new students

latest updates

For all of our latest information please see our STUDIO UPDATES page.

new student advice

We have students of all ages and all walks of life and we strive to make the Shala a safe, nurturing and positive space for everyone who visits. We are a small independent centre, owned, run and staffed by yogis and our mission is to facilitate physical, emotional and spiritual well-being through mind-body practices. One of our priorities has always been to make the Shala a personal, rather than an anonymous, experience. Our class numbers are small relative to commercial centres, and there is a genuine sense of community that has always blossomed in our space. Find out more here about the Shala and scroll down for more information about your first visit.

Shala Office
Shala Community

introductory offer

For new students to the Shala, we have an introductory pass. We encourage you to try a number of classes and find the classes and teachers that suit you best. We also encourage you to establish a regular practice so you can feel the amazing benefits of yoga in a short space of time. 

All pricing options can be viewed here. All purchases including intro offer passes, memberships and workshops are non-refundable and series expiration dates are firm.

registering & booking

We welcome new students to stop by and see our space, have a chat and get advice about our classes, workshops, courses and teacher training. It is best to come when classes are not in progress; either 15 minutes before a class or during the week days when we are sometimes at the centre keeping up with admin. Please buzz the Shala intercom (to the right of the door) and come up if you are passing or better still email before visiting to check someone is at the centre. Alternatively if you would like to get some advice by email or phone please get in touch. 

We request that all classes are booked and paid for before you come for a class. Our website is fully responsive so you can easily book from your mobile phone – even on your way to the studio! We prefer not to have drop in visitors because we require a complete list of everyone coming in to the building for health and safety reasons and also for studio allocation. If you are having issues with our booking system please let us know and we can book a class for you or help with technical hitches. Our front of house area functions more as a hang-out lounge area than a formal reception with most administrative matters being dealt with online or by email.

If you have an account query, please log in to your Shala account where you can track your schedule, visit history, purchases and account details. If you are unable to resolve it online, please email us.

We have a waiting list for up to ten people per class; classes can get fully booked during peak times but it is unusual for someone not to get a place in the class they would like. If a class is full, add your name to the wait list and an email or text will be sent to you if a space comes free (and you are opted in for notifications on our system); if you are then unable to attend, email us and we will cancel your booking (our 6-hour cancellation policy does not apply to the wait list) or respond to the text to say whether you would like the place or not. We also have text message notifications so if you would like to opt in for those just let us know.

 

Please note our cancellation window is 6 hours for classes. For workshops, the cancellation window is 72 hours (sometimes longer) please check the terms and conditions on the relevant workshop page. While we do fully appreciate that late cancellations often happen for reasons beyond your control – illness, weather, British Rail (!), childcare, family or other valid reasons – it is impossible for us to administrate and arbitrate late cancellations or to reallocate spaces, so all late cancellations are automatically charged without exception – thank you for understanding. If you have missed the cancellation deadline, please still “late cancel” so that the teacher knows not to expect you. Note that we do not accept cancellations by phone or email; all cancellations must be made via your online account.

finding the shala-building

finding the shala

The front of our building is marked by our vibrant pink and orange banners on Norwood Road, but our entrance is round the corner at 1 Chestnut Road – look for our orange street sign and the single door on the left of the Harry Day Mews building (pictured left). When you book a class you will receive a confirmation email with essential access information. If for any reason you so not have this, please buzz our intercom to the right of the door. Come up to the third (top) floor. Please note that there is no lift in the building so if you have any mobility issues please ring us to discuss. The centre opens 15 minutes before scheduled classes (ie 6 or 6.15pm in the evenings).

For a location map and information on transport, please see our contact page.

arriving at the shala

Front Desk Yoga Studio
Vintage-Yoga-Mags-studio

general advice

choosing a class

We have a range of yoga classes to suit your mood, energy levels and abilities. Our teachers do their best to accommodate various abilities but we recommend trying out a beginners class first unless you have some experience of yoga. The level of the class does vary from teacher to teacher. Each teacher brings their own style to the class so to learn more about a specific class, check the teacher’s biography.

Yoga Classes

yoga classes

a liberating and versatile practice, which can decompress, strengthen and stretch the whole body, improve circulation, boost digestion and dramatically lift your mood | IN STUDIO

a flowing rhythmic practice with a strong focus on the breath and movement as a form of meditation.

a memorised sequence of postures where you work at your own pace and receive one-on-one tuition and hands-on adjustments

flowing vinyasa based practices rooted in Ashtanga or Vinyasa flow. Suitable for beginners.

flowing vinyasa based practices rooted in Ashtanga or Vinyasa flow.

A fun and challenging dynamic class to build strength, flexibility and get energy flowing.

A fusion of yoga & bodyrolling, a unique and profound form of yoga and therapeutic work, which reorganises the mechanics of the body, elongating muscles, releasing the spine and improving alignment, mobility and flexibility.

An integration of meditative practices with elements of yoga, qigong, free movement, meditation and breathwork to encourage a profound sense of well-being and connection to body and mind. 

An intimate session for parents & babies to learn and experience baby massage and yoga.

a class to support, inform and empower you through pregnancy.

a soulful class to coax you into a deep state of rest and contemplation; unwinding, rebalancing and nourishing body, mind and spirit.

a gentle and meditative yoga class that blends yin, restorative and nidra practices in a slow, nourishing and deeply relaxing practice.

workshops

We offer a diverse and exciting range of weekend workshops and courses. These sessions allow us an invaluable opportunity to go deeper into various yoga and mindbody practices. Our regular monthly workshops include:

an exhilarating and relaxing experiential aerial journey, where you will be guided through the foundations of aerial yoga.

a unique form of therapeutic bodywork which reorganises the mechanics of the body 

an opportunity to explore techniques to master inversions

a musical meditation session for inner peace and mental health; to uplift the mind, open the heart and bring inner peace

a monthly invitation to gather together in community, to share Cacao and experiences and to participate in movement, breathwork, sharing, meditation and more
 

where we can experience healing and transformation through sound

 yin, yelaxation and introspection 

200 hour, 300-hour  accredited yoga teacher training, run by the Shala School of Yoga

Yoga-Workshops- New Students
New Students

teacher trainings & cpds

Our affiliate organisation, the Shala School of Yoga runs a  200-hour (level 1), and 300- hour) yoga teacher training programme alongside numerous shorter courses and CPDs. The school brings together some of the UK’s most well respected and inspirational teachers with a commitment to high quality educational trainings. Courses are either HYBRID (in studio and livestream), VIRTUAL (livestream only) or IN STUDIO (in studio only) or BLENDED with any combination of the above!

facilities

The Space
  • Reception/lounge area
  • Mysore studio  – capacity 24 mats
  • Hampi studio – capacity 22 mats
  • Changing room – gender neutral
  • Toilets x 3 – gender neutral
  • Showers x 2 (please note we do NOT provide towels &/or shower toiletries)
  • Props: bolsters, blankets, blocks, bricks, straps, sand bags, aerial hammocks, eye bags

Drinks

Help yourself to free filtered water and hot water! If you fancy a cuppa, teas are by donation (please leave a donation in the honesty jar). 

If you would like a coffee (£2), please ask a member of staff (or a barista-trained student!) to make it for you.

Yoga Facilities Shala
Studio-Yoga-Mat-Racks

yoga mats

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