly every room. This is as DC as it gets! The place has so much character. It's beautiful.

The people | Epic has a great mix of teachers that introduce you to different yoga styles and practice. The studio owner, Emma, is WOC (women of color) - love to see it! And the co-studio manager, Amie, (hopefully that's the right title) has a background rich in science and yoga. All of the teachers are just as warm with interesting stories, experiences, and practices to share with others.

Most of their teachers don't follow cookie cutter classes - Amie and Emma's are some of my favorite yoga classes that I have ever been to! I loved meeting both of them so much that I recently went through their Yoga Teacher Training program from 2021 - 2022. I am so glad that I chose Epic and that Epic chose me!

They're a small business - and we know our small businesses have it tough right now more than ever. I've only ever written