27 May 2024

New Studio Open June 24th

Hi Yogi,

We are excited to share an update with you on the development of our eagerly anticipated state-of-the-art wellness and hot yoga studio. As we work towards our opening this summer, we’re excited to unveil some of the incredible features that will be awaiting you:

Red Light Sauna: Experience the rejuvenating benefits of red light therapy, known for its ability to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and enhance skin health.

Cold Water Therapy: Immerse yourself in the invigorating benefits of cold water therapy, which can help improve circulation, speed up recovery, and boost overall well-being.

Sound Healing & Visual Art: Transport yourself into deep meditative states with our immersive soundscapes and captivating visual art projections, designed to enhance your relaxation and mindfulness practice.

Personal Training Studio

We’re also delighted to introduce an array of new classes tailored to meet your diverse wellness needs, including:
Hot Barre
Breath & Ice
TRX Fitness Circuit (featuring an exhilarating ice dip to conclude)
Strength & Fitness Classes
Meditation
Senior Mobility Classes
Teen Yoga
Family Yoga
Kids Fitness Classes
Kids Club during school holidays
And rest assured, all your favourite classes will still be available!

Stay tuned for more detailed updates coming your way soon. In the meantime, let’s share some of the remarkable science behind our cutting-edge wellness studio:

Benefits of Red Light Therapy:
Stimulates collagen production, promoting skin health and reducing wrinkles.
Alleviates inflammation and accelerates injury & wound healing.
Improves joint health and reduces pain.
Enhances mood and reduces symptoms of depression.

Benefits of Ice Baths:
Speeds up muscle recovery and reduces post-exercise soreness.
Improves circulation and boosts the immune system.
Increases alertness and mental clarity.
Helps in weight loss by activating brown fat.

Benefits of Hot Yoga:
Increases flexibility and improves muscle tone.
Enhances cardiovascular health and endurance.
Reduces stress and promotes relaxation.

We can’t wait to share this transformative journey with you. Thank you for being a part of our community!

Warm regards,

Yogalife Family!

27 May 2024

New Class: BARRE!

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new studio location this summer, and with it, an exciting addition to our class schedule: Barre! Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or new to our community, we invite you to explore this dynamic, transformative workout that will elevate your fitness routine.

What is Barre?
Barre is a fitness class that combines elements of ballet, Pilates, and yoga, creating a unique and highly effective workout. Named after the ballet barre used in classes, this method focuses on low-impact, high-intensity movements designed to strengthen and tone your body.
What to Expect in a Barre Class

In a typical Barre class, you can expect a series of exercises that target your core, arms, legs, and glutes. The class usually begins with a warm-up, followed by sequences that use the barre for balance while performing small, controlled movements and isometric holds. These exercises are designed to build muscle endurance and improve flexibility. The class often ends with mat work and a cool-down to stretch out and relax the muscles.

Benefits of Barre
Full-Body Workout: Barre classes are designed to engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, providing a comprehensive workout that targets all areas of the body.
Improved Posture: The emphasis on alignment and core strength helps enhance your posture both during workouts and in everyday life.
Increased Flexibility: Combining ballet and yoga elements, Barre helps improve flexibility, making it a perfect complement to your yoga practice.
Muscle Endurance: The small, repetitive movements and static holds challenge your muscles, increasing their endurance and strength.
Low-Impact: Barre is gentle on the joints, making it suitable for all fitness levels, including those recovering from injuries.

Class Schedule and Booking Information
Starting this summer, you can join us for Barre classes at our new studio location. The classes will be available every Thursday at 11:00 AM and Friday at 9:15 AM.

Opening Week Special
To celebrate the opening of our new studio, we are offering a special opportunity to try our Barre class for free during the first week! This is our gift to you, a chance to explore this exciting workout and see how it can enhance your fitness journey.

We Value Your Feedback
Your feedback is essential to us as we continue to grow and improve our offerings. We would love to hear your thoughts on our new Barre class, as well as any requests for additional styles and teachers. Your insights help us create a schedule that meets your needs and preferences.

Join us this summer at our new studio location and take the first step towards a stronger, more flexible you with Barre. We can’t wait to see you there and hear what you think!

Warm regards,

Stuart, Gareth & all the Yogalife family

27 May 2024

Embrace the Healing Power of Red Light Therapy

As the anticipation builds for the grand opening of Yogalife’s new state-of-the-art wellness studio this summer, we are excited to introduce an innovative and transformative addition to our class offerings: Red Light Therapy. Integrated with our yoga and meditation sessions, this cutting-edge therapy promises to elevate your wellness journey to unprecedented heights.

What is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy (RLT) involves exposing the body to low levels of red and near-infrared light. Unlike ultraviolet (UV) light, which can damage the skin, red light penetrates the skin to reach deeper tissues, promoting a range of therapeutic benefits without harmful side effects. Originally developed by NASA to aid in plant growth experiments in space, RLT has since been adapted for various medical and cosmetic applications.

The Science Behind Red Light Therapy
Red Light Therapy works by stimulating the mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, to produce more energy. This increase in cellular energy enhances the body’s natural healing processes, offering numerous benefits, such as:
Enhanced Skin Health: Red light boosts collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and scars. It also helps in healing acne and other skin conditions by reducing inflammation and promoting cellular repair.
Pain Relief and Reduced Inflammation: RLT alleviates chronic pain and inflammation by enhancing blood flow and reducing oxidative stress. It’s particularly beneficial for conditions like arthritis and musculoskeletal pain.
Accelerated Healing: By increasing cellular energy and promoting regeneration, RLT accelerates the healing of wounds and injuries, making it an ideal therapy for athletes and individuals recovering from surgeries.
Improved Mood and Mental Health: Red light therapy has shown promise in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety by influencing the production of serotonin and other mood-regulating neurotransmitters.

Integrating Red Light Therapy with Yoga and Meditation
At Yogalife, we believe in holistic wellness, which is why we are integrating Red Light Therapy into our yoga and meditation classes. Here’s how you can benefit from these innovative sessions:

Yoga with Red Light Therapy: Enhance your yoga practice with the synergistic effects of red light. Experience deeper relaxation, improved flexibility, and faster muscle recovery. This combination is perfect for those looking to maximise the physical and mental benefits of their practice.

Meditation with Red Light Therapy: Amplify the calming effects of meditation with the soothing presence of red light. This integration promotes a profound sense of tranquility and well-being, making it easier to achieve deeper meditative states.

Who Can Benefit from Red Light Therapy Classes?
Red Light Therapy classes at Yogalife are designed to support a wide range of individuals, including:
Fitness Lovers and Athletes: Accelerate muscle recovery, reduce soreness, and improve performance.
Individuals with Chronic Pain or Inflammation: Alleviate discomfort and enhance mobility through natural healing processes.
Those with Skin Concerns: Improve skin texture, tone, and clarity while addressing conditions like acne and eczema.
Mental Health Seekers: Enhance mood, reduce stress, and find emotional balance.
General Wellness Advocates: Anyone looking to boost their overall health and vitality through a natural and effective therapy.
Join Us at Yogalife This Summer
We are committed to providing our community with the most advanced and effective wellness solutions. Our new studio, opening this summer, is a testament to this commitment. By integrating Red Light Therapy with our yoga and meditation classes, we are offering you an unparalleled opportunity to enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach our grand opening. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new studio this June!

Namaste,

Stuart, Gareth & all the Yogalife family

19 May 2023

The Profound Impact of Yoga Studio Communities: A Reflection on Health and Connection

As the fast paced technological world seems increasingly eager to connect us only digitally, the value of genuine human connection has become increasingly significant. I’d like to share with you a reflection on the role I believe a Yogalife plays in the lives of its community.

Mental Well-being: It’s not long before you feel part of the fabric of this studio and each time you walk through those doors you’re filled with a the sense of belonging and acceptance. It is a place where people gather, sharing experiences and finding solace amidst the demands of daily life. Studies published in the Journal of Psychology and Aging outlines positive correlation between regular social interactions and decreased rates of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Holistic Health: Yogalife offers a truly holistic approach to wellness. Regular practice, guided by skilled instructors, will improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall fitness. However, it’s the method of this guidance that makes it so valuable in our lives. Yogalife nurtures a supportive environment that fosters growth & exploration, it encourages development & challenge, but also acceptance.

Immune Resilience: Deepening our understanding of the mind-body connection, we discover that hot yoga has a great potential to strengthen the immune system. By reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and nurturing overall well-being, yoga practice positively influences immune function. One interesting article I quote during our teacher training course comes from the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, and highlights the significant correlation between social support, prevalent within the yoga studio community, and an enhanced immune response.

Meaningful Connections: Yogalife offers an opportunity to develop deep, meaningful connections. The yoga becomes a catalyst for forging bonds between our students as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth together. At every class you can encounter like-minded souls from diverse backgrounds, united by a common interest in health, wellness, and personal development. These connections extend beyond the confines of the yoga mat, becoming a network of support & friendship that will enrich your life.

 

My personal take on the studio is that people come to the studio to strengthen their body, maybe to help heal an injury or even to learn more about the tradition of yoga, but they stay to be part of the community. The profoundly special part of Yogalife isn’t the heat, mood-lit room and beautifully designed furnishings, its the people who roll out their mat.

 

I feel truly grateful for being part of this family.

 

Peace

 

Stu

21 June 2021

How to enjoy International Yoga Day – 4 tips from around the globe

“International Yoga Day, it’s finally here!” you say aloud, grinning ear to ear. You cross off the 21st of June in a bright red marker on your calendar and bound out the kitchen door to start your day.   

As a yoga lover you can’t wait to spend the day celebrating with your friends, getting a sweat on over at the studio or performing some Sun Salutations in the local park (Hey, it’s also the summer solstice too don’t forget). 

You are alway amazed by how much International Yoga Day grows every year. It’s an opportunity to make new friends, catch up with old ones and spread the joys and benefits of yoga to people everywhere. 

The day is a true international celebration. With yoga classes, meetups and sessions happening globally and on a massive scale. Everyone enjoys the day a little differently and in this article we’ll be looking at how a few different cultures we’ve experienced at Yogalife spend this special day.     

 

Why is there an International Yoga Day?

As the name suggests International Yoga Day is a global celebration of yoga that happens on the 21st of June. This date was chosen as it’s the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in most parts of the world. 

The date was proposed by The United Nations General Assembly in 2014 and the first International Yoga Day happened the following year. It was decided there should be an international day for yoga to promote the positive impact it has on people’s physical and mental health.  

The word yoga is derived from an ancient language called Sanskrit. In Sanskrit it is pronounced “Yuja” and the word means the uniting or unification of body and consciousness. 

Translated into the modern age, the mental and physical benefits of yoga are beyond doubt and the more people that are exposed to this amazing activity the better.  

 

How should you celebrate?

Everyone will have their own unique way of celebrating International Yoga Day. Some people will head over to their nearest studio for a morning session or read up on the philosophy of yoga. 

Many people like to use it as an opportunity to introduce friends and family to yoga. They’ll spend an afternoon sharing their experience and stories from their time doing yoga (along with a few beginner poses) in the hopes they can spread that joy to other people. 

At Yogalife we’ve been fortunate enough to run yoga retreats all over the world and during our travels we’ve seen how other cultures like to spend their International Yoga Day, how they celebrate it and what they like to do. 

 

France – Skiing and Yoga

Our retreat in France was our first ever winter yoga retreat or “snowga” as we like to call it. When people think of yoga they tend to associate it with hot sunny beaches or tropical retreats.

We’ve actually found yoga has a lot in common with winter sports too. Both require dedication and passion, both teach you to be in tune with your body and both bring you closer to nature. 

It’s no surprise then that keen yogi’s in the Alps like to spend their International Yoga Day enjoying a spot of Ashtangi on the mountain side in between runs. Combining skiing and yoga is a great way to take yoga to an unusual location and expose a new audience to yoga who might not have seen it before.  

 

Spain – siestas and yoga 

It’s a commonly known fact that it’s hot in Spain. Take our word for it, we run three retreats there (Barcelona, Majorca and Gran Canaria). And whilst it’s great to do some al fresco hot yoga sessions, the heat can get a bit extreme from time to time. 

Spanish yogis are likely celebrating International Yoga Day with some early evening or late night yoga after their afternoon siesta to avoid the heat. Feeling fully recharged and ready to take on the evening is a great mental state to be in when doing yoga. You’re also more likely to get first time yogis up and having a go when it isn’t 35 degrees outside!

 

Greece – Yoga by the Aegean

Yoga is all about centering yourself and getting back to nature. Whether that’s in a desert, up a mountain, or in the case of Greece, listening to the crashing waves and ocean swell of the Aegean whilst doing yoga next to the sea. 

Greece and the sea go hand in hand, our Greek retreat in Corfu isn’t far from the sea (nowhere in Greece is really) and you can be sure that Greek yogi’s will be grabbing there mats and heading to the cliffs and beaches on International Yoga Day to feel the sea breeze on their face and enjoy a session of yoga next to the ocean.

 

India – Yoga with a vegan meal

For many people yoga is more than just an exercise. It goes beyond an activity you do to keep fit and limber and becomes a way you live your life. Yoga originated in India and encompasses more than just physical exercise. Most Indian yogis will be eating a strict plant based diet and they’ll be celebrating International Yoga Day with a yoga session and a vegan meal. 

If you’re not a vegan but would be interested in trying it for a day, International Yoga Day is a great opportunity to combine both and celebrate yoga wherever you are.  

 

How will you celebrate? 

However you decide to celebrate International Yoga Day we hope you have fun and enjoy it with friends and family. Find out more about our yoga retreats over on our yoga retreats webpage and book a class for International Yoga Day with us here: Book a class.