Where to Eat, Drink Coffee & Shop in Valencia

Posted on August 31, 2023 by Lucy Baker-Jones

Curious about what Valencia has to offer? If you’re considering joining our retreat this autumn, here’s our tips on the best spots to dine, drink and shop in this beautiful city.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT

Central Bar

You have to delve into the heart of the largest covered food market in Europe to find Central Bar, passing stalls packed with fresh fruit, hanging hams and seafood on ice along the way. Although it looks like a simple albeit well-appointed eatery, the work done by head chef Ricard Camarena and his team has given each dish a gourmet twist. Pull up a seat amid the gentle din of market life and try the specialties such as grilled squid and buñuelos de bacalao.

Casa Montaña

Casa Montaña is among the more unusual restaurants in Spain, where dining feels almost as though you’re inside a winery. Having opened in 1836, it’s also one of the oldest restaurants in Valencia – where huge wooden barrels overlook diners tucking into plates of classic tapas, such as boquerones en vinagre (anchovies in vinegar), patatas bravas and thin Iberian ham. When it comes to drinks, there is a huge selection of vermouths and wines by the glass, including locally produced cava.

La Barraca de Toni

La Barraca de Toni Montoliu (that’s Toni in the pic!) is a rustic “hut” that serves authentic Valencian cuisine out in the Valencian countryside. The place is warm and welcoming, with a touch of countryside charm. You can cycle there in 45 minutes to enjoy the farm-to-table concept firsthand!

GET YOUR CAFFEINE KICK

Horchateria Santa Catalina

Not quite coffee, but Santa Catalina is a must for ‘horchata’ – a milky drink made with crushed tiger nuts. The classy interior includes marble pillars and beautiful tile murals depicting antiquated pastoral scenes. The horchata, pairs well with a farton, a long thin brioche covered in sugar – with an admittedly hilarious name – that’s perfect for dipping into the horchata. You might ask? What’s a tiger nut, and how do you milk one? Well, you’ll just have to come to Valencia to try it out!

Federal Cafe

Probably Valencia’s hippiest, coolest, and tastiest coffee and brunch hangout, and coworking space. Their pancakes are to die for!

Mayan Coffees

Most locals will tell you Mayan Coffees serves the best coffee in Valencia. The interior design underscores the beans with its traditional Mayan and Guatemalan elements. The baristas are knowledgeable and they’re happy to give you full profiles of each coffee’s history and flavor breakdown. If you love the coffee here as much as the locals do, you can also buy some beans to take home.

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

There are several special treasure troves to explore, here’s the best of vintage shops and flea markets.

La Señora Henderson

It’s well worth seeking out La Señora Henderson, a vintage thrift store much-loved by locals. The tiny boutique has beautifully-themed window displays featuring antique furniture and vintage baskets. They have an interesting selection of jewelry, from delicately-beaded necklaces, to flamboyant flamenco hoop earnings, and giant satin flowers. The prices are super, too: winter jumpers start at €6 and the bargain €3 box is always well-stocked.

Rastro

By far the biggest and best second-hand flea market in town. Every Sunday morning from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., come rain or shine, this immense outdoor market takes at a car park near the beach. Regular vendors stock Valencian ceramics, antique hand-painted tiles, glass light fittings, and lace. Plus there are plenty of antique toys, second hand clothes, electronics, and retro Spanish magazines of a decidedly adult nature.

La Vespa Roja

Tucked away on one of our favorite streets in the El Carmen neighborhood you’ll find La Vespa Roja (The Red Vespa), a cool second-hand emporium where the 1970s are still very much alive and kicking. The slide music grooves you back to the days of rainbow glitter and flares, however the stock is pleasingly varied and includes some good military jackets and cute khaki berets alongside the ’70s gear.

Want the best of a city break AND a yoga retreat? Join us in Valencia this autumn with the queen of fun and relaxation, Andy Kobelinsky. Voted the best city in the world by expats for quality of life, and awarded the title of European Green Capital for its commitment to sustainability, this sun drenched city has it all (including the beach!)

Menopause Insomnia – Yoga as Self Care

Posted on August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 by Lucy Baker-Jones

Menopause insomnia – you know the feeling, lying there exhausted wanting desperately to get back
to sleep, but the mind is wired, racing with thoughts about the day, and your
body just won’t relax.

Insomnia can hit particularly hard at menopause. Women who might
previously have enjoyed a full and deep night’s sleep might find themselves
waking several times due to night sweats, the need to wee, thirst and anxiety.

Sleep is essential for the body and brain to process what life throws at us, and
to reset. It’s when the lymphatic system can detox, when the brain can dream
and process emotions, and the endocrine system can regulate hormones.
With proper rest the various systems of the body get the chance to settle into
the ‘rest and digest’ mode.

Moving through menopause involves a huge hormonal rewiring job; we are
being reorganised, both physically and psychically, in preparation for our post
reproductive phase of life. The resulting fluctuating hormones can be jarring
on our whole system and we can find ourselves way more sensitive to
external stimuli and more susceptible to stress.

A vicious loop can play out between our hormonal flux, our stress response
and our ability to sleep. We can struggle more than usual to shift from the
‘fight or flight’ mode into the parasympathetic nervous system where deep rest
is possible. Sleep deprivation has a profound impact on our ability to cope the
next day; we can feel ‘not ourselves’, strung out and unable to achieve even
the simplest of tasks. There are long term physical, mental and emotional
health effects too.

Lifestyle changes can help: things like watching your intake of stimulants such
as coffee and spicy food, carefully managing your screen time, and letting
your bedroom be a sanctuary rather than an extension to your office. There is
no one ‘fix’; what works for one person, will not work for everyone. In the most
severe cases, insomnia can’t easily be solved. But there are small things that
we can do throughout the day to help and yoga can provide a hugely
therapeutic resource.

Yoga practice turns down the intensity of modern life and teaches us to drop
into our deeper, calmer selves. We practice yoga as an embodied intention;
as a way of locating ourself amidst the changes, and steering the nervous
system away from the hyper-alert towards a place of rest.

Just close your eyes and place your hands on your belly and breathe into
them. Tune into your breath and notice how it rises and falls in your body. A
few minutes of this will help rest your nervous system and start to redress the
balance between rest and stimulation. You can practice this any time of day,
or even on waking in the night.

Before you go to bed try releasing the day’s stresses with viparitta karani (legs
up the wall pose). I like to raise my hips on a cushion which allows more
space for breath low in the belly and pelvic bowl, and I also find a lavender
scented eye pillow soothing when the mind is frazzled. Having your heart
above your head reverses the gravitational pull on your blood flow, bringing
calm and relief to overworked systems.

During the night if you feel a night sweat sweeping through, slide the covers
off and place your legs into an easy supported supta baddha konasana. This
pose is really effective for releasing excess body heat.

Yoga offers a wide variety of breathing, posture and meditation practices to
address sleep issues and to support the menopause transition. Keep a journal
to track your symptoms and make a note of which practices are most effective
for you right now.

When the reality of menopause insomnia symptoms leaves you feeling
unmoored and vulnerable, yoga can pave a way back to yourself, to your
innate resilience and to your natural ability to rest, and this can feel
empowering.

Learn more with Tiffy George at two Yogarise workshops for menopause:

Menopause Yoga Workshop for Hot Flushes and Hot Emotions

Sat 14th October, 10.00-12.00

Menopause Yoga Workshop for Strength and Empowerment

Saturday 11th November, 13:30-15:30

These workshops are specifically tailored with yoga resources, tools and
practices to support the most common menopause symptoms. They will
provide an enjoyable and safe space where women can come together and
share their experiences, laugh and embrace the changes while also learning
from one another.

Tiffy George has been practising yoga since the 1990s. After completing a one-year full-time yoga teacher training with YogaArts in Australia, she qualified as an International Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher in 2002. She has continued to explore and study many forms of yoga with various teachers over the years: Astanga, Iyengar, restorative and therapeutic yoga, breathwork and meditation, and yoga for pregnancy and beyond. Most recently her ever-deepening passion has led her to develop additional expertise in Menopause YogaTM with Petra Coveney, as well as yoga for pelvic health with Leslie Howard. Tiffy’s classes and workshops offer a therapeutic route to finding and unravelling tension and moving towards greater ease and balance.

How Yoga Supports Preconception, Pregnancy and Postnatal Health

Posted on July 20, 2023July 20, 2023 by Lucy Baker-Jones

Are you trying to conceive or already pregnant and exploring how yoga could support your journey into motherhood? Or perhaps you’re already a mum, seeking ways to enhance your physical recovery and bond with your baby. Whatever stage you’re at, yoga could be your perfect partner, offering a wealth of benefits throughout preconception, pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Yoga: A Holistic Approach to Maternal Health

In essence, yoga is a holistic health approach, combining physical postures called yoga poses, deep breathing techniques and meditation. Regular practice can help enhance your flexibility, strength, balance and cardiovascular health. More than this, it encourages a sense of inner calm, reducing stress and promoting mental wellbeing.

Preconception: Preparing for Pregnancy with Yoga

When planning for a baby, yoga can play an integral part in your preconception toolkit. In short, yoga can be beneficial for your fertility.

Here’s how:

Stress Reduction

The deep breathing and relaxation techniques inherent in yoga can help reduce stress levels, fostering a more conducive environment for conception. Read more about the impact of stress on fertility here.

Physical Preparedness

Regular prenatal yoga can strengthen your whole body, including your abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles, ensuring your body is physically prepared for the journey ahead.

Emotional Wellness

Yoga encourages mindfulness and self-awareness. This can be particularly beneficial during preconception, helping you to cultivate a positive mindset and emotional resilience, both of which can be helpful in your journey to motherhood.

Yoga during Pregnancy: A Nurturing Practice

During pregnancy, you go through a period of immense physical and emotional change. Here’s how yoga can help:

Managing Discomfort

Specific pregnancy yoga poses can alleviate common discomforts, such as back pain, pelvic pain and constipation during pregnancy. If you are struggling or have any concerns, we would also recommend you seek advice from your midwife, GP or maternity unit.

Preparing for Birth

Yoga helps build strength and endurance, both important for labour. Breathing exercises can also assist in managing pain during childbirth. A recent systematic review confirmed that women who practised yoga during pregnancy had shorter labours by an average of 2 hours, increased tolerance for pain and increased odds of having a vaginal birth.

Mental Wellbeing

Regular yoga practice promotes mindfulness and can help manage pregnancy-induced anxiety and stress. The recent review of the evidence also concluded that practising yoga during pregnancy helps to reduce anxiety, depression and perceived stress.

Promotes Sleep

Pregnancy can often disrupt sleep due to physical discomfort or anxiety. The relaxing nature of yoga, particularly restorative poses and breathing exercises, can improve sleep quality, helping mums-to-be get the sleep they need.

Postnatal Recovery: Rebuilding Strength and Bonding with Baby

The postnatal period is a time of recovery and adjustment. Yoga can be a gentle way to rebuild strength and bond with your baby.

Physical Recovery

Postnatal yoga can help restore strength in the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Specific yoga poses can also assist in realigning the spine and relieving upper body tension from nursing and carrying the baby.

Stress Relief

Postnatal yoga classes offer an opportunity to focus on your wellbeing, fostering stress relief and emotional balance. Focusing on self-care after the birth of your baby is hugely important for physical and emotional recovery.

Bonding with Baby

Incorporating your baby into your yoga routine can be a beautiful way to bond, with gentle movements and touch stimulating your baby’s senses.

Community and Support

Attending postnatal yoga classes can provide a sense of community. Meeting other new mums offers opportunities for socialisation and mutual support, which can be invaluable during the early stages of motherhood.

Finding Appropriate Yoga Classes

To get started on your yoga journey, check local community centres, gyms and yoga studios, many of which offer prenatal and postnatal classes. If you’re based in London, check out Yogarise’s pregnancy yoga classes here. And if you’ve just had your baby, check out Yogarise’s postnatal yoga classes here and Baby + Me classes.

Let Yoga Support You from Preconception to Motherhood

From preconception to the postnatal period, yoga is more than just a form of exercise—it’s a companion, helping mums-to-be and new mums navigate the path of motherhood with grace, strength and serenity. Whether it’s a calming yoga nidra session or a vibrant prenatal yoga class, the benefits of yoga are many and varied.

Before embarking on any yoga routine, do a little research into your yoga teacher’s qualifications and experience, let them know whether you are trying to conceive, pregnant or if you’ve recently birthed your baby, always listen to your body, and remember to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any doubts or concerns.

Don’t forget to share this article with friends, family, or social media followers who could benefit from the information. Let’s help each other thrive on this wonderful journey of motherhood.

About the author:

My Expert Midwife was founded in 2017 to help with the physical challenges that women face during preconception, pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. Working with in-house expert midwives, they have developed a range of award-winning products designed especially for new and expectant mums and new babies. Their midwife-developed products come glowingly recommended by thousands of mums.

Own shares in Yogarise

Posted on July 12, 2023July 12, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

Ever wanted to own something you love? Now you can! Yogarise is selling shares.

That’s right! Back in 2022 we did our first ever community equity sale, and thanks to our amazing crew, we managed to raise a whopping £34,000! The shares have been issued and that money re-invested into the business, spent mainly on acquiring a new site in Streatham and marketing.

This resulted in improved comms both in studio and online, and scope for additional community building initiatives such as Kirtan, SoFar Sounds, Supper Club, Book Club, Peckham Bowls yoga, more Community Classes and so on… Streatham is ticking along nicely, but there is definitely more we can do in terms of classes, offerings and marketing.

The importance of the first round of investment cannot be understated in terms of how it helped the business in its essential recovery from the Covid pandemic. We’re sure that those of you who visit the studios regularly will have seen busy classes, busy training courses and great vibes – back to how it should be!

We’ve also been able to offer you more retreats, workshops, masterclasses, professional training courses, and so on. We’re now planning our 2024 calendar and have started securing dates, venues and of course, teachers. Exciting times ahead…

So, why are we doing a second round of investment?

Firstly, because we want to keep improving what we offer and this extra funding, will help us to grow and thrive.
Secondly, because most of the feedback that we received from the first round was that our entry level investment of £5k was too high.
At the time, we were advised that this was a sensible route to take to reduce admin and legal costs. In hindsight, we should’ve gone lower to make it more accessible to our community – so that is what we’re doing now.

We’ve reduced our minimum investment to £1,000.

That’s right, you can own a piece of your fave yoga studio for only £1k! This will buy you 0.05% and you can expect returns of around x2.52 or £2520.

If you like the sound of this, and this is an affordable amount for you to invest, then please email sean@yogarise.london and he will share our Investment Memorandum and supporting documents (if desired). Once you’ve had a read and are keen to invest, Sean will tell you how. You will then have a two week cooling off period, then the shares will be issued, and Companies House updated.

Get in touch!

Interested? We hope so! Not only will you get to own a slice of Yogarise, but the first 10 people who invest will also get a free 10 class pack (or equivalent value £130 in credit if you’re a pre-payer) to go onto your account or gift to someone. Meaning that your £1,000 investment is in fact only costing you £870. Get in touch now to take advantage of this offer.

Watch our little promo video here, or ask to see our short Pitch Deck doc and we can send it to you.

With love and thanks,

Sean and Em

Why yoga and pilates are a great combo on retreat

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Lucy Baker-Jones

Yoga and Pilates don’t have to be two separate practices…you can still be spiritual AND practice Pilates. In fact, Pilates might just be the missing piece of the Yoga puzzle…read on to find out why!

Whether you’ve been practicing yoga for decades or are just starting out, adding Pilates to your yoga repertoire will undoubtedly propel your yoga practice into new realms. With core work at its core (excuse the pun!) Pilates can help create greater stability and strength in your body. Think Chaturanga and how challenging this asana can be: not to mention the often-mentioned neck and shoulder discomfort that students report. Well, Pilates can bring a whole new dimension to your classic yoga asanas by helping you learn to engage your core and distributing your efforts evenly. Through exercises that challenge your stability and balance, you’ll notice the wobbles disappear in your Warrior III.

And let’s not forget the Pranayama part of Pilates if you will… exhaling through your mouth is a whole new way of accessing your lower Bandhas.

And where best to start building this newfound body and breath awareness than on a retreat dedicated to Yoga + Pilates?

We’re excited to offer our first ever Yoga and Pilates retreat this summer, in sunny Sussex from 4th-7th August with Yoga + Pilates pro Annie Nicoll.

In addition to daily morning dynamic yoga classes, Annie will lead a strengthening Pilates session every evening followed by a relaxing Yin session to give your muscles the time to rest.

There will also be a Pilates conditioning workshop so you can nail the main principles of this 85-year old system so that by the time you go home, you’ll (almost) be a pro!

Yogarise X Wilderness 2023

Posted on April 27, 2023July 12, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

We are super excited to be heading to our favourite festival, Wilderness at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire this 3rd – 6th August heading up our very own Yogarise Studio in the heart of The Sanctuary.

We are bringing you a festival fabulous, stellar line-up of your fave Yogarise teachers including, Amanda Denton, Amy Dudgeon, Andy Kobelinsky (aka More Kolors Yoga), Angela Conjaerts, Carrianne Hayden, Emma Landolt, Erin Prichard, Lolo Lam, Lydia Baker, Rebekah Jade, Rishin Paonaskar, Sam Harman and Sarah Logue.

With the world-class music headliners, feasting, wellbeing and more, we can’t think of a better way to spend the weekend. No ticket? Quick snap yours up! And then, get booking your Yogarise classes.

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Thursday

5pm Power Yoga with Amy Dudgeon

6.15pm Flow To The Beat with Rebekah Jade

7.30pm Euphoric Flow with Erin Prichard

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Friday

8.15am Morning Bliss with Sam Harman

9.30am Energise + Meditate with Erin Prichard

10.45am Spice Up Your Flow with Andy + Adam (@More_Kolors_Yoga)

12pm Rocket + Rest with Annie Nicoll

1.15pm Upbeat Vinyasa + Music Meditation with Rebekah Jade

2.30pm Revitalising Flow with Lydia Baker

3.45pm Restore + Meditate with Rishin Paonaskar

5pm Flow Down Feel Good + Yoga Nidra with Emma Landolt

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Saturday

9.30am Yin-Yang Yoga + Yoga Nidra with Lolo Lam

10.45am Vinyasa Vibes with Emma Landolt

12pm Mandala Vinyasa with Annie Nicoll

1.15pm Good Vibes Vinyasa with Sarah Logue

2.30pm Gently Does It + Yoga Nidra with Lydia Baker

3.45pm Flow to Restore with Carrianne Hayden

5pm Yin + Gong with Amanda Denton

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Sunday

8.15am Morning Flow + Glow with Rishin Paonaskar

9.30am Feel Good Flow with Angela Conjaerts

10.45am Hatha + Gong with Amanda Denton

12pm Upbeat Vinyasa with Carrianne Hayden

1.15pm Flow Down Slow Down with Sarah Logue

2.30pm Revive + Restore with Lolo Lam

3.45pm Yin Me Up Buttercup with Andy Kobelinsky (More Kolors Yoga)

5:00pm Finale Flow with Angela Conjaerts

Ts+Cs Apply. You must have a ticket to Wilderness Festival 2023 to attend these classes. Yogarise pre-pay or packages not applicable. All classes to be booked separately. No refunds given. Please contact us for full Terms + Conditions.

Pre-Pay Perks at Yogarise

Posted on January 13, 2023May 26, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

(It pays to be unlimited).

NEW for 2023! Get unlimited yoga and pilates in Peckham, Streatham + Online, plus all these extras…

– Exclusive access to the Yogarise online community forum where you can interact with fellow yogis, partake in online challenges, and get access to mini tutorials and more!
– Get £50 off our yoga retreats in May, August and October 2023
– 10 x free hot drinks per year at Yogarise Peckham Cafe (stamper card required – these should be dated and stamped by cafe staff)
– 20% workshop discount (not including courses)
– bring a friend for free once a month
– In-Studio Peckham Perks include: Free Mat Hire or Free Mat Storage and Free Towel Hire
– local business discount exclusive to pre-pay holders including 10% off at En Root in Peckham and Clapham, and 20% off at Milo + The Bull
– early / free access to special events including Masterclasses + Outdoor Yoga
– Free access to ‘Uncover the Chakras‘ 5-week online course with Rebecca Bradley

Want to join in the fun?

Of course you do! You can choose from a monthly studio pre-pay, a 12-month pre-pay or a 6-month pre-pay.

Monthly pre-payers, use the code YOGARISE50 at check-out for 50% off your first month (minimum term 3 months).

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Terms + Conditions:
* For 10 x free hot drinks, the customer must pick up a Yogarise stamper card which must be stamped and dated every time a hot drink is redeemed at the Yogarise Peckham Cafe. Replacement cards not available. Once the Annual Member has been given their card, it is their responsibly to look after it.
*Bring a friend for free Guest Passes must be friends / family who are completely new to the studio.
*The 20% off workshops does not apply to courses, trainings or events (only 2-3 hour workshops)
*The £50 cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and only applies to our 2023 Retreats in Spain and UK.
* Enquire at hello@yogarise.london to activate your pre-pay perks and claim any of the discounts or offers

By Emma Hitzelberger

Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training

Posted on January 12, 2023January 18, 2023 by Lucy Baker-Jones

We’re delighted to offer Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training with Tara Lee and Clare Daniell at our Peckham studio.

Tara Lee has been teaching Pregnancy yoga for two decades and has many articles, DVD’s and videos to her name. She is both a qualified shiatsu practitioner and a doula, having trained with childbirth guru Michel Odent.

Since training in massage therapy and cadaver studies, Clare has guided the teacher training modules on anatomy, neurophysiology, and pregnancy for the London ISHTA training group since 2014.

We caught up with Tara to talk more about the pregnancy teacher training and her experience with teaching pregnancy yoga.

Why do pregnancy yoga teacher training with Yogarise?

We’ re a great team to train with. Clare and I each have our own specialities to bring to the course.

Yogarise has a lovely feel to it and you will connect with lots of like minded yoga teachers! it’s also really easy to get to from most places – there are good trains from Victoria if you live outside London.

What makes this training different to others?

Part of this training is an online module, part of it is live online and the majority is in person at the studio.

We have condensed the material to include the most helpful parts that will give you the best information for teaching pregnant women safely and confidently. We will also teach you about how to support pregnant women with lifestyle recommendations for specific pregnancy related conditions. We will have a women’s health physiotherapist and a midwife coming to teach different modules. All of the teachers are inspiring and passionate about their work.

What makes you passionate about running pregnancy yoga teacher trainings?

I love sharing my knowledge and experience with other women so that more of us can support pregnant women throughout their exciting journeys to motherhood!

What is your experience with pregnancy, birth, and teaching pregnant students?

I have been teaching pregnant women yoga for 20 years and have been running teacher trainings for over 5 years. I also have 2 children of my own.

Want to learn more? Sign up here.

Yogarise Community Yoga and Mindfulness Classes

Posted on January 6, 2023January 31, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

Yogarise Community Yoga and Mindfulness Classes are GO!

We have just launched a ton of NEW sessions at Yogarise Peckham Rye and at our Streatham space on the corner of Streatham High Road and Prentis Road.

Since our opening in 2014 we have supported a range of local charities and good causes through our Community Classes. They have formed an integral part of the studio – providing a more affordable way to practise yoga, while also given newer teachers a platform to teach to a studio full of friendly faces 🙂

Now, our Community Yoga Classes form an essential part of the on-going Graduate programme from our Yogarise 200hr Teacher Training Course and they are solely taught by students who have trained with us, led by SYTs Erin Prichard or Becky Farbstein and a whole host of other fantastic experts and Yogarise teachers.

Our Community Yoga Classes in Peckham include: 4-5pm Monday – Thursday as well as 1.15-2.15pm Sunday.

See Peckham Schedule here

Our Community Yoga Classes in Streatham include: 4-5pm Tuesday + Thursday, and 2-3pm Sunday.

See Streatham Schedule here.

Please check the schedule to see who is teaching and for schedule updates.

We are launching a new, free Community Mindfulness Class!

Join us every Thursday 1.30-2pm in Peckham and Online, for a 30 minute Mindfulness session, open to all, led by Alice Pritchard.

Mindfulness is known to improve concentration, reduce stress and improve sleep; it can help us ‘come to our senses’ and observe things as they are without judgement.

So much of life is spent in autopilot which maintains habitual patterns in our thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. Rather than spiralling off in our usual ways we will practice the simple – but by no means easy – ancient art of seated meditation; focusing on the breath, bodily sensations and sounds around us.

You can sit on a bolster, yoga mat or request a chair. You can practise in whatever you are comfortable in (jeans etc) doesn’t have to be yoga wear 🙂 If you are at home, you could practise lying down on your mat or bed. Total beginners welcome.

Book Community Mindfulness on the Yogarise Peckham Timetable or just drop-in.

We hope to see you soon at one of our Yogarise Community Classes! Any questions, please get in touch hello@yogarise.london

By Emma Hitzelberger

Invest in YOU. New Year Yoga Offer

Posted on December 26, 2022December 26, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Commit To Yourself this New Year (and feel the rewards)

12-month Unlimited Pre-Pay is £999*

Buy yours in January 2023 and get ALL these extras:
– free yoga workshop
– 12 Yogarise guest passes (one per month for the 12 months – worth £192)
– 3 x fitness vouchers Milo + the Bull in Peckham
– Entry into our exclusive Raffle to win 1 x space on Spanish May Retreat*
– Free access to ‘Uncover the Chakras’ 5-week online course with Rebecca Bradley
– 2-weeks ‘holiday’. We will extend your pass for up to 14 days if you are away or need time off.
+ loads more Pre-Pay perks….

*Two-part Payment Plan Available for this New Year Offer – Payment 1: £499 / Payment 2: 500.

Pre-pay perks. It pays to be unlimited.
NEW for 2023! Go unlimited + get all this…

– Exclusive access to the Yogarise online community forum where you can interact with fellow yogis, partake in online challenges, and get access to mini tutorials and more!
– Get £50 off our Spanish yoga retreat in May 2023 with Rebecca Bradley
– 10 x free hot drinks per year at Yogarise Peckham Cafe (stamper card required – these should be dated and stamped by cafe staff)
– 20% workshop discount
– local business discount exclusive to pre-pay holders including 10% off at En Root in Peckham and Clapham and 20% off at Milo + The Bull in Peckham.
– early / free access to special events including Masterclasses + Rooftop Yoga

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Terms + Conditions:
*The ‘free yoga workshop’ entitles the customer to 1 x free 2hr or 2.5hr workshop within the 12 months of the pre-pay
* Annual Pre-Pay Customers can benefit from 1 x guest pass (Drop-In) for a friend per month during the 12 months of the package.
* For 10 x free hot drinks, the customer must pick up a Yogarise stamper card which must be stamped and dated every time a hot drink is redeemed at the Yogarise Peckham Cafe. Replacement cards not available. Once the Annual Member has been given their card, it is their responsibly to look after it.
*The retreat prize is for a space in a shared / triple room. Upgrades available for a fee. CAN be transferred to a friend or family member. Non refundable, no other prize or money given in lieu if you are chosen and cannot accept the prize or gift it to someone.
*The £50 Retreat discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and is only applicable to May 2023 retreat.
*Contact Yogarise Reception desk or email hello@yogarise.london to redeem offers and activate discounts.

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By Emma Hitzelberger

Uncover the chakras course

Posted on December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Uncover the Chakras and start your New Year the right way!

Uncover the Chakra system with expert guidance from Rebecca Bradley in this 5-week online course, and watch yourself come into balance.

Each week, starting on Tuesday 3rd January, you will receive a full practice based on each of the Chakras.

Practise it throughout the week, and then reflect on some of the journalling points offered to help inspire creativity and growth.

By the end of January you will have completed the full journey through the Chakras safely guided by Rebecca.

See Rebecca introduce her course right here!

WHAT IS THE CHAKRA SYSTEM?

The 7 Chakras represent energy centres within the body that correspond to areas with a high concentration of nerves, major organs, and spaces in our spiritual body that impact our physical and emotional well-being.

This 5 week online course with Rebecca is the ideal way to uncover the Chakra system and we’re excited to kick it off on Tuesday 3rd January. You’ll also receive a PDF download with more in-depth information on each of the 7 Chakras including their colour, sound, and location in the physical body and tips on how to balance these energy points. Check out our FAQs for more info!

Tell me more…

This course is worth £60 but we’re offering it to you for FREE if you join our monthly Online Pre Pay pass that also includes:

40+ livestream classes a week

Complimentary access to 100+ On Demand classes

Exclusive community forum with challenges, tutorials + more

Workshop discounts

Are you joining us this January?

FAQs

HOW DO I GET ACCESS TO THE COURSE?
If you’re on our Online Pre Pay Pass (monthly or annual), you will automatically be enrolled onto the course so there’s nothing you need to do. You will see the course appear in your dashboard under COURSES.

HOW IS THE COURSE STRUCTURED?
The course is structured over 5 weeks and includes a 45-minute asana practice based on each of the Chakras, as well as self-reflective questions for personal journalling. A new Chakra class will ‘drop’ into your account each Tuesday and you will have the rest of the week to practice it before you move up to the next Chakra. Don’t worry though, you will still have access to the previous week(s) if you want to keep working on one specific Chakra.

Tuesday 3rd January – Root/Muladhara Chakra
Tuesday 10th January – Sacral/Svadhisthana Chakra
Tuesday 17th January – Solar Plexus/Manipura Chakra
Tuesday 24th January – Heart/Anahata Chakra
Tuesday 31st January – Throat/Vishuddha, Third Eye/Ajna, Crown/Sahasrara (The final 3 Chakras)

WHAT IF I JOIN AFTER THE COURSE STARTS?
That’s totally cool. You will be able to see the weeks that have already been released under COURSES in your dashboard. You can jump in and catch up until the next Chakra class is released.

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURSE?
For as long as you’re using Online Pre Pay, meaning you can always revisit your favourite Chakra-based yoga practice!

Yoga Classes in London this Xmas

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Yogarise is open (mostly) over the December hols!

And coming up…

Junior Valentine and Andie Shelton‘s Revive + Renew : Yoga + Sound Workshop on Monday 2nd January 2023 in Peckham. The workshop is £30 for 2hrs and will combine movement, stillness, gongs and singing bowls – the perfect way to celebrate new beginnings and the year ahead.

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By Emma Hitzelberger.

En Root X Yogarise £6 Meal Deal

Posted on December 15, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

We’ve teamed up with our pals En Root restaurant in Peckham Rye to bring you a £6 meal deal for Souper Tuesdays!

Pre-order yours here for the following Tuesday, then pop along between 12-2pm every Tuesday at Yogarise Peckham. But be quick, last week we sold out 🙂

Recipe posted on IG every week, but you can expect a delicious bowl of nourishing, plant based goodness, plus a tasty slice of bread, all for £6. Think Kenyan Indian Inspired Hot Pot with Carrot, Cassava, Corn + Coconut, nomnom…

We’ve even got their legendary Raja Bonnet Sauce to add a bit of spice up your lunch.

See you on Tuesday!

Mindfulness Classes in Peckham

Posted on November 18, 2022January 24, 2023 by Lucy Baker-Jones

We are excited to be bringing a new offering to our Yogarise community – Community Mindfulness Classes in Peckham. We caught up with mindfulness teacher Deepti Sastry to learn all about her and this practice. Next mindfulness class with Deepti is Friday 3rd January 7:45-8:45pm.

Tell us about you?

My name is Deepti. I am a passionate yoga, chanting, and mindfulness practitioner. I
also run my own consulting business where I design and measure the effectiveness
of international conflict and peacebuilding programmes. As a full time yoga teacher,
(a long time ago, now!) and now teaching part-time, it took me a while to really bring
to life the insights from my practice into my teaching. With this more meaningful
integration of personal practice and teaching, I find real meaning and value in
teaching how to slow down, listen, and reflect using yoga and mindfulness tools. My
own practice and teaching is simple and pared down.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is being in a state of peace and joy. Mindfulness practices help us
cultivate a state of peace, joy, and equanimity. As life demands more of our
attention, especially with competing demands, mindfulness offers a means to be
more present and alive to every moment. By being more present and alive, we offer
ourselves the gift of focus, patience, gratitude and joy. The practice of mindfulness
truly is a gift that we can give ourselves.

How do you teach mindfulness in your class?

I teach mindfulness with simple language, to be inclusive and practical. My classes
are fun (who would have thought?!) and accessible, with the real hope that
participants can take the practice with them into their own homes and daily lives. I
truly hope to bring empathy and gratitude in the way that I offer mindfulness so that
we approach the practice and, by extension our lives, with more forgiveness and
gratitude towards ourselves and others.

What are you best tips for bringing mindfulness into your daily life?

Start simple. You may have the desire to formally practice for thirty minutes a day
but struggle to make that commitment as you start your mindfulness journey. Commit
to five minutes a day – wake up, sit down, and practice. You will find that there is
often a natural progression in your practice (both quality and quantity of time spent in
practice) if you are consistent. If you miss a day, be grateful for yourself and your
commitment to the practice when you next sit down to meditate. We are already hard
enough on ourselves and this practice should not become another ‘rod for our
backs’.

Want FREE mindfulness, we also offer Community Mindfulness Classes, every Thursday lunchtime 1.30-2pm with Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist in training and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy teacher, Alice Pritchard. The class is available and open to all in-person and online.

Win a weekend Yoga Retreat in our Raffle!

Posted on October 31, 2022December 9, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Win a weekend Retreat for you and a friend in our Raffle + amazing runners-up prizes.

Yes, we can hardly believe it either… But we are offering YOU the chance to win a room for 2 people on our beautiful country retreat in Pembrokeshire, Wales this November. For full retreat details click here.

With food by yogi chef, Jeni England and twice daily yoga with Lolo Lam, you can’t fail to have a fab weekend away.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED.

Plus! Runners Up Prizes

Ten lucky runners up will have the chance to win a Yogarise Pro Yoga Pack worth over £80. This includes:

Cork Yoga Mat, Cork Brick, Yoga Strap, Lavender Eye Pillow

Dig deep to do good

We will donate any profits towards Southwark FoodBank, supporting local people in crisis.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Entries to the competition can be made from midday 31st October – midday 3rd November. Winners will be chosen at random on 4th November 2022.
Customers are permitted to purchase as many tickets as they like.
If you are randomly selected as the winner of the 1st prize, we will attempt to first contact you by phone. Please ensure your phone number is on your Momence profile or ask a member of our reception team to add it for you. You must return the call or email (if your number is missing) within 12 hours, after which you forfeit the prize and another winner will be chosen. We are not responsible for any issues with people missing calls due to broken or mislaid phones or issues with email etc.
The first prize includes accommodation, food and yoga on the Yoga Retreat 11-14th November 2022 in Wales.
The first prize does not include transfers or travel to/from the venue or any yoga equipment.
The first prize is not transferrable (i.e. to another retreat in the future) or exchangeable (i.e. cannot transfer it into credit or cash)
The first prize CAN be gifted to a friend if you cannot make it.
Please note, the retreat venue is not suitable for under 18s or for adults with mobility issues or additional access needs.
Runners Up Prizes are strictly pick-up only – from Peckham or Streatham, by arrangement with Management Team. You will be emailed if you are selected as a Runner Up.
Anyone who wishes to enter the Raffle to help support a good cause and the studio, but does not wish to be entered into the draw, or any part of the draw (for example if you cannot make the date of the Retreat but you would like to be entered into the ballot for Runners Up prizes) please let a Reception Team Member in Peckham know in person, by phone or email. We will make a note of this to avoid any unwanted communications / prize winning 🙂
Customers practising the 30 Day Challenge can use their retreat days to count towards it.



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By Emma Hitzelberger

10 Reasons To…

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Lucy Baker-Jones

With autumn comes the cosiness of darker evenings, the crunch of leaves underfoot and the opportunity to go deeper into yoga practice. Our intention with the Yogarise November 30 day yoga challenge is to support our London yoga community, allowing you to feel rejuvenated and mindful as you enter the Christmas season, and as 2022 draws to a close. Already tempted? Click below! Or read on for my Top Ten Reasons…

10 reasons to get involved
(in no particular order)

1. Find a calm mind (and a toned bum, teehee!) before you enter holiday season ‘madness’ (or maybe that’s just me?!)

2. Update your yoga wardrobe – the first 20 students to sign up receive a £15 gift voucher to Sweaty Betty on completion of the challenge

3. Day 10 Giveaway: One lucky yogi will win one of our cork yoga mats, grippy in sweaty classes and perfectly cushioned for savasana

4. Explore our studios. Fancy a trip to Streatham or want to join from the comfort of your living room? Any of our classes, online or in person, qualify for the challenge

5. 16 days in, £16 credit – finally get your inflexible friend/partner/sister to join you on the mat with our gift of a drop-in class

6. Embrace 2 rest days – for when you’ve got a night out planned, or want a sofa day. It’s all about balance.

7. Rep Yogarise with a tote bag filled with goodies from our friends, for every participant who completes the challenge

8. Put a spring in your step with Magic Organic Apothecary bath potion (and get 50% off in their shop…perfect for presents!)

9. Recover and relax with BetterYou magnesium spray

10. Join in for free and receive all of these benefits. Just use your usual pre-pay, intro offer, class packs or drop ins to take part. Livestream options available. 50% off for new Pre-Pay customers.

Ready?

30 Day Challenge

Posted on October 19, 2022December 9, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Are you up for some fun?

Our 30 Day Challenge starts on 1st November and we’d love you to join us!

All you need to do is sign up for free NOW and use your usual pre-pay, class packs, intro offer or drop-ins to take part.

PLUS! NEW monthly pre-pay peeps get 50% off!

Challenge yourself, explore the schedule, have some fun.

Tell me more…

Practise a studio or livestream yoga or pilates class every day

… for 30 consecutive days (inc. 2 optional rest days), and receive a Yogarise tote bag, guest passes, gifts from MOA, BetterYou + Sweaty Betty and more, not to mention a serious sense of achievement!

Let us know if you are joining the challenge

And we will add your name to our boards in reception. Each time you come in, we will add a star to the board. If you practise at home (livestream), just let us know and we will add stars to your name.

Cheer on your fellow yogis

Or click ‘gift this to a friend‘ and see if they will do the challenge with you. It’s a great chance to motivate each other and refresh your own practice.

What package do I need?

Sign up to Unlimited Pre-Pay here using the discount code: YOGARISE50 for 50% off your first month (minimum sign-up 3 months).

This challenge is also open to Online Pre-Pay customers (applies to Livestream classes only), to those on the 21 Day Intro Offer (you would need to purchase a class pack / drop-ins / pre-pay after the offer ends), to multi class pack holders and drop-in customers as well as those already on the Studio Monthly Pre-Pay.

For Ts+Cs please see ’30 Day Challenge’ on Momence.

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By Emma Hitzelberger

Love coffee + yoga?

Posted on September 30, 2022December 9, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

We are recruiting!

We are looking for 1-2 new experienced Barista staff to work at our Yogarise Peckham cafe, starting from the middle of October.

Are you?

Brilliant with people and customer service

A fast learner and good problem solver

An experienced barista

Do you?

Love great coffee

Love yoga (optional – you can always learn to love it!)

Want to be part of our fun and friendly team?

Interested?

Please send Peckham Studio Manager, Charlie, a 1-2 page CV and a 1-page cover letter as soon as possible w/c Monday 3 October 2022.

Please contact charlie@yogarise.london for more information and a full job description.



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By Emma Hitzelberger

New Venue in Streatham

Posted on September 16, 2022January 31, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

Here is all the info you need about classes at our new venue in Streatham.

We are so excited to announce our new venue in Streatham, previously the Yoga Edge.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

We have worked with Yoga Edge to take over the reins of their Streatham studio. We have kept beloved Yoga Edge teachers on the schedule, working around and alongside their existing timetable of Warm Yoga Classes, as well as adding in lots of classes with some of our Yogarise favourites.

CAN I USE MY OLD YOGA EDGE PACKAGE?

Yes, absolutely. Yoga edge memberships and packages have been migrated over to the Yogarise booking system. All classes can be booked on our website. If you’ve got any questions, please email hello@yogarise.london and we’ll be able to assist you.

IMPORTANT NEW INFO!

We are a small, bespoke yoga space. There are no changing rooms or showers, just two toilet cubicles.

Here are some top tips and house rules to make your experience the best it can be:

1. Arrive 10 minutes early to class. Teachers will be doing check-in and will lock the doors at the start of class. The studio in Streatham has a strict ‘no latecomer policy’ so as not to disturb students already in class.

2. Pre-book your class. While walk-ins are possible, we will always ask you to register online. If you have not pre-booked, the teacher will ask you to do so on arrival.

3. Ideally, where possible please arrive changed for class and leave in your yoga wear.

4. Bring your own yoga mat to/from the studio, or use one of ours (free of charge). We do not at this time offer mat storage at the studio.

5. Please help our teachers by wiping props and mats, and putting them (and any other litter, wipes etc) away at the end of class.

6. Be aware of the safety of your personal belongings. The door is locked once class is on, but we do not have lockers in reception.

I’VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS

No problem at all, please reach out to us hello@yogarise.london and someone will come back to you as soon as possible.

VIEW THE STREATHAM TIMETABLE

The address is 248a Streatham High Road, SW16 1HS and is located on Prentis Road (just off the main High Road behind the corner newsagent).

FIND OUT MORE INFO ABOUT THE LOCATION

Back To School: 7 top teachings

Posted on September 16, 2022December 9, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Trauma Senstive Yoga 4-Day Training

Mentally and emotionally empower yourself to sensitively and competently support those in your care.
Suitable for anyone experiencing working with people who have suffered all types of trauma
– yoga, pilates and movement teachers, healthcare professionals, leaders and more.
This 4-day intensive with Senior Yoga Teacher and Psychotherapist Nicolette will equip you with the skills
to support your own or a loved ones experience of trauma.

13-16 October 2022 – 40hrs CPD
Yogarise Peckham

LEARN MORE

See here for more info on up-and-coming workshops, our November Retreat with Lolo Lam and more…

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By Emma Hitzelberger

HIT THE barre!

Posted on August 3, 2022August 4, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

barre; horizontal bar at waist level on which dancers rest a hand for support during exercise

What even is a Barre Workout?

A low-impact and high-intensity workout that targets the whole body. Barre fitness combines the movement of ballet, the strengthening of pilates and the stretching of yoga and delivers it in a 45 minute class!

This class offers all of the body benefits of ballet dancing – barre the need to attempt a pirouette or jump around the studio 😉

What can I expect in a class and how is the ballet barre used?

The Barre fitness method uses both the dancer’s barre and yoga mats. The barre is there as a prop to help you balance! During these sessions, you will focus on isometric strength exercises – holding most of your body still while you contract specific sets of muscles. These movements are often small, but don’t underestimate them, you’ll feel the burn in the morning..

TOP TIP: You will usually be asked to remove your shoes for this class to prevent slips + falls, so bring your grippiest socks!

I’m no ballet dancer. Will barre be okay for me?

Though this is an intense and effective full-body workout, no previous dance experience of any kind is required at all! The barre method is accepting of all fitness and ability levels!

Our teachers will always demonstrate the movements first and then provide encouragement + corrections for you to follow! All positions can be modified to suit your body, so you can get the most out of every movement!

Barre isn’t as serious or complex as some imagine it! Thanks to our lovely instructors, upbeat tunes and endorphin – pumping movements, you’ll definitely have a good time as you plié.. no leotard necessary 😌

Experience the benefits of Barre at Yogarise Streatham!

Catch Ghita Misciagna on the mat on Monday evenings and Thursday mornings to sculpt, strengthen and elongate your muscles! Ghita’s sequences are a unique blend of ballet and Pilates that target the abs, thighs, glutes and arms.

Dynamic fun awaits you!

Yogarise is selling shares

Posted on July 21, 2022December 9, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Fancy owning a piece of Yogarise? Read on to find out more…

If you ever wanted to invest in something you love, now’s your chance. We’ve been going it alone for 8 years, but now, for the first time ever, Yogarise is selling shares in the business. And we’d love to share them with you – our community!

If you are passionate about yoga and Yogarise, now is your opportunity to get involved…

We are looking for investors who have a minimum of £5k to invest long-term. If this sounds like you, and you would like info, please get in touch with the owners of Yogarise, Em & Sean (and Misty the dog of course!)

In 2014 we were two people with a small dog, a passion for yoga and a little dream of bringing it all together in South East London. But time has flown, and we have grown…

It’s not just us any more! We are proud to employ a large and dedicated team of front of house and management staff in addition to all our fab teachers. We offer twice yearly foundational 200hr Teacher Training, and a plethora of Courses and Workshops. This is in addition to our busy schedule of studio and livestream yoga and pilates classes.

We have expanded into On Demand yoga, Yoga Retreats, yoga merchandise, a co-working space and of course our Streatham studio (and previously Covent Garden). We have navigated a pandemic, three house moves, two kids and a whole lot more. But now we want YOU to jump on board and we can’t wait for the next part of this exciting journey to begin…

REQUEST INFO + EMAIL: sean@yogarise.london

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By Emma Hitzelberger

New Prices At Yogarise

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

We listened to your feedback and have dropped our prices! We can’t wait to welcome you to the studio, on the roof, and online for less this summer.

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UNLIMITED PRE-PAY

Get as much studio + online yoga as you like, for less. Plus, free towel + mat hire.

Monthly Pre-Pay

For unlimited studio + online yoga

6 Month Pre-Pay

1 payment, 6 month’s unlimited yoga.
(3 month payment plan also available at checkout)

12 Month Pre-Pay

1 payment, all the yoga, all year.
(3 month payment plan also available at checkout)

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CLASS PACKS

Studio multi-class packs, now reduced!

5 Class Pack

For rooftop + studio yoga – 6 week expiry

10 Class Pack

For rooftop + studio yoga – 10 week expiry

20 Class Pack

For rooftop + studio yoga – 3 month expiry

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Discounts + More

If you prefer to come to our Graduate classes, they are £5 per session taught by our fab Yogarise Teacher Training Graduates – this is the perfect opportunity to practice for less and support our YTT family.

We offer a 20% discount to NHS, NUS, forces, Bussey Building tenants and those on a low income or on UC.

If you would like to help with our energy exchange, we have a karma yogi scheme where you can attend yoga classes for free in exchange for an hour’s helping around the studio.

Please get in touch with us hello@yogarise.london for more info on discounts.

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For more pricing options including our Introductory Offers, Online Yoga, both Livestream Yoga and On Demand options, please visit the pricing page. Browse the Yogarise Streatham, Peckham and Live Online Schedule, and see what Workshops are on offer.

Back Pain + Yoga Positions to Relieve

Posted on June 6, 2022June 7, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Back pain in the UK – The Facts

It is estimated that four out of every five adults (80% of us lot) will experience back pain at some stage in their life. In fact, a national survey in 2000, showed that almost half the adult population of the UK (49%) report lower back pain lasting for at least 24 hours at some time in the year. Ouch!

Most back pain will improve within a few weeks or months and in most cases the pain is not caused by anything serious. But! For those of us that suffer chronically with back pain, most find rehabilitation and treatment for patients is often poor. Pain medication is often the only solution offered.. but is there another way?

Of course! It’s Yoga! It’s Posture! It’s Stretching! It’s Mindful Movement!

With very few exceptions, recent randomised control trials very clearly indicate that yoga can heal. Studies show that yoga can reduce pain and disability, can be practiced safely, and is nearly always well received by participants.

Lower back pain can make the sufferer feel low, frustrated and helpless. With the help of movement and a little bit of science, lower back pain can be well managed. If you’re dealing with back pain, yoga may be just what the doctor ordered! 😉

Sick of Ibuprofen? Try some Asana for Back Pain!

Childs Pose (Balsana)

It may look like you’re snoozing but Child’s pose is an active stretch that helps to elongate the back. It also doubles up as a great way to calm the system and is a fantastic de-stressor before bed at the end of a long, exhausting day.

Top Tip: There are a few options – knees wide, big toes to touch and arms out-stretched, or knees closer together with arms back behind you, backs of the hands on the mat. Hold the position for 5 to 10 breaths, and repeat as many times as needed for a good, soothing stretch!

Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

This traditional forward bend is both restful and rejuvenating. Downward Facing Dog is a total body stretch that targets the back extensors (the large muscles that help form your lower back, support your spine, help you stand + lift objects)! Practicing this classic yoga pose can help to relieve both back pain and sciatica as it works out imbalances in the body and improves strength.

Top Tip: For a big hamstring stretch, gently push your heels toward the floor, GENTLY!

Extended Triangle (Trikonasana)

Triangle pose is known for strengthening the back + legs and can help lengthen the muscles along the sides of your torso while stretching the muscle fibres along your outer hip (your IT, or iliotibial band). As well as strengthening, it stretches out the spine, hips, and groin, and strengthens the shoulders, chest, and legs! That’s a lot!

This classic standing posture relieves backache, sciatica + neck pain and may also help to reduce stress and anxiety.

Top Tip: You may not be able to touch the ground with your arm at first, it’s very normal so don’t overstretch — only bend as far as you can while maintaining a straight back!

NEED A HELPING HAND?

Releasing Lower Back Pain with Angie Brand

FRI 12 AUGUST 2022 / 18:30 – 20:00 / YOGARISE PECKHAM

In the workshop we will:

* Explore what pain is – your experience of pain and pain itself
* The neuroscience of pain – how the brain comes into the pain experience
* The nervous system – what it is and why it is important when it comes to pain
* Tips & tools – how to relieve pain symptoms using movement, stretches, massage, meditation and more

Head to Angie‘s workshop and give yourself the autonomy to relieve your own aches and pains! This workshop is designed to help you manage your back pain as and when it flares up.

You’ll also receive a goody bag with some treats to take home with you to enable relaxation at home!

Book here

**Always consult with your GP before taking on any new exercise**

De-Stress: The Benefits of Pranayama

Posted on June 1, 2022June 7, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama is the ancient Indian practice of breath regulation. The word pranayama comes from two sanskrit words: prana and ayama. Prana translates to ‘breath’, while ayama means ‘to extend, control or draw out’. The practice comes in many variations and involves different breathing exercises + patterns.
A pranayama cycle has three phases:

Puraka, or inhalation
Kumbhaka, or retention
Rechaka, or exhalation

What are the benefits of a pranayama practice?

Your own breath can be used to meditate, subdue a panic attack, to practice yoga asana, to boost energy levels, to aid in giving birth and of course, de-stress the body + mind!

Many people follow pranayama to gain the traditional benefits like breath control and lowered heart rate, however modern science has also found pranayama to hold a wide range of unexpected benefits including…

Improved cardiovascular health by gradually decreasing the heart rate + increasing oxygen flow

Aids in better sinus health by encouraging air flow + relieving blockages

Improves skin health by supplying a higher amount of oxygen to the skin cells than typical breathing

Can help to boost immunity by decreasing stress + inflammatory levels in the body

Betters your quality of sleep + decreases sleep disturbances

Reduces psychological stress + make you feel more relaxed

Improved cognitive function – studies show that fast pranayama can help to improve auditory and sensory-motor skills

Want to better your sleep? Try The Long Exhale (Viloma)

1:2 breathing practice that involves gradually increasing your exhalation until it is twice the length of your inhalation.

Top Tip: Practice at bedtime to better sleep + reduce disturbances, or in the middle of the night when insomnia rears it’s head!

Want to relax and lower your anxiety + stress? Try Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)

Breathing in + out from one nostril to the next. Take your thumb, ring or little finger to close off the opposite nostril (yogi’s choice), then inhale, hold the breath for a brief period of time and switch nostrils!

Top Tip: Hold each inhale for 2 to 3 seconds before exhaling through opposite nostril – gradually increase this pause as you become more accustomed to the practice!

Wanna boost your energy level? Try Bellows Breath (Bhastrika)

Inhaling and exhaling rapidly through the nose, keeping mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible.

Top Tip: Try this noisy breathing exercise the next time you feel yourself reaching for a coffee! You should feel invigorated, the way you would after a good workout!

Yoga Nidra Training Is Here

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Are you a yoga teacher looking to develop your offering? Want to add another string to your bow? We’re thrilled to announce our FIRST EVER Yoga Nidra training.

What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is the state of consciousness between waking and sleep. This is why it’s sometimes called Yogic Sleep. But fear not – no snoring here! It’s more a state of relaxation and presence induced by a guided meditation. Mentioned in ancient yogic texts, it was developed as a practice in the 20th Century and can now be found on studio schedules across the world.

So… it’s like meditation?

Yes, but also no. They are similar but not exactly the same. In Yoga Nidra, you’re lying down, whereas in meditation you’re usually sitting. In Yoga Nidra, the goal is to move into a state of consciously aware sleep which is a deep state of relaxation with awareness.

What are the benefits?

There are tons. Stress relief, better sleep, improvements to your memory, reducing anxiety, lifting your mood, better cognitive function – the list is endless!

Do I have to do it at night before I go to bed?

You can, but you don’t have to! A nighttime Nidra practice can certainly help you wind down for bed – but the great thing about Yoga Nidra is that you can enjoy its benefits whenever. It’s a wonderful way to rejuvenate and feel rested whenever you do it.

OK, I’m sold. How do I start?

The good news is you don’t need anything fancy or new – just a yoga mat or a blanket to lie down on. You can even do Yoga Nidra in bed if you prefer. Blankets, bolsters, and props are all handy too if you have them around. Your body temperature is known to drop in the Nidra state, especially if you have been active beforehand, so cosy clothes are good to stay warm and help you stay present. An eye pillow or mask to block out light is also a great help.

As with all things, you might not ‘get’ Yoga Nidra right away. Relaxing isn’t always easy! When the mind is busy and active, it takes practice to reach a state of calm. So don’t give up if you find it tricky – give Yoga Nidra a few tries.

The worst that can happen is you drift off… 😴

28-29 MAY, 25-26 JUNE, 23-24 JULY, YOGARISE PECKHAM With Francesca Sanlorenzo

Interested? Learn more here

Introducing… Therapeutics Yoga Toolbox CPD

Posted on March 23, 2022April 12, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Calling all yoga teachers and trainees! We are so excited to launch this amazing training which is BRAND NEW to Yogarise. If you’re curious about Bodywork or Anatomy-based Yoga Therapy, or looking to grow your offering as a teacher, this Therapeutics Yoga Toolbox CPD is for you.

Bridget and Ellen will work together to offer an introduction to Anatomy-based Yoga Therapy and Bodymind Ball Work, covering the subjects of anatomy, physiology and therapeutics. Throughout the immersion, there will be a focus on common body problems that as a teacher you will come across. The immersion will offer you a toolbox you can refer back to help you address these for your students using alignment, asana, and fascia release bodyball work.

What is Yoga Therapy?

Pretty much anyone who’s ever done a yoga class would describe it as therapeutic.

But Yoga Therapy goes further – it’s the use of specific yoga practices and their known benefits to help alleviate or improvement mental and physical ailments.

So Anatomy-based Yoga Therapy might be the use of specific postures and poses to heal an injury or strengthen a particular weakness.

What are yoga therapeutics?

Therapeutics in yoga means a focus on essential alignments and actions for preventing and healing injuries and strains.

This might look like a class centred on the shoulders, another on the knees or the lower back. You might “deconstruct” a pose to practice particular parts of it that are important for truly understanding the challenges and also the healing potential of the pose.

Life’s a ball…

Bodymind Ballwork is a bodywork system that can benefit people of any age or physical condition. The distinct feature of Bodymind Ballwork is the use of rubber balls of varying sizes and textures (as small as a walnut and as big as a melon), which support, massage, and stretch localised areas of the body. The balls directly address tight connective tissue and muscles, restoring healthy circulation and gliding between layers. There are techniques for every part of you, from head to toes. The result is a wonderful feeling of lightness and ease in the body, and quiet alertness in the mind.

To quote one student: “It’s like having a massage therapist in your pocket”.

“My method is called Bodymind Ballwork to underscore the truth that any and all experiences register in the body and the mind simultaneously. Our mental state will shift from working on the body, and our physical state will shift from mental focus. We are already “integrated” but we don’t always feel that way. This technique is an elegantly simple and profound pathway toward the experience of an integrated self.” Ellen Saltonstall

Therapeutics Yoga Toolbox CPD with Bridget Woods-Kramer + Ellen Saltonstall
23-25 September / 28-30 October

Yogarise Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship 2023

Posted on February 17, 2022January 13, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

We’re thrilled to be offering a scholarship for our 200hr Foundational Yoga Teacher Training in 2023.

What is included?

We know that teacher training can be quite an outgoing, so we’re looking to give someone a helping hand. We’re offering to cover the cost of the 200hrs training, plus accommodation and meals on the 2-week intensive. The successful candidate will need to cover the cost of the flights, transfers, travel insurance, visa and jabs for Mexico, as well as books and travel in London.

Who can apply?

We’re looking for someone who is a keen yogi with at least 3 years practice. And someone who has a passion to teach yoga for a living but who may not be able to afford to train due to being on low income – maybe you only work part time due to being a carer, maybe you volunteer with an organisation so therefore don’t receive payment…?

It is also important to know that the the successful applicant will take yoga to their community – perhaps to other groups that may not be able to afford to join a studio/gym or community groups that may currently be underrepresented in yoga. There is no set agenda from us, we are keen to hear of your ideas and plans so please share as much information and detail as you can.

About the role

We will ask you to collaborate with Yogarise throughout the duration of the course, acting as the YTT Karmi yogi. This could include arriving a little early for the training modules to help the teachers set up, leaving a little later to help ensure the studio is left clean and tidy, and offering any other support the FoH teams may require.

For 12 months after graduating, we ask that you keep in touch and update us on how you are integrating yoga into your community. This may include some of the following: photos, blog posts, videos, press coverage, testimonials, one-off events, and social media activity.

How to apply

Everything you need to know about the yoga teacher training is here and, if you’re keen to apply, the scholarship application form is here.

Applications will be accepted up to 31 March, at which point we’ll review and then ask successful candidates in for interview.

Kids Yoga is here!

Posted on October 19, 2021April 5, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

We all know how wonderful yoga is for Adults. Well, yoga is SO wonderful and SO beneficial for children too. Not only does kids yoga promote mobility, body awareness and breath awareness at such a formative age, but also begins to guide children into emotional regulation, through simple mindfulness practices. Encouraging children to find those calm and centred spaces within themselves.

FOR AGE 3-6 YEARS
This interactive class for little ones begins with a warm-up game or song, moves into a story based yoga sequence, and ends with a wind-down, some breathing and thanking our bodies. The teacher uses a range of engaging mediums, like stories, songs, music, books, breathing ball, visual aids and all sorts of lovely props (think bubbles!)

Kids Yoga for 3-6 year olds – Fridays 4.15-4.45pm at Yogarise Peckham
Buy your 6 class pack here
Buy a drop-in here

What’s on in Streatham

Posted on October 9, 2021June 22, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Hey Streatham peeps! There’s loads going on here – here’s a quick rundown of what’s on offer in SW16

We’re proud to host Grace + Poise Academy – the world’s first Muslim ballet school. “With a unique Ballet to Poetry Syllabus, the Academy is founded upon a passion for Child Development and raising the Muslim community to make a positive impact in the world.” Grace + Poise welcomes children from all backgrounds from aged 2 with any level of experience. See you at the barre!

On top of that, we’re also hosting Baby Sensory classes. Classes are carefully researched and designed to stimulate all of baby’s senses and help with their development. It’s also a great place for parents to relax and meet other local parents. – find out more here.

Before baby comes, don’t forget our Pregnancy classes – and once baby has arrived, we’ve got Postnatal Yoga, Baby Massage AND Baby + Me. Your little one is spoiled for choice!

We’re excited to announce the return of Community Classes? Practise with a yoga teacher superstar in the making, fresh from graduating our Yogarise Yoga Teacher Training. Plus, with proceeds going to charity, you’ll get moving for a good cause. Book here

Plus don’t forget Yogarise Works – bringing a local community of co-workers together, like-minded yoga lovers who need a desk 😉

Our Cork Yoga + Pilates Mat is now ON SALE!

Posted on September 30, 2021November 8, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Did you know we have just launched our own range of high-quality, sustainable cork mats – suitable for fitness, yoga or pilates…

And guess what? They are now a bargainous £49.99, that’s a whopping
£10 off with the code MATLOVER10

YOUR PERFECT YOGA MAT

Years of teaching Yoga in our London-based studios has given us a great insight into what yoga teachers and students alike need from a mat. Our premium mats are designed to be comfortable, non-slip and super lightweight – without compromising on size. Designed by yogis for yogis!

FOR A SAFER PRACTICE

Our cork yoga mat, with it’s natural non-slip surface, gives you an exceptional grip, while the TPE base lies completely flat to the floor and prevents sliding, creating a safe space for you to practice. You can feel confident that you and your mat will stay in place, during even the most challenging of poses.

NATURALLY ANTIBACTERIAL

This is the perfect mat for dynamic yoga, pilates and hot yoga. Both water and sweat resistant, the naturally antibacterial cork helps repel mould and mildew and doesn’t smell – requiring very little cleaning. You can also feel confident that no matter how sweaty you get the mat won’t stick to your skin, eliminating the need for a towel.

WORKOUT IN COMFORT, ANYWHERE

Our exercise mat is soft to the touch with 6mm thickness and a natural cork finish, supporting your knees, elbows and spine on hard surfaces. A TPE base provides ample cushioning for restorative practices, meditation and pilates. The Yogarise cork yoga mat is perfectly portable and easy to roll and carry.

ECO FRIENDLY & SUSTAINABLE

We’re proud that our exercise mats are vegan and environmentally friendly. They’re made from ethically-sourced natural cork, with a biodegradable and recyclable TPE base. We used pyrography for our design, so no inks were used in production.

But the best news is that our mat is on sale now with a 25% discount – and now you can purchase it at the click of a button! Just use the promo code at checkout: MATLOVER10
What you waiting for? 🙂

Got questions about our new mat or the promotion? Just get in touch – hello@yogarise.london

New to Yogarise?

Posted on August 26, 2021April 25, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

Pick up an Intro Offer Now!

New to yoga? New to the studio? Perfect! Whether you’re a seasoned yogi, or a total beginner, we have everything from back-to-basics sessions, specifically for newcomers, to physically demanding offerings like Dynamic Flow and Rocket yoga. And everything in between: Yin Yoga, Flow + Restore, Pregnancy Yoga, and even Pilates if that’s your thing.

So, why Yogarise?

We are a small, family-owned business, offering high quality teaching, a huge range of classes, styles and membership options. We pride ourselves on having created a welcoming and friendly place to connect with fellow yogis where everyone is welcome. We can’t wait to meet you at one of our studios in Peckham and Streatham.

What now?

Let’s get started! Our Introductory Offer is the best way to do just that. We have two introductory offers: 21 Days of In-Studio Yoga or 21 Days of Livestream Yoga. From the date of purchase, you have 21 days to do as much yoga as you can! Have a taste of which teachers suit your vibe and which classes suit your schedule.

Pick a class!

But which? If you don’t know your downward facing dog from your tree pose, have no fear, we’ve all been there. Best place to start – a Beginners’ Yoga class, designed especially for you. Most of our classes are suitable for all – which means the teacher will tailor it to whoever is in the room – but for some we recommend some prior knowledge of yoga. Explore the yoga styles we offer for more details. Remember, you can always rest whenever you need, watch, listen and learn.

How do I book?

Just visit our timetable and be sure to select the correct location from the drop-down menu. Have a browse, click on a class and book yourself in. We use a booking system called Momence, so you will need to purchase your membership and book your classes through our website.

What to bring…

Yourself, an open mind, and a bottle of water! If you don’t have your own mat or forget yours, you can now rent a mat for your class for £2 a pop at reception. If you’re looking to invest in your practice and get started with a great foundation, our Yogarise Cork Yoga mats are available to buy in the studio for £59.99.

What do I wear?

Wear something comfortable to move around in – shorts or leggings and a vest or t-shirt. We have a shoes-off policy in the studio practice area but our lovely reception team will show you the ropes and point you in the right direction.

We have snacks, refreshments, yoga clothes, towels, props and water bottles available to purchase. We have showers and changing facilities at all our studios.

OK, I’m sold. What now?

Grab an Introductory Offer – unlimited yoga for 21 days for £40.

Tell me more about the Beginners’ Yoga Classes…

In Peckham, we’ve got Beginners Yoga on Saturday mornings at 10am with Becky Farbstein. In Streatham, Amanda Denton teaches Beginners Yoga on Sundays at 11.45am.

Our other beginner-friendly classes include Flow + Restore with Rishin Paonaskar (6.45pm in Peckham) and Hatha Flow with Lydia Baker. Some of these classes can be physically demanding, even if they are suitable to those who have not practised much yoga. Please ensure you are in good health and get in touch if you’re not sure about anything.

If a class time works for you, email us to see if it’s suitable for newbies. We can’t wait to hear from you!

The Introductory Offer is for new members only. With this membership you can practise every day for 21 days from the date of first booking. Non transferable, no extensions, late cancel / no show charges apply. See full Ts + Cs on website.

Changes on Monday 19th July

Posted on July 22, 2021June 13, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Misty had only just gotten to grips with wearing a mask!

You’re probably wondering how things are going to change on Monday 19th July at the studio…? The answer is… not a lot 🙂

Your safety is our number 1 priority so we will not increase capacity in Streatham + Peckham!

We will keep our mat markers in the studios and 1.5metre+ spacing so you have the freedom to move, breathe and chant with confidence.

For good hygiene, you will be asked to wash or sanitise hands on arrival and we will not be lending yoga mats, so please do bring your own.

Our reception team will continue to wear masks, and we recommend you do too, but this is now optional for students.

Our studios will be well-ventilated and rigorously cleaned as usual 🙂

If you have any questions or queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch

Your welcome-back guide

Posted on May 14, 2021June 13, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

For a safe and happy experience we have put some COVID safety measures in place in all our studio locations. These include:

new sinks + hand sanitising stations by reception
limited studio capacity
well ventilated studios with windows open / air filtration systems / ceiling fans in operation
temperature checks on arrival
cleaning with anti-viral products of all touch points between classes
not sharing of yoga mats
covid screens, masks worn + regular lateral flow tests for reception staff

To help us out, we ask that customers…

wear a mask at all times except for on their yoga mat, ready to practise
bring their own yoga mat or buy one from reception (we are not loaning mats due to hygiene)
are patient on reception and respect social distancing guidelines
wash or sanitise hands on arrival
come dressed and ready for class where possible to minimise use of the changing rooms

We have also been officially recognised as a COVID Compliant venue by Southwark Council.

What people have said about their visits…

“Yogarise really do everything to keep the surfaces clean, I feel safe AND had an amazing workout :)” Yogarise Peckham

“It’s safe to return! All Covid secure and a total joy to be back.” Yogarise Streatham

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Check out what’s on in Peckham, Streatham and Covent Garden studios.

Yogarise Cork Yoga Mats are here

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Emma Hitzelberger

Our fabulous, Crowdfunded cork mats have landed and we can’t wait to share them with you…

Thanks to our amazing community and the Crowdfund pledges we received, we are so thrilled to finally unveil our cork yoga and pilates mats. They’re lightweight, eco-friendly, vegan, and of the highest quality. PLUS. the perfect essential for bringing to the studios when we open on 17th May.

Order yours now and get set for re-opening.

Why cork? It’s naturally antibacterial and the grip improves as you sweat – no more slipping around in your downward facing dog. Time to enhance your practice!

Won’t it smell? The antimicrobial properties help to repel mould and mildew away, which means it’s practically self-cleaning and doesn’t smell – ever.

It’s also super lightweight which makes it perfectly portable. The 6mm thickness provides excellent cushioning for your knees, too. Dimensions are 181 x 61cm

Soft to the touch, the natural cork finish is perfect for more restorative yoga poses, as well as getting grippier and grippier for those sweatier, dynamic yoga asana and pilates sessions.

15% off + FREE delivery in time for 17 May

We’re proud to say our mats are eco-friendly – made with ethically-sourced cork and their backing is made of biodegradable and recyclable TPE. So they’re completely vegan too.

How much? Our mats retail at £59.99 (+ delivery) but for a limited time we are offering 15% off + FREE delivery to your door (or pick-up from your local studio). It’s a steal at £51!

To preorder, drop us a message at hello@yogarise.london

Yoga for better sleep

Posted on March 19, 2021July 11, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

Friday 19th March is World Sleep Day and is designed to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege often compromised by the habits of modern life. Did you know approximately 2 billion people on the planet live with insomnia? That’s a lot of bad night’s sleep.

If you’re one of these tired Yogarisers, why not try Yoga for Insomnia with Nicolette or a guided relaxation or meditation, available On Demand? Or delve a little deeper with a restorative yoga workshop or Flow + Restore class, designed to set you up for some serious chill time.

Snooze friendly postures

Child’s pose (Balasana) is a great way to calm the body and mind and is often given as an option in classes as a means of resting and restoring. By connecting the forehead to the mat (or floor or a blanket) the nervous system is instantly calmed. There are a few options – knees wide, big toes to touch and arms out-stretched, or knees closer together with arms back behind you, backs of the hands on the mat.

Another simple one is to lie with your legs up against a wall (Viparita Karani) which has a calming effect on the nervous system giving the heart a rest, or reclined with feet together, knees apart, in Supta Baddha Konasana. Closing the eyes and placing one hand on the belly, the other the heart can also help us to feel grounded and reassured.

Take a breather

A beautiful breathing technique (pranayama) that helps to keep us balanced and peaceful is Nadi Shodhana, alternate nostril breathing. Take your left hand and place it gently in your lap. Take the first two fingers of your right hand and place them over the space between the eyebrows, lightly hovering the thumb and ring finger over the right and left nostril. Close the eyes. Take a few regular breaths in and out, then close off the right nostril and breathe out through the left, shut off the left nostril with the ring finger, release the thumb from the right nostril and exhale out the right. Inhale through the right, close it off, release the left and breathe out through the left. This is one full round of Nadi Shodhana. Continue like this for however many rounds you have time for. Sit quietly for a few moments after breathing like this and allow the natural rhythm of your own breath to return, gently blinking the eyes open, or practise this before bed, lie down and get settled for bed.

Heaven’s scents

Our pals at Yogandha give us great tips about aromatherapy, which can be used to calm the mind and to establish a healthier bedtime routine when introduced into your night time ritual.

Essential oils themselves promote relaxation – oils like Clary Sage, Lavender and Frankincense have long been known to do this. We love Yogandha roll-on oils for ease of application and portability (so much that we stock them -pick one up when our doors reopen!), but combine the oils with sleep rituals and your brain is conditioned to associate the fragrance with relaxation and sleep.

… Nighty, night.

Workshop wonders

The perfect fix to recharge batteries if you’re feeling frazzled, restorative yoga is a passive practice where students are supported by props to help hold postures for up to five minutes or more. By aligning the physical and mental body and practicing stillness, the nervous system is calmed and you can completely let go, which is believed to promote better sleep.

Create your space – grab any pillows, blankets, eye pillows – and get ready to be guided into deep relaxation. Totally converted to Restorative yoga? Next time you visit us IRL, why not grab one of these gorgeous, ethically made Bolsters and Eye Pillows by A_S_Upholstery ?

Rishin has a 2 hour Restorative Reset workshop (21 March 2021) designed to guide you into complete relaxation and equip you with tools to promote better sleep. Book here

Sleep well, Yogarisers. We reckon it’s time for an early night.

Rest + Reset with Restorative Yoga

Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021 by Emma Hitzelberger

Restorative yoga – what’s it all about? Isn’t that just lying down on pillows? We speak to our resident restorative teacher Rishin Paonaskar ahead of his Spring Restorative Workshop this March, to give you top tips to rest and reset.

You don’t need to do very much to get awesome benefits.

Restorative yoga gives the body the chance to recover and rest, calms the mind and nervous system which in turn improves sleep. You might know or practise ‘yin yoga’ – yin is not the same as restorative (a common misconception). Yin can be challenging and intense as well as meditative whereas restorative should be completely passive, allowing the body to completely ‘let go’.

Rishin tells us that “some restorative poses could involved lying on the back with the legs up a wall or lying on one’s side with blankets and a bolster supporting the body. A typical restorative class will involve very few poses. In 90 minutes you might only do five poses and hold most poses for between 10 to 20 minutes.”

It’s imperative that you’re warm and cosy.

The body temperature can drop when you are lying in stillness, so “it’s important to therefore have clothing that’s warm enough – layers or even an extra blanket. If you’re practicing an online class, at home, you could even grab a duvet, cushions, your socks, whatever you have to hand to be super comfy.”

It’s great to use props – but you don’t need to buy anything fancy.

Props are used to ensure the body is comfortable and you will leave the class feeling calm, relaxed and blissed out. Most props can be replicated at home using cushions, pillows and blankets but Rishin recommends “a bolster is a great prop to buy if you are only going to buy one restorative yoga specific prop”.

It’s normal to be sceptical!

A great way to ‘dip your toe in’ is to do a restorative practice at home, or to try a Flow and Restore class which is a combination of Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Restorative poses – the best of both 🙂 You can book one of those classes here.

“There is no harm trying restorative yoga. The worst that can happen is that you might leave feeling more relaxed than when you entered the class!”

Join Rishin for his Spring Restorative Rest workshop at Yogarise Online

Restorative Reset
Sunday 21 March 2021
2-4pm
2hrs for £20

Book now

Yoga Crowdfunder – can you help?

Posted on February 3, 2021February 3, 2021 by Emma Hitzelberger

We’re feeling positive about the future and have some great initiatives in the pipeline that we want to share with you Yogarisers, but right now we need your help.

We’ve launched a Crowdfunder to enable us to diversify and evolve as a business. As a small business, after a year of Covid restrictions and being closed for the most-part, we now know that the ‘bricks and mortar’ studios alone are not enough to ensure our survival. With the uncertainty of everything Covid has brought with it, coupled with the reduced (socially distanced) studio numbers when we are able to reopen, we have to look at other ways to support the business.

As you know, community is at the heart of what we do, so we have tried our hardest throughout the pandemic to keep that studio spirit alive, with free NHS memberships and discounts, free IGTV sessions, and now we have 3 weekly Community Classes for only £3 which goes towards paying the Yogarise YTT Graduate teacher and profits to Project Yogi. We have also continued to split all takings for our regular classes 50:50 with our teachers so that we can continue to run an online schedule. Thanks to everyone who has supported the studio and our team online with Livestream memberships, gift vouchers and more recently signing up to our On Demand yoga channel – we couldn’t have got this far without you.

What’s the funding for?

We would like to launch a yoga product range including a fab, Yogarise cork mat (see prototype on the Crowdfund page) and also to invest in our On Demand library of videos. Find out more about it here.

How you can help

Please give our Pay It Forward page a read – we are welcoming varying levels of pledge. There are some goodies thrown in the mix as an incentive, but our main goal is to keep our doors (virtual and real) open.

If you’re not in a position to pledge financially, spreading the word is hugely appreciated – please give the page a share on your social channels, with colleagues, friends and yoga-lovers 🙂

Thanks for reading – together, we can do it! x

Yogarise On Demand FAQs

Posted on January 28, 2021July 11, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

We couldn’t be more excited to introduce to our brand new online yoga channel – Yogarise On Demand. Get the low-down with these answers to some On Demand FAQs…

•••

What’s ‘On Demand’ all about?

As well as our studio classes and livestream sessions (on Zoom) we are now offering you yoga On Demand from our ever-growing library of pre-recorded classes, accessed through your Momence account.

Classes are filmed in HD from the best in their craft who have devised these practices with your needs in mind. Now you can practise anytime, anywhere and let us fit around you.

You won’t be limited by our schedule, or your schedule and can pick and choose sessions (or do the same ones you love repeatedly!) depending on your time and energy levels. Choose from 5 minute meditations to all-round 60 minute practices. Check out the class description to see what tickles your fancy.

•••

How much does it cost?

Nothing! You can access Yogarise On Demand as part of your Unlimited Pre-Pay Online or in Studio Package.

•••

How do I sign up?

You’re just a click away from practising Yogarise On Demand! Simply sign up to one of our Pre-Pay packages – Online, Monthly (studio), 6 or 12 month, et voila! Then an email will be on its way to you with a link to access the library of videos so look out for it or simply login to Momence using your usual username and password, and click on ‘Video Library’.

Haven’t received the email? Not sure what your log-in details are? No sweat, just drop us a line here.

•••

How many videos are in the library?

Enough to keep you going for at least a week or more! To keep content fresh, we will be adding approx. 10 HD videos per month, including some special ‘On Demand Extra’ sessions from your fave Livestream teachers, so after your first month of classes, you’ll have another selection to choose from in our ever-growing collection.

We’ll send an email once a week to let you know what’s new. If you haven’t already, make sure you sign up to class updates, newsletters and promos on your Momence account preferences. We’ll also give it a holla on social @yogariselondon so give us a follow 🙂

•••

I am a beginner, can I still subscribe?

Absolutely. Handily, all videos are labelled with ‘Beginner’, ‘Intermediate’, ‘Advanced’ or ‘All Levels’. ‘All Levels’ classes are suitable for you, but just take things at your own pace (pause when needed) as these classes are designed to be open and challenging for all levels. Yin (where you hold seated and lying postures for an extended period) and Meditation sessions are also great for beginners

TIP: There are some filters to help you decide what class to practice. You can filter by Category / Difficulty level and sort by Newest/Oldest, or Longest/Shortest.

•••

Which teachers are on Yogarise On Demand?

At the moment, we’ve got Dirish Shaktidas, Rebecca Bradley, Austin Ince, Sabrina Kelly, Nicolette Wilson-Clark, Andy Kobelinsky and Kirstie Bird. Missing your fave teacher? Get in touch and let us know!

•••

Is this the same as a Zoom class?

No – our Livestream classes are a different thing. Unlike our Livestream classes, which take place at a certain time, you can fit On Demand around you. You can practice whenever you like simply by accessing the library of classes.

•••

How long are the classes?

Classes vary from 5 minute meditations and 10 minute quick-fire practices to full-length 60 minute classes.

•••

How can I access the classes?

You can now access the video library directly from our website. Just click on the On Demand tab scroll down until you see:

TIP: why not Bookmark this tab so you have easy and seamless access next time you open your browser?

•••

Can I cancel my subscription?

We hope you love OD, but should you decide to cancel your Pre-Pay subscription, just email us on team@yogarise.london honouring a 30-day notice period.

As with everything we do, we love getting your feedback – positive or otherwise. We can’t improve without hearing from you so get in touch! Missing your fave teacher? Let us know who you’d like to see. Want to be able to try a particular style but can’t make the live class? Want a particular pose tutorial? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with requests, tips, and feedback.

Veganuary Inspiration

Posted on January 15, 2021January 19, 2021 by Emma Hitzelberger

We’re halfway through Veganuary! Whether you’re cultivating a healthy habit for life or just want some inspo for dinner tonight, here’s a run-down of some great vegan alternatives of your takeaway faves…

Best vegan fried ‘chicken’

The best part about this recipe is you don’t need many fancy ingredients to make up the seitan – you probably already have most of them lying in your store cupboard. Perfect for minimising those lockdown shopping trips!

Best vegan burger

Another recipe based on your store-cupboard staples, these burgers are healthy, hearty, and won’t fall apart in your hands.

Best vegan noodles

These are the most addictive noodles you’ll ever have – super simple, easy to throw together, and gobsmackingly tasty. It’s worth looking out for real Sichuan peppercorns if you can get some, but don’t be put off if you can’t – just throw in some extra chilli powder and black peppercorns. (PICTURED)

Best winter warmer

Packed full of seasonal veg, this ultimate vegan stew will turnaround even the rainiest of January evenings.

Best vegan pasta dish

You won’t be missing the mince with this scrummy mushroom bolognese – dried porcini mushrooms + fresh chestnut ‘shrooms bring enough heartiness to satisfy any carnivore cravings. Just hold the parmesan this month!

PLUS! Here’s a BIG shout out to some of our local (real) places to take-out in Peckham – go check them out!

What the Fattoush for plant-based Palestinian small plates (now delivering meal kits)

Deserted Cactus for Mac n’ no Cheese + vegan takes on Caribbeans classics

The Odds for sarnies + pastries

Ganapati for South Indian cuisine + plates to satisfy your meat-eating buddies

Persepolis for a unique taste of Persia (now delivering mezze meals)

5 Reasons to do your Yoga Teacher Training with Us

Posted on January 6, 2021February 3, 2021 by Emma Hitzelberger

It’s been a bit of a year, right?! Whether you’ve loved lockdown life or not, turbulent times really put things into perspective. With that in mind, maybe it’s time to take the plunge and start something new with our 200hr Foundational Yoga Teacher Training. Apply NOW! Need more convincing? Here’s why we think you should jump into our YTT…

Learn from THE best.
High calibre teaching is key and we have a senior line-up of über qualified teachers each bringing their own flair, personality and experience to the table. Erin Prichard is our lead teacher who you’ll be with in Sri Lanka, supported by Elodie Frati, Nicolette Wilson Clarke, Rishin Paonaskar, Lolo Lam, Damian Lynch and more back in our London studios.
Not your average YTT
We’re proud to offer more than just the basics. Building on foundations of asana, philosophy, and anatomy, our teacher training has modules on Ayurveda, incorporating pregnant students, trauma-informed yoga, restorative yoga + finding your voice as a teacher (led by a bona fide West End star, no less!) We believe equipping you with a greater depth of knowledge will better prepare you to bring yoga out of the classroom and into the real world.
The chance to lead a month’s worth of paid community classes for Yogarise
Yup, that’s right. We offer our graduates the chance to teach a month’s worth of Community Classes to showcase their newly-acquired skills, kickstart their CV, and reach a new audience.
A knock-out venue where you can truly immerse yourself in yoga
This ain’t no holiday, but it’s certainly a chance to get away from it all. Come and embrace some sand, surf and Sri Lankan air at Tallala beach resort which offers deluxe ground and first floor accommodation, delicious home-cooked food and fresh fruits aplenty (with maybe even the odd cocktail – ahem, mocktail, should we say, yogis?! – thrown in for good measure).
Our mentors!
We believe that training doesn’t stop after completing the course and our mentors offer grads a unique chance to deepen their skills and grow confidence. You will be matched with a super experienced Yogarise teacher to mentor you during the London modules and after graduation. We are so proud to offer this support to our new intake of students.

Got questions, just get in touch.

Apply now to secure your spot.

HELLO 2021, HELLO JANUARY, HELLO 30 DAY CHALLENGE!

Posted on December 30, 2020August 31, 2022 by Emma Hitzelberger

Laters, 2020 – hello 2021! There’s nothing like the start of a new year to try something new or cultivate a healthy habit.

Need some motivation? Or need to shift things up a gear? We know the feeling. Join our 30 Day Online Challenge this January and kick-start your yoga practice.

Maybe you’re curious about practicing online and need a goal to set your sights on, or maybe you just want to take advantage of great value for money as well as love the drive of a challenge 😉

30 days, 30 classes, it’s that simple.

Still not 100% convinced, maybe these 3 reasons will tempt you…?

In a matter of days you will start to feel the benefits of a daily practice – we’re talking head-space + less aches and pains.
Your purchase means the world to us – you are directly supporting our teachers + your studio at a very tough time.
It’s a chance for you to explore the online schedule, try new teachers and develop a great habit that will set you up for the year ahead.

Pick up a class pack now to support your teachers, support your studio, and support your own mental and physical well-being. What’s not to love?

Plus this 30 Day Challenge is ONLINE. So you can roll out of bed and onto your mat, or the other way around!

Don’t delay, get a month’s worth of yoga for only £6 per class.

5 simple steps to get your gong on

Posted on November 13, 2020July 11, 2023 by Emma Hitzelberger

Going going GONG! In these challenging and uncertain times we would all benefit from some R&R. We’re thrilled to be hosting our sound bath facilitator Amanda Denton for an online gong therapy workshop at 7pm on 27th November. Whether you’re totally new to sound bath (don’t worry, you won’t get wet) or a gong aficionado, you’re probably wondering how the experience will translate to lockdown life.

We all know how wonderful it is live, but how can we recreate that magic at home? Here’s Amanda with some more info + handy tips…

I’m a first-timer. What exactly is a gong bath and what are its benefits?

Every part of your body has its own natural frequency it vibrates at, this frequency can be thrown off balance by stress, illness and other factors. The sound of the gong creates a vibration which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm down and soothe the over stimulated sympathetic nervous system. The functional harmony created by the Gong brings about an inner stillness where deep healing can occur.

What do I need to do?

Precisely nothing, basically! Simply pop on your headphones, lie back on your mat (or even your bed) and enjoy. You’ll be guided to drop into the weight of your bones and find the rhythm of your natural breath, feel the support of the earth beneath you, and completely let go.

Will it ‘work’ online?

We need to be able to share these powerful therapies, so I have invested in some top of the range equipment and consultation from a sound engineer – it’s taken some time to get my head around the tech but I have been fine-tuning it over the past few months. I want to make this healing process accessible – it’s something that myself and Leo Cosendai who I have trained with extensively, are very passionate about.

What can I do to get maximum benefit?

To experience this gong bath via livestream, headphones are essential. If you have over-the-head ones – Bluetooth ones are even better as they allow you to get away from your screen – for a fully immersive experience. If you really want to feel the vibrations, a Bose bluetooth speaker would help, but we don’t all have those!

Also, get cosy. It’s an hour of stillness, so you want to be as comfortable as you can be to not be distracted and benefit as much as possible. Wear something comfortable, grab a mat (or your bed / sofa), a couple of blankets, cushions, eye pillow or mask – get yourself and your space set up and ready to enjoy the practice.

When it is and where do I sign up?

It’s at 7-8pm on Friday 27 November. You can sign up here! It’s just £12 for the hour.

In addition to Gong Bath, Amanda Denton teaches weekly Dynamic Flow and Yogasana classes for Yogarise in Covent Garden, Streatham and also Online – you can book a class with Amanda here and read more about her here.

5 top tips for joining us online

Posted on November 9, 2020November 10, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

We may be back in lockdown but that wont stop us getting our daily dose of yoga and pilates. Whether you love practising as the sun rises, are a lunchtime warrior or prefer to wind down in the eve, we have 10 online classes each day for you to choose from.

Here’s our 5 top tips if you’re joining us from home:

1. Find your perfect class

Browse our full online schedule, find your fave teachers or try something completely new! Once you’re sorted, either purchase a drop-in class or get saving with an online class pack.

2. Make sure you know where to find the class link

We’re using a new software for our online classes, which means you’ll receive the link from ‘no-reply@apiant.com’ rather than Yogarise. Remember to save this email to your contacts so it doesn’t get lost in your spam folder.

3. Create a calming space

Clear a mat-sized space, grab a yoga block (or books!) and have your blanket or pillow handy so you can really enjoy savasana relaxation at the end.

4. Say hello!

Turn on your camera and give a wave to your teacher – it’s always lovely to see your faces, plus, the teacher can help with verbal cues and assists (and they don’t have to teach to a blank screen!) No one will judge you if you have washing hanging in the background, kids toys on the floor and are practising in your PJs – this is yoga after all!

5. Enjoy your class

Find yourself a chilled playlist or listen to the teacher’s shared playlist on Spotify. Grab a speaker or a pair of headphones (especially if you’re joining us for an online Gong Bath!) and let yourself be guided through movement and stillness in peace.

Hello (again) Yogarise Online!

Posted on November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 by Emma Hitzelberger

We’re gutted to have to close our doors – but we’ll be back as soon as we can. We’ll miss seeing your faces IRL but can’t wait to see your pets and plants on Zoom!

In the meantime… keep practising with your fave Yogarise teachers throughout lockdown with our all new 20 + 30 online class packs.

Plus – right now you can practise for even less! We’re adding some livestream love with a 15% off special offer – for a limited period – yup, that’s right, 30 classes for just £5.10 each. Could you practise every day throughout lockdown…? Now there’s a thought 🙂

Pick up 20 classes or a month’s worth – just use the code WINTERSALE at checkout. Don’t hang around – this offer won’t be around for long. What are you waiting for? Get your indoorphin fix – buy here!

Move your sofa (and your cat), roll out your mat, and we’ll see you on Zoom.

View our timetable and find out more about our fab teachers, then get Yogarising.

Give the gift of yoga with a Yogarise gift voucher

Posted on October 22, 2020June 22, 2022 by Sean Hitzelberger

You can create your own gift card of any value you like to be used on classes, workshops, products and more. You will receive a unique code in an email which you can pass on to your friend or use yourself.

All our Pre-pay plans can be purchased as a gift. Simply head to our Pricing page, select the item you wish to gift, and click ‘Gift this to a friend’ at the checkout. Easy peasy!

Gift vouchers are also available to buy in our studios and can be used towards all purchases within Yogarise. Each card has a design from graphics featured in our Streatham studio by illustrator + artist Kate Philipson AKA @leopardslunch

If you’re stuck for the perfect pressie, we also have some fab, healthy gift ideas from yoga wear, KeepCups, roll-on oils and locally designed yoga bolsters, to class packs, drop-ins and workshops – and, of course, our beautifully designed Gift Vouchers that can be spent on all of the above!

The best pilates in London

Posted on September 15, 2020July 11, 2023 by Sean Hitzelberger

Fancy developing your core strength, fitness and flexibility? Pilates may be the class for you and we think we’ve got some of the best pilates in London! It’s fun + challenging, but open to all levels and abilities – what’s not to love?

What to expect?

The movements in Pilates are slow and precise, targeting deep postural muscles of the body using set exercises and breathing techniques. Pilates is thought to be extremely beneficial in preventing injury, relieving back-pain, and for all those wanting to maintain a strong and balanced body – yay!

Although pilates emphasises precise movement, at Yogarise of course it’s all about having fun while you’re working out. Dynamic Pilates is often taught to music and is more of an upbeat and less ‘classical’ discipline.

We think Pilates is a brilliant and we know you’ll love it too… so why not give it a go?

See Peckham Schedule

We have Annie Nicoll and Caitlyn Scott on our roster in Peckham and Ghita Misciagna in Streatham.

See Streatham Schedule

Find out about Prenatal and Postnatal Pilates with Lottie Murphy – coming soon!

We also have Pilates classes On Demand online with the talented Lizzy Chong.

On Demand comes as standard for all those on a Pre-Pay Online or Studio package – unlimited monthly, 6 month or 12 month.

Rocket Yoga Masterclass

Posted on September 7, 2020September 7, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

We’re excited to announce…

A South London Homecoming Rocket Masterclass
with Marcus Veda

We’re taking over Unit 8 at Copeland Park (the big event space next to our Peckham studio) for an invogorating and fun masterclass with our resident Rocket pro Marcus. Expect large + airy warehouse vibes complete with killer tunes, plenty of room to social distance and of course, a playful flow to get your heart pumping and the energy rising!

SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
11.00-13.00

Spaces are limited so reserve your place here.

Can’t make it in person? No worries, we’ll be livestreaming the whole event too so you can join in from home. Sign up for the Livestream class here.

We can’t think of a better way to spend our weekend!

Get your FREE smoothie kit today!

Posted on August 28, 2020September 15, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

We’ve teamed up with our friends at The Honestly Good Smoothie Company to bring you some delicious, healthy + hassle free smoothie kits (worth £30), direct to your door, for FREE! Simply sign up to a 10 class pack or 20 class pack this September, for use in our studios, and they’ll do the rest.

As we enter into a new ‘Back to School’ season (we know it’s feeling a little different this year), experience all that Yogarise has to offer, from Rocket, Jivamukti and Dharma yoga to Hatha Flow, Yin and Flow + Restore, with our 10 or 20 Studio Class Pack.

BUY CLASS PACKS HERE

The Honestly Good Smoothie Company deliver delicious, nutrient rich smoothie kits made with 100% organic, fresh seasonal ingredients directly to your doorstep. Whether you’re into fruity, green, protein or veggie smoothies, their menu is full of yummy recipes to choose from, with added ingredients that pack a punch – turmeric root, goji berries, baobab, lucuma, flax seed – nomnom. This is your chance to get one of their Starter Kits (3 smoothies + mason jar + bamboo straw) for FREE… don’t miss out!

Once purchased, we’ll send you a link to The Honestly Good Smoothie Co where you can arrange your FREE smoothie kit order!

All Studio Class Packs can be used across Yogarise Peckham, Yogarise Streatham and Yogarise Covent Garden, where we have big, airy studio spaces complete with top cleaning procedures and 2 meter social distancing in place.

VIEW OUR FULL TIMETABLE HERE

We are Reopening!

Posted on July 16, 2020July 22, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

After months of lockdown we are super excited to be reopening our doors on the 25th July – hooray!

To align with Government guidelines on social distancing, we have a limited capacity of students allowed in each of our studio classes therefore we have had to amend our pricing structures to reflect the reduced capacity and limited timetable.

NEW STUDIO CLASS PRICES

Drop in: £16
BUY HERE

5 Class Pack: £77.50
PLUS get access to 2 online classes for free
BUY HERE

10 Class Pack: £150
PLUS get access to 5 online classes for free
BUY HERE

20 Class Pack: £250
PLUS get access to 10 online classes for free
BUY HERE

~ View our timetable here ~

If you’re unable to attend the studio, all classes will be livestreamed, plus we will still have a fab online schedule on offer, both of which will remain at the current online pricing.

STUDIO PROCEDURES

Visiting our studios will be a little different than before lockdown. We ask everyone to please bring their own mats, come dressed to practise and most importantly, to wear a mask (you can take it off once you’re on your mat!).

Each studio will have a slightly different procedure, so make sure to read the relevant page before coming to class.

PECKHAM PROCEDURE

STREATHAM PROCEDURE

COVENT GARDEN PROCEDURE

Can’t wait to see you all!

Streatham: Reopening Procedure

Posted on July 16, 2020June 22, 2022 by Sean Hitzelberger

After what feels like a lifetime in lockdown, we are getting ready to reopen our studios and welcome you back to Yogarise Streatham on Saturday 25th July!

Coming to the studio will be a little different than pre-Covid times, so please take a read of the following info before coming along to a class and prepare accordingly.

We ask everyone to pre-book classes to reduce the amount of time required at reception.

ON ARRIVAL

Queue outside the studio entrance respecting social distancing – a member of reception will let you in once the studio has been thoroughly cleaned after the previous class
No mask, no entry – all customers will be required to wear a mask inside our studio. This can only be taken off once you’re sat on your mat. We will have disposable masks for sale on reception (£1) if you forget your own

IN RECEPTION

Wash your hands (in the new sink next to the entrance) or sanitise them with gel on reception
The receptionist will take your temperature with a non invasive thermometer upon entry. If your temperature is elevated, you’ll be asked to leave and will receive a full refund
Social distancing – once inside, respect social distancing in our reception area while you wait to enter the studio. This will be clearly marked on the floors
Bring your own water bottle – feel free to use our taps to fill up your bottles but we wont have any glasses available
Please arrive in the clothes you wish to practise in. Our changing rooms will be closed due to their limited space
Please remove your shoes in reception and carry them into the studio with you, along with all your belongings

IN THE STUDIO

Limited booking – a maximum of 16 people will be allowed in the studio at once. We have knocked down the partition wall to make one large studio space
Bring your own mat – we are unable to provide any mats or equipment
All mats are to be placed 2 meters apart upon entering the studio – please follow the clearly marked floor stickers
Customers are permitted to bring their shoes, bags, jackets etc into the studio and place them tidily next to their mat.
Phones must be switched off and stored out of sight
Bring a warm layer of clothing – all windows will remain open during the class to improve air circulation
Bring any props from home you wish to practice with eg. belt, eye pillow, blocks or blanket
The disabled toilet will be open for use – please spray down the toilet cubicle (including door lock and flush) with the disinfectant spray provided after use.

AFTER CLASS

If there is another class direct after yours, you’ll be asked to put your mask on, hold your belongings and move to the right-hand wall where the fire escape and double doors are, while the next class enters the room. Once they are in, you will be able to exit the room, to avoid overcrowding in the reception area.

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We hope to make your experience at Yogarise Streatham as enjoyable as possible, and ask that you listen carefully to instructions from our team to ensure everyone remains safe.

Please note, studio classes will be live-streamed however the camera will only show the teacher, not students

~ View our Streatham studio timetable ~

Peckham: reopening procedure

Posted on July 16, 2020June 22, 2022 by Sean Hitzelberger

After what feels like a lifetime in lockdown, we are getting ready to reopen our studios and welcome you back to Yogarise Peckham on Saturday 25th July!

Coming to the studio will be a little different than pre-Covid times, so please take a read of the following info before coming along to a class and prepare accordingly.

We ask everyone to pre-book classes to reduce the amount of time required at reception.

ON ARRIVAL

Queue outside the studio entrance respecting social distancing – a member of reception will let you in once the studio has been thoroughly cleaned after the previous class
No mask, no entry – all customers will be required to wear a mask inside our studio. This can only be taken off once you’re sat on your mat. We will have disposable masks for sale on reception (£1) if you forget your own

IN RECEPTION

Wash your hands (in the new sink next to the entrance) or sanitise them with gel on reception
The receptionist will take your temperature with a non invasive thermometer upon entry. If your temperature is elevated, you’ll be asked to leave and will receive a full refund
Social distancing – once inside, respect social distancing in our reception area while you wait to enter the studio. This will be clearly marked on the floors
Bring your own water bottle – feel free to use our taps to fill up your bottles but we wont have any glasses available
Please arrive in the clothes you wish to practise in. Our changing rooms will be closed due to their limited space
Please remove your shoes in reception and carry them into the studio with you, along with all your belongings

IN THE STUDIO

Limited booking – a maximum of 20 people will be allowed in the studio at once. We will be opening up the partition wall between the two rooms to make one large shala
Bring your own mat – we are unable to provide any mats or equipment
All mats are to be placed 2 metres apart upon entering the studio – please follow the clearly marked floor stickers
Customers are permitted to bring their shoes, bags, jackets etc into the studio and place them tidily next to their mat
Phones must be switched off and stored out of sight
Bring a warm layer of clothing – all windows will remain open during the class to improve air circulation
Bring any props from home you wish to practice with eg. belt, eye pillow, blocks or blanket
Toilets will be open – please spray down the toilet cubicle (including door lock and flush) with the disinfectant spray provided after use

AFTER CLASS

You’ll be asked to leave the room through the far door and exit the studio via the Fire Exit and B Block stairwell. There will be no re-access through the corridor / reception

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We hope to make your experience at Yogarise Peckham as enjoyable as possible, and ask that you listen carefully to instructions from our team to ensure everyone remains safe.

Please note, studio classes will be live-streamed however the camera will only show the teacher, not students.

~ View our Peckham studio timetable ~

Local Streatham Foodies we’re shouting about

Posted on July 1, 2020July 11, 2023 by Sean Hitzelberger

Since opening our studio doors on Streatham High Road at the start of 2019, we’ve had so much fun discovering our new neighbourhood and can’t get enough of the incredible independent foodie businesses we’re surrounded by.

Here are some of our faves…

TRIBE CAFE

Vegan cafe, juice bar and co-working space, we love the chilled out atmosphere and sense of community you get when you walk through Tribe’s doors. They’ve got private and shared desk spaces, bookable high-tech conference rooms and of course, yummy food and treats on offer to get you through the day.

Bunhead Bakes

One of our lockdown discoveries, Bunhead Bakes delivers the most delicious sourdough buns, cookies and bagels direct to your doorstep every Monday and Friday! Not only is Bunhead Bakes great for when you have those sweet tooth cravings (hello, sourdough cinnamon bun!) but they also make fab treats to bring to socially-distanced picnics and garden hangouts to enjoy with friends and fam.

The Inkspot Brewery

Sheltered within the historical Streatham Rookery sits the Inkspot Brewery. Set up by two friends with a passion for great beer, they embarked on a four year project to build a brewery within the Grade II listed gardens and well, they have certainly delivered! Grab a can or two for the picnic basket and enjoy on a sunny day.

Get Juiced Bar

Get Juiced serve the most delish cold press juices, salads, vegan cakes and juice cleanses made to order from their shop in Tooting Market. Their ethos is to ensure all Get Juiced products are revitalising, healthy and most importantly TASTY, while bringing accessible nutritional health awareness to the local community. We can’t stop staring (drooling) at all the brightly coloured treats on offer!

Lento Of London

Calling all cheese lovers! Lento of London have the most incredible range of Zero Waste cheeses so you can enjoy a scrummy cheese board AND be sustainable! Passionate about Italian food and wine, they source from small-scale artisan producers who share a similar belief that food and wine should be produced responsibly, without mass mechanical intervention, keeping traditional methods alive and supporting the local community and environment. What’s not to love?

Why we love Lunchtimes

Posted on July 1, 2020July 1, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

While London slowly opens up again, the majority of us are still working from home, and if there has been one thing we’ve learnt these last 3 months, it’s that having a proper lunch break is incredibly important!

Obviously, one of our fave things to do over lunch is our online yoga classes, not only so we can see our fab teachers and community, but also because there are some incredible benefits of moving your body during the day…

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It improves our mental clarity, so we can get back to work in the afternoon feeling fresher and more alert

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Hello circulation! Encouraging the fluids in our body to flow is super important in optimising our overall health and ability to heal

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Say goodbye to the lower back ache and sore shoulders. Stepping away from our desks (or kitchen table/sofa/bed… no judgement) to do an online yoga class means we get to work on our core strength and release tension that’s built up during those morning meetings

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Boost your mood! Have you ever felt grumpy after a yoga class? We didn’t think so…

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Here’s the lunchtime online yoga classes we have on offer:

MONDAY
Vinyasa Flow with Katy Bateman
12.00 – 12.45

TUESDAY
Vinyasa Flow with Kate Lovell
13.00 – 13.45

WEDNESDAY
Dynamic Pilates with Lizzy Chong
12.00 – 13.00

Dynamic Flow with Anna Clifford
13.00 – 13.45

THURSDAY
Rocket with Lolo Lam
12.00 – 13.00

FRIDAY
Vinyasa Flow with Jaqui Wan
13.00 – 14.00

~ BOOK A LUNCHTIME YOGA CLASS HERE ~

PLUS – here are our fave WFH lunch recipes if you’re bored of the ham sandwiches 😉

The Lowdown on Yin Yoga

Posted on June 24, 2020July 11, 2023 by Sean Hitzelberger

What is Yin yoga? What are the benefits? How is it different to a regular flowing yoga class?

We chatted with Austin Ince, one of our amazing online yin yoga teachers, to gain some insight into his Yin Yoga journey and find out some helpful tips for anyone looking to try Yin out!

How did you get into Yin yoga?

I was introduced to yin by my teachers, who had only just discovered it. At the time I was practising lots of dynamic yoga and had plateaued with my practice in terms of flexibility. The ethos of the era was that practising more, for longer and harder must be better. I came to realise that this was seriously flawed thinking! I had come to realise that my practice was out of balance and the idea of practising ‘Yin’ was to balance the predominantly ‘Yang’ element.

What is Yin?

Yin is a still and gentle practice which can be, paradoxically, extremely challenging and hard! Persevere though, not for how you feel during the practice but for how you’ll feel afterwards. The practice is multilayered and creates transformation in more ways than a ‘Yang’ practice. The longer you practise the easier the practice becomes and the less intensively you practice the better the results.

What can you expect from a class?

A yin practice is defined as the opposite of a yang one! In Yin you hold the poses, which in the main are seated and lying down, for longer, between 3 to 5 minutes. It targets the lower part of the body, spine, hips and legs. It applies a gentle tensile stress to the connective tissue and the fascia of the body.

What are the benefits of Yin yoga?

It keeps the tissues, joints, bones healthy and restores the range of motion. The challenge is to stay still and to come to terms with the discomfort and eventually that discomfort becomes comfort. Once they realise that doing less for longer is better, their practice will be transformed. You’ll become more flexible faster practicing yin, if they practice mindfully. Slow is the new fast!

The biggest mistake that practitioners make is that they approach a yin practice with a yang attitude.

When we are in our comfort zone we atrophy, comfort is the enemy of the body and mind. When we leave our comfort zone and experience discomfort, we are challenged, we grow, we become stronger and mentally more agile.

I refer to ‘Yang’ as a doing practice and ‘Yin’ as an undoing practice, “the Art of Letting Go.” Because we are still it becomes a meditative practice, which de-stresses and recalibrated the Central Nervous System.

What would be your advice to those new to the practice?

1. Don’t concern yourself with details – alignment doesn’t matter, what you feel does.

2. Take it easy, don’t go too deep into the poses – you’ll make more progress this way.

3. Ignore what everyone else is doing – every body is different and everyone’s pose will look different.

4. Avoid pain but stay with slight discomfort.

5. Close your eyes and be amazed at how quickly time passes.

So… are you feeling (Y)inspired?

Austin also teaches in our Peckham and Streatham studios, so keep an eye on our timetable for when we are able to reopen.

Have £50 on us!

Posted on June 24, 2020August 31, 2022 by Sean Hitzelberger

We’re sharing a little love and gifting you £25 if you spend £75, or a whopping £50 if you spend £100 on yoga account credit.

Credit can be used for:
– online or studio classes
– workshops
– teacher trainings
– merchandise and gift vouchers

With plenty of online yoga classes choose from, plus our studios reopening in a matter of weeks (yey!), there’s never been a better time to breathe… stretch… and Yogarise!

What are you waiting for?

Start Yoga here

Posted on June 15, 2020July 11, 2023 by Sean Hitzelberger

We know that starting yoga can be scary – we’ve been there too. There’s all the unfamiliar words, strange ways to move and everyone around seems to be able to touch their toes! That’s why we run Beginners Yoga classes. They offer a safe space for you to start your yoga journey and are led by experienced and friendly teachers.

You’ll start with the basic postures (where does my foot go again?) and simple breathing techniques so you can build confidence and reap the benefits yoga has to offer. We hope that after a couple of session, you’ll feel more prepared to try other yoga classes too!

Taz Aliabadi-Oglesby, one of our incredible Beginners Yoga teachers shares with us some top tips for first-timers:

– There’s no wrong or right way to practice; you can’t be “bad” at yoga

– Yoga really is for everyone, regardless of body, size, shape or ability

– You don’t have to be flexible in your body (phew!) but being flexible in your mind and open to new things helps

– It will be frustrating and confusing at times – that just comes with the territory of learning any ‘New Thing’. Ask yourself, as an adult how often do I let myself be completely new at something?

– The most advanced practice is the one that is respectful to your physical body and your state of mind in the moment. Be kind to yourself. Honour the body’s inner wisdom

– Your breath is the cornerstone for the practice. If you find yourself in a pose where you can’t keep your breath, ease out of it

– There is no hierarchy – no one variation of a pose or movement is “better” or “worse” than any other

– Become best mates with your props! You don’t need to have fancy blocks or straps at home, grab some books and a dressing gown belt and you’re good to go

We now offer in-person Beginners Yoga Classes with Becky Farbstein on Saturdays in Peckham and with Jill Martin in Streatham.

Mandala magic

Posted on June 11, 2020June 15, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Let’s get creative! Online Mandala yoga classes weave rhythmic breathing and fun flowing vinyasa with a twist – quite literally – you’ll also be moving 360° around your mat! Each class is based on one of the 4 elements, so you’ll be channeling your inner earth, water, fire or air each week.

Mahalia Pellet, one of our fab yoga teachers at Yogarise Covent Garden tells us what we can expect from an online mandala yoga class…

Support, Connect, Ground

When we connect to the earth element, we connect to the first chakra, Muladhara, at the base of the spine. It is the ground we stand on. Think forward folds, finding space in the hamstrings and the back of the body.

Flow, Create, Feel

When we connect to the element of water, we move to the second chakra, Swadisthana, located at the sacrum. This element and chakra is all about going with the flow, connecting to our emotions and feelings. In practice, think moving through asanas including goddess, skandasana and malasana.

Courage, Illumination, Determination

When we connect to the element of fire, we move up to the third chakra, Manipura, located at the solar plexus. The energetic job of this chakra is to help us step into our personal power. In practice we will move through sequences of twisting asanas and find space through the sides of the body.

Love, Acceptance, Gratitude

When we work with the element of Air in our practice we move to the fourth chakra, Anahata, located at the heart. Energetically this chakra connects our inner and outer worlds and helps us cultivate qualities of love, compassion, joy and forgiveness. In practice we will explore backbends and creating space through the front of the body.

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Try it out for yourself!
Online Mandala yoga with Mahalia
Friday at 5pm
Book here

Plus, we’ll have more Mandala yoga classes on offer once we are able to reopen our studios in Peckham, Streatham and Covent Garden, yay!

Our fave mindfulness apps

Posted on June 4, 2020June 15, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Prioritising our mental health is incredibly important, especially while dealing with a pandemic. We’ve found using mindfulness apps has been a great addition to our daily online yoga classes as a way to check-in and pause. Here are some of our fave apps we’ve been using…

CALM

Calm lets you tailor a mindfulness routine based on an intention you set yourself which we absolutely love. They have everything from 3 min meditations and mindfulness Masterclasses to nighttime stories read by celebs (hello, Matthew McConaughey).

INSIGHT TIMER

An online community of meditators, Insight Timer features guided meditations, music and talks posted by experts in the realm of mindfulness. No matter how much (or little) time you have to spend on yourself, you’ll find something that works for you. Their children’s sleep tracks are also great for getting the little ones to drift off.

HEADSPACE

Headspace has one mission: to improve the health and happiness of the world. They offer incredible meditation courses that make it feel accessible for anyone starting out. Headspace is also one of the only mindfulness apps committed to advancing the field of mindfulness meditation through clinically-validated research which we think is pretty cool! If you’re unemployed or a student, you can get Headspace Plus free for a year too.

SHINE

With a particular focus on managing anxiety, Shine lets you create a personalised self-care program based on your goals, complete with daily mental health support. You can also connect with other members and join their incredible digital support network!

REFLECTLY

Reflectly is a journalling app that utilises artificial intelligence to help you structure and reflect upon your daily thoughts and problems, a bit like a personal mental health companion. From improving productivity to gaining a better sense of calm, they have prompts and challenges which are fun and insightful and help along the way.

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Looking for a live guided meditation? Check out our online meditation class led by Ryan Nell:

Sunday at 5.30PM

BOOK HERE

Plus, Ryan teaches weekly meditation classes in Covent Garden, Streatham and Peckham, so keep an eye out for when our studios reopen!

Anti-Racism Charities, Resources & Educational Tools

Posted on June 3, 2020July 6, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Today marks the second day of peaceful protests in London over the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. If you’re unable to attend the protest or want to further educate yourself in allyship and anti-racism, here are some resources we have found useful. We know there is always more that can be done, and more to learn…

Charities you can support in the UK:

Show Racism The Red Card
Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism educational charity. They provide educational workshops, training sessions, multimedia packages, and a whole host of other resources, all with the purpose of tackling racism in society. Established in January 1996, the organisation utilises the high-profile status of football and football players to publicise its message. Across Britain, Show Racism the Red Card delivers training to more than 50,000 individuals per year.

Stand Against Racism and Inequality
SARI is a service user/community-oriented agency that provides support and advice to victims of hate, and promotes equality and good relations between people with protected characteristics as defined by law. Established in 1988, SARI has been operational since 1991. It was the brainchild of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) housing provider United Housing Association.

Discrimination Law Association
The DLA brings together a broad range of discrimination law practitioners, policy experts, academics and concerned individuals, all united around a commitment to improving equality law, practice, education and advice for those who face discrimination.

Books to read:

If you have a copy of these books, please consider lending them to friends and family. If you’re looking to buy a copy but could instead borrow, why not donate the money you would have spent to one of the charities instead.

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race
Reni Eddo-Lodge

Me and White Supremacy
Layla F Saad

Your Silence Will Not Protect You
Audre Lorde

Such a Fun Age
Kiley Reid

Americanah
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo

(Click here for a much more comprehensive list of reading around racism, blackness and how to be a better ally)

Educational Resources:

Unpacking White Feminism Lecture by Rachel Cargle
A Guide To Allyship
Tribe Life Anti-Racism Resources
Black Lives Matter – Ways You Can Help

Cultivating heat from the inside out

Posted on May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Temperatures are rising outside as we head into summer but we’re busy cultivating heat from the inside out. Here are our top online yoga classes to get the heat rising, sweat dripping and muscles shaking!

ASHTANGA YOGA

Where it all started…Ashtanga Yoga derives from the teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. You can expect a dynamic sequence of standing and seated postures practiced with focused breathing techniques, designed specifically to align the body and strengthen the nervous system. Each class practises the same primary sequence so it’s a great way to track your progress and build the basics.

Online Ashtanga classes:
Monday 6PM with Hannah Whittingham
Tuesday 7AM with Valentina Zaharia
Thursday 7AM with Alice Bonifacio
Saturday 10AM with Hannah Whittingham

~ Book online Ashtanga classes at Yogarise here ~

ROCKET YOGA

Based off the Ashtanga series but with a few fun additions and less repetition, Rocket yoga is an energetic and invigorating vinyasa flow practice where you’ll be encouraged to play with inversions and transitions. If you’re after a challenge, this is certainly for you. We recommend clearing a decent space, grabbing a sweat towel and having some water handy.

Online Rocket Yoga classes:
Tuesday 10.30AM with Marcus Veda
Wednesday 5.30PM with Luna Anderson
Thursday 12PM with Lolo Lam

~ Book online Rocket yoga classes at Yogarise here ~

YOGASANA

Expect a pinch of philosophy, a dash of meditation, all combined with challenging asanas to help create a feeling of deep inner peace. During a Yogasana class at Yogarise, you’ll work hard, breathe big and play with plenty of advanced variations. Top it all off with a fun, upbeat playlist and you’re good to go!

Online Yogasana classes:
Monday 6.30PM with Amanda Denton
Wednesday 6PM with Erin Prichard
Sunday 10AM with Erin Prichard

~ Book an online Yogasana class with Yogarise here ~

The benefits of practising online yoga

Posted on May 21, 2020May 22, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Stay connected with your community

We’ve loved watching friendships blossom in our studios, and seeing that translate to our online yoga classes has been even more special! We’ve met partners, kids, pets, house plants… who doesn’t want to practise with their fave Yogarise teacher and catch up with their yogi pals? We may be social distancing but that doesn’t mean we have to be socially distant!

Treasure a moment of mindfulness

It can be hard to carve out time for mindfulness when we’ve got a million distractions around us (hello, Netflix binges), but a yoga class can create that sacred space we need to slow down. Mindfulness is known to help reduce stress and anxiety while improving sleep and memory… we can’t think of any reasons not to give it a go! Our top yoga classes for mindfulness? Check out an online Hatha flow, Yin yoga or Flow + Restore !

Your body will thank you

Whether you believe yoga is a form of exercise or not, it’s hard to deny the incredible effects the practice has on our bodies, especially while so many of us are sat at our makeshift desks all day. Yoga is known to improve circulation (goodbye, numb bum), posture and breathing mechanics to name a few, all of which are incredibly important for staying healthy. Want to get that heart pumping? We recommend an online Rocket yoga, Yogasana or Dharma class, just make sure to grab your sweat towel!

Create a sense of routine

Anyone else feeling like you’ve just woken from a nap and have no clue what time or day it is? Whether you’re busier than ever or left with an abundance of time to fill, we’ve found building a daily routine has helped us stay grounded while at home. And of course, joining an online yoga class has become a staple in our routine. We’re loving early evening yoga at the moment, perfect for switching off at the end of the work day with plenty of time for tea and telly 😉

Practise with teachers you’ve not been able to before

Don’t you hate it when there’s a teacher you love but their class just doesn’t work with your commute or schedule? Well, location is no longer an issue because we’re streaming live yoga and pilates classes directly to your lounge (or bedroom/kitchen/garden) up to 10 times per day, which means you have easier access to Yogarise’s talented team of teachers – Yay!

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So… what are you waiting for? Check out the Yogarise online timetable and get booking!

We’ll see you on Zoom soon <3

Kids Go Free!

Posted on May 18, 2020May 22, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Get your little ones into yoga early with our new online Kids Yoga class!

Kids Yoga with David Ramcharran
Tuesday 4 – 4.45 PM
BOOK HERE

Got a 5-10 year old? This is for you (well, them really but who doesn’t love a stretch?)

David is patient, fun and inspiring and will guide your kids through postures, breathing and relaxation exercises. He believes that yoga is for everybody no matter the age, so feel free to join in yourselves and get the whole family involved.

Here are just a few benefits of kids yoga:

– Enhances their mobility, strength and coordination
– Improves concentration levels + introduces mindfulness early
– Promotes a healthy sense of body awareness
– Teaches stress and anxiety management
– It’s fun and inclusive!

Kids Yoga with David Ramcharran Tuesday 4 – 4.45 PM
Try your first class for FREE using the code
‘YOGARISEKIDS’
at checkout !

~ BOOK NOW ~

Our Top 5 South London Delivery Saviours…

Posted on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

We may be staying home all day but that doesn’t mean we can’t still support our fave South London local businesses! So let’s #SaveOurHighstreet and enjoy some treats at the same time…

For the plant lovers : FOREST LONDON

Anyone else got house plant envy? From succulents to string of pearls and everything in between, if you’re wanting to bring some texture and greenery to your lockdown pad, Forest London have got you covered!

2. For the book worms: RYE BOOKS

Our fave independent bookshop Rye Books have taken their store online with an incredible selection of reads to suite every mood and a book club that meets virtually every month. They’re offering free delivery to SE postcodes too… wahoo!

3. For the sweet tooth: SE CAKERY

Rainbow bars, Biscoff cake and brownie bakes, SE Cakery have all those sugary cravings sorted with their insatiable range of sweet treats delivered every Saturday in South East London. We’re loving the personalised icing too…

4. For the cocktail connoisseurs: BAMBUNI WINE & GROCERY

Whether you’ve become a HouseParty pro or are cooking a delish meal for two, Bambuni Wine & Grocery have the ultimate choice of hand selected wine, beer and sprits… It’s 5 o’clock somewhere right?!

5. For the lazy diners: SPINACH LONDON

Being in lockdown doesn’t mean you have to miss out on those weekend brunches! Spinach London have an incredible range of mouth watering fresh salads, sandwiches and juices delivered direct to your doorstep… YUM!

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Save Our Studio

As a small business ourself, every online yoga class you book with Yogarise is going towards the survival of the studio so we want to say massive THANK YOU for all your kind words. We have grown a fantastic community and your support means the world. Every class you pay for is split 50/50 with our teachers too so you are supporting them as well as us!

Fancy trying a class? Book an online yoga class with Yogarise here.

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~ GIVEAWAY ~ Calligraphy Stater Kit

Posted on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

In need of a lockdown creativity boost? Look no further…

We’ve teamed up with Ink & Flow London founder (and one of our lovely yoga teachers at Yogarise Peckham) Kirstie Bird to giveaway an incredible Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit including everything you need to get going and more!

The kit includes the following…

All the worksheets, tips and tricks you could ever hope for
2 x nibs (Nikko G to start with then a Blue Pumpkin for once you’ve had a bit of practice)
2 pen holders (straight and oblique)
Higgins eternal black ink
Gum Arabic for when the ink is being pesky and bleeding everywhere
Practice paper and a Rhodia dot pad

And Voila! You’re ready to go!

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To enter, head over to our Giveaway post on our Instagram @YogariseLondon , tag your 3 best mates in the comments and follow @YogariseLondon and @inkandflowLondon … it’s that simple!

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* PLUS *

Kirstie teaches an online Vinyasa Flow yoga class every Sunday morning 9.30 – 10.30 so you can get your self care Sunday off to a good start 😉

Book here.

10 Tips to Manage Overwhelm & Anxiety During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Posted on March 30, 2020April 30, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed or anxious while social distancing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, which is why we’ve asked one of our incredible teachers Anita Jasser, a UKCP body psychotherapist trainee, a yoga teacher and biodynamic massage therapist, to share some tips to help manage overwhelm and anxiety during the coronavirus outbreak.

Do less – in this period, it is important to rest more than usual. When circumstances are uncertain, our nervous system responses will be activated, especially if we are following the news and spending more time online. Let yourself nap more and do less.
What part of this can I do? My teacher Ana Forrest suggests that in times of overwhelm, ask yourself, what part of this can I do? By breaking down your to-do list and focusing on completing one part of it at a time, it can make us feel less overwhelmed.
Daily routines –Make a daily routine, so that you can begin to unwind at the same time each day. The body needs consistency to self-regulate. I’d suggest attending an online zoom class with your favourite Yogarise teacher, meditating, tai-chi, or attending a 5rythms online dance class at the same time and day each week.
Start early – Set an intention to carve out some time for yourself before you begin your day. This can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 50 depending on your home life. It will give you an opportunity to check in with yourself and to set an intention for what we’d like to receive in the day. It might be more time to rest, to connect with friends and family, or it might be to receive kindness from another person.
Eye care – in this period when many of us are spending more time online, it is important to take good care of our eyes. Staring at a screen for 8 hours a day is very damaging for our eyes. Eye exercises, alongside eating more foods with melatonin such as bananas, and using anti blue light software for computers will support your eyes during this period.
Drink more water – being still and sitting for long periods of times can be dehydrating, so drink a lot more water, which will also give you a regular rest from your screen.
Move – whether it is yoga, Pilates or dancing, find ways to regularly keep moving and stretch out the glutes from sitting down. Make the most of the once-a-day outdoor limit we have if you can.
Stay connected – join online groups and regularly connect with friends, families and online communities to stay connected and nourished during this period.
Laugh – find programmes or friends to laugh with. Laughter really is a great way to release stress and tension.
Be heartfelt – this is a period for us to connect to ourselves and others from a place of heart. Ask your heart what it needs each day and allow yourself to receive what you’ve asked for. Focus on what you do have and allow your heart to be nourished by that. Gratitude goes a long way.

Anita Jasser is a trainee body psychotherapist offering Zoom sessions at the moment – if you’d like to find out more and book a session with her, you can email her here.

ONLINE YOGA & PILATES CLASSES

Posted on March 21, 2020November 6, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Welcome to Yogarise Online! The world is changing around us and we are adapting to make sure you still get the Yogarise experience even if you can’t get to us in person. All our studio classes are now Livestreamed, and we have online-exclusive classes on offer for you too.

To book, visit the Yogarise Online timetable and sign up like you would for a regular class. Once you’re booked, follow these simple steps:

1. Download Zoom for free onto your computer, tablet or phone, and register for a basic account.

2. Clear a space for you to practise in – we recommend having a yoga block (or books!), a blanket or pillow handy so you can really enjoy savasana relaxation at the end.

3. You can book any time up until the start of class. You’ll receive an email from us with the link to join in, simply follow the link to get started. Remember to make sure your Yogarise account has a valid and updated email address otherwise you won’t receive this email. If you book within an hour of the class you will receive the link immediately. If you do not receive the link, please check your junk / spam and search ‘all mail’ for ‘no-reply@apiant.com’

4. Turn on your camera and give a wave to your teacher – it’s always lovely to see your faces, plus, the teacher can help with verbal cues and assists (and they don’t have to teach to a blank screen!) No one will judge you if you have washing hanging in the background, kids toys on the floor and are practising in your PJs – this is yoga after all 😉

5. Turn your audio on so that you can hear the instructions. Choose your own music to play in the background or find the yoga teacher’s playlist on Spotify.

6. Put yourself on mute when you join the class. There will be a message board that you can use if you have any questions during the class. And remember to say bye to your teacher, just like you would in an IRL session.

7. Enjoy your yoga class and do send us any feedback – we’d love to hear from you.

|| ONLINE PRICING ||

In addition to the below, we are now offering 20 + 30 class packs with a 15% discount (that’s from only £5.10 per class!). Just use the code WINTERSALE at the checkout.

We’ve also set up these pricing options to make our online classes accessible to as many people as possible while continuing to support our teachers and staff.

~ Available to buy now here ~

SHARE THE LOVE…

Show us your home studio set up! We’re going to miss seeing you all in the studio, so whether you’re in your lounge, kitchen, bedroom or garden, snap a pic of you doing a Yogarise online class and tag us on Instagram @YogariseLondon to keep up the community love.

Spread the word and share our online yoga classes with your friends! Our referral scheme is still active, so introduce a mate to a class and you’ll get a free KeepCup, Jerry Bottle, Yogarise T-shirt or Tote bag (which you can collect when we’re all out of isolation!).

See you online soon xx

Runners Need & Yogarise

Posted on January 7, 2020April 30, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

We’re really happy to say that we’ve partnered with Runners Need to create a yoga class specifically for runners, hosted at their Covent Garden store on the 22nd January.

TO SIGN UP please go through the Eventbrite link

Come and join Runners Need and Yogarise professional Chloe for a special Yoga for Runners event.

As Chloe understands the affects running can have on our bodies, she’s the perfect teacher for our runners yoga class.

About Chloe:

Chloe started running in 2002, and in 2003 she ran the Paris Marathon which was a baptism of fire! It was during her self-confessed ‘rather sketchy’ marathon training in 2003 that she started practicing yoga. She had genuinely resigned herself to being a stiff person and hadn’t realised at all that over a long period of time her body was capable of adapting and becoming more flexible. Yoga is genuinely amazing for runners, but running isn’t particularly great for yoga!

Fast forward to 2012 and her husband had taken up running – he’d caught the running bug. Together they’ve now entered into the Two Rivers Marathon in February 2020 as their qualifier for the Comrado Ultra in June.

All attendee’s will receive a £10 voucher to spend in Runners Need and £5 off their next Yogarise session.

Community Classes

Posted on January 2, 2020April 29, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

The Lowdown for 2020

Here at Yogarise, community has always been close to our hearts. That’s everything from how we want you to feel when you walk in to our studios, to how we can help to support our local communities.

We’re really happy to say that in 2020 we’re launching Community Classes in each of our studios, meaning we’ll now have 3 running every week across Peckham, Streatham and Covent Garden on Sunday afternoons.

We asked all of our teachers, members and the wider Yogarise fam who they’d like to support throughout 2020, finding charities that are local to each studio and are in need of visibility and donations. We’ve now set 12 charities, thanks to their suggestions. So every 4 months our studios will be supporting a new charity – each local to them.

The main way that we support our charities is through our £5 Community Classes. For every class at least £1 will go towards the chosen charity.

These classes are great because they are more affordable for people to come to, and they give a platform to our newer teachers – namely our Yogarise Yoga Teacher Training graduates (our Teachers on the Rise… see what we did there?) who are fully paid for teaching their classes.

For each class there are a few places that are completely free, based on a first come first serve basis. These classes will take place every Sunday afternoon across our Peckham, Covent Garden and Streatham studios.

The charities that we are supporting will be on our community page and we’ll be updating the money raised at the end of each month – as class attendance levels, and how much students choose to donate, will affect how much money is raised.

November 30 Day Challenge

Posted on October 25, 2019October 29, 2019 by Sean Hitzelberger

Are you in?

Join the challenge, throughout November we are encouraging people to attend 25 classes over 30 days… they can be on any day, at any time and any class style. You’ll also get 5 days off throughout the month to rest, meditate and recuperate (or enjoy a long weekend away!).

Sign me up!

Never been to a Yogarise class or workshop before? The 30 Day Challenge is just £50 for UNLIMITED ANYTIME YOGA… that’s only £2 per class if you come all 25 days.

If you’ve been to our studio before, you can join in for just £75 for UNLIMITED ANYTIME YOGA (the price of our unlimited off-peak membership) which means your classes are from as little as £3 a session, bargain!

YES I’m down… sign me up!

Grab one of our 30 Day Challenge cards after you sign up and at the end of each class present it to a member of reception who will stamp it.

We want to see how you’re getting on!

Remember to snap lots of pics of you and your cards filling up, plus any other fun studio pics throughout the month using the tag @YogariseLondon and the hashtag #30DC for your chance to win some goodies…

Click here to join the November 30 Day Challenge!

You can sign up to the challenge anytime, however the pass will only be active and available for use between 1/11/19 and 30/11/19. You can attend classes across all three of our studios (Peckham, Streatham + Covent Garden) Full T&C’s can be found here.

Mysore at Yogarise

Posted on September 4, 2019June 4, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

We’ve just introduced an unlimited Mysore Pass for our Covent Garden Yogis. But is it the thing for you? Teacher Alice Bonifacio helps to delve deeper into what Mysore is, and who it’s great for…

“A lot of people feel intimidated by Mysore but don’t worry! This blog post will debunk some of the myths behind the practice: My Mysore class is open to all levels and follows the ashtanga primary series, with sessions running as a drop-in for students between 7-9am.

Mysore is a form of self-practice with a teacher present, helping you to break down the postures or asanas in the primary series, whilst also exploring the remaining 7 limbs of ashtanga (ashtanga means “eight limbs” or “branches”).

Mysore is named after the city in South India where ashtanga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois, and later became popular in the west. Traditionally, Mysore is practiced at sunrise during the cooler hours of the day and mirrors our life cycle through the ashtanga series. The postures are intelligently sequenced to allow the body to warm up and prepare for more challenging asanas.

Mysore is perfect for beginners, allowing you the space and time to really understand the postures without the pressures of a led class. For me, Mysore cracked open my yoga practice and gave me the confidence and freedom to roll out my mat wherever I choose. As an actress, I travel quite a lot so I was very grateful of a practice I could take anywhere with me in the world!”

Rocket Yoga 101

Posted on September 4, 2019June 4, 2020 by Sean Hitzelberger

Forget rock ’n’ roll, we’re into Rocket yoga: a dynamic, Vinyasa-flow yoga practice that’s sure to make you sweat and feel some fire – AKA agni in Ayurveda. The Rocket yoga sequence was developed by an American yoga teacher, Larry Schultz, in the Eighties. Musician – and self-professed rocket man – Bob Weir (of The Grateful Dead) suggested the name to Schultz during a teaching session, saying: ‘Rocket: it gets you there faster.’

Thought about joining a class but not sure what to expect?

Rocket yoga sequences are similar to those in Ashtanga, featuring Surya Namaskar (sun salutations), standing poses, seated poses, twists and bends. However, in Rocket yoga, students are given the freedom to modify traditional asanas, or even skip them entirely, instead of sticking to a rigid pattern. One of our incredible Rocket teachers Helen Russell-Clark says: ‘Rocket is the rebellious younger sibling of ashtanga. I love that it breaks all the rules. It has all the grounding of ashtanga, but it uplifts you, leaving you feeling stronger, healthier and happier.’

Marcus Veda, another of our fab Rocket teachers, agrees, explaining: ‘Rocket is about an attitude rather than the specific sequence. It’s strong and positive – not about the poses, but about the way they link together. For me, it’s the true Vinyasa-style flow. Each style has its own flavour, but Rocket is my milkshake.’ Movement is linked with breath throughout the sequence, and yogis are encouraged to experiment with inversions (headstands, handstands and so on). For Marcus, the handstands are a highlight, because they’re: ‘The closest you can come to flying. It’s that feeling of lightness, floating and a clear head. It’s pure focus in the moment. And it always feels fun.’

So, what are the benefits of joining a Yogarise Rocket class?

According to Marcus, benefits of Rocket include: ‘Strength, stability, mobility, concentration, self-awareness, concentration and meditation.’ For Helen, it’s all about how good you feel afterwards: ‘For me, personally, I found Rocket at a time when I was very low. I remember walking out of my first class being so surprised at how amazingly high I felt. And that feeling can be quite powerful. As well as the mental benefits, Rocket can make you stronger, quicker. I learnt so much about my physical body and have found it fascinating to see the transformations.’

Join a Rocket Class at Yogarise

Yogarise has a choice of fun and friendly Rocket yoga classes to pick from, with regular sessions run by expert teachers Helen, Marcus, Katarina, Lolo, Leon, David and Lita. Marcus’ advice to budding Rocketeers is as follows: ‘Stay with the breath; don’t be fixated on the poses. They will come… and go. But as long as you keep your mind on the breath, you’re always on the Rocket.’ Helen echoes his words, saying: ‘Come with an open mind. Don’t expect to be able to do everything in your first class. And don’t be intimidated by others who may be flying around you. Keep practising with love and patience and you too will fly.’

Monday: 7.30pm–9pm, Helen Russell-Clark (Peckham)

Monday: 7.30pm with Helen Russell-Clark (Peckham)

Tuesday: 6.30pm with Leon London (Covent Garden)

Wednesday: 9.45am with Katarina Rayburn (Peckham)

Friday: 7.30am with Lita Sattva (Covent Garden)

Saturday: 9.15am with Lita Sattva (Covent Garden)

10.00am with Lolo Lam (Peckham)

10:30am with David Pearce (Streatham)

3.00pm with Helen Russell-Clark (Covent Garden)

Sunday: 11.30am with Marcus Veda (Peckham)

Check out all our yoga classes here… something may have changed since this was posted

Everything you need to know about Prenatal Yoga

Posted on September 2, 2019June 22, 2022 by Sean Hitzelberger

Pregnancy is a deeply unique experience for every woman, and finding the right prenatal yoga class in London to best support you is especially important. Whether you’ve dabbled in the odd yoga class, are a seasoned yogi or have literally never unrolled a yoga mat prior to your pregnancy, prenatal yoga classes at Yogarise are accessible to all mums-to-be. We are proud to have a wonderful team of talented pregnancy yoga teachers in Peckham and Streatham here to guide you through mindful yoga classes that benefit you and your baby.

Why is prenatal yoga important for mums-to-be and what are the benefits for pregnant women?

Claire: It’s a place of community to nurture women during this special time of transition, where you can build connections with yourself, your baby and other local women. As well as the community element, pregnancy yoga is a specialist form of yoga, specifically designed to support you as your body changes day by day. It helps you to adapt to the needs of your body as well as being emotional support. Practising yoga helps you to let go and accept the changes.

Lisa lists some great benefits:

Helps relieve common minor ailments (e.g backache, shoulder strain, hip discomfort, swollen joints, heartburn, indigestion, constipation, tiredness etc)
Can be used to relieve pain in labour and childbirth, prepares you for active and natural birth, helps postnatal recovery
Keeps your body supple and improves your alignment and posture
Helps you feel positive, confident and empowered
Boosts your energy levels
Relieves stress and anxiety
Promotes restful sleep

What is the key difference between prenatal yoga and regular yoga classes?

Chloe: One difference is the pace, which is slower than some dynamic classes. Pregnancy yoga has an emphasis on slowing down to honour the changes taking place in terms of body, brain, identity, to listening in and practising awareness around these changes in preparation for what’s to come. Instead of practicing a strong and sweaty flow or pushing into flexibility, pregnancy yoga aims to build strength progressively, relieve aches and pains from hormonal changes and the changing shape and alignment of the body and practicing containment, not extremities, in poses. There are also certain poses that are left out of pregnancy classes, for example, deep backbends (which can place undue stress on the lower back and abdominal tissue) or arm balances, for obvious reasons!

What can a student expect in prenatal yoga class?

Lisa: All prenatal yoga teachers have undergone specialist training to give you the best experience and safe practice. We chat about all things related to pregnancy, birth, labour and being a new mum, something we cannot offer in regular classes. Classes include women at all stages of pregnancy, from 15 weeks to birth and so the class offers a variety of options for mothers-to-be to practice.

Claire: We practice in a circle, to build community and welcome all the women in, and start class with introductions – names, number of weeks pregnant, and anything we need to know or anything you have going on in your body.

Chloe: Breath practice and meditation; movement and flow tailored to the pregnant body; relaxation and rest to help manage fatigue during pregnancy, as your body quietly builds another human!

Do you have to have done yoga previously to come to a prenatal yoga class at Yogarise?

Chloe: Definitely not – in fact, pregnancy is a wonderful time to start yoga. For many women, pregnancy yoga can be the start of their relationship with yoga that continues way beyond pregnancy. All classes are accessible and so beneficial to pregnant women that you’re unlikely to ever regret coming to a yoga class!

You can find Lisa, Claire and Chloe (as well as our other fab prenatal yoga teachers) at Yogarise Peckham and Streatham at the following times:

Saturday 9:30-10:45 in Peckham with Lisa Toth and Claire Saunders (alternating weeks)

Sunday 9:00-10:15 in Peckham with Toni Osborne

Sunday 9:30-10:45 in Streatham with Chloe George

If you’re looking for pregnancy yoga classes in London, you know where to find us!

Click here to book your prenatal yoga class…

Yoga in Central London

Posted on August 20, 2019September 5, 2019 by Sean Hitzelberger

It’s no surprise that there are so many studios and exercise establishments offering yoga in Central London. London, whilst it has many great traits, has two that are synonymous with stress; an ever growing population and high paid, high powered jobs. Coupled with the fact that anxiety is at an all-time high, people are searching for ways to balance out their lives and not burn out.

There are many ways to do this, most of which require stopping and taking time away from technology – unless the tech is aiding you to relax, of course. It’s so important to dedicate yourself to something that brings you back in tune with your body and how it functions.

This is where exercise, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga come in. There are many types of yoga in central London- or anywhere in the world in fact – which can all help to relieve stress in ways that suit your character. There is Yin Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Restorative Yoga, (or any form of slow moving yoga) which are all designed to relax the nervous system and calm the self, bringing you back down to earth, out of the chatter of your mind.

There are also many energising yoga styles, like Rocket Yoga and Dynamic Yoga, as well as those that focus on intertwining breath with movement, like Vinyasa Yoga. These will, on the whole, leave you feeling well exercised and strong, whilst fundamentally bringing you back to your body with your feet firmly on the floor.

At Yogarise London we’re grateful to have been mentioned as some of the best yoga in central London by Vogue, Women’s Health, Evening Standard and Time Out. We have 3 studios, one in Covent Garden, the heart of central London, one in Peckham Rye and one in Streatham.

Movement for Modern Life

Posted on June 20, 2019July 23, 2019 by Sean Hitzelberger

Movement for Modern Life have become a big name in the online yoga world. They’ve even been dubbed the Netflix of Yoga!

The online portal allows those who can’t come into a studio – because they don’t live near a city, or have only 20 minutes in their day, or simply want to practise in their pyjamas – to have a guided yoga session at home.

They’re host to some of the best teachers (we would say that, as we share some of them) and countless types of yoga. For that reason, we’ve decided to partner with them! We love you coming in to practise with us, but we totally get that, sometimes, you simply can’t! You’ll even see that some of the practices take place at Yogarise’s studios.

In the coming months, a part of our website will offer access to the MFML portal, with a 14 Day free trial. We also now offer 50% off annual subscriptions for our Members – please do get in touch if you’d like to find out more and redeem the offer team@yogarise.london .

Yogarise offers a range of different styles of yoga in London, with some great teachers, based in Streatham and Peckham. Styles we offer are open to all levels. Ashtanga, Baby & Me, Creative Flow, Community Classes, Forrest, Hatha, Jivamukti, Prana Vinyasa, Pregnancy, Postnatal, Restorative, Rocket, Yin, Yin Yang, Vinyasa Flow. Book a class with us today!

Featured Yoga Style: FORREST YOGA

Posted on June 13, 2019July 23, 2019 by Sean Hitzelberger

We get it, there are SO many types and styles of yoga and it can get pretty confusing when you’re trying to work out what class is the one for you! So, we’re chatting to our incredible team of teachers to get the lowdown on what it is they teach, and why they love it so much.

First up is Anita Jasser, our resident Forrest Yoga teacher in Peckham.

Anita is a highly trained Forrest yoga teacher with a multi-disciplinary background in healing modalities. Her passion is to help transform the lives of students so that they can find more freedom in their practice and in their lives. She teaches from a place of integrity and experience from her own personal journey of transformation through the Forrest Yoga practice, which has allowed her to lead a more grounded, connected and authentic life… here are her top 5 things you need to know about Forrest Yoga:

1. You don’t do it in a forest… phew! This hatha based style of yoga takes its name from creator Ana Forrest. She’s spent 44 years designing and developing a healing yoga system designed to address everyday stresses such as feeling overwhelmed, injuries, anxiety, and generally feeling not good enough.

2. You don’t have to be strong or flexible to practise Forrest yoga – it’s open to all levels. Every class offers a range of pose variations so that you can build up on your strength and flexibility as you return each week.

3. Forrest Yoga is built on four key pillars, which are:

• Breath – Forrest Yoga teaches you how to breathe deeply, connect with your body, use the power of breath to bring vitality into every cell and ignite your passion for living.

• Strength – the practice shows you how to connect with your core, to reconnect to your gut intuition and build courage.

• Integrity – it teaches you to safely tailor each pose to work for you, particularly with regard to physical and emotional injuries.

• Spirit – Forrest Yoga’s intent is “to create a sense of freedom, a connection to your Spirit and the courage to walk as your spirit dictates”.

4. It’s a heated practice, which means we move safely into deeper poses when your body is fully warmed up to do so… you’ll probably want a shower when you get home, too!

5. Relax your neck. One of the key differences to this style compared to other yoga classes is learning to relax your neck. This helps to unwind the nervous system and allows your body to go into rest while in a pose, so you learn how to soften in moments of intensity.

Sound like your thing? Anita teaches Forrest Yoga in Peckham every Thursday evening 19:00-20:15 in studio 2. Find out the benefits of Forrest Yoga for yourself, book a class with Anita here.

Member Perks Pack

Posted on May 21, 2019December 4, 2019 by Sean Hitzelberger

A package designed to thank you, our members!

We’ve been thinking… we want to make you feel as special as we can, and to say thank you for your commitment to us. We’re a big believer in community, both the one we’re situated in and the one we’ve created through you all. So we’ve launched a Perks Pack for our Members – designed for anyone on a monthly autopay, six month or annual membership.

The Fun Bit

With your membership, you now get:

ACCESS TO ALL OUR STUDIOS – Peckham, Streatham, Covent Garden

15% off RUNNERS NEED, SNOW+ROCK, COTSWOLD OUTDOOR & CYCLE SURGERY You’ll need to sign up via their Explore More benefits scheme – get in touch with us at hello@yogarise.london (with subject title Members Perks) to get further details

20% off at SWEATY BETTY in East Dulwich

10% off Early Bird and Best Flexible Rates at any NADLER HOTEL, using promo code PARTNERS “The Nadler Covent Garden is located overlooking the iconic Strand, in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, within a 5 minute walk of both Covent Garden and Charing Cross stations. It is a perfect base from which to discover one of London’s most enchanting neighbourhoods and the wider city beyond.”

50% off ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS FOR MOVEMENT FOR MODERN LIFE, The Netflix of Yoga & a 14 day free trial. Click on the link above and use PROMO CODE: YOGARISE The Netflix of Yoga & a 14 day free trial. Click on the link above and use PROMO CODE: YOGARISE

A FREE GUEST PASS EVERY MONTH … bring a mate to the mat! Just email us to let us know who you’re bringing, and to which class, and we’ll get them set up

2 hour MASTERCLASSES in our Peckham studio. These will take place nearly every 3 months on a Sunday with some well known Yogarise names!

ROOFTOP YOGA in the summer months on the top of Peckham Rye’s Bussey Building

1 FREE COFFEE A MONTH AT BABY SPINACH (located at Yogarise Streatham), with a stamp card

15% off THE REMEDIE ROOMS in Streatham

3 MONTHS FREE: LEO CASANDAI’S #1 sound meditation app THIRD EAR Email us to sign you up – make sure you’ve used the same address for both your Yogarise account and Third Ear App download [There are currently updates to the podcast, which means this offer will be back up and running early next year]

STUDIO MAT STORAGE

A FREE Tote Bag/ Keep Cup/ T-shirt – your choice!

10% off YOGARISE WORKSHOPS

PREMIUM ACCESS TO WORKSHOPS, RETREATS AND TEACHER TRAININGS

BEING A KEY PART OF THE YOGARISE FAM 🙂

We’re always on the look out for great local partnerships

But how do I redeem this great stuff?

Simply show, through your Yogarise app (you’ll have to download it if you don’t have it already). In the ‘my account’ section it’ll state that you’re a member. Either that, or produce your Yogarise keyring, which you can pick up at reception as soon as they’re ready.

Can you remind me of your membership types?

OFF-PEAK UNLIMITED MONTHLY:

One for the daytime yogis, you have unlimited access to classes at both studios weekdays, 9am-5.30pm. £75 per month.

ANYTIME UNLIMITED MONTHLY:

You’re a regular Yogariser and nothing will stop you from getting to your class on time. You get unlimited access to both studios all day, every day. £105 per month.

6 MONTH UNLIMITED:

One month just isn’t enough! Same as our Anytime Unlimited membership, but you pay upfront for the 6 months and save some money…so you can buy that top-notch yoga mat too 😉 £550 for 6 months.

12 MONTH UNLIMITED:

You really aren’t messing around. You pay upfront for the 12 months and boom, Yogarise is your playground for the year ahead. £1060 for 12 months.M

The Important Bit

We want you to know, as part of our community, the type of things that we get up to. Supporting our community and making yoga accessible to all is really important to us.

Our Community Classes
These work in 3 ways. They are £3 minimum, covering the cost of the class. Any profits go towards a local charity, which changes each month. Just as importantly, it gives newer teachers a platform to practise teaching, including those who have been students on our Teacher Training.

We’re proud to say that to date this year we’ve raised a total of £2,311.94. Last year, we raised £5,745.62. We’ll be launching these in Streatham soon so keep your eyes peeled.

Our Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship & Paid Internship

We’re aware of the reality that training to be a teacher is, really, quite an outgoing. So we wanted to put our money where our mouth is. 2019 saw us recruit our first scholarship place for the YTT alongside a paid internship.

2019 Scholarship And Paid Internship

Posted on May 13, 2019August 19, 2021 by Sean Hitzelberger

as seen featured in Balance Magazine editorial

The reality is that training to be a teacher is, really, quite an outgoing. So we wanted to do our bit, put our money where our mouth is, and create an opportunity for someone who otherwise would not be able to afford a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training.

The first part to this is a FULL scholarship on our 2019 Yoga Teacher Training (including flights, which know isn’t usually covered in other YTT Scholarships). This place is designed for someone who would love to develop their skills, but aren’t able to fund their teaching.

The second bit is the chance to learn the business side of things, whilst getting paid! We want our candidate to work with us; learning skills that will either apply to them as a new yoga teacher – negotiating the hustle – or acting as transferable tools for whatever they choose to do next.

The PAID INTERNSHIP at Yogarise (Streatham & Peckham)

The internship part of this would start in August, acting as a floating helper for our key departments, dealing with front of house operations, marketing, managing our social media, new business, events and studio management. You’ll acquire key basic skills to help you in a career as a yoga teacher, work in a yoga studio, or as a junior marketer. The exact schedule will be flexible but there’ll be one contact who will act as line manager and mentor. This will be paid full-time internship, working with us for a minimum of 6 months (at which point we check in to see if you’d like to stay on) before, during and after the Teacher Training.

The idea is that you’ll want to stay with us long after your training finishes!

August would be the intro month pre-Teacher Training, where you can get to know the team and learn how things run here.

The TEACHER TRAINING

Click here to view more on the teacher training itself, the mentors, the dates, and what it all includes.

Please fill out the below to apply.

All applications need to be in by end of June 2019

APPLICATION FORM

DATES

MAY 14 | Scheme announced

JUN 30 | DEADLINE JUST BEEN EXTENDED TO END OF JUNE

JUL 1-10| Yogarise review internally

JUL 10 onwards| Second stage of interviews, requiring a face to face group interview at YR offices, and an assessment by our YTT Head Teacher, Erin, to ensure you won’t be out of your depth. Dates TBA

AUG | Start day! A month’s induction prior to start of teacher training

SEP – DEC | Teacher Training + full-time work

FEB 2020 | 6 month review

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have an enthusiastic, can-do attitude. Is passionate about yoga. Genuinely has no means to afford this otherwise. Is looking for a long term relationship with us!

Feel free to get in touch with us, at YTT@yogarise.london – subject title ‘Scholarship’ so it gets through to the right place!

WHAT IT DOES AND DOESN’T INCLUDE

Does:

cost of Yoga Teacher Training, including mentorship scheme
flights, accommodation and set food for the 2 week, international residential part of the YTT course, in India
expense of travel to initial interview
holidays (equivalent to 25 days a year excluding bank holidays)
free yoga!
pay dependent on age and government guidelines
a chance to teach Community Classes at Yogarise
travel insurance

Does not:

any ‘extras’ whilst on 2 week international retreat that are not stated above
commute cost or lunch expenses whilst on internship, as it’s a paid position
cost of passport if needed
any yoga accessories like mats / clothing

GOOD LUCK!

May 30 Day Challenge

Posted on April 18, 2019October 25, 2019 by Sean Hitzelberger

Are you in?

Join the challenge, throughout May we are encouraging people to attend 25 classes over 30 days… they can be on any day, at any time and any class style. You’ll also get 5 days off throughout the month to rest, meditate and recuperate (or enjoy a long weekend away!). Our resident meditation teachers over at Levitate will also be offering all 30 Day Challengers exclusive discounted classes in Peckham plus there will be lots of prizes and giveaways in-studio throughout the month in Peckham and Streatham.

Sign me up!

Never been to a Yogarise Peckham or Yogarise Streatham classes or events before? The 30 Day Challenge is just £50 for UNLIMITED ANYTIME YOGA… that’s only £2 per class if you come all 25 days.

Regular Yogarisers pay £75 for UNLIMITED ANYTIME YOGA (the price of our unlimited off-peak membership) which means your classes are form as little as £3 a session, bargain!

Already on a monthly, 6 or 12 month membership, don’t fret! You can still join in the fun. We will give you 2 complimentary guest passes for you to share with your mates during May.

YES I’m down… sign me up!

Grab one of the 30 Day Challenge cards after you sign up and at the end of each class present it to a member of reception who will stamp it.

We want to see how you’re getting on!

Click here to join the May 30 Day Challenge!

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You can sign up to the challenge between now and 7th May 2019. All memberships will become active for use on 1st May and become inactive on 31st May 2019. You can attend both Yogarise Peckham and Yogarise Streatham using your 30 Day Challenge membership. Full T&C’s can be found here.

Festive Vibes in South London

Posted on December 19, 2018February 13, 2019 by Chris

Winter (in Peckham) is coming. Before you start shivering, here some of the treats that lie ahead to warm up those darker days. We’re talking movies, mulled wine, gong baths and festive markets. And, of course, there’s always yoga. (Just call us Santa.)

What 2-for-1 tipples at Bussey Rooftop Bar
When 1-23 December (open Mon-Fri 5-11pm / Sat 12-11pm / selected Sundays)

Fill your evenings with fairy lights, deliciously warm cocktails (think hot negronis and spiced cider) and unbeatable views of the London city skyline at Bussey Rooftop Bar (pictured above). Whether you’re looking for somewhere to host your Peckham Christmas party, or fancy a post-yoga bev with your pals, unwind with 2-for-1 cocktails, 5-7pm weeknights.

What Gong Bath with Leo Cosendai
When 9 December

End the year on a healing note (literally) by joining this gong bath session with gong-master Leo. Gong meditation, a type of sound therapy, has been around for thousands of years as a way of healing. Producing a sound wave, the vibration of the gong creates the perfect space to relax, let go and detach from ‘chitter-chatter’ of the mind. Gong meditation benefits include improved sleep, breaking up of emotional blockages, stress reduction and more. The session will run in Yogarise Peckham Studio 2 from 7pm–8.30pm and costs £20; book your spot.

What Winter Film Club at Bussey Building
When 1-23 December

Promising to please ‘even the Grinchiest of Scrooges’, Winter Film Club will be taking over our very own beloved Bussey Building from 1 until 23 December. There’s an impressively diverse selection of classic flicks to choose from, including box-office smashes such as Ghostbusters, Dirty Dancing, True Romance, Casablanca, Elf, Home Alone and much, much more. As usual, drinks and snacks can be purchased from the bar; Rooftop Film Club members can enjoy jammy discounts on tickets.

What Christmas Food Drive for Southwark Foodbank
When 8-20 December

This December Yogarise is once again supporting Southwark Foodbank, based at Pecan in Peckham, just a stone’s throw from the studio. Foodbanks help local people in crisis, providing three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support. Keep your eyes peeled for collection points at Yogarise Peckham, and for the lists of urgently needed items. In addition, our Community yoga classes continue to support 999Club for December – a housing charity based in Deptford – helping to empower people in South London to transform their lives. Our last community class is on Sunday 16 December 1.30-2.30pm.

What Pexmas
When 8–9 December

Head to Warwick Gardens for a mistletoe-worthy weekend filled with shopping, eating, drinking, socialising and more. Now in its eighth edition, Pexmas will host more than 140 independent local makers, doers, foodies and traders, repping the best of sahf London’s creative talent. Get there between 11am and 6pm to enjoy festive hits, local craft beer, delicious snacks and nibbles – plus Pexmas’ crowd-pleasing mulled wine. There will also be crafty workshops so you can leave with some new skills. Rumour has it that Santa himself will be dropping by; parents with kids in tow could swing by the Grotto to double-check.

Whether you’re looking for Christmas yoga classes, a yoga workshop, or some gift inspiration (we do vouchers!), take a look at our full schedule for yoga in Peckham this holiday season. Festive yogis, take note: we have a reduced schedule from 20 December–2 January (and we’re closed for the holidays 24 – 27 December). Don’t worry – we will still be running some of your favourite classes, plus a few special extras to help you welcome in 2019 feeling fiiiine.

Mamma Mia: Postnatal Yoga at Yogarise

Posted on December 19, 2018May 7, 2019 by Chris

New mums, we’ve got your back. And guess what? Yogarise favourite – and mum of gorgeous Xander – Toni Osborne is teaching not one, but two postnatal yoga classes at Yogarise Peckham and one postnatal yoga class at Yogarise Streatham. Choose from Monday morning (11.30-12.30) or Wednesday afternoon (14.00-15.15) [postponed until March 27th] in Peckham, and Thursday morning (11.00-12.15) in Streatham for your mum and baby yoga sesh.

Postnatal yoga is the perfect way to rebalance your body and rejuvenate energy after giving birth, helping to strengthen the pelvic floor and to rebuild core awareness. During our postnatal yoga classes, Toni will guide you through a series of yoga poses and yogic breathing exercises designed to relieve tension, release energy and resolve anxiety, bringing moments of calm to those sometimes-hectic newborn days.

Toni says: ‘Exercise releases endorphins that we all need, especially when there’s a baby requiring your attention. Yoga is great because it’s low-impact and helps to relieve tension. In classes, I ask where new mums are aching and the answer is nearly always the same: necks, arms, shoulders and lower backs – so we work to strengthen those areas. My deepest wish is that mothers leave feeling replenished, relaxed and supported.’

Just by turning up, you’ll be treating yourself to some well-deserved ‘me time’; after a strengthening-but-safe vinyasa flow yoga sequence, classes include some much-needed relaxation at the end. Admittedly, you might not always get to do a whole lot of yoga while you’re here – babies like to keep their mamas busy, after all! – but more importantly, you’ll be in the company of fellow new mums and you’ll be having fun with your little one. At other times, you’ll be surprised by how much yoga you actually manage to do, and will pick up some great tips to take home.

Our friendly, fun postnatal yoga classes for new mums are the perfect way to ease yourself back into your yoga practice after giving birth. They offer a warm, welcoming and supportive environment, where anything goes – feel free to nurse, bounce, feed and walk around as needed. Toni says: ‘Postnatal yoga classes offer a wonderful way to meet other local mothers and babies, making lasting new friendships.’

Yogarise postnatal yoga classes are open to mums 6 weeks post-birth/8 weeks after C-section (you must have had the ‘all clear’ from your GP) and to all pre-crawling babies. Yoga mats and props are provided, but please bring a muslin/blanket for baby to lie on. See our full yoga class timetable online.

Keep in touch with other local mums and mums-to-be – join our Yogarise Peckham Mamas Facebook Group. Looking forward to seeing you on the mat – Monday 11.30-12.30 + Wednesday 14.00–15.15.

Moving into Winter, one step at a time

Posted on December 19, 2018May 7, 2019 by Chris

Conker-hunts, Netflix nights in, kicking leaves in the park and digging out our fave winter woollies sounds pretty idyllic, but sometimes moving from one season to the next can feel a tad unsettling. Here are a few ways in which we love to enjoy the cooler months – you can thank us later.

Warm up from within

Forget smoothies and salads – feast on hearty soups, nourishing stews and roasted veggies instead. According to Ayurveda, autumn/winter is the time to seek out warm, comforting food that fuels the body and supports the immune system. We also love making our own turmeric lattes and lemon-and-ginger tea. Tea-licious.

Get grounded

Can’t make it to the studio? Here are some tips for yoga poses you can try at home.

Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic therapist, Lolo Lam, recommends any kind of grounding pose. As we move from summer (pitta: the fire element) to the cold of winter (vata: the air element), we can look to forward bends, pigeon and other seated folds. “The air element is erratic and mobile,” says Lolo, “so we need to ground and stabilise.”

Yin Yoga teacher Emma Peel suggests trying a supported fish pose or reclined butterfly, both propped with a bolster to help create a sense of being “open-minded and stretched beyond what we know”, while at the same time feeling “supported and held”, giving us an opportunity to embrace the new.

Embrace the Hygge Hype

Back in 2016, everyone went wild for the Danish art of ‘hygge’ (defined as a warm atmosphere or mood of cosiness), swiftly followed by ‘lykke’ (happiness) and ‘lagom’ (sufficiency). Channel your favourite Scandi buzzword and appreciate winter’s sense of contentment – whether you prefer to snuggle under your duvet with a good book, or warm up at the yoga studio in Peckham and Streatham. Create your own hygge-induced happiness and take a moment to breathe it all in.

Slow down and reconnect

Want to switch up your yoga for winter? Perhaps you’re fixed on a fave yoga sequence like Rocket or Ashtanga and that’s totally your thing, but the start of a new season can be a great chance for change. By connecting to this sense of openness and tuning in to what our bodies need, we might discover alternative yoga practices that can benefit us. Mindful Flow with Tom or Chloe, Gentle Hatha Flow (Anusara-inspired) with Katy, Yin with Emma Peel, Yin-Yang with Lolo or a Restorative session with Adrianna are some interesting yoga class ideas to explore this winter.

Come and visit us at Yogarise in Peckham Rye’s legendary Bussey Building or our yoga studio in Streatham High Road. Founded in 2014, we offer a wide range of daily classes with some of London’s top teachers. Check out our website to see our yoga class timetable and workshops schedule, or to make a booking enquiry.

Yoga: A Holistic Approach to Maternal Health

Preconception: Preparing for Pregnancy with Yoga

Stress Reduction

Physical Preparedness

Emotional Wellness

Yoga during Pregnancy: A Nurturing Practice

Managing Discomfort

Preparing for Birth

Mental Wellbeing

Promotes Sleep

Postnatal Recovery: Rebuilding Strength and Bonding with Baby

Physical Recovery

Stress Relief

Bonding with Baby

Community and Support

Finding Appropriate Yoga Classes

Let Yoga Support You from Preconception to Motherhood

Ever wanted to own something you love? Now you can! Yogarise is selling shares.

So, why are we doing a second round of investment?

We’ve reduced our minimum investment to £1,000.

Get in touch!

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

(It pays to be unlimited).

NEW for 2023! Get unlimited yoga and pilates in Peckham, Streatham + Online, plus all these extras…

Want to join in the fun?

Yogarise Community Yoga and Mindfulness Classes are GO!

We are launching a new, free Community Mindfulness Class!

12-month Unlimited Pre-Pay is £999*

Uncover the Chakras and start your New Year the right way!

WHAT IS THE CHAKRA SYSTEM?

Tell me more…

FAQs

Yogarise is open (mostly) over the December hols!

Saturday 24th December

(We are closed on 25th, 26th & 27th December)

Wednesday 28th December

Thursday 29th December

Friday 30th December

Saturday 31st December

And coming up…

Tell us about you?

What is mindfulness?

How do you teach mindfulness in your class?

What are you best tips for bringing mindfulness into your daily life?

Win a weekend Retreat for you and a friend in our Raffle + amazing runners-up prizes.

Plus! Runners Up Prizes

Dig deep to do good

10 reasons to get involved (in no particular order)

Are you up for some fun?

Tell me more…

Practise a studio or livestream yoga or pilates class every day

Let us know if you are joining the challenge

Cheer on your fellow yogis

What package do I need?

We are recruiting!

Are you?

Do you?

Interested?

Here is all the info you need about classes at our new venue in Streatham.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

CAN I USE MY OLD YOGA EDGE PACKAGE?

IMPORTANT NEW INFO!

I’VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS

Supercharge your yoga skills with a training or CPD course.

Bodymind Ballwork & Yoga Therapy with Bridget Woods Kramer + Ellen Saltonstall

barre; horizontal bar at waist level on which dancers rest a hand for support during exercise

What even is a Barre Workout?

What can I expect in a class and how is the ballet barre used?

TOP TIP: You will usually be asked to remove your shoes for this class to prevent slips + falls, so bring your grippiest socks!

I’m no ballet dancer. Will barre be okay for me?

Experience the benefits of Barre at Yogarise Streatham!

Fancy owning a piece of Yogarise? Read on to find out more…

We listened to your feedback and have dropped our prices! We can’t wait to welcome you to the studio, on the roof, and online for less this summer.

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UNLIMITED PRE-PAY

Monthly Pre-Pay

6 Month Pre-Pay

10 reasons to get involved
(in no particular order)

Bodymind Ballwork & Yoga Therapy
with Bridget Woods Kramer + Ellen Saltonstall