You and the Mat

James Brown's yogic journey has taken him from the tobacco farms of Maryland to the California studio of acclaimed Ashtanga master and YogaWorks founder Maty Ezraty. Along the way, he helped scholars stay limber as American University's first Adjunct Professor of Yoga and served as a key contributor to YogaWorks' training manuals and teaching programs, now Director of Yoga Content for YogaWorks' teacher training worldwide. His patented curricula imbued more than 1,000 teachers from across the globe with the power necessary to lead classes to physical and spiritual fitness. Now, he brings his keen understanding of the intersections of ancient poses and contemporary culture to You and the Mat. The eco-conscious center’s hardwood-floored studio provides a space where yogis of all skill levels can stretch, bend, and strengthen their bodies during classes of seven days a week. From sunrise and prenatal yoga to yoga for fitness, each session on the schedule challenges students with intelligent instruction guided by one of 13 handpicked teachers.

While the studio is primarily known as an institute of yogic learning, it's also a haven for the visual and performing arts. An on-site gallery displays original work from local artists; past exhibits have included work from photographer Richard Seagraves, musician David Ryan Harris, and Robert Sturman.