Shala Community

Visiting the Shala | Useful Information

Transport 
  • By car: it is possible to park on Chestnut Road for free  
  • By bike: you can lock a bike outside on our railings or on bike racks outside the Co-operative on the high road 
  • By train: West Norwood is the nearest overground station (2-mins walk) with links to Victoria and London Bridge. Tulse Hill is about 7-minutes walk, with links to Farringdon and East London 
  • By tube: Brixton is our nearest tube station with many bus links from there
Access 
  • The access code to the door at street level is 0119 (there are two keypads at the door, please use the keypad on the right)
  • The access code to the door on the third floor is C01XZ (top lock) 
  • If the door does not open, then the bottom lock is locked, and you will need to wait until a member of staff arrives 
  • Please save these codes on your phone. A member of staff may not be available to let you in if you are running late, etc.
Arriving 
  • Please always arrive 10-15 minutes before the sessions start to allow time to get settled and to avoid disrupting the tutors and fellow students 
  • Always check in at the iPad on the front desk each morning by ticking the box next to your name on the class sign in screen 
  • Check the iPad to confirm which studio you will be in 
  • Mute mobile phones and refrain from using them inside the Shala (except for recording content). 
  • Please be as quiet as possible on arriving, waiting for class and leaving to avoid disrupting other classes that may be in progress. This is particularly relevant on weekends when the centre may be busy with regular classes. 
What to Bring  
  • Notebook, pen, pencil 
  • Mobile phone and charger to film / record content if you find this helpful 
  • Teacher Training Manual if relevant to course 
  • Yoga clothes  
  • Yoga mat (you may leave this at the Shala overnight while the course is on, but you should take it home with you at the end of each weekend). 
  • Yoga props are provided, but for some courses that require a lot of props you may be requested to bring extras.

Note that if you need to borrow a mat for any reason, please always clean your mat after use with the mat cleaner and wipes provided and leave to hang on the rail in the hallway 

Belongings
  • All shoes should be left in the racks in the hallway
  • Coats and bags should be left in the changing room.
  • Take valuables only to the studio – the Shala does not accept liability for theft or damage to personal possessions at the centre.  
Medical Issues 
If you have a change in medical conditions or any injuries, these should be discussed as soon as possible with us. 
Food & Drink 
  • Please note the reception area is a food-free zone. If you wish to eat your own food at the Shala, please do this in the studio and ensure you tidy up afterwards. Thank you. 
  • Teas are available free of charge from the lounge area for the duration of the course. Please stack used cups directly into the dishwasher. Please do NOT use the coffee machine.  
Lounge Area 
This area can get busy on weekends. It can also be disruptive to classes going on to have people hanging out in the lounge area, so please only use this area during off-peak times to ensure minimum disruption. 
First Aid 
There is a first aid kit on the glass shelf in the kitchenette. All incidents should be logged in the First Aid book by a members of staff. 
After Class 
Please always be considerate of the fact that the Shala is an operational yoga centre and we have classes in the evenings or early the next day. Because the studios will be fully in use it is sometimes difficult for our cleaners to access the studios while courses are running so please ensure studios are left as you found them at the end of the day.  
Hygiene 
Maintaining a sanitised environment for our team and students is a top priority for us at the moment. Please note in particular that: 
  • We request all students wash their hands on arrival or use hand sanitiser provided in reception 
  • All students are requested to lateral flow test before coming into the studio if they have any symptoms of Covid.
  • You should bring your own yoga mat and these can be stored at the Shala for the few days the course is running 
  • Any other props should be sanitised thoroughly after use with the sanitiser and cloths provided by the studio 
Local Food Recommendations
On most courses there is usually a 60-minute lunch break. If you bring your lunch with you, you may eat in the studio but not in the reception area or if the weather is nice there are benches by the church or in the entrance to the cemetary. Here are our recommendations of places to eat in West Norwood: 
  • Pintadera, 50 Knight’s Hill | Lovely friendly Italian café with great food 
  • Sol & Luna, 529 Norwood Road | Fab friendly Italian café with great value food 
  • Thai Duck Deli, 461 Norwood Road | Thai salads and soups – also a favourite 
  • Sweet Carolina Kitchen & Bar, 2 Knight’s Hill | Great for Mediterranean brunches, sandwiches, tea and cakes 
  • 400 Rabbits, Norwood Road | Pizzas! 
  • Otter Cafe, 17 Knights Hill | Trendy cafe/shop – good food and plenty of space – good with larger group 
  • Iberico, 519 Norwood Rd| No-frills, Portuguese café for cooked (veggie) breakfasts and fresh juices 
  • Blackbird Bakery 378 Norwood Rd | Bakery with granola, pastries, coffees, toasted sandwiches 
  • The Great North Wood, 3 Knights Hill | West Norwood’s gastro pub 
  • The Rosendale, 65 Rosendale Rd | West Dulwich gastro pub with great pizzas and nice beer garden 
Local Accommodation 
  • Recommended Room close to Shala. View on Air BnB. Contact Emma (who teaches at the Shala) directly for bookings with Shala discount.
  • Tulse Hill Hotel, Tulse Hill | prices from £90 a night | 7 minutes walk from the Shala 
  • Air BnB | prices from £35 a night | plenty of choice in the area depending on dates 
  • Travelodge, Balham | prices from £38 a night | 2 stops on the overground from the Shala 
 Shala Contact Numbers 
  • The Shala Centre: 020 8670 7711
  • The Shala Studio Manager: 07398 589557