Patch Q&A with Blue Nectar Yoga in Falls Church

Blue Nectar Yoga is a new yoga studio and boutique in Falls Church. From concept to reality, the dreams of two longtime friends were realized when co-founders Jane Bahneman and Amy Trietiak opened the doors of Blue Nectar Yoga Studio in January of 2014 in The Little City. The following is a Q&A about its beginnings and information about what they offer area residents.

Patch: How did the yoga studio get its name, Blue Nectar Yoga? 

Blue Nectar: Over two years ago, while sitting oceanside in Florida, Blue Nectar was born. Many concepts, ideas, Googling (and giggling) occurred before the “a-ha, that’s it!” moment struck. Blue is the coolest, most soothing of colors – representing the sky, ocean, twilight and heaven. It is the color of inspiration and sincerity. The energy of the color allows for perspective – the ability to look beyond and outward. Blue counters chaos and agitation and allows for clear communication and feelings of peace. And the word “nectar”? A sweet, life-giving blend - the juice within.

Patch: What got you started in the yoga business?

Blue Nectar: We’ve often been asked about our motivations for opening a yoga studio. After working in the fitness and wellness industry for more than 20 years (combined), we observed remarkable accomplishments in yoga studios across the country. We also noticed what seemed to be lacking in many studios and were challenged by the idea that we could do it better. We truly felt like we could raise the bar in the yoga studio industry. We knew many studios were “onto something,” but what if we used our deep industry experiences, created a very intentional plan and stuck with our vision?  

Patch: Are you from the area? How did you decide on locating your business in Falls Church?

Blue Nectar: Jane is originally from Buffalo, New York, and Amy grew up in Chester, Virginia (a suburb of Richmond). We have both lived in Northern Virginia for the last decade. It took us more than two years to land on the perfect location, and we feel confident that we have found it! We absolutely love the Falls Church community and the relationships we have developed since we’ve opened in February.

Patch: What makes your business unique or different than other yoga businesses?

Blue Nectar: While there are many aspects of our business that we think set us apart from other yoga studios, one of the most important is the background and experience that we (owners Jane Bahneman and Amy Trietiak) bring to the table. Both hold Masters degrees in Exercise Physiology and Education respectively, and have actively worked in the health, fitness and wellness industry since graduating from college. In addition, we have observed what great studios were doing around the country, and what set them apart. Conversely, we have also made note of what was lacking in some studios. We have always strived to do things differently, and hopefully a bit better. Blue Nectar Yoga is truly a product of our observations married with our industry experience.

Patch: How does the business work — do customers become members or purchase classes individually?

Blue Nectar: We offer both monthly unlimited memberships and drop-in class pass options. Monthly memberships are a great option if you practice two or more times per week and/or are interested in really being a part of our community here at Blue. Monthly memberships come with a list of perks, too! Class pass options are best for people who aren’t able to practice on a regular basis, but like making yoga a complimentary practice in their fitness regimen.

Patch: Is there a type of yoga that's most popular right now?

Blue Nectar: We’ve seen consistent growth in all of our classes since opening which is exciting! Our two signature classes, flow six zero and flow seven five are the most popular. Rookie yoga, BNY’s version of a beginner’s level class, has been gaining momentum as well. We also have seen tremendous growth in sweet prenatal flow as well.

Patch: Is there a typical yoga customer? Do you have classes geared to kids/older folks?

Blue Nectar: That’s a tough question to answer. We see a lot of families in our studio. As a result, we will be offering more family-friendly classes to provide opportunities for parents to practice with their children in the fall.

Patch: Do you have a yoga teacher certification program?

Blue Nectar: We sure do, and it’s the best 200-hour teacher training program in Northern Virginia, hands down! Our fall training session begins Sept. 7. The curriculum is divided into 10 modules that span the course of five months. Classes meet no more than two weekends a month. Our training program is scheduled on a rolling basis, which means that a new round of training will begin every four months. If participants miss a weekend, they can easily make it up during the next training session. We are also getting ready to add a weekday 200-hour training to accommodate people with alternative schedules. Our 200-hour teacher training is designed to prepare graduates to be confident yoga professionals.

Patch: What kind of training do your instructors go through?

Blue Nectar Yoga: All of our instructors, at minimum, hold the credential RYT-200. (Registered Yoga Teacher – 200 hours of training).

Patch: What does your studio offer (changing rooms? yoga items for purchase?).

Blue Nectar Yoga: We have two studios, two restrooms and two changing rooms. We have a boutique with basic yoga lifestyle items for every yogi. We also carry snacks and drinks in case you happened to skip lunch or forget to bring water with you.

Blue Nectar Yoga is located at 513 W. Broad St., #110C. For more information call (703) 533-0009. Keep up with the studio on their Web site, Facebook and on Twitter.

Know a local business with a story to tell? Email maryann.barton@patch.com.