Health club

This neighborhood yoga studio is intimate and friendly, with warm corkwood flooring, filtered sunlight and a sense of community and camaraderie. There are a variety of classes, and some are Iyengar-influenced, using props to accommodate individuals.

But perhaps the most compelling reason to go is Pinky, the studio's in-residence mascot. Owner Jonna Bracken's fluffy toy-like Pomeranian has perfected downward dog and joins in with little squeaks (his own version of "Om") at the end of practice.

By Kathy Schultz
NWsource shopping columnist