8/23/2019 0 Comments The Best Yoga in BrixtonBy Roz There are two things you need to know about me as a yogi. The first is that I’ve been practising for nearly two decades - it’s been the one constant despite living in three countries (the UK, Japan and the US). And the second is that I’m not very good. You know those photos you sometimes see of people balancing on their noses with their legs in the air (or a less extravagant version of that)? That’s a million miles from me and the kind of yoga I do. I mention these two facts because different people want different things; what I want from a yoga studio is somewhere that has lots of classes, is nearby and is a place where I feel I belong - but for those who want to balance on their noses, there are options in Brixton for you too. Fierce Grace This is a lovely hot yoga studio, with a class at every hour of the day pretty much (with a welcome greater amount of variety than Bikram studios). Excellent teachers, good showers, and a staff who know you, this is a great option. There’s a lovely emphasis on being an inclusive venue no matter your shape/skill (and it is). I used to go there all the time, but hot yoga can feel a bit like a fitness experience rather than “proper” yoga which made me less enthusiastic (though I did very much like finding that I’d become thin and strong without changing my diet). I would nonetheless be likely to make it my main studio were it not for all the accoutrements. You can’t really do hot yoga without a mat, two towels and a large bottle of water. I find it wearisome to tout these around with me, and yet paying an additional £4 per class to hire these is expensive if you go as often as I do. Drop-in is £19/class. Monthly membership is £109. (If you get a yearly pass for £1099 you do get free mat rental.) Website. Fierce Grace, Brixton. Photo from their website. More Yoga A recent phenomenon across London, these are budget yoga studios and are springing up everywhere. I’ve been going to the Brixton studio for more than a year, and have very mixed feelings about it. They have lots of classes. The space is nice and there are free mats. Some of the teachers are fab and know the students and care about our practice. Other teachers are less good. So it very much comes down to identifying the good teachers and avoiding the others. But even the good teachers mainly aim classes at those who want to balance on their noses. The scheduling is a bit unpredictable with teachers / classes disappearing without notice. There’s also an odd quirk that many of the classes overrun, which I personally find rude and means that I have to keep an eye on the time, which feels unyogic. But overall, it’s a great choice at a v good price. Especially if you take a watch. Especially recommended teachers are David Ramcharran and Claire Alexander. Single class is £9.90. Monthly pass is £50 per month for a life founder membership, otherwise monthly unlimited is £75. Website. More Yoga Brixton. Photo from their website. Brixton Yoga My current favourite studio (with one caveat). Brixton Yoga is the brainchild of the lovely Gupreet and is based in several different locations (The Dogstar, Pop Brixton, 41 Acre Lane, Brockwell Park). The newest location, Simulacra Studio, has been a game changer for me. It’s a lovely space under a railway arch which feels a glorious combination of urban and serene. The classes are amazing with lovely teachers who focus on students as individuals whether they be stand-on-nose types or otherwise; I float home afterwards. And the difference between the quality of these classes and More Yoga is huge. There’s a lovely sense of community, with the odd picnic or Indian meal after class. The only challenge for me is that there aren’t currently as many classes as I’d like - none on a Monday or Friday morning, nor on weekend mornings (but they intend to expand hours). What can I say, I’m a morning person! But I’ve loved the classes enough to - at least for now - relinquish my More Yoga class pass and keep my fingers crossed that their promise of scheduling more classes from September does come off. Single class is £10. Monthly pass is £58. Website Brixton Yoga. Photo from owner. Other yoga options in Brixton
There are three other options in Brixton to flag. The first is Stillpoint Yoga. This is primarily based in London Bridge where they run excellent ashtanga practice which I used to go to when I lived elsewhere (and is one of the best ashtanga options in London). So far as I can tell the Brixton outpost is really just a collection of classes by teachers who they like (including Brixton Yoga), and are primarily during the working day, meaning that I’ve not been. But the quality of their London Bridge studio is such that if you are free in the day, it’ll definitely be worth going to. The second is HotPod Yoga, part of a big European franchise. I feel bad I haven’t tried this (and so I will, and will then update this blog). It’s another hot yoga option, but seemingly with unusual lighting and the smell of bergamot, and it takes place in a ‘pod’, whatever that may be. Seems to be cheaper than Fierce Grace (though I suspect you also have to pay to hire towels etc). And finally I should mention Yoga Point; personally I think of this as being in Herne Hill, but it’s really half way between Brixton and Herne Hill. I’ve not tried it but they have a very solid offering, with some outstanding teachers (who I’ve come across at Pop Brixton, when there was yoga there, and elsewhere). If there weren’t other excellent options closer to me, I’d be doing a dance of glee at having Yoga Point in my neighborhood. In summary, if you are a balance-on-your-nose type and favour quantity of classes over all else, go to More Yoga. If you are a hot yogi, and don’t mind bringing accoutrements (or paying to hire them), go to lovely Fierce Grace (or experiment with HotPod and let me know what you think!). If you live in Herne Hill environs, Yoga Point seems like a great option. And if you want brilliant, life-affirming classes, go to Brixton Yoga.
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AuthorI moved to Brixton in 2015 with my wife and dog, from faraway Camberwell, via Washington, Tokyo and Hong Kong... Archives
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