5 Benefits of expanding your Level 1 Teacher Training
5 Benefits of expanding your Level 1 Teacher Training The yoga world has changed in many ways in the last five years. As a studio and training centre we see these differences evolve over time. Students have been introduced to a wider variety of styles of yoga and utilise classes for more than the physical […]
What is nidra and how can it help me?
What is Yoga Nidra and how can it help me? By Rina Modi teacher training Manager at the Shala Over the last few years I have heard more and more yogi’s talk about Yoga Nidra, with an increasing number of teachers offering this practice as well as the demand for teacher trainings in this area. […]
What is Yoga?
What is Yoga? Yoga is many things to many people. When we ask this question on our teacher training programmes we usually end up with many words scrawled all over a huge whiteboard. Yoga is hard to define as it is so expansive and all-encompassing. Here we have chosen 8 words we associate with yoga. […]
Pregnancy yoga – Benefits for prenatal wellness and birth
Pregnancy Yoga – Benefits for Pre-Natal Wellness & Birth “Whenever and however you give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and spirit for the rest of your life” Ina May Gaskin Designer Pregnancy and birth is a multi-faceted time in a woman’s life. Whatever the journey, there are for sure […]
Yoga Philosophy – Know Your Own What, How and Why
Yoga Philosophy – Know Your Own What, How and Why The practical benefits of yoga philosophy training by Daniel Simpson What exactly is yoga and what is it for? There are many different answers in ancient texts, and few of them apply to modern life without being reframed. Teachers often do that without even realising, then […]
10 reasons to come back to in studio classes
After this period of isolation and solo yoga practices, here are 10 Reasons to come back to the studio for in person yoga classes: Dedicated yoga space – Get away from the 4 walls of our homes Social – Tea and chats in the lounge area Physical Contact – Hands on teacher assists and adjustments […]
Yoga in 2021 and beyond…
Yoga as a practise is on the rise – there is no doubt about that. In 2016 a Yoga Journal report found that people practising yoga in the US had gone from 20.4 million in 2012 to 36.7 million in 2016. Imagine what the numbers are now! In the UK, yoga was one of the […]
21 years – thank you
By Gingi Lee, Founder of the Shala Twenty one years ago I climbed the stairs in an old Victorian brewery in Battersea, opened a small door into a light filled room. It was like no other space I had been in, a room with energy, nurturing, exciting, full of potential. I had spent most of […]
Practice while you can
This is a mantra I’ve repeated hundreds of thousands of times over the years when I was too hungover, depressed, heartbroken, anxious, sad or just couldn’t be arsed to get to the yoga studio. It’s also what I’ve told many people I’ve taught. Not just the able-bodied ones, but especially the less able, older people, […]
The virtual shala
Welcome to our Virtual Shala here to keep you sane and grounded and connected. We closed the doors of our Shala on the 17th March and with a giant leap of faith we opened our Virtual Shala the following day. We now have a full schedule of live streamed classes from our amazing team who […]
Message to our community
There has been a huge shift for everyone these last few months. Unsettling, uncertain and often frightening times. It has been truly heart and gut wrenching to witness recent events in the USA. Out of crisis comes transformation and this is a moment in time which has really pushed us all to wake up. Now […]
Reasons to love live streamed classes
THE JURY IS IN! An astonishing 81% of our students would like our Virtual Shala to continue into the future. Here are 10 Reasons why we are all loving Live Streamed Classes and why our Virtual Shala offerings are here to stay. 😴 being able to roll out of bed onto the mat – or practice […]
The motherhood journey
We felt it was about time we said Hello 👋🏽 Christina & Carly We first met at pregnancy yoga the Shala in 2015. Our babies were due a few days apart but we ended up giving birth on the same day (with the same midwives!). Since then we have become closest friends and have a […]
More than one type of warrior
by Gingi Lee There is a photograph of a Karate Master prominently hanging in the reception area of the Shala Yoga Centre in London. He is garbed in traditional Karate clothing (Gi). He is in a fighting stance wielding an Okinawan martial art weapon that is shaped like an old fashioned fishing oar. He looks […]
Breathwork for asthma, allergies, respiratory conditions
No-one knows more about the stressful feelings of shortness of breath and the ‘bad breathing days’ than people with asthma, allergies and respiratory conditions. Maybe more than anybody they need ways to stop their perceived lack of being able to get enough air in. There are practical and easy ways to create change. Often these […]
Breathwork for cancer
Inspired by The Shala’s Breath for Life series, a pilot study at St James Hospital, Leeds took place monitoring the benefits of simple yoga and breathing techniques for people post surgery for lung cancer. The patients specifically wanted to learn tools/techniques to improve breathing, control emotions, manage panic attacks and improve fitness and flexibility. The […]
What is body rolling?
Yamuna Zake is a master body worker, teacher and a visionary healer who has dedicated her life to understanding how the body works, helping thousands of people around the world to create positive change in their bodies through the system she created, Yamuna Body Rolling. Yamuna Body Rolling (YBR) is a powerful therapeutic fitness technique […]
yoga for london refugees
It has always been our intention with the new (or not so new now!) Shala to set up a scheme where The Shala can give something back to the wider community. Finally we have found a charity that resonates with us and we are delighted to announce our collaboration with Ourmala. Ourmala is a charity […]
Breath work for depression & negativity
How To Feel Better* (*almost Immediately in some cases!) Worries, Overwhelm, Brain Fog, Intrusive Thoughts, Negative Self Talk, Depression and Low-Mood? If this is you, you are in good company. Millions of people are leading lives of quiet desperation inside their own heads without the natural tools to change things instantly. There are simple ways […]
Our most spiritual edition of breath for life
What do mindfulness, meditation and elevation have in common? The first common factor is they all produce happiness. Not just ordinary “Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream” happiness. No, science shows they make for a different better quality of happiness. A longer lasting happiness that actually changes the brain for good. It’s a happiness that brings […]
Brightening our inner skies
By Norman Blair I have been planning to write Brightening Our Inner Skies for more than ten years. There are notes that I made in April 2005. In 2008, I was writing down possible titles such as Opening Doors. Brightening Our Inner Skies seeks to help the reader to have a better understanding of Yin yoga. And […]
Integrating yoga into the nhs
Yoga4nhs were at the House of Commons on UN International Yoga Day, pushing for local government to fully integrate yoga with the NHS. The Early Day Motion recognises that yoga is a “multi-dimensional approach to encouraging well-being” which appreciates the link between physical and psychological health and lifestyle that yoga is a reflective and non-invasive practice, which is […]
Yoga teacher training
We are delighted to officially announce the launch of The Shala School of Yoga, which will offer RYS 200-hour teacher training programmes to a select few students. This year’s multi-disciplinary programme will be taught by Gingi Lee, Mark Kan and Norman Blair with guest teachers including Hamish Hendry and Liz Lark. The course is suitable for those who have an established practice and would like to teach yoga, […]
Bathing in the sound of the gong
This weekend the incredible hypnotic and healing sounds of the gong filled the Shala for our first Moon Gong Meditation. The healing and transformational vibrations of the gong have been used for centuries. Bathing in the sounds of the gong takes us on a meditative journey, aiding stress, releasing emotional blockages, increasing prana, stimulating the […]
Welcome rebecca wilson
We are delighted to welcome Rebecca Wilson to our team to teach a playful Sunday afternoon Vinyasa Flow class. We first met Rebecca in 2005 when she became a regular practitioner at our old Shala, the Sangam in Battersea. She has been a dedicated yogi since 1999 and has been teaching yoga for over 12 years. She […]
Free classes on may bank holiday
Over the bank holiday weekend we invite you to join us for a number of free classes at the Shala, which will be filmed for a series of short films to be used on our website. Over the weekend, there will be a reduced schedule of our regular classes and we have introduced the following […]
2015 child refugee crisis appeal
Thank you to everyone who came to practice at the Shala on 28 December to raise money for the Child Refugee Crisis Appeal (Save the Children). We had an amazing turnout with a full house for the event and everyone giving so generously of their time and energy. Particular thanks to Norman Blair for his yin yoga teachings and […]
Upcoming workshops for january 2016
We have an exciting selection of workshops coming up in January, which will set you up for a super positive start to 2016. Learn the basics of Pilates or Yoga, relax and discover yin yoga practices, experience the restorative powers of Yamuna body rolling and embrace the winter months with a seasonal yoga & qigong […]
Yoga in support of the child refugee crisis
Yoga practice is about connection to self and connection to others. We each and all live in a world of threads that are binding. Many of us are blessed by healthy bodies and lives of relative luxury. It is good to give. With that at our heart, the Shala and Norman Blair will be running […]
Zen uncut with brad warner
On Sunday September 20th we had a Soto Priest grace the yoga centre to give a talk on Zen Meditation practice. It’s not often that you have a priest drop by, but Brad Warner is not your average priest. In fact you wouldn’t know this at first glance. He looks a bit like the nerd […]
The shala being filmed
This Thursday (18th) we have a production company coming to film classes at the Shala for a feature on YOGA IN LONDON for a TV programme called Desi Beat. We will be offering two free classes at 6.30pm for those of you who would like to be a part of this. There will be a […]
New flyer designs
Flyer designs for our upcoming workshops: Yoga Beginnings | Gingi Lee Transition to Mysore | Gingi Lee Birth Preparation | Ingrid Lewis Post Natal Pilates | Clare Goodwin Yoga & Qigong | Mimi Kuo-Deemer Relaxation & Meditation | Barbara Gordon Yin Yoga | Norman Blair Wellness Programme Spring Detox | Claudia Jones Thank you Lisa Kosky for the lovely designs. Bookings Testimonials […]
Guiding, mentoring & supervision for yoga teachers
MINDING WHAT MATTERS… Guiding, mentoring, supervising – supporting each other By Norman Blair There’s a story called The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Of course, aloneness is very much part of human life – and working on our own (as we often are doing as yoga teachers) can accentuate these lonely feelings. I set up the […]
New face front of house
Welcome to Kirsty Arnold, who has joined our team front of house and helping us behind the scenes with an ever-mounting pile of administration. Kirsty first began practising yoga as part of her studies as a professional dancer, ten years ago. Yoga has played a valuable role in developing her body awareness and complimenting her […]
Spring shala open day
A few times a year, we host an open house for new students to come along, see our beautiful space, meet some of our teachers and therapists and try out a free class. Our next open house will be on Sunday 19 April. Book in online from our schedule if you would like to join […]
Open day
For our May open day we lay out a spread of homemade cakes to welcome newcomers to the Shala and reward them after their first yoga or Pilates class.