I'm an astanga girl, through and through.
I sometimes think to myself, "Larissa, you should go to a not-astanga class for a change of pace. You know, keep yourself challenged; develop your yogic knowledge". Sometimes I go through with this train of thought and end up in a miscellaneous yoga class with an instructor who chatters incessantly and has me doing squats for a full hour and no other recognisable form of asana so as to have me cursing myself under my breath for 60 minutes. I mean, if I wanted to go to a legs, bums and tums class, I would have gone to the gym. Right?
So, this happened to me tonight at the Light Centre.
But DESPITE this, I'm giving the place five stars.
That's right.
The space was magnificent for the central London location. Abundant changing rooms, a spacious sitting room with all manner of comfortable couches, futons and chairs, magazines and books, tea and filtered water. The guy on the reception whom I have encountered twice now has been completely friendly and welcoming on both occasions. Also, there are showers, apparently (though I have not seen them).
Sure, the two studios aren't much to look at, but they're functional. I don't need my yoga studio to be grand, as it's just me and my mat when it comes right down to it.
Two other things to note: Stewert does many Jivamukti classes here throughout the week. I know him from a stint of taking one of his classes at another yoga studio before I moved out of its area, and he is a fabulous yoga instructor. The best conventional instructor (i.e., leading a class, giving verbal instructions, encouragement, the occasional postural correction) I've encountered in London.
What excites me most about this studios is that is does a morning "assisted practice" (read: mysore-style yoga), the monthly cost of which is as low as £48! I used to pay £100 for mysore yoga, and that was with a SUBSTANTIAL student discount. Speaking of prices, otherwise, they're really cheap here. Starting from £9 for an hour, £10 for one-and-a-half, etc, the cost is lower than other studios I've researched in less accessible/commutable areas. Plus, you can get a discount for purchasing £50 or £100 pre-pay increments.
As for me, I'm going back to take the Light Centre up on its £10 for 10 days of morning "assisted practices".
Expect a report back.
PS, it's not just yoga here. There are pilates classes and holistic therapies (eg, massages, detoxifications, etc.). read more