Ever since I left Canada, I've missed studio yoga. I do gym yoga for various reasons and it is just…read morenot the same, there's no real challenge, no focus and half the time you are distracted by the kick-boxing class next door. But Blue Cow Yoga is a deliciously proper studio. Right in the middle of the city, it's in a fantastic location. Spacious and very North American. You take your shoes off when you enter, help yourself to free tea or water and pad round to the changing rooms, where they have all amenities including hair straighteners. This I like! Also the abundance of lockers to keep your valuables safe are really appreciated. It's a very chill environment, they get the importance of focus and a peaceful vibe. I came for an inversion workshop and was delighted with the teacher and the experience. Mollie, the teacher, was super patient and explained everything very clearly. While she made it look elegant and easy herself, she took the time with all the beginners to make them feel comfortable. The room was very spacious with lots of white wall space to practice against, and plenty of maps, bolsters and blocks. I am definitely planning on coming back for their free yoga week for newcomers and I'd love to try a treatment too, once I recover from this inversion workout!

TREATMENTS. Sorry…read moreto shout. But, seriously...the treatments. I have not been for yoga yet (but I will!) --- and had signed up for updates via their newsletter. As luck would have it last week I received an email from them about 25 quid Bespoke Treatments. Answer to my prayers, little BCY -- answer to my prayers. After being slammed and shoved into planes, delayed in airports, working from bed and overall stress levels escalating, I needed a massage. A good, deep massage. And this is what I got. Which will have hooked me forever, so this marketing campaign to get folks into the studio worked. I'll be a faithful follower of Zoe, who whipped my knotted back and shoulders into shape. Really, very talented. Will be back for the yoga and the massage and the acupuncture -- and whatever else really? Really! It's a beautiful lower level space that feels tranquil and serene amidst the craziness of the City. It's clean, large, spacious, and the staff is friendly without being intrusive. Will return and update about the yoga -- but for now, I can say that I'm feeling mighty fine and relaxed due to that bespoke beatdown. Ahhhhhh.

I went for the boxing class, and it was pretty neat! The boxing is cool to try out…read more Ahmed's awesome and the energy was wonderful. Go for an interesting HIIT and strength & conditioning class. The location and the space is pretty cool, I think they have smoothies. Go outside and have a coffee around Covent Garden after!

Nice space, but their policies allow them to be deliberately unhelpful. I understand they have a…read morecancellation policy but not allowing someone to have a credit back to rebook when they fall ill within 12 hours of the class? And not allowing that person to cancel their credits for a refund is just taking advantage of the customer. Sure, we won't be accommodating for you so you'll want to come back - we'll just hold you and your money hostage! They don't care because either way they have your money. Also, the all levels yoga is not all levels. It is moderate to advanced. They really need to offer classes that are more introductory. They only seem to offer one fundamentals class once or twice a week at only one location (not this one). The instructor really needs to stay in a place where everyone can see them so newbies can follow along more easily. Really disappointed in the customer service here and their inflexibility- seems like their customer service needs to book in for a yoga class or two! Hope they don't fall sick and can't cancel!!

Food is absolutely AMAZING! It was quite quiet and service was fast. Its a shame about the 12.5%…read moreservice charge, however its completely optional. Its nice to know that OMNOM is a non for profit.

Namaste at OMNOM is an absolute delight. My wife, who is vegan, and I, who is not, went yesterday…read morefor an early evening supper before a play the Almeida, and we were thrilled at having such a range of deliciously tasty food that we could share. For once the problem was now "what to have", but instead "what not to have"! The chilli chick'n was fantastic - tangy, spicy, but not too hot; the gunpowder potato was better than Dishoom; the labbabdar "shrimp" was amazingly like the fish version, and the veg eatable biryani was an utter joy. Top that off with a helpful and attentive staff in a lovely surrounding, and OMNOM becomes a must-see restaurant. We shall definitely return!

I've been going to the Hackeny location for some time now, and while they've switched locations…read moremultiple times, the sessions and spaces remain awesome. The newest one is under a railway arch, so expect the train to go by once in a while, but if you're in the zone (as you should be!), you won't notice it. Also, this location has changing areas and showers! Shout out to the 1230pm instructors - they're all cool.

From the owner: We are Europe's largest yoga company; our vinyasa classes are grounded in reality and held in…read moreinflatable, immersive studios - pods.

I've come here a few times now. It's yoga for men and given that it's in Soho, it's pretty much all…read moregay men. Which, I actually quite enjoy. It's a very different vibe here to what I typically experience at more "traditional" yoga studios. The emphasis here is less on spiritual enlightenment and more on being a place for the community to come together. In fact, after yoga on a Wednesday night recently, a few folks went out for drinks at Bar Lina next door. Also, the "specialty" of Brewer Street Yoga is that they offer naked yoga classes.

From the owner: Brewer Street Yoga is a boutique yoga studio in the heart of London's Soho district, offering small…read moregroup yoga classes taught by a number of amazing and unique teachers in a format that is currently not available elsewhere in the area. We specialise in yoga for people who think yoga might not be for them, and we also offer safe space classes for groups such as men only classes, women only classes, naturist classes, gay men only classes etc. That said, there are plenty of open to all classes, so why not have a look at our schedule for more information!

It's kind of amazing that there aren't more accessible yoga options in this area of central/north…read moreLondon. The space is simple but perfect for yoga. Classes are held in a large, open room on the first floor of a community recreational center. There are no changing facilities or showers, but you could change in the restrooms, if needed. Mats are provided, which is always a huge plus. I have only been to the Monday evening classes, but the instructor is very welcoming and friendly. The vinyasa flow is a pretty fast speed, so be ready for that if you're not used to it. I will definitely go back and would recommend it to friends in the area.

From the owner: Yoga classes in Angel, Islington Beginners yoga courses…read moreCorporate yoga Yoga retreats At Stretching the City we provide affordable and accessible yoga classes and courses in Islington, privately in student's homes, in office boardrooms throughout London, or on yoga retreats throughout the UK - so that more people can enjoy the plentiful benefits of yoga - without worrying about being able to touch their toes.

I've done quite a bit of yoga before - from Ashtanga classes to some sauna-tastic Bikram sessions…read more A friend brought me to this rather improvised studio in a fantastically convenient location just off Fleet Street - and I was hugely impressed. A calm and tranquil atmosphere is created by the decor (including non-ironic fairy lights), which does a good job of disguising the fact that the class takes place in the basement office of a smallish conference centre. As always in a yoga class, the skill and engagement of the teacher is paramount. And this is where Pure Yoga Zone excels. The instructor (Jennifer, I think) is an extremely helpful and supportive woman, who delivers her directions and suggestions in a gently authoritative tone (and with the hint of an American accent). I had the often rather embarrassing need for adjustment in one of the postures, but Jennifer unobtrusively guided me into the correct position. Luckily for my yoga-ego, she also complimented me on my shoulder stand! The class offers a challenging mixture of Hatha and Flow, and the subtle use of music (not the traditional awkward Indian chanting) in the background was nicely effective. There were about 12 people in the class that evening - seemingly largely made up of workers in the prestigious legal and financial firms nearby - but 16 is apparently the maximum. A real plus here, therefore, is that you never feel like you are crushed into the studio space like a yogic veal calf! My drop-in fee was comparable to or lower than most studios, and there are some very reasonable longer-term offers which seem well worth it. I genuinely recommend this class to people looking for a highly convenient and rewarding yoga experience. If I didn't live in Spain, I would definitely be back!

I visit the Fierce Grace City Studio about three times a week. With a busy schedule otherwise, this…read moreis one of the few activities I make sure to carve time out for. I leave feeling invigorated and really positive after each session and always look forward to a hot yoga session (unlike the normal gym which I also do three times a week but totally dread each time). The instructors allow you to move at your own pace and offer modifications to take into consideration different experience levels. In each class you get a real mix of experience levels, ranging from "I definitely can't stand on one leg" to being a total elastic band. This being said, the class has always felt really inclusive and after time I am noticing my body become stronger and more toned. There are different personalities in each instructor however the practice is consistent and it's easy to get into a rhythm with all of them. Particular shout out to Omae who is completely supportive and explains instructions more clearly than any other instructor I've ever had (from any yoga studio!). There is a friendly atmosphere in the studio, however it does tend to get very busy during peak times, both inside the studio and in the changing rooms. This can sometimes result in human tetris inside the studio and a little bit of waiting in the changing room. The communal showers also took some getting used to however this now seems normal. I've seen other reviews that complain about queues but I seldom see this happening, to be honest. I would definitely reccommend taking a trip!

I understand that Bikram, or yoga for that matter, isn't for everyone - some love it, some hate it…read more However, to go for one month and call it 'an hour and a half of stretching and shifting from one pose to another' is so incredibly ignorant and clearly comes from a reviewer who is a beginner that never bothered to listen to her instructors or push herself to achieve the challenging workout she claims to crave. I've practiced at several Bikram studios - LA, NY and here. London City is not my favorite for a variety of reasons: the counter people aren't particularly friendly, the spaces outside the dojo, including the entrance and the changing rooms, are ridiculously cramped and the classes can get packed to the point of absurdity (which is why it gets 4 stars, the practice itself would get 100). Despite these petty irritations, I fucking LOVE Bikram yoga. And despite my lack of love for the studio itself, the best Bikram teacher I've ever had is at City. His name is Raj and if you're lucky enough to have a class with him for the love of God, listen to what he is saying, he will take your practice further. Yoga requires patience. It requires you to listen to your body and to push yourself. It requires you to quiet your mind and to focus on your breath. If you work at it, you'll grow from it. Additionally, the 1.5 hours or holding poses, breath work and pushing yourself will build strength, drop weight and change your body in ways you can't imagine. And it'll happen fast. I can't say enough good things about it.

I've taken a lot of reformer classes in San Francisco, and I thought this one was a good workout,…read moreand challenging. Location: Located in Covent Garden, it's actually located inside the "Gym Box", so make sure you look for a big yellow sign. Walk in, check in at the front desk and they'll send you downstairs to a room without very many directions. It took me a few extra minutes to figure out where the gym & class were, so if it's your first time, make sure you allocate at least 5 extra minutes. Class: More focused on core and legs, and didn't do too much with arms. It was fine for me, but if you're looking for a more upper body workout, you may not be getting much with this. The class is pretty fast-paced, so not the best if you're a beginner or have never taken a reformer class. Instructor: I had Jess, who was great. High-energy, friendly, and was paying attention to correct posture/form. Music: Pretty high energy music that you may find in a dance club in Europe (but with vocals). I like this type of music, so I appreciated it, but if you don't like this kind of music, you may want to avoid it. I'd definitely come back here again on another visit in London. Happy that they are on Classpass, as it makes it easy to try the class out.

INTENSE! I've taken a variety of reformer pilates classes in London and I have to say this has…read morebeen one of the most painful ones I've been to. I think it's constant repetition and very little time to recover and had most of my body shaking within an hour. It is quite a small studio (max 7 participants) and feels a little cramped. The studio is located in the Gym Box so bring a lock with you if you need to store anything.