532Yoga, Arts & Culture

Suzanne Leitner-Wise, the founder of 532Yoga, Arts, & Culture, wasn’t always a yogi. Far from it, in fact: she was living in London, working overtime on Fleet Street, not eating well, and staying out late. That all changed when she found herself in a yoga class. “I hated the whole thing,” she remembers. “And then we were right at the end of the relaxation. And I had this epiphany that I actually, for the first time ever, met myself.” Inspired by the 5,000 year old practice originating from Northern India, Leitner-Wise inspires all to discover themselves through the ancient art form of Yoga.

Now, as the owner of her own yoga studio in Old Town, she helps her students find their own sense of inner peace while connecting with their breath and feeling good in their body. Leitner-Wise arrived in the U.S. from England in the year 2000 and opened 532 Yoga 14 years ago on N. Washington Street. The studio recently relocated to become the first business in Old Town North’s Arts and Culture district, which celebrated its grand opening in April. “It’s a gorgeous open space overlooking the gardens,” says Leitner-Wise. “It’s quite private.” The studio quickly became a widely beloved community gathering spot, earning its title as the winner of Alexandria Community Votes, Yoga and Meditation for 3 consecutive years.

In addition to being a yoga studio, the new space is also an art gallery. “As well as studying and practicing the art and science of yoga, you also have the ambiance and beauty of international and local artists on show,” she says. All the pieces featured are for sale, and exhibitions range from photographs of iconic D.C. scenes to a celebration of Congolese arts.

The class schedule offers traditional and modern styles of yoga — as well as fun options like “kitten yoga,” where you hold a pose in the presence of cute cats. Leitner-Wise also emphasizes that 532Yoga, Arts, & Culture welcomes people of all ages and skill levels. Here, you’ll find yoga practitioners from age 14 to age 84, sometimes in the same class practicing together. “Ultimately, our clients view our studio as a ‘safe space’; a home from home, where there is no judgment, and where all are welcome,” she says.