Business Details
35 Years
experience
Your Trusted Yoga Studio in Northern Virginia
Founded in 1991, we are one of Northern Virginia's pioneering yoga studios, dedicated to fostering holistic wellness through expert instruction. Our legacy includes offering online classes until June 2025, with recorded sessions available until 2026. Under the leadership of Susan Van Nuys, we continue to provide in-person classes, workshops, and retreats in Mexico, maintaining our commitment to personalized yoga education. Our team of certified instructors brings decades of combined experience in alignment-based yoga, therapeutic practices, and specialized training. We prioritize individual growth, integrating mindfulness and physical well-being to serve diverse needs.Our community-focused approach has connected countless practitioners with transformative yoga experiences. While our online platform has evolved, our mission remains rooted in accessible, high-quality instruction. We uphold rigorous standards through Yoga Alliance certifications and ongoing professional development. Our instructors' diverse expertise ensures tailored guidance for students at every level. This enduring dedication to yoga as a healing practice defines our identity and service to the community.
Services
Yoga Classes
Workshops
Retreats
Online Videos
Teacher Training
Details
- Year established: 1991
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of experience in alignment-based yoga instruction
- Our instructors hold advanced certifications in therapeutic and specialized yoga practices
- We provide personalized guidance for students of all experience levels
- Our retreats in Mexico combine yoga with cultural immersion experiences
- We maintain rigorous standards through Yoga Alliance registered programs
Associations and certifications
- Yoga Alliance
Services
Yoga Classes
Our yoga classes combine alignment-based instruction with personalized modifications for all skill levels. Instructors emphasize proper form and mindful progression through structured sequences. Students benefit from decades of collective teaching experience in traditional and therapeutic styles.
Workshops
Intensive workshops focus on specific yoga applications including scoliosis management, stress reduction, and grief support. Sessions integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application under expert guidance. Participants receive personalized feedback to enhance their practice and understanding.
Retreats
Our Mexico retreats combine daily yoga practice with cultural experiences in serene environments. Programs include guided meditation, wellness consultations, and group activities designed for holistic rejuvenation. The retreat format allows deeper exploration of yoga philosophy and lifestyle practices.
Online Videos
Recorded classes remain accessible until June 2026 for flexible home practice. The video library includes diverse styles from foundational to advanced levels. Students can revisit sessions to reinforce learning and maintain continuity in their yoga journey.
Teacher Training
Our comprehensive training programs develop skilled instructors through rigorous curriculum covering anatomy, philosophy, and teaching methodology. Graduates receive Yoga Alliance registered certifications recognized internationally. The program emphasizes practical experience and mentorship under seasoned professionals.
People
Susan Van Nuys
Director
E-RYT 500 certified instructor with 30+ years teaching experience. Combines computer science logic with yoga pedagogy. Leads retreats in Mexico and maintains the studio's educational standards.
Doug Keller
Senior Instructor
E-RYT 500 with philosophy expertise. Author of multiple yoga publications. Teaches alignment-based styles and yoga therapy while contributing to national workshops and teacher training programs.
Rita Sambruna
Therapeutic Yoga Specialist
RYT 200 certified with Cancer Exercise Training Institute credentials. Specializes in Yoga4Cancer methodology and Relax & Renew techniques. Focuses on adaptive practices for health challenges.
Pat Pao
Children's Yoga Instructor
E-RYT 200 with RCYT certification. Former casting director applying performance techniques to yoga instruction. Trained in Radiant Child and Yoga4Teens methodologies for youth programs.
Karyn Sandelman
Mindfulness Educator
M.S. from Columbia University. Former Freddie Mac leader with 25+ years coaching experience. Teaches secular mindfulness programs in corporate and educational settings using MBSR-certified methods.
Questions
Are online yoga classes still available?
Recorded class videos remain available for purchase and viewing until June 2026.
What yoga styles are taught?
We offer alignment-based styles, therapeutic applications, and specialized programs like Yoga4Cancer.
Are teacher training programs ongoing?
Our certified training programs continue with updated schedules available through the studio.
Where are retreats held?
International retreats focus on Mexico locations with immersive yoga and cultural experiences.
Reviews (2)
Marina M.
Aug 12, 2021
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My chiropractor recommended this studio years ago by noting that my lower back problems require taking classes with yoga professionals rather than going to a run-of-the-mill gym yoga class. I never looked back since then. If you take classes in this studio, you are guaranteed to do your poses correctly, with proper alignment, and at the level that fits your personal yoga journey. In my opinion, this is the best studio in Reston-Herndon-Sterling area. And my chiropractor agrees!
Caroline O.
Jul 15, 2021
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I have been studying at Health Advantage for 20 years and highly recommend it. The teachers are highly trained and supportive; the atmosphere is friendly and non-cliquish; and the classes are thoughtfully sequenced to allow students to deepen their practice and work safely into more complex poses over the course of a session. The teachers did an amazing job adapting to the pandemic and providing online classes; Susan (the studio owner) is now moving cautiously and safely toward in-person classes. HAYC is one of the oldest yoga studios in Northern Virginia for all the right reasons, so do yourself a favor and practice here!
