The studio was stinking. Barre class wasn't super challenging. Tried to speak to the instructors…read morewho weren't very friendly. I'd recommend going somewhere else.

Love this studio! A home away from home whenever I'm in Edinburgh. Booking a class online has…read morealways been tremendously easy; showing up and checking-in for a class has always been welcoming and friendly and hassle-free; and, their space in New Town is just lovely. I've taken the candlelit restorative class a few times now, and it's always been such a pleasurable experience. The twinkly lights in the ceiling are a touch of magic, the literal and metaphorical warmth of the room is just right (I'm a girl who runs hot, and sometimes yoga studios just overdo it with the blasting heat), the atmospheric background music brings it all together - truly, it's immersive. I've had a couple different instructors, all bringing their own personal touches. Sometimes there's (optional/consensual) hands-on/reiki offered too! I miss this studio when I'm not in the city, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

I got into yoga about two years ago because I ran lots and was constantly always struggling to…read morestretch properly. I hear about hot yoga, and having lived most of my life in very warm places like Florida, I thought the combination of hot and yoga sounded ace. I got a Groupon deal, and generally they run a special for beginners to try for two weeks at £25. Normally classes are £12 a piece unless you get a block card, then they are less. I've take several classes there after I used up my initial block and love it! It is super warm, but I enjoy it and you feel like you work a lot harder to concentrate and focus on the moves. I don't go every week, but I have definitely noticed a progression in my flexibility and it is so thrilled to see progress! Their website has an easy booking system and apparently, they will soon have an app. I've taken classes from both Lynne and Alan, and they were super easy to follow and very helpful you to get the position and movements right. The standard class is 1.5 hours and gets right into it with an hour of positions, which you do several times to push yourself further each time. The last half hour is some mat work mostly working the back and doing some stretching combined with shavasana. You can bring your own mat or rent one for a £1, and if you forget a massive bottle of water, they also sell those for a £1. Bring a towel and wear light clothing, I generally wear shorts, but then your knees are hard to hold during some poses, so it is easier to wear longer tights. I would highly recommend the trip out to try it. My skin always feels really nice afterwards as well. They do offer an early bird class Friday's at 6:45 am for £6 and they have a 1 hour express class or a Power class, which I am still meaning to try. It is a great yoga workout and an even better stretch, I definitely feel like it is a treat to go and during the cold, grey days or rainy weather, it feels like a mini-vacation to be warm!

This studio is in between my home and work and yet it took me almost 10 months to go try it out…read more And oh how I wish I could turn back time! Wonderful teachers, all very different, so it's nice to try out different ones. Also getting the variety in advice is nice. Some are tough, others super sweet, go try a class with each to pick what you need/like! I love that they offer hot yoga and power yoga. The hot yoga is strongly based on Bikram but leaves out the Bikram poses that I dont like haha. But having also the power yoga option is perfect as you can have two totally different workouts at the same studio, and they complement each other very well. One day I wanted to cancel as I had been feeling very tired all day, but I went to hot yoga and got totally energised! I felt the most awake that I had been all day. I used their 14 days unlimited for 25 pounds and would recommend starting this way and going as often as possible. Your body really adapts and even starts craving it! Makes it easy to go exercise AND enjoy it that way! The atmosphere in and after classes is always different, often after class nobody says anything to each other, in others everyone is very friendly... But the class itself is consistently good. They are open to listen to you personally and give advised based on your goals and maybe injuries. This will be my go-to place for workout in the coming months/years, thankful I found it! Love how addictive it gets if you go often! And, being in a 40 degrees room is a lovely break from winter. When I come home I still am warm enough for 3 hours after not to need to turn on the heater in my flat :) I also like the carpeted floor who adds to the padding of your mat. And the fact there is a whole wall of mirrors so you can see and correct your pose! On the down side, mat rental and water costs extra, something other studios in the studio do provide sometimes. I still give it a 5 though because it makes me feel soooo good!

I'm always on the hunt for new yoga classes so when I found out about a free taster class at a new…read moreyoga studio - I was there in a flash! The class was led by Sarah, who practices under the name 'Yogabeet'. The class was vinyasa style, that flowed at a pace that allowed us to fully explore each pose, feel the stretch, build strength and yet still build up warmth and increase the heartrate. Yogabeet as well as other instructors will be holding classes at this newly renovated studio - right in the heart of the New Town. The entrance is a typical door that leads to a small hall and not quite refurbished hallway (should be finished soon). Halfway up, on the landing, are toilets and space to change. So far, nice but nothing out of the ordinary. I then reached the door at the top of the stairs which opened onto a big open space with the most amazing high, glass ceiling - something I would expect in the Assembly Rooms, not in a small Georgian terrace. In the summer, the natural light must be amazing but on this dark winter night, the atmosphere was created by multi-coloured lights that accented the architectural details. The wooden floors were perfect for any type of fitness class. The walls were covered with unframed artwork. I found out that the space is also used as an art studio and for art classes. Tonight the easels and stools were pushed neatly aside, making space for plenty of yoga mats. All in all, the location was so easy to get to, the space was GORGEOUS, there was plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. The only small niggle was that the room was a bit chilly. Possibly because the space has only just started to be used on a regular basis, maybe it will take a few weeks to get the chill off. For the yoga class, luckily I had on layers which I could remove as I got warmer through the class. I can't wait til January when the new timetable kicks in! Details of classes are on the facebook pages for Yoga Mountain and Yogabeet. I've also reviewed the Yogabeet class on my blog, Healthy Edinburgh.

My first Yoga place I'm trying out. After having looked at so many various yoga companies and…read moreclasses offered (online), this place seemed the most appealing to me. I should mention that it's also one of the more expensive. The location is very central, in the West end, ideal for a go by after work hours. Lee, the boss, is very charming and friendly. This place got a real welcoming home feel to it. I only had one teacher so far and she appears really nice. She customs her classes to her clients needs and limitations. They offer the first taster class for free, what is a real nice gesture. For a drop in class you pay £12 and for a set of 5, you pay £57. They also offer yoga matts, but you can bring yours along. The yoga room is small and cosy, meaning that the attendees number is low. That's nice if you don't wanna be stuck in a room with lots of people. There also are changing rooms, toilets, and practitioner rooms for sports massage and physio. Overall a lovely little studio with lots of charm!

I'm so happy I've finally found a great yoga studio in Edinburgh. After a few failed attempts…read moreelsewhere, where either the teaching was sub-standard or the atmosphere was a bit serious, I stumbled upon Canning Street Yoga when walking past one day and decided to give it a try. As soon as you enter, you're greeted with a big smile from owner, Lee Derrick, who opened the studio just six months ago. He's a super friendly guy who wants to make yoga fun and accessible to everyone at an affordable price. No intimidating, hardcore yogis here, just people like you and me who want to do some yoga in a relaxed environment. Lee's goal is to create a community feel to the place so that people feel they can hang out for a while, mix and socialize. So many yoga classes I've been to feel quite austere with no talking and people arriving immediately before the class and leaving immediately after. This place is more social than that and stems from Lee's chatty good humour but also from the friendly welcome given by all the other instructors. The classes on offer cover most requirements with hot yoga, vinyasa flow and beginners classes for example. But there's also a few classes that offer something a bit different and help generate that community vibe. For example, there's yoga and wine on Fridays (the wine comes after the class, not during!) and workshops on certain weekends that explore different aspects of yoga such as Salute to the Sun coming up this Saturday that explores the sun salutation. There's also a sports performance angle where the instructors can work with you to improve your strength and flexibility for your chosen sport. For example, there's a Yoga for Golf program coming up to help lengthen that backswing and open those hips! In addition to yoga, you can also get a range of therapies, treatments and massages. I can recommend the sports massage from Maurice of MH Therapies as he seems to be able to find and remove knots (sorry, "contractions") that have been problems for years, quite transforming my posture and how I feel. So I recommend this place, whether you're wanting to try yoga for the first time, just looking for some good classes or you want to feel part of a more friendly yoga community.

I was searching for yoga classes/centres and didn't expect to see a listing for yoga mats .... BUT…read moresurprisingly these are my FAVE mats!! About 7 years ago I hopped a train from Falkirk to try my first yoga class. Not knowing what to expect, I left my synthetic plastic mat at home so I had to hire a mat for £1. And oh what a mat!! this mat looked and felt so natural. The natural latex was embedded with strands of jute; the smell....AMAZING.... the performance - just perfect - non-slip without being 'sticky'. At the end of class I rolled up my natural, earthy mat and reluctantly turned it in. But not before noticing the label on the back... 'ecoYoga'. The second I got home (remember this was 7 years ago so no smart phones to instantly hit the internet!) I got online and searched for a mat to call my own. I found them! And, surprise, surprise, they were designed by an Edinburgh woman! They were available in a few earthy colours but I loved the natural Jute and promptly ordered one. It seemed strange paying for delivery so I sent a message and a quick response let me know that I could come round and collect in person! I brought my gorgeous jute mat home and rolled it out - it looked amazing - so great that I left it out all the time. No better inspiration to practice than having your mat ready and waiting. The years have passed and I am on my 4th mat. The one downside is that these, being natural, are biodegradable. Little bits flake off and after 2 years a few tiny holes appeared. OK, they aren't cheap but the look, feel, smell are so wonderful that I just don't enjoy any other mats! So, when one wore out, I got another. And the old mats? I've cut them into door mats! No waste :D I now have 2 flats (husband is working abroad) so I had to buy another - one for each location! Once again I contacted ecoYoga directly and found out that they had some seconds in stock - still perfectly functional - just some weird patterns in the jute. More character, less money. I would get these mats no matter where the company was based but it just feels so good to support a local business. Yay Edinburgh! Yay ecoYoga!

From the owner: Yoga mats made in the UK from environmentally friendly 100% natural materialsread more

D got both of us a 6 class pass each for this ashram on a voucher deal a while ago. He only managed…read moreto make it along to 3. I managed to make it to all 6. Although only managed to squeeze in the last one because Ganga let me extend my pass for an extra week. The first couple of times I went, I wasn't really impressed. It was unlike any form of yoga I've done before (and I've done a LOT in the past 10 years). I found the level one classes to be a bit slow, there seemed to be a lot of lying down and breathing (lazy meditation?). But to be honest, the classes grew on me. You are supposed to do a full 12 week course of level one before moving on to level two but Ganga said it was ok for me to try out a couple of the level two classes and they seem a lot more energetic, although still unlike any kind of yoga I've done before. The studio itself is really cozy, there is a reception area downstairs.. once you head upstairs, there is another couch and a space to get changed before heading into the studio.. My only complaint is the classes are on at quite awkward times for me. as they start at 5.30 or 7pm. With me not finishing work until 5.30, meant I could never make the earlier classes and arrived almost an hour early for the later class, as she locks the front door while class is happening upstairs, it meant finding somewhere to go for 45mins or hanging about in the cold... Apart from that.. I'd happily return!

Classes here are a life enhancing experience.....I feel stronger mentally and physically and more…read morepresent more of the time. Compared to other yoga classes they are slow but the pace grows on you...relaxing yoga is what is says and you leave feeling gloriously relaxed. Each level prepares you for the next and while I wondered why I could not progress without completing level 1 my body feels completely different than it did before I did level 1. Ganga has a brilliant deal where you pay a monthly standing order and then can go to as many classes as you want! It really encourages me to keep going as the more I go the cheaper it is! Not only that though - regular practice in class means I am able to practise better on my own and I am more aware of the cumulative effect of good and aware practice. I can't recommend her classes highly enough. Try and see for yourself! Elizabeth

Was in here for their open day just to have a nosy and was lucky enough to nab a taster massage as…read moresomeone hadn't shown up. They offer a variety of treatments from beauty to reflexology. My masseuse was Kirsty who does sports/remedial and she was great! Really good pressure. There are three treatment rooms as well as the yoga studio, changing room and bathrooms. There's shelves to leave your bags outside the studio for yoga. Would recommend popping in if you're in the area and looking for some R&R or TLC. Can't comment on the yoga/pilates classes but would love to give them a go.

I'm hitting it lucky these days as I'm finding lots of five star places!…read more Came to New Town Therapy (NTT) as a friend had posted about their open day in aid of Maggies. NTT offer yoga, pilates plus therapies and it is a wee gem in Dundas St. I booked in for reflexology and a remedial massage. Jo did my reflexology and it was great. I've had reflexology overseas before and its been a bit sore. Jo worked in a relaxing way (I almost fell asleep) but was able to tell me where I was sore and was spot on. The remedial massage was by Merrelle and was fab. I love when my masseur gets right in there and I needed those knots tackled. I was a bit sore for a couple of days but the rest of the week, I've felt good as prior to the massage I'd been sore and tired. I bought a voucher to use in a few weeks as my treatments were fab and I'll definitely get another massage as my body will totally appreciate it.

Hot yoga is a great way to escape the freezing temperatures of Edinburgh. The yoga studio is set to…read more26-29°C during the daytime and to 35-39°C in the evenings for a good muscle release. I was originally interested in this particular yoga studio because they offer aerial classes, which I have been wanting to get into. My class was with Rebeca, who was very nice and understanding to all the newbies and gave a great introduction to aerial yoga. I felt comfortable with her instructions and the amount of attention I received during the class. I would love to attend this class more often, but it only runs Wednesdays and Sundays. On another visit, I decided to try out the Warm Yin yoga class with Nardina. While the class was calm and relaxing, I felt a bit antsy being unsure of what was going on part of the time since it was my first time. I had to keep peeking over to my neighbors to follow along. Maybe this particular class wasn't the right one for me, but it felt a bit too slow paced for me. Overall, great experience and I look forward to many more yoga classes, especially the aerial ones!

Faking summer anyway I can.... I am a self-confessed sun worshipper, and although I flamin' love…read moreScotland & it's distinct 4 seasons (often in 1 day) I struggle over the winter months. You can imagine how delighted I am having now discovered hot yoga - an hour of being blissfully unaware of the world outside, with effects that survive long after you leave! Warning-Not for the faint-hearted or heat-sensitive... temperature sits just under 40degrees, and you literally sweat buckets... I'm used to exercising in the Australian heat, however, I was close to fainting my 1st few times! Hoping that they expand & add more classes, as already it is very popular and classes are quite small....

Upon my arrival to Edinburgh, the cost of yoga classes shocked me and I couldn't justify the cost…read morefor classes. Lo and behold, Union Yoga ran a special for a short period for first timers, charging only £3 for the first class. I was super eager to give it a go, and with mat hire my total came to £5 for a 60 minute hot yoga class. The studio for hot yoga was located through the back so I had to exit the studio, walk round the back and enter another part of a different studio. Going through the class, it was good. I wasn't crazy about it, but it was led in a way that was relaxing and I did feel pretty good after. I've given three stars because the hot yoga class was muggy at best. Given the large space and high ceilings, it wasn't until the end of the class that I started to feel somewhat warm, and I've been doing hot yoga classes anywhere from 28°c to 40°c where you actually feel hot and sweaty then slippery from all the sweat. I felt this was basically stretches in a warm room which wasn't at all what I wanted and probably wouldn't return again for this class specifically, but might try another one next time.

This is centrally located, with a huge studio that takes about 40 odd people. You're always likely…read moreto get into a class because of this, which is good news for folk that like to drop in. I've booked in for a block of beginners classes. The teachers and staff have been friendly and helpful so far and the exercises and progression are just right for a beginner. I've been enjoying yoga with Union so far and will hopefully do more with them. My only bone to pick is the layout and awkwardness that arises. You have to wait in the reception area while classes are on and there's not much space, especially with 15 other class participants! There is also very little time between classes and the changing area isn't accessible until a class finishes, meaning you've got about three minutes to get changed and put all your items away on a locker. I would give this place five stars if the experience around the classes was better. As it is, the studio is still good but I'd really like to be a bit less rushed after I have spent an hour learning to be aware of my body and relax into poses!

I discovered Yoga Mix when they had their open day and I'm so glad I did! Both John and Amanda are…read morelovely and they make an effort to foster a sense of community in their studio. The studio is so relaxed and unpretentious; I've taken friends who are new to yoga or haven't practised in a while and they have not felt uncomfortable or out of place.. Amanda is great at giving modifications if you need them. They have a variety of classes, from beginner to conditioning, throughout the week as well as run workshops some weekends. Along with retreats outside of Edinburgh. There's always fruit, treats and tea or coffee after classes and a chance to have a chat. The studio is inside the Beaverhall Art Studios so can be slightly tricky to find the first time but it's well worth seeking it out! #yelpmission #FTRFebruary

What a trial it is to find this studio - well worth it though!…read more I faithfully followed google maps to the mark, ending up on a very unpromising industrial looking, street. I was utterly unconvinced at this point so rechecked the postcode to no avail, I was in the right place. Now if I had looked up at this point I would have spotted signs in the upstairs windows. Alas, I did not. After a few more head-scratching moments I did however work up the courage to ask another legging wearing lady if she was by any chance also on the same hunt. We walked around the building and at doors around the back there was a sign! Eureka - we buzzed the intercom and open sesame! ...3 flights of stairs later and I am utterly gobsmacked. Within this grim exterior is housed a fantastic collection of artist studios, and the hallways are filled with their work on display. What a treasure trove! The Yoga Mix Studio itself is stunning, I was greeted by the offer of tea and happy chatter and was truly made to feel at home. The workshop was about building yourself a Yoga home practice, a brave move coming from people who earn their living on people attending their classes. The teachers Amanda and John (a couple who met and fell in love on a yoga retreat - or so the story goes) were brilliant, making you feel at ease, positively encouraging questions, and giving brilliant corrections which didn't leave you feeling rubbish. I feel my Chaturanga is much improved, or at least will be when my arms have recovered from the pain from constantly repeating the move! There was a real family vibe in the breaks, everyone chatting together with a mug of herbal tea and some tasty treats made by Amanda. I would thoroughly recommend this class and studio to others. I will definitely be going back.