London is in lockdown and the once-bustling streets, shops, and cafes of our beautiful city have fallen quiet for the first time in our lifetimes.
Along with a lot of other businesses, yoga studios all over the capital have had to shut up shop for now too. But out of adversity comes creativity, and many studios have adapted their lessons to online delivery.
Using Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms there are a whole host of yoga studios offering a tempting array of online lessons, so rather than there being less yoga in your life in lockdown, if anything there could be loads more! And, as well as keeping your yoga up and running, you can also support yoga studios to get through the current crisis.
Here’s YogaLondon’s guide to some of the wide range of studio yoga classes on offer at the moment:
The Shala
Based in West Norwood, this small, independent yoga studio has moved all its classes online using Zoom, which is the online platform that most closely resembles a live class. They are keeping class sizes small so teachers can easily see all the students in the classes for a more intimate experience. Styles of yoga on offer include Flow yoga, Restorative yoga, Dynamic yoga, and Post-natal yoga. They are offering several price packages, but you can do a trial class for free to make sure it works for you. www.theshalalondon.com
Light Centre
With three of their Central London studios all closing their doors, the Light Centre have taken their extensive timetable of classes online, offering Power yoga, Yin yoga, and Mandala Vinyasa yoga, among others. They have an introductory offer of 7 classes over 7 days for £7, and classes are free for NHS staff. They are also offering workshops including an online yoga workshop for better sleep. www.lightcentremonument.co.uk
YogaWorks
Set in the leafy South London suburb of Wandsworth, this small studio’s goal is to provide yoga classes from all levels from the absolute beginner to the more advanced yogi. They have moved a large selection of their classes online including a Gentle Beginner’s yoga class for those unused to stretching and Vinyasa and Yin yoga for all levels. They have an introductory offer of £20 for 4 classes to be used over a month.www.yogaworkslondon.co.uk
Essence of Good Health
With a real belief that no one should be exempt from the benefits of yoga, Essence of Good Health Yoga has been providing free hatha yoga classes in the southeast of London for over 15 years. They have continued this offering during lockdown, with all their classes available for free via Zoom links on their website. They’re even offering Saturday morning yoga for kids if yours are starting to bounce off the walls! www.freeyoga.co.uk
Yogarise
Set in trendy urban spaces in cool London areas like Brixton, Yogarise has attracted a loyal following over the years. They have moved their classes online and have adapted their price packages accordingly. Prices are per household, so the whole family can join in if they (or you) want – prices start at £7 per class. Styles of yoga available are Ashtanga, Jivamukti, and Vinyasa yoga classes, and they are hoping to add more. www.yogarise.london
Triyoga
Not exactly a small yoga studio, but they are a London stalwart and have been providing top-quality yoga classes for twenty years. They have now moved their impressive array of classes online so that you can still enjoy a class with your favourite London teachers, as well as adding to their workshops with ‘visiting’ yoga luminaries from abroad. Their most popular payment package is a 10 class pass for £70. www.triyoga.co.uk
The Yoga Hutch
A small but perfectly-formed studio in Surbiton, The Yoga Hutch are running Zoom classes including a Guided Ashtanga class and a Mysore-style led practice, which is suitable for more advanced Ashtanga yogis. They are keeping classes small in line with their usual practice. Prices start from £10 for a drop-in class and £30 for 5 classes over 7 days. www.theyogahutch.com
Flex Chelsea
This is a relatively new studio set in Fulham with a dynamic timetable to keep toned yoga bunnies busy. Power Flow is a strong vinyasa flow, which promises to be as much a cardio workout as it is a yoga class – rigorous practice with longer holds and the introduction of more advanced postures. If that sounds too full-on for you there’s also Slow Flow, Chill Flow and Yin yoga. Prices include a package of 10 lessons for £50. www.flexchelsea.com
Sangye Yoga School
Formerly Jivamukti Yoga London, this studio, based in Ladbroke Grove, has moved a selection of its Vinyasa and Jivamukti lessons online. Sangye means awakened in Tibetan, and their yoga classes will definitely wake you up with ‘vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating’ classes on offer. They have an introductory offer of £40 for 30 consecutive days of yoga… Well, what else are we doing? www.sangyeyoga.com
YogaLondon is also offering free Vinyasa flow and Exam Sequence practice sessions to graduates and students this May.
