Yoga in London

The number of yoga classes on offer in London is certainly a tribute to the popularity of yoga in the UK. There are probably more yoga classes on offer in London that in any other European city, and a number of yoga centres cater for all taste and abilities.

Ashtanga is available all over London, and is probably now more popular than any other yoga style, with dedicated practionners flocking to early morning self practice sessions (often starting at 6:30 am) before going to work. Please note, the following list of places is by no mean exhaustive!
Triyoga, the new purpose built, state of the art centre in Primrose Hill has some excellent teachers and caters for all levels of experience. If you have your own practice you can try Self Practice Mysore style, which runs daily 6.30-9.30am. Their Ashtanga Beginners Course runs for eight weeks every eight weeks. Classes range in price from £8.50 for an hour and a quarter, to £10 for two hours. Triyoga is at 6 Erskine Mews, London NW3 3AJ. Tel 020 7483 3344 www.triyoga.co .uk.
The Life Centre in Notting Hill also has a range of yoga classes, mostly Ashtanga, ranging in price from £ 8 (one hour) to £ 10 (2 hours). The Life Centre is at 15 Edge Street, London W8 7PN. 020 7221 4602. www.thelifecentre.org.
There are very busy Self Practice sessions at Diorama, 34 Osnaburgh St, NW1 with Hamish Hendry (one of only three teachers in the UK to be certified by Patthabi Jois). Prices start at £36 for 1 day a week for four weeks, increasing to £120 for 5 days a week for four weeks, or £ 10 for a drop in. Visit the web site astangayoga.co.uk for phone numbers and more information.
Yogahome, 11 Allen Road, London N16 8SB, 020 7249 2425, www.yogahome.com offers an early morning ashtanga practice, as well as other styles of yoga for all levels. Classes price range between £ 7.50 and £ 10, depending on how long the class is, and how many classes you book.
Yoga Junction, run by Tara Fraser and Nigel Jones, at City North, Finsbury Park, London, N4. web-site - www.yogajunction.co.uk e-mail info@yogajunction.co.uk tel - 020 83416636 offers Ashtanga (including a self practice class) along with various other styles of yoga.
Gingi Lee and a group of dedicated teachers hold astanga vinyasa (beginners and self-practice classes), restorative practice, Birthlight yoga classes for pregnancy, baby & kids as well as monthly workshops at the Shala, 80 Caistor Mews, Balham SW12 8QW 0208 674 7887
A variety of styles, including ashtanga, are available at the Yoga Place, First Floor, 449-453 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 9QH, http://www.yogaplace.co.uk, and they also organise a number of interesting week end workshops.
Thriving classes in astanga, as well as hatha and kundalini yoga can be found in a peaceful, centrally-located studio near London Bridge at Yoga Globe House, 2a Crucifix Lane, London SE1, 020 7378 1177, http://www.globehouse.org/ for full details. Prices range from £6 to £10 for 60 or 90-minute sessions. This is one of the few places in London where students of Shandor Remete's teach, another is West London Yoga, where Viryam Robertson teaches his Shadow Yoga in the lovely 1920's wood-panelled Porchester Small Hall just off Queensway in Bayswater, north of Hyde Park. Contact number 7866 319 289.
BREATHE (http://www.breatheonline.com) offers private yoga instruction (as well as massage treatments) for individuals and small groups in homes and offices all over London. Cost £50 per hour (with no limit on class size and teachers/therapists available seven days a week).
Unlike other yoga schools, the London School Of Yoga™ gives each student a bespoke programme based on ashtanga yoga and built around their individual strengths. As the student develops, they move through eight different grades, from beginners to advanced. See their website http://www.londonschoolofyoga.com or call 0870 446 0205 for details. Classes in Hampstead and Mill Hill London, price from £ 30 per month, based on 8 classes.

With ashtanga being all the rage, one could forget that there are a number of centres in London offering other styles of yoga.
The Iyengar Yoga institute in Maida Vale, a well equipped, purpose built centre with two large studios caters for all abilities, including teacher training, and is one of the only places in London where you can learn pranayama. Classes range in price from £ 5.50 to £ 8.50, and they organise a number of workshops with both local and visiting Iyengar teachers, so keep an eye on their website. The Maida Vale Yoga Institute is at 223a Randolph Avenue, London W9 1NL, 020 7624 3080.
Felicity James, an Iyengar trained teacher, teaches her own style focusing on working with the breath within one's own limits. Classes are all in Fulham SW London and private classes are also available Contact 020 8893 9157 / felicityjenni@lineone.net.
You can practice Bikram Yoga in Fulham, see www.hotbikramyoga.co.uk for details.
For those who are drawn to a gentler workout, the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Putney ( 51 Felsham Road, London SW15 1AZ, 020 87800160) offers a number of "open" class (drop in) for £ 6, as well as courses for all levels and weekend workshops on a variety of yoga related subjects. They also have a fairly well stocked yoga shop. Visit their website for more details.
The Satyananda Yoga Centre, 70 Thurleigh Road, London SW12 8UD, 020 8673 4869 which offer a variety of classes at a cost of £6 per class is another option.
Marie Hollinger teaches hatha in Crouch End. See her website at www.yogablue.co.uk for details.
Kundalini yoga is getting increasingly popular, check out, for example, Amarbir Kaur, lkwatchey@hotmail.com who teaches near Islington, or see the Kundalini Yoga Teachers association site for a list of teachers.

Carl Hargreaves Based in Muswell Hill, 61, Sutton Road N10 1HH ( t: 02084443178 e: carl@mapayoga.com ) specialises in creating a personalised practice that is tailored to each individual, for self practice at home. www.mapayoga.com Over time Carl will alter your practice and progress step by step. This yoga is taught in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. £45 a session or £295 for 10. He also teaches local classes.

Finally, there are a number of yoga teachers teaching in gyms, leisure and sport centres, and a variety of other places in London. The links below might help you find them:

Christophe Mouze for Yoga Online