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!

Been lucky enough to be coming to yoga here for over a year and is far and away the best place I…read morehave been to in years. Both the physical space and the instructors are most conducive to a restorative and mindful practice. There's even a working fireplace! The variety of instructors and forms of yoga ensure that all needs are catered for, from strength to stretching to meditative. All equipment, mats, bolsters, blankets are provided and the classes are priced extremely competitively. Drop in price is £8, or 10 class pass - £70 (valid for 3 months), 25-class pass- £150 (valid for 6 months). There is never more than 10 people in a class, ensuring easy observation by both teacher and student. Best and easy to book on-line. The studio is in the Cable Street complex of studios, near Limehouse station. Best arrive early the first time, you will need to be allowed in by security at the main gate, and then walk into the courtyard, just past the benches you will see a second gate on your right, with steps leading up to the third floor where the studio is located. There is a white buzzer just by this gate with the Cable Yoga sign. There is no designated changing area, so either you can use a screen in the corner of the room, or go down to one of the toilets on the 1st and 2nd floors.

A true yoga centre in every sense of the word, Sivananda Yoga Centre encapsulates yoga and its…read morephilosophies as a way of life, not just as a class. The centre is beautiful and you feel such a sense of authenticity. Every aspect of yoga is covered and there is a large array of retreats, workshops, speakers even cooking workshops to try. Every Friday there is a free class of Satsang, chanting, meditation and talk on the spirit of yoga. There is so much going on here I can not imagine a more authentic, fulfilling yoga centre anywhere in London.

I'm going to check my personal needs at the door when it comes to this review, because although I…read moredidn't get what I needed out of the class I attended, this had nothing to do with any deficiencies of the centre and everything to do with what sort of yoga I personally practice. The centre itself was lovely. Everyone was really welcoming, and you'll be pleased to find that the first class you attend is complimentary. When you do start paying for classes after this, I dare you to find a cheaper yoga class anywhere in London. Because Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre isn't a for-profit institution, you are basically paying the cost of staffing and general upkeep of the centre. The entire atmosphere is calming, clean and conducive to yoga. The centre has a reception area and a shop at the front, a tea room across the quaint courtyard to the back and two light-flooded yoga rooms past the fitting rooms and toilets in the practising area out back, adjacent to the tea room. The centre offers classes on a drop-in basis, but you can also take courses to correspond with your personal level. It also runs workshops on things from chanting to mastering the headstand. Having said all this, I'm pretty bummed that I probably won't return to Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, even though it's pretty close to where I live. You see, for anyone who's not done sivananda yoga, it's a slow-moving practice. Lots of savasana and balasana. Lots of lying on the ground. Not a lot of movement. While I totally appreciated the attention to breath work at the beginning of the class (you'll be hard-pressed to find any yoga class that dedicates 30 minutes solely to pranayama), the asana series just wasn't active enough for me. I need an active asana to centre myself and relax my mind; otherwise, my mind wanders like crazy and I don't get out of the practice what I really should. But if you like a slower-paced practice, if you're an iyengar yoga type of person, you'd probably totally dig the sivananda style and you'd totally love this centre.

I am up and down about yoga place. The venue itself is fine. A couple of good sized studios…read more Unfortuantely they are not particularly open to light or well lit (as opposed to triyoga's ones) but are still sufficient for yoga. The yoga mats you get there are generally rather worn and the changing rooms and main area is also a little bit battered. However, to the important bit, the teachers. Some are fantastic, dynamic, engaging and learned. Some are cliches. Find the right ones and you can have a great experience. Get the wrong one and you can spend an hour and a half wondering if you are allowed to leave.

Yoga Place is a behemoth for Yoga in the East End. The centre itself is bright and airy with two…read morebeautifully offered studios. There are a variety of styles of yoga to try such as Ashtanga, Hatha and Shadow. You can book courses, workshops or simply come along to drop in classes. Many of the teachers are affiliated to the British Wheel of Yoga. The classes are challenging, well paced and I often leave feeling very euphoric. Like many yoga studios they offer alternative holistic therapies and special pregnancy classes. For a deep understanding and practice of yoga, Yoga Place is a great studio to train in.

My first class at Bikram Yoga Richmond was my first yoga class, ever. I decided to try it out in…read morehopes of facilitating my full-time dance training. BYR is pro-eco-friendly, which I like - their carpet is created is recycled material, their heating system is low-energy, even the shower gels are organic! The studio is located above a row of shops, with a nice reception area and large, spacious changing rooms with three shower cubicles and cubby-holes for storage. There is also a communal hairdryer and a large fan which is great for taking away the summer (and post-Bikram) heat. The studios are big enough for the twelve or so people who attended. There are mirrors on two surfaces of the rectangular room, to check alignments and postures. Another aspect of the studio which I loved was the row of much-needed daylight at the back of the studio to counteract the stuffiness of the heat. I brought a tiny towel to my first class, and Kristin, the instructor, kindly offered me a complimentary bath towel, which spanned the entire yoga mat. (The mat is rentable for £1.) It was much needed, as I was sweating buckets by the time we got to the floor series. She also gladly told me that I was working on the exact same spot that Andy Murray was on a few months ago! The class started with a breathing exercise, which greatly helped me get through the entire 90 minutes without feeling faint. I love how the instructors are constantly speaking, giving us imagery non-stop, so that there isn't really time for us to get slack or unmotivated, as we are always receiving new information to work with. The class was no doubt challenging, but the focus of the whole group was great, and I went back for a second class the next day. The shower afterwards is probably the best part of the whole thing. There is a lot - A LOT - of sweating in Bikram Yoga, and I recommend first-timers to definitely come prepared with a change of clothes and underwear, and a towel. BYR's prices are reasonable, and they've got many packages and student deals on the website. I'm definitely going back some time soon! It'll probably be a lovely thing to do in winter.

I've done Bikram at a number of studios in the US and the UK and BYR is one of the best, if not the…read morebest. The studio reception and changing rooms are light and fresh and sympathetically decorated. i feel like i am visiting a friends house! The heating system is really spot on, especially the humidity levels. i get all the benefits of the heat and sweat but i don't seem to get dehydrated after practice here like i have done in other studios. The instruction from Kristin is always excellent. Consistent with Bikrams unique instruction style but also personalised and encouraging. She always has a smile for everyone which is just what you need when you are struggling to make a pose. Namaste!

Beautifully decorated studio. New looking lululemon mats to practice on. Wonderful teachers (I took…read moreclass with Marta) who offer great adjustments and cues, and the light therapy / changing colors are a beautiful touch! One of the best classes I've been to, would recommend to anyone - beginner or advanced yogi.

Great yoga studio with small class sizes to allow for very intimate experience with the instructor…read moreand other yogis. As it was my first time, I was very appreciative of the details in direction so I would not miss very nice stretches. Clean venue and all equipment is provided! I took the "pink release" with Dijana and she was absolutely wonderful. Both talented and kind. Was a great deep stretch to relieve my muscle tension from my previous CrossFit workouts this week. Great place for all levels!

This Bikram yoga studio has been open since February 2013. It's big, light and airy. Importantly,…read morethe reception staff is very welcoming. The script is the same as any other Bikram studio. 90 minutes, 26 postures, 40 degrees, 40% humidity. The difference here is the facility, which is definitely congruous with a hot practice. Everyone is lovely. The instructors always make room in a busy studio for latecomers. The changing rooms are relatively big (although of course get cramped and hot when 30 sweating woman are jostling to strip down, shower off and redress themselves). There are loads of different instructors on rotation. So if you don't like one person's style, you can always choose another. I quite like most of the regular ones at this studio. I particularly like how interested and compassionate Rachel is on a Friday night; it's a shame as it's the only time she teaches at the studio. Richard on a Tuesday night is also quite motivating and entertaining. Sindy tells stories and has some great anecdotes, which always makes for an enjoyable class.

If you want to do bikram and do it right, go here. All the teachers are fantastic and know exactly…read morehow to push you and when to leave you alone. I have met the owners and they are genuinely lovely people who are yogis themselves! All the staff are yogis, interesting people to talk to! Make sure you book ahead for the 6pm class as it fills up! It is pricey but a little tip folks... if you are an actor or performer and you have an equity card you can get a single class for £10 which is an absolute bargain for bikram! Bring a towel, shampoo etc and enjoy your class! Namaste

I've been wanting to try this place for so long, but was overwhelmed by all the different types of…read moreyoga on offer - which one was I supposed to choose...! Finally I settled on Vinyasa Flow, as it's description seemed closest to the Power Yoga style which I really enjoy. And it was perfect. The centre is tucked away in a cute little laneway in South Kensington. It's clean, warm and well-equipped with mats, blankets, blocks, everything you need to support your practice. The staff and instructors are all incredibly helpful and friendly too. I will definitely be back for more Vinyasa :)

Went for a Iyengar yoga class which I booked through class pass. Was very excited to try out a…read morestudio in a different neighbourhood, but we were very disappointed. The woman at the front desk was rude and dismissive, and the teacher was an absolute nightmare. Instead of the warm and encouraging attitude you would normally expect from a yoga teacher, this woman snapped at people if they did something wrong, and I even saw her grabbing and pulling on someone's pony tail to correct their posture. Further the class was only focused on hamstring stretches, which ended up being very painful towards the end of the 60 minute class. If anyone needed to take a break, you would immediately be scolded by the yoga nazi. Very unprofessional - will not be returning.