20 Best Free Training Programs For Adults In Washington, DC (2022 Updated)

I applied here and got in but communicating with my admissions counselor was very difficult. I asked her several times about financial aid and if I would receive any. When I DID get a hold of her she just told me that she's been very busy and to call back later. Which I did, she did not answer, and instead of answering my question she left me and my high school counselor a voice mail asking us to call her once again later. Honeslty never have seen worse student support from admissions counselor.Lucia Cova

While the food was descent, the service was so so. Once the cashier finally paid attention to us and we were able to order, she was very friendly. But prior to taking our order, she continued to talk to another employee and chat about non work stuff and ignore customers. The sweet potato fries and grasshopper shake were very good.Anthony Scott

Smack in the middle of D.C. it is the place to be if you're not a chump. It has top notch policy schools and other departments are great as well. The metro is also right there in the middle of the campus and you can get a university pass that'll make your travels free if you're a student. So don't delay, join today.ubdussamad

The most terrible school I have ever been to. Both the main campus and the Community college are the same. A lot of slow, unprofessional, and rude staff who keep yelling at students when they are not even doing their jobs properly. I submitted a certain paper to the Financial Aid office and they told me they lost the paper after weeks that I had to pay about $1700 out of pocket. During the 2020 Pandemic, I tried to contact them as I was having difficulty to waive the Student Insurance that is provided through the school because I already had an insurance coverage; no one answered my call until it was due. And now Miss Gaskon told me that I have to pay about $1300 for the coverage I never needed. Mis Gascon was there in 2018/19 when I had the same issue; she helped me waive it then. I could not go to her office in 2020 be a of Covid restrictions. I tried to solve the issue communicating with them but nothing got better yet. I would not recommend anyone to go the UDC unless one needs a headache. I cannot deny that there are some great Professors such as Prof. Sonnie Abebaku. However, individuals are very helpful to us, it’s overall experience at the university that makes a difference in our academic lives. So far, my overall experience is just TERRIBLE!Henok D

Worst administration I have ever had to deal with. Not only do they never respond to email or phone calls, they can't even keep track of ELECTRONIC applications, that required my daughter to submit 3 times and be forced enrolled late into classes due to their incompetence. But they also can't even have the literacy to read the applications correctly to charge the correct rate to students. They went ahead to charge not only my daughter but several other students out-of-state resident rates when all their applications illustrated DC residents. Like how can you not even read what's on the applications! How many other students were charged nearly 3 times when they should have been charged as a DC residents scares me on the level of corruption and neglect this body demonstrates to it's it's attendees.0 Then to not even have the decency and competence to even respond to emails and calls to try to correct this is just completely absurd, no wonder UDC is a laughing stock of a school to attend they can't even serve as a place to get extra credits for actual schools. How neglectful can you be to students and applicants, like seriously!Edgar E

Okay So I applied about 3weeks to a month ago and I’ve yet to receive any papers informing me if I was missing any documents or etc. I’ve called at least 5 times a day for about two weeks straight leaving voicemail after voicemail and no one has yet to return my call not only did I call multiple times I have also emailed them multiple and no response. It’s ridiculous what’s the point of having an admissions office if they not even going to pick up the phone, guide you in the process of being admitted or anything else like you guys get paid to do nothing it’s sad.Jamilya Allen

I've taken many barre classes and Barre3 14th Street is by far the best! From the moment you walk through the door, you instantly feel part of a positive, calming community. The entire staff is friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic. The studio is beautiful and always clean. They have done an excellent job with COVID safety protocols. I've taken classes from various instructors and they're all incredible and each have their own style. However, I absolutely love Vanja's classes as she is very motivating, upbeat and inspirational/uplifting. Vanja takes the time to check in with you before class and push you to challenge yourself the entire time. Vanja is also great in offering modifications for every move and will ensure you have proper form. Barre3 at 14th Street offers classes throughout the entire day so it's very easy to find a class that works best with your schedule. I highly recommend you take your next barre class here as you won't be disappointed!Carissa Cyran

Barre3 14th street is for sure one of my favorite studios in DC. Their staff (specially Alicia, the owner) is kind, knowledgeable and always has words of encouragement during the classes and outside of them too. I also love that they support local causes and their classes are challenging yet fun and uplifting. You always leave their studio feeling incredible because of the great energy it has. I have been a pseudo member of the community since 2018 and every time I can, I try to get in a class because it’s amazing. PS: they also have free classes whenever they are training instructors, as well as $10 community classes every now and then that either go towards a specific charity or allows you to check the workout before committing fully to a package.Gabriela Montes de Oca

This workout is the opportunity to get deep into your core, glute and hip muscles. It is also thoughtfully choreographed and, in my opinion, better than other types of barre workouts because it incorporates cardio routines and big movements that make you feel like you are dancing. The instructors at the 14th Street studio are also dedicated! They keep class lively throughout, bringing their contagious positive energy to their instruction. A membership at this studio is worth every penny because you will keep coming back day after day!Caitlin Conflenti

Just do it!! I’ve been wanting to take a self defense class for years but just never pulled the trigger. Finally signed up for the Guerrera self defense program w the amazing Colleen and Tahira (w a special appearance by Jessica). I can’t say enough good things about this program. The class is held at the NFlux gym which is super convenient w lots of nearby parking and the farragut west metro stop (blue, orange, silver) a couple blocks away. The gym is no frills but has everything you need. The program itself is trauma informed and led by qualified, caring, and fierce instructors. It is well thought out and organized, w consistent immediate feedback from both the instructors and students. I walked out each day knowing I had a ton more to learn when it comes to self defense, but felt empowered rather than defeated by this. Could not recommend this program enough!!!Dona Hasou

I went to self defense for women and femmes with Colleen! Amazing course! Colleen has designed the curriculum with both practicality and thoughtfulness in mind. She made sure all of us felt safe, cared for, and heard throughout the experience, even as we were tackling difficult topics and potentially triggering exercises and drills. She and the folks helping out were very knowledgeable and gave great pointers and individual attention to everyone in the class. I’ve come out of the weekend very sore, but feeling empowered and much more confident in my ability to defend myself in an emergency. This class has also inspired me to continue training in martial arts so that I continue to hone my self defense skills. Truly can’t recommend this highly enough.Katherine Daw

I have tried/taken martial arts classes at about 5 or so different places, and there is almost always a great, supportive community that will help you get more fit. BUT at N-flux there is great community AND great curriculum AND it's welcoming for small feminine people and newbies. Walking into a martial arts gym for the first time is SO intimidating, I don't care who you are. But this is one of the first places where it was comfortable to do so. Not only that, but the way that Chris and Gonz structure classes actually help you make sense of moves in a quicker time frame. It's all really well thought out, and it's a place to be challenged in the best ways. I can't recommend it enough! 🙂Shauna Bennett

I took the A101 course at Alliance Francaise this last October and the professor spoke in English more than half of the time and the class moved very slowly, which is all fine given we are all complete beginners. She was very nice and made sure the students were understanding all the topics. I then signed up for this A102 class and the teacher spoke nearly 100% of the time in French and moved through new material very quickly. He explained all new concepts in French and did not always make sure that what he was explaining was understood. The A101 class that I took absolutely did not prepare me for the A102 class. The professor used words and phrases that were never previously covered. Also, if you did not understand right away he would become very impatient. One time I said I did not understand something and he said scoffed and asked why? He did similar things with other students. His behavior was very upsetting and often times caused me to get frustrated and want to give up. I finished this course very unhappy. On top of my frustrations with the teacher, I never received my results for the end of the session test. This past week I moved to France and want to enroll in the Alliance Francaise program in Toulouse and having my test results would have been great in order to help place me in a course here.Brittany Roth

I recently took three courses through this Alliance and finished the last one at B2.1. I have had many classes through other Alliances and was very disappointed with the quality and pace of the instruction. It seemed as though we were rushing through the book and exercises without the time to truly absorb what we were supposed to learn. We were often cut off when asking questions or making comments, so that the instructor could quickly go to the next section of the book. Learning should be enjoyable, as well as informative. This particular class was neither, especially compared with my other experiences. (Note: The Everyday French class was very good and completely different in tone and pace, with this instructor attuned to the needs of his students.) I am also appalled at the way I was treated by the administration when I made an attempt to talk about my experience with the instructor of the B-level classes. Sarah Diligenti, especially, is arrogant and dismissive and really does not want to hear about any negative experiences. The administration simply does not care. I would encourage potential students to stay away from this Alliance.roberta weinman

Alliance Francaise has a very poor system for allocating students to levels in teen classes. We wasted a lot of money — their classes are expensive — because our daughter's class contained one student who was way behind all the others, and the teacher taught at that student's level. When we raised the issue, we encountered a dismissive attitude from a senior staff member. Classes for other ages may be good — we have no experience of them — but don't waste your money on teen classes.Sarah Lewthwaite

Dr. Thorp is great! I went in with a history of hip, knee, and foot pain that did not have one specific cause. He explained the issues very clearly and answered all of my questions, making sure I fully understood what was going on before starting treatment. Dr. Thorp made it clear that he didn't want me to have to go to physical therapy forever…he wanted to give me the treatment/exercises I need to ensure I would heal for the long run. When I was honest about not being able to do my at-home exercises as many times as I was supposed to, we adjusted my at-home treatment routine so it could be more manageable to me. Dr. Thorp makes you feel comfortable in his office and truly cares about your well-being. I would highly recommend seeing him!Aliya Manjee

As a distance runner, I have experienced a lot of running-related injuries and worked with a lot of physical therapists. Dr. Thorp is by far the best PT that I have ever been to. He did a fantastic job of explaining the biomechanics of my injury, and his "keep it simple" approach provided me with a manageable PT routine to address underlying weaknesses contributing to my injury. Most importantly, Dr. Thorp understands athletes' urgency to recovery quickly and aims to minimize the amount of time spent on the sidelines through his treatment plans. After just 4 sessions with Dr. Thorp, I have almost returned to full mileage volume.Emily Skahill

I had a great experience with Dr. Thorp and would highly recommend him for anyone in need! As others have mentioned, he is attentive and clear in his treatment plan which I found to be extremely effective. He addressed my hip flexor pain within four sessions and had me back on track to run in an upcoming race. Would absolutely return to him for treatment should the need ever arise!Nadine Philips

Bryan is easily one of the best personal trainers in DC. I came up to the city for 3 months for work, and I was keen on getting my body in shape. Bryan won’t BS you. He tells you it how it is, and he will tailor fit a program that is unique to your needs. I also like that he focuses on movement patterns and takes a kinesiological approach to strength training. This is very important because it helps to avoid injury. Over the course of these past 3 months, I’ve met with Bryan at a rate of 4x a week. He’s trained me to be much stronger, and I’ve reached weight lifting goals that I could not have imagined coming into this. I also feel and look much better than I did coming in. As I finish this Summer, Bryan has proved not only a great personal trainer, but also a friend. He’s a really chill guy. You will challenge yourself and have fun at the same time. You can’t go wrong with BC Strength Training! Do it!Sagar Sharma

I wholeheartedly recommend BC Strength Training to folks at any level of fitness. Bryan is outstanding in every way – friendly, flexible, thoughtful, and highly competent. Everything one could want in a trainer. After a full assessment, he created a bespoke program that takes into account my particular strengths and weaknesses. Sessions push just hard enough to make serious progress without burning me out for the next one. It's great value and hassle-free, and I love the indoor/outdoor options and privacy Bryan's place offers. I'm someone who doesn't love crowded public gyms, and this is the absolute antithesis of that. In fewer than 20 sessions, I feel like I've achieved a ton – and it's all thanks to Bryan. If I could give more than five stars, I would!vivaan nehru

As a trainer, Bryan is organized, professional, and super clear on the plan in place to reach the goals that we set together. I shared with him what I wanted for myself, and he provided me with the steps to take to accomplish those goals. Exactly what I was looking for! My sessions with Bryan are fabulous! I love the newly constructed outdoor gym he created for his clients, I haven’t missed a beat in my training. Bryan cares deeply about his clients, takes feedback, makes adjustments, and provides a professional and fun training that is well worth the investment. Highly recommend!!Kylie Fagnano

The staff and instructors are friendly and motivating. They make it a point to know your name and they make me feel welcomed. The classes are always challenging and the instructors are thoughtful about guiding you to get the most out of your experience. The place is clean and inviting. I appreciate the ease and efficient flow of each experience from signing up for classes, reminder emails, option to cancel classes, quick in and out is mindful of each members time. I would absolutely recommend pure barre D.C. I leave every class feeling supported and accomplished.Florie Mendiola

I get migraines if I do any workouts that are too high impact, so have never been great at working out consistently. I decided to give Pure Barre a chance and so far I love it! It works all the areas of my body I want to tone without the high impact of other classes I’ve taken. I’ve been 5 times and it hasn’t triggered my migraines. This studio is great and I love all the instructors so far. They are really welcoming to new comers and are great at helping with form to get the most of the work out. I will definitely keep coming back!Lindsey Ellertson

Pure Barre is the highest quality barre studio around. I have tried multiple barre studios in the DC area and and Pure Barre is by far the best and most effective. The staff is extremely friendly and are always willing to go above and beyond to help you have the best experience in each class. Each instructor makes an effort help you learn the right techniques. I have been attending a littler over one month now and I can already see results. I have so enjoyed my experience with this studio and I look forward to many more classes!Catherine Rodgers

I grew up speaking some Spanish in my household and then minored in Spanish in college. Although I remained proficient, I lost a lot of polish and lacked an understanding of the finer points of the language after not using it consistently for years. I decided during quarantine to dedicate myself to improving my Spanish and bought a package with Juan. My Spanish has improved significantly over the last ten classes. Juan creates a comprehensive program that includes watching movies, engaging in conversation and doing formal workbook exercises. This approach has helped me to get back into Spanish interactively, while relearning the formulaic grammar I had forgotten. I highly recommend Spanish Millenium for anyone who wants to sharpen their skills (and invest in themselves)!Nancy A.

I took virtual private Spanish classes with Jesus (aka "Kral") this winter for beginner's Spanish. I had some grounding with the basics, but never had the structured environment or "safe space" to practice the language – Jesus provided just that. He has many years under his belt of teaching second languages and it shows; his classes were always fun, interactive, and EFFECTIVE. I started classes without a lot of confidence in producing the language, but through practicing and learning through him I no longer fear speaking it. I 100% recommend Spanish Millennium if you're serious about learning a new language. I work full-time, but they were always very flexible with scheduling and I really looked forward to each class!Annri Araseki

Juan-Luis is a great Spanish teacher who makes sure that each person in the class gets equal attention. The online advanced conversation class has a great format that encourages participation from each person thereby helping one practice speaking in a relaxed environment. The homework for each class consists of reading articles or watching movies and writing a commentary on the same as well as grammar exercises, all of which ensure that one practices their reading, listening and writing! I have managed to learn a great deal so far through my classes at Spanish Millenium and I highly recommend them to anyone learning Spanish as a second language 🙂Susmita Kamath

I just finished Survival 2 and previously took Survival 1 here, both of them online. These classes are wonderful! The pacing of the classes is great for adults and the laid-back nature of the course takes a lot of pressure off. Eric was an absolutely fantastic teacher and I would highly recommend taking some of the courses here if you get the chance! The materials for the course come with the fee, so you really don't need to buy anything extra. There is homework each week, but it enforces the lesson and generally takes <30 minutes (perfect for those who are busy!). Classes are immersive, so you really learn to pick up on the language quickly. I learned more in 16 weeks of classes than I did in 3 years of high school! The online experience was very good, as the class is done through Zoom. Eric shared screens with us to show additional course materials for the lesson and made sure every student felt involved and understood. I'm looking forward to getting more practice in and coming back to continue the classes!Caroline Easton

I am once again inspired to practice my French regularly. I have been afraid to speak French because of my accent and mistakes. My instructor was kind in correcting mistakes and allowing us to fail here and there which is a necessary part of learning a language! I found the combination of exercises (written, oral, audio, and video) to be extremely helpful. The resources given to us were also excellent (handouts/pdf, websites, videos, podcasts, etc) and I will continue to use them to study in the future. I especially love that I can take classes online which makes it super easy to do right before work, from anywhere, etc. The price for the class is also great; it makes it accessible to more people. I think if more people knew about it, they'd take a class!Alison Hickman

I had an important test to pass and a short timeline in which to prepare. I emailed on a Thursday or Friday and had my first lesson on Monday. I worked with Natacha. She was super helpful, very patient and took her time with me to guide me through everything I needed to understand. I passed the test with flying colors and I have so much thanks to Natacha and the academy for their help.Michelle Tafur

(Translated by Google) It is very welcoming, the trainers are very attentive, they explain very well and there is always space to train with many alternatives, whether it is just crossfit or gym environment 10 for me. (Original) Es muy acogedor los entrenadores son muy atentos te explican muy bien y siempre hay espacio para entrenar con muchas alternativas ya sea solo crosfit o gym ambiente 10 para mi.Yaritza Quintero

I was going to the Georgetown location for a couple of years or so and then I moved away and couldn't ever make it across town. So happy this location opened up! I love the Urban Athlete classes, they're a great full-body HIIT workout. It's great that they're different every time and the coaches are helpful and encouraging.Kathleen Simone

Great equipment, really fun atsmosphere every time I've gone there. The trainers are super engaged and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of their 'First Class Free' program (if it is still being offered) to see if it's something you'd be interested in.Andrew Fitch

Since I began practicing Pilates at Excel Pilates DC, I’ve improved my core strength and flexibility overall. Feeling stronger and more capable provides a degree of personal confidence that I find quite gratifying. The instructors at the Excel studio are knowledgeable, as well as helpful and encouraging. Their interest in my performance inspires me to try harder. It also helps that they all seem to have the patience of Job. I’m a senior citizen and I’ve had my share of sports- and exercise-related injuries over the years. I appreciate the expert guidance and oversight provided by the instructors at the Excel studio. Their expertise imbues in me a confidence to attempt challenging exercises that I probably shouldn’t even consider, much less attempt, on my own. Thanks to the instructors, I have surprised myself more than once with what I am able to do. After a workout at Excel I feel invigorated. My energy levels are higher and I feel satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Good health and fitness are not things that simply occur—I must work for them. I believe that if you want to be active, you must stay active. I recommend Pilates at Excel Pilates as a good way to be active for almost anyone.William Trapmann

+The Excel Studio has a welcoming environment with friendly, knowledgeable certified Pilates instructors. +Diverse clientele from across the city and suburbs encompass all ages, backgrounds and abilities, including those in recovery from major illness. +For the past two years, my weekly private sessions with Michelle Mendelson have made an enormous difference in managing serious chronic back pain. +++I highly recommend Excel Pilates!Alix Myerson

I've been a student at Excel for over 20 years. It's a world class studio with fantastic teachers in a beautiful space that is not only spotless, it's easy to get to via metro, bike, driving or walking. The attention to detail, emphasis on the care and safety of each individual client, (while you're getting your butt kicked in a class or private) is unlike any other studio on the east coast.Jacqueline Emanuel

Hello, I'm from Russia. I haven't studied with you yet because I don't know English at all. Someday I will learn to speak at a minimum level and will come to you to study further. All my life I have dreamed of seeing this country and talking to the people who live in it. You are doing good deeds, thank you very much. Translated with the help of "Yandex Translator"Islam Adaev

This is an update to a previous review. LADO contacted me after that review to help. I had some problems with the original class level. However, the director was very attentive to me and my concerns, and LADO worked with me to find a solution. The staff was very helpful and was ready to listen.Marina Santos

I took the class a year ago, wasted my times and money , the teacher was just an American who works full time in a store and part time time in Lado school . the lessons were terribly boring. better go to free classes! so teachers are better and classes are freeAlina Sharifullina

The school has motivated me to become my best self. The teachers and staff are so wonderful and helpful, the programs offer a variety of career paths, and i wouldn't go to any other school. 12/26/21 UPDATE Needed to come on the record and say that my original 5 star review is only because the teachers tell you to write a 5 star review in exchange for a good grade, credit, or extra points on an exam. Don't believe all the good reviews on here. I graduated April 2020 from the Medical Assistant program and have yet to receive a certificate of completion despite multiple attempts to contact the registrar. There should be no reason for them to withhold my diploma as they already received all my completion documentation AND i qualified for FAFSA so they already received all the money from my student loan servicer. This place is a scam and I wish I had gone somewhere else.Joselyn Alvarez

Career Technical Institute is a fraudulentand needs to be closed down.This business targets low- income residents because CTI know's that some of us low-income residents don't understand student loans and how it can play a part in not getting a job or leasing an apartment, etcetera. Also students don't have knowledge that a student loan stays on their credit report. This school cares about money only. Career Technical Institute combined my grant and student loan. I was told that I was going to get help in getting a job which never happened. I never received my diploma because I couldn't pay my loan off. Sadly, I can't give 0 stars to Career Technical Institute. Career Technical Institute is not acreddited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).Jamelia

I think these different reviews are confusing. But I think I know what the issue is. Some reviews are based on Hospitality and some are base on IT. I can tell you right now if you're dealing with IT, this is the absolute worst place to go to start a career. It's just really a waste of time and money. Even if you have to pay more money you may as well go to a real accredited institution and I can tell you without a doubt this is not one. They focus and take advantage of mostly low income African American students misleading them about finances and what they will be able to gain from the courses. It's a scam, I'm keeping my ear to the wind for charges to be brought up against them sooner or later.Kenneth Smith

Beta Academy is amazing! I started 4 months ago without any martial arts training or background! The whole team of Muay Thai coaches are amazing!!! I started going to coach Darnell's class twice a week and loved it! He is inspiring, down to earth, funny, patient and extremely knowledgeable! He very quickly made me feel like a part of the beta family and community. I am not a morning person AT ALL but have since started training 4 times a week at 7am! He and other folks at beta encouraged me to do the testing a month ago and I have never felt as joyous, proud and fierce to receive my yellow band! I am now training with coach Nahom once per week for individual sessions which have been exhausting but wonderful! On top of that the staff at the front desk are always helpful and kind! I love all things about my Muay Thai journey at Beta and would undoubtedly recommend training here to any and everyone! Thank you Beta!!!Lynn Michalopoulos

Incredible staff, coaches, and classes. I had been thinking about learning whether Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai for quite some time—and Beta is definitely the place to go. In fact it has exceeded my expectations. The community is very welcoming and staff is flexible when coordinating. The coaches encourage you in class to push hard to make you better and at a reasonable pace. It’s been awesome and kind of enlightening.Francisco Navarro

I came through as a visiting black belt and was very impressed with this academy. The staff was very professional and all of the students were very cool to roll with. Nakapan is well respected in the community and probably the best guy to teach you how to fight in the area by offering legit jiu jitsu and muay thai programs. The academy was also very clean, has showers and a/c.Miha Perhavec

They tell you what you want to hear in person and advertising…I perfectly asked for ground classes in the morning. My 1st semester was in the mornings and the rest were evenings. Now I'm down to my last 9 classes with a 7,000 dollars graduation funds with Strayer paying for my last 5 classes and I pay the first 4 and was told my last 9 classes have to be on line or I will lose my funds if I do not enroll b4 the winter semester…..totally a bummer can't get no help from any Strayer administration…..false advertising…..everyone has their needs and wants in why and what they choose for……Strayer totally unacceptable…..teco parker

Security is rude and not helpful and IELTS process is scattered and does not have clear instructions. They won’t let you wait for your next test if you’re not a student because it’s a “private institution”. Wouldn’t want to take up their private space or use their private outlet quietly because they’re too important. I thought about taking additional classes here and the whole process was a big a turn off. Never giving this sketchy place my money.Emily Kerns

Checking an item off my bucket list was easy with Blue Planet Scuba. Jonas, Heather, and the rest of the team at Blue Planet are pretty much perfect! Lots of new friends! I had a short time frame to complete my Open Water certification and I did not read the website correctly so I completely misunderstood the process. Rather than tell me they didn't have room to accommodate my needs, they said give us 30 minutes and we will call you back with a solution and they totally came through. My instructors for the confined water portion of the certification were Evert and Valerie with the help of several other Blue Planet staff. Evert and Valerie are AWESOME! I felt completely safe and confident the entire time. They explained things clearly and were the definition of patient. We worked through both days of this portion of the certification at a very appropriate pace, I never felt rushed. Evert stayed after the session on Sunday to help my dive buddy get more comfortable with a skill and from what I understand, came back a third night and helped again. Valerie worked with me on the free-flowing regulator skill (which was probably the one I was the most nervous about) and I got through it with ease! They are both exceptional instructors. For the open water portion of the certification I selected a weekend at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA. I decided to head up earlier on Friday to avoid traffic and arrive at the shop right at 11AM (when they open) to pick up all my gear, the team at the shop that morning had everything ready and helped me load it all into my car. When I arrive at the scuba park the next morning, Blue Planet had everything well organized and ready to go, a well-oiled machine for sure. There were Open Water, Advanced, Dry Suit, and Dive Master Candidates all being juggled over a three day weekend, overall maybe 22-25 people with varying skill levels and very different needs expertly coordinated. I lucked out and got Valerie and Evert for this portion of my certification as well, and they continued to blow me away with their expertise and patience, allowing everything the time they needed to ask questions and understand each of the plans for the dives we were to complete. A fantastic dinner was even part of the plan, coordinated by the Blue Planet team, at a local brewery which allowed all the students (from all levels) to interact and exchange stories and I feel, make some lasting friendships! I almost forgot to mention, Sarah and Walter, two Dive Master Candidates that were with us! Sarah was at both the confined and open water dives for me and was AWESOME! She was confident and knowledgeable and helped make sure I was successful! Walter joined the group at Dutch Springs and his great attitude helped make the process of planning and executing the open water dives an easy one. In the end, I am not a certified Open Water diver with plans to complete my Dry Suit and Advanced certifications in the next several months so I can check another bucket list item – Diving the continental divide in Iceland next year (a Blue Planet Dive Trip). I wouldn't have made it without Evert and Valerie and the rest of the Blue Planet Team! If you need a dive shop in the DMV, Blue Planet is the way to go!Andrew Haddock

Don't look anywhere else to take scuba classes or buy gear from other than BLUE PLANET! My experience with this school and shop has been off the charts! The staff is fantastic – competent, respectful, patient, adaptive to your learning needs, very experienced and a lot of fun! Any rental gear that you will be using is up-to-date and quite effective for your learning requirements. PADI Lead Instructor Sarah Pratt and PADI Instructor Mike Hassoun were sensational to learn from! You don't have to worry about what kind of training you're going to get with these two instructors! They are top-notch and they do an outstanding job of teaching and working with every student individually and corporately! They care about each person and where they are at and what their weaknesses and strengths are! They both made my time of learning so much fun and very safe in the water! Their leadership and experience as divers and instructors is apparent in their teaching skills and how well organized they are during the training! I had a fantastic class weekend experience because of Sarah and Mike! Owners Jonas and Heather are the kindest and sweetest you will ever meet! You feel like your part of the Blue Planet family from the get-go! Shop Manager and Master Instructor Jeff Peterson along with Instructor and Sales Associate Anthony White are two more amazing employees that I encountered and received plenty of support from during the paperwork process, registration and gear rental orientation process! They are extremely helpful and competent in every way! They are very knowledgeable on the latest gear out there and will hook you up with what you need and what you can afford! Choose BLUE PLANET and you'll be extremely happy with what you get out of your scuba diving educational experience and gear! I certainly have!Brian Rudolph

Best Dive Shop Ever. I just returned from my 4th trip with Blue Planet DC, a great dive shop. Jonas Furberg and his wife Heather Tallent and their staff run a great operation, and I once again recommend people visit the shop and use them for dive trips and other resources. The trip to Baja California in November of last year, to Turks and Caicos in January of January of this year, and this latest trip last week, to Cayman Brac, were all superb. In Cayman Brac, as in the other two, the trip planning, organization and the resort and dive operators were great and, including on this trip, the weather cooperated. As before, on this trip the group was well-led; Jonas is really good guy and a superb instructor (I completed my deep diver certification). I think we all learned a lot from him as an instructor (3 of us were taking courses) but also in general – lots of good tips and knowledge passed at meals and just hanging around. The other thing about Blue Planet is that when the weather doesn’t cooperate, they don’t stop trying. Last June I went with Blue Planet to North Carolina for wreck diving. As you all should know, the weather there is very unpredictable, so for a frustrating 3 days, we weren’t able to go out at all. Well, that’s a test of a good leader, and he passed, because Jonas quickly organized some fun things for us to do (go-cart racing, a group barbeque at the AirB&B house that was rented, a trip to the beach, group dinners, everything). Blue Planet made a frustrating time tolerable and sometimes enjoyable. So, as many stars as possible to Jonas, Heather, their employees, and Blue PlanetBruce Butterworth

Flow is one of my favorite things about the neighborhood; I miss it terribly now that we are in a different neighborhood! The studio is tucked away next to Whole Foods on P Street, and the spaces are cozy. The teachers are fabulous: I have been in a class with Joan now for 3 years and can't say enough about how wonderful she is. I also have taken the prenatal yoga class on Sundays for a while, which is great with Jen! Most of the other teachers I go to (not as consistently) are also great. Everyone is well-trained and quick to help with accommodations and anything injury-related.Bonnie Lessans

(Translated by Google) Well for the whole community I have never been to this place but I would like it. Be training stand up of this community to overcome. My energies from my body and thus leave always successful in everything that I intend (Original) Bien para toda la comunidad yo nunca he estado en este lugar pero me gustaria. Estar fomando parate de esta comunidad para superar. Mis energias de mi cuerpo y asi salir sienpre exitoso en todo lo que me propogoMargarito Linares

I adore the Flow Yoga studios. I really appreciate that the instructors recognize students trying to bust out of the 1.5 level and really become more advanced in their practices without being pushy or too demanding, but expecting improvement. I also would like to give a shout out to Anna at Flow for being the best damn heated flow instructor I've ever had. She's intense but in a great way! Clare in core is also amazing and I love/hate her for it.Melissa Mitton

It was a nightmare for me to start driving..I was fortunate enough to go to Ethio Star driving school.Even if I started from the scratch, the instructor was very patient to work with my anxiety.I took parking lesson and street driving with them.I like their online booking and payment method.I did reschedule a couple of lessons and couldn't find a near by date in their website.I called their office and the person was very helpful to put my name in the waiting list and call me with any available schedule.He checked on me when he got one.I really appreciate that.Finally I passed my road test with the first trial 😀 and now I am a licensed driver.Thank you Ethio's Let me write my comment before I finish my review. It looks like you guys are very successful in this business..you need to hire more instructors and open more schedules…especially if you open schedule after 7pm, like 7pm to 9pm..you will able to accommodate more people.etemeanch bezbhi

My first lesson a year ago was very good, the instructor was kind and patient. My driving was good so we mostly practiced parking. I had a lesson a couple weeks ago and the instructor was very impatient and unprofessional, he made me drive to his apartment for a "10 minute break". My first lesson we didn't take any breaks, and considering I was paying for the time that was weird. He also spent the first half of the lesson trying to convince me he was the same instructor I'd had before and wore way too much cologne. It's very hard to schedule lessons, so if you do choose to take their driving lessons schedule them all at once.Kira

I just had my road test with Mr. Eyob today. I already had failed once before so I was really nervous and scared to fail again. Before the test he talked to me and helped a lot, he made me very calm and confident. My test went flawless and I passed. I only have good things to say about Ethios Star from the communication to get the appointment to the road test, I would recommend this school from my heart a million times. Mr. Eyob is for sure someone that god put on my way, he is really helpful and clearly loves what he does. I am really happy. Thanks to everyone from Ethios Driving school and Mr. Eyob. God bless you all!!!Ferlie Alexandrino

Terrible customer service. have reached out multiple times regarding my billing and they only responded when it was convenient for them. Once they took a good chunk of money out of my account, they stopped responding to my emails regarding my membership cancellation. First time I even emailed them, I had to follow up a week later to even get a response. The second time, I had to follow up again, call in several times, and still no response. Although the facility is nice, it's really not worth it for it's price. $99/month for a tight squeezed gym facility??? Equinox just about a block away offers more for around the same price. Saw a response from Balance Gym to one of the reviews about how "hotel guests rave out how spacious it is" lol. They are on vacation so for a hotel gym yes the size is adequate. Those people are not working out there daily, for a member who is NOT just a temporary hotel guest the gym is not spacious at all. Also, one of the front desk staff members is super rude. She is very condescending and unhelpful. When I asked her to assist me with an issue, she gave me a rude look and very little information as if I'm paying $20/month. I payed even less than that at Planet Fitness and got way better customer service from their staffTatia Jahan

Love the gym, but they haven’t fixed their one and only leg extension machine in 2 months… I Pay THIS MUCH!?!? To not have ONE functioning leg extension for that long? Myself and several other people have made complaints multiple times and they keep insisting on a new part coming. Well 2 Months and over $200 of mine gone that could have just bought one myself at home UPDATE: 7/30- STILL NOT FREAKING FIXED!!! They "fixed""" the machine one time (looks like they literally pulled a handle off another machine and glued it on there) so big shocker, still no machine. I am 2 steps away from leaving this gym- the single and only good thing about this gym right now is its location. Changing review to 1 star. If they do not fix this soon they will be losing a huge amount of customers.Cat Zwemer

Great gym with even better staff! I went to this gym weekly for a little over two years and have been really happy with my experience overall. It’s a small but well-appointed gym. Lots of cardio machines, a pool, and plenty of lifting equipment – 1 bench press station, 3 squat racks, and 2 platforms (one that also has a squat rack). I mostly came here to lift in the mornings and it was never too crowded. I didn’t attend many group classes, but the ones I did were small (<6 people) and well-run! The cherry on top is the top-notch staff. Miss D at the front desk is so friendly and welcoming, as are all the trainers I’ve chatted with. I’m only leaving Balance because I’m moving, and I’ll honestly really miss it!Emily Porat