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

1 November 2022

Hello November

While it’s a little warmer than we would normally expect at this time of year, the Autumn is in full swing. Leaves are falling, pumpkins are everywhere and the cold darker nights make a hot yoga studio even more inviting.

The yoga practice teaches us that each season has an energetic direction and quality that can be clearly seen throughout nature. Theres a system of yoga that encourages us to balance our lifestyle and behaviours to align with the the energies in season, and in doing so we feel more connected to our lives on a day-to-day basis.

The Autumn is filled with change and movement and in our culture it seems as though everyone is racing towards the year end trying desperately to hold things together and finish off those last few important tasks. This can take its toll on our wellbeing so it’s important to remember it is our responsibility to manage our physical and mental health to avoid burn-out, anxiety and stress related illnesses.

Looking after yourself isn’t a luxury, its a necessity.

Before you take the appropriate actions to create greater balance, you must first become aware of what you need. Stress is complex and its causes are diverse, however Dr Andrew Huberman says that we can categorise stresses into 2 streams. He says “one type of stress is when you’re too activated, alert, and agitated. This is what we usually experience when we’re in physical pain or emotionally bothered. Then, there’s another side of stress, wherein you’re feeling another shutdown or when you’re feeling exhausted and you can’t get mobilized and alert enough. This is the stress that gives us the feeling of fatigue.” 

Both categories of stress are managed in different ways so it’s important to know what you are feeling. One stress management technique comes directly from the yoga practice, we call it pranayama, the rest of the world calls it breathing exercises. By changing the way you breathe you can learn to control your heart rate, your nervous system response and therefore your mind.

Heres a simple tool for you to explore.

When you inhale more vigorously or longer, you’re speeding up your heart rate. When you exhale, the diaphragm moves up, signalling the brain to tell the heart that it needs to slow. This knowledge is not enough – you must practice the techniques to build a stronger relationship with the stress signals and your response to them. Then at will, you can shift your state of being.

Another great tip is to try a different style of yoga. If you are feeling hyped up, then try a Restorative Flow or Yin class. If you feel low on energy or have been picking up the seasonal coughs and bugs then trying something more physically challenging such as a Vinyasa Flow, Power or HIIT yoga is a must!

You know a change is going to be good for you, but your monkey mind plays its tricks and tells you that you won’t like it or that you can’t do it. So, lets get that money put back in its place! Our team are basically super humans trained in mind-zoology. They will make you feel at ease, support you, challenge you, motivate you and most importantly help you recognise that you CAN do anything at Yogalife. If you are feeling nervous about a class or sitting on the fence about booking – then drop me an email (stuart@yogalifeuk.com) and I’ll give you a pep talk or even better I’ll get on the mat with you because this month I’m making big shifts in my yoga too. I practice daily but its always on my own in a kind of indulgent “I have the keys to a yoga studio” kind of way. I know I’m missing out on that Yogalife vibe and being on the mat next to you all instead of at the front. So, I’ll be more than happy to  be your yoga buddy this November – just holla!

Here’s my recommendations for November classes:

Calming classes

Mondays & Wednesdays 19:30-20:30 Yin Yoga with Rachel

Thursdays 19:30 Nourishing Yoga with Emma

Uplifting Classes

Mondays 6:45-7:30 HIIT Yoga with Gareth

Thursdays 18:00-19:00 Power Yoga with Jules

Sundays 10:15-11:15 Shake It Up with Jen