There’s an old saying that ‘if you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life’. I happen to agree with this, as London is simply one of the best cities in the world. The ancient history, alongside the cutting-edge culture and a vibrant night life – what more could you want?
Especially at this time of year, when you’ve just been on your summer holiday, and your diet and exercise routine has gone out the window…I’m sure you had every good intention of keeping up your yoga practice, but the sangria and chips seemed to win out every time. Sound familiar?
Now you’re back to real life and looking for a way to kick-start your yogic fitness levels again – without breaking the bank. Here are some of the best FREE yoga classes in London; the less excuses the better!
- Our Parks
Do you love your local park? Now that it’s summer do you long to spend more time in the many wonderful green spaces our capital has to offer? Well, now a new initiative means that you can be outside while doing yoga AND you don’t have to pay a penny.
Our Parks is a new London-wide initiative to bring free, high quality exercise to our local parks – plus the classes are absolutely free! What’s not to love?
You just have to sign up to register, then search for the nearest park to you which holds the free classes.
- Meetup Yoga
Social media has had a huge impact on the way we live our lives and connect with others, and yoga is no exception to this. Meetup is an app connecting local people who have something in common and enabling them to arrange – you’ve guessed it – meet ups. The founder of this particular meetup group, Jamie Rylett, felt that regular yoga practice is beneficial for everybody, but that the prices of some London classes were prohibitive for some people.
The classes are designed to be suitable for all, and to find out where and when the next class is happening join up and become a member and you’ll be emailed the latest class details.
Having only just been set up in June this year there have only been a few classes so far, but these have been held in leafy Southwark Park and, curiously, a 19th century warehouse used to film Dragon’s Den!
- Iyengar Yoga Centre Maida Vale
Are you hooked by Vinyasa flow yoga, or enthralled by yin yoga? Sometimes, it’s easy to get stuck in a yoga rut! The beautiful and purpose built Iyengar yoga studion in Maida Vale in North West London holds regular free Iyengar Yoga Taster Classes. These are a great way to branch out and try Iyengar yoga, a rigorous form of yoga focusing on alignment and precision in each pose. These hour-long sessions will give you an experience of the Iyengar method with an expert teacher and are suitable for people of all ages and experience.
All equipment is provided but you are welcome to bring your own mat if you prefer. The next free taster classes are at the beginning of September and it’s worth signing up soon to get a space.
- The Light Centre – Belgravia, Moorgate & Monument
If your worklife is based in the financial heart of London – the City of London, you might struggle to fit your yoga practice in to your week. Help is at hand, offered by The Light Centre, which has two central branches, one in Moorgate and a newly opened Studio in Monument. There is also a centre in the well-heeled area of Belgravia. The Light Centres are health and wellbeing centres with a packed weekly timetable, with a variety of yoga styles being taught, from beginner courses to Ashtanga classes.
There are early bird classes if you want to fit in a class before work, and an in-house cafe serving up all sorts of vegan goodies, raw juices and ‘smart’ coffees! Sign up to get your free class at Moorgate, Monument or Belgravia.
- Lululemon
There’s not many yoga students who haven’t been tempted to splash out on some lush Lululemon yoga gear, but there’s more to this shop than meets the eye, as the flagship store in the heart of London’s shopping centre, Regent’s Street, also offers complimentary in-store yoga classes on a Sunday morning.
Using local teachers the shop offers weekly free lessons in order to encourage local people and shoppers to take up yoga, not just wear the clothes! Find out more here.
- Yogarise Peckham
Get your free yoga fix in a cool, urban setting in South East London’s leafy Peckham. Yogarise Peckham run free community classes there in the Bussey Building, a converted warehouse, with large light-filled rooms. The classes are usually dynamic vinyasa or hatha flow in style and absolutely everyone is welcome, from beginners to old hands, all they ask is that you come with an open mind and desire to do yoga. Nearby is Copeland Park, which is already established within the London arts scene, housing a collection of studios, workshops and art spaces. Yogarise has built on this and supports new and emerging artists and designers by exhibiting their work.
Teachers vary week to week and are often taught by newly qualified teachers, in order for them to get some experience and gain confidence.
The community classes, while being essentially free, are donation based with all proceeds going to a monthly charity. You can either donate when booking or choose the free booking option and give what you can on the day.
