WASHINGTON 鈥� On the last Monday of every month, a crowd carrying brightly colored mats and water bottles gathers in the backroom of in Shirlington, Virginia.
This group isn鈥檛 at the brewpub to eat and drink; they鈥檝e come to work out.
With a view of the fermentation tanks in clear sight, roughly 15 yogis set down their mats and prepare for a one-hour vinyasa-style yoga session led by instructor Beth Wolfe. And they鈥檙e promised a reward at the end: beer.
鈥淚f I see people who have never practiced yoga before, or who are fairly new and struggling a little bit, I give them the countdown,鈥� Wolfe says. 鈥溾�楾wenty minutes until beer.鈥欌��
Wolfe has been leading the beer and yoga classes at Capitol City for five months and hosts similar events at DC Brau, Mad Fox Brewing Company and Oby Lee, an Arlington wine bar.
鈥淚 just noticed that there鈥檚 a synergy between yoga people and craft beer people and boutique wine people,鈥� Wolfe says about her idea to launch the classes. She says much of that synergy stems from the desire to learn more about complex subjects.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot to learn in yoga. It鈥檚 a deep practice; it鈥檚 a never-ending practice; there鈥檚 always more to learn, and I feel like that鈥檚 the same thing with wine and with beer,鈥� she says.
鈥淵ou can taste an infinite number of beers and wines, and you can practice yoga for your entire life and never master it.鈥�
Wolfe isn鈥檛 the only one who鈥檚 caught on to the growing interest in downward dogs and drinking. more wineries are hosting fitness and tasting sessions 鈥� covering everything from yoga, to Pilates to boot camp classes.
Locally, Leesburg鈥檚 Stone Tower Winery holds events, and every Tuesday, Alexandria鈥檚 Port City Brewing Company holds its two-hour . also hosts a regular event at Compass Coffee.
Wolfe says the combo classes are a great way to stay healthy and to meet new people.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really social event. A lot of times people just stay and have something to eat. I know that it鈥檚 brought a lot of people together,鈥� she says.
It鈥檚 also brought a new demographic to the practice.
鈥淎 lot of women bring husbands or boyfriends who were reluctant to try yoga, and they鈥檙e willing to try with the promise of a beer at the end,鈥� Wolfe says.
Capitol City Brewing Company General Manager Al Chadsey says he鈥檚 hosted some unique events at the brewery in the past 鈥� like theology on tap 鈥� so when Wolfe proposed yoga, he didn鈥檛 hesitate.
He says the brewery鈥檚 yoga classes attract some regulars from the neighborhood, 鈥渂ut it also brings in people that wouldn鈥檛 necessarily think about doing yoga and having beer,鈥� he says.
For the yogis, practicing in a brewery or a vineyard is a change of pace from the traditional yoga studio.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a different atmosphere and people like seeing the behind-the-scenes element of it,鈥� Wolfe says.
Chasing a workout with alcohol isn鈥檛 something familiar to most, but Wolfe says everything in moderation is fine. 鈥淎nd beer in moderation can be very healthy,鈥� she adds.
Wolfe will host the next beer and yoga class at Capitol City Brewing Company in Shirlington on Monday, Nov. 30. The cost is $15 for a one-hour class, which includes a pint of beer at the end. Call 703-578-3888 to reserve a spot.
On Dec. 6, Wolfe will lead Balance and Brews from noon to 1 p.m. at DC Brau. . And on Dec. 17, Wolfe will co-host a yoga class with at Mad Fox Brewery in Falls Church.
