Find yoga classes in Edinburgh

In world increasingly plagued by distractions and governed by the rat race, it’s hard to find time to dedicate to your physical and mental wellbeing. However, more and more or us are adopting the ancient yoga practices (adapted for the modern-day yogi, of course) to become more mindful of our health. In Edinburgh alone there’s an incredible wealth of opportunities to explore the yoga lifestyle, so why not give it a go?

Although we know it mostly for the physical asanas (or postures), Yoga is actually a 5000-year-old practice and one of the six schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. The name Yoga comes from the Sanskrit ‘yug’, meaning unity, and the practice itself is based around a physical, mental and spiritual core. Although yoga has evolved and diverged over the millennia, most modern-day styles are still based on the original Yoga Sutra, a philosophical guidebook said to have been collated by Indian sage Patanjali in the 1st Millennium CE.

In his classification of yoga, Patanjali set out the Ashtanga, or eight limbs of yoga, which prescribe a morally disciplined and purposeful life. These are:

• Yamas (abstinences)
• Niyamas (observances)
• Asanas (yoga postures)
• Pranayama (breath control)
• Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses)
• Dharana (concentration)
• Dhyana (meditation)
• Samadhi (absorption)

Although these 8 limbs make the classical base of yoga, yogis tend to choose their own level of engagement with the spirituality of practice. Some styles are more spiritual than others, so how do you know which one is right for you?

The benefits of different yoga styles

Over the years various yoga styles have evolved to target different areas of the philosophy with some finding popularity in the West, in particular Hatha styles. ‘Hatha’ refers to the physical side of yoga, so any practices based on physicality (Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vinyasa or Bikram). Often these practices involve holding poses for a few breaths, some meditation and essential relaxation techniques; but each has its own benefits:

• Iyengar focuses on correct alignment of the body. This makes it ideal for working on joint problems or injuries, as well as for building stability, mobility and strength.
• Ashtanga refers to the eight limbs of yoga and encompasses yogic lifestyle. The physical practice is vigorous and involves a series of poses combined with sun salutations to keep up the pace. It’s ideal for those who are already initiated in yoga and want to progress on their journey.
• Vinyasa is an offshoot of the Ashtanga style. It involves performing a number of athletic postures in coordination with your breathing. This style is physically demanding and fast-paced; moving through the posture quickly really gets your heart pumping and finding a flow is key to this style.
• Bikram is the original hot yoga, created and patented relatively recently (in the 70s) by four-time yoga champion Bikram Choudhury. It’s typified by heat, the 90-minute sessions are practiced in 40-degree heat and involve performing 26 patented postures to two set breathing patterns. All sessions follow the same structure and are delivered by Bikram-certified instructors according to a set script. Its demanding nature makes Bikram more suited to experienced yogis, but beginner classes are available for the uninitiated.

These are by no means the only styles of yoga available, there are styles to suit all abilities and inclinations. Expectant mothers can attend pre-natal yoga classes that are structured around postures that don’t put the foetus at risk, whereas new mothers will benefit from post-natal yoga classes. Restorative yoga has become an increasingly popular way to rejuvenate after a heavy day in the office, and styles such as Kripalu are more focused on spirituality, self-reflection, pranayama, deep relaxation and mediation.

Where to learn Yoga in Edinburgh

If you’re serious about practising yoga, Edinburgh is not a bad place to be. The city is home to a huge range of dedicated yoga studios, each with a comprehensive offering of classes and styles. Here are just a few of the options available to you.

Tribe yoga boasts three purpose-built studios based in New Town, Quartermile (ideal for students) and Leith Walk. Their studios offer up to 125 classes per week across the styles, from Beginner’s Yoga where absolutely no experience is required to Flow, Yoga Sculpt, Restorative Yoga and their own patented Tribe Cycle sessions. There are various payment options available, either buy your class passes in bulk or purchase an unlimited membership where you can attend as many classes as you want for the month.

The Yoga Room Edinburgh is ideal for those living or working in the centre of Edinburgh and teaches Ashtanga, Antenatal, Post-natal, Iyengar and Vinyasa Flow styles as well as a range of mother and baby activities. The studio is known for keeping class sizes small so that the teacher can dedicate more time to helping you to progress. Classes are booked in 12-week blocks – one each term – and payment is taken upfront.

Meadowlark Yoga is based on the southern borders of the meadows. It’s a not for profit organisation that aims to make yoga more accessible to local community, offering sessions for beginners and mums and babies as well as styles like Ashtanga, Vinyasa (flow or gentle), Yin Yang Flow… the list goes on.

If you can’t find a dedicated yoga studio near you, check out the class schedule in your local leisure centre. Many Edinburgh-based leisure centres offer yoga classes in their fitness timetables which may be included in the price of your gym membership. These classes will usually run less-frequently that those of a yoga school, and classes sizes will often be greater, but they are usually less expensive too. Dumbrae and Ainslie Park Leisure Centres offer Hatha Yoga once per week, whereas Gracemount Leisure Centre runs two sessions.

If you haven’t been to a yoga class before, it can be hard to know what to expect. So how do you prepare?

Going to a yoga class for the first time

There are a few steps that you can take to make your first yoga class as enjoyable, beneficial and safe as possible:

• Stay hydrated for around 24 hours before your class, don’t try to play catch up by drinking a load of water right before the session though!
• Wear unrestrictive and moisture wicking clothing, preferably form-fitting.
• Don’t eat anything heavy for 2 – 3 hours before your session.
• Arrive early to your first session so that you can meet your instructor and discuss any medical conditions that you might have with them.
• Do your research beforehand, you don’t want to end up at an advanced class on your first go.
• Take a non-slip mat or find out if you can borrow one first.
• Take a towel along – even if you’re not doing hot yoga, you may still sweat.

Attending a yoga class for the first time can be intimidating, especially for those who have done little practice before. For this reason, many aspiring yogis choose to practise on a 1:1 basis with a private instructor.

Why get a private yoga tutor in Edinburgh

Practising with a private yoga tutor is the most efficient way to progress on your yoga journey. Your private instructor has only one student – you – so they can focus on what you want to get out of the session, whether your goals are physical, psychological or spiritual. If your half-moon pose needs work, your instructor can work with you to improve it; if building shoulder stability or flexibility is your priority, your instructor can tailor the session to these needs.

Learning yoga is a journey; once you have a good grasp of the basics with your yoga instructor, they can help you determine the direction in which you want to progress whether it’s Vinyasa, Iyengar, Bikram or Kundalini.

Our lives are busy and we can’t always make it down to the Yoga studio for class. With private instruction you don’t have to, you can practise at a time that suits you, at a regularity that suits you, and in a location that suits you. Why make life even more stressful when it can be that simple?

Got you convinced? So how do you find one of these private yoga instructors in Edinburgh?

Private yoga tuition in Edinburgh with Superprof

You could ask around at the yoga studios, seek recommendations on social media, look at a community notice board or simply type in ‘private yoga instructor in Edinburgh’ into a search engine. But why faff around with all that when you could just go on Superprof?

Superprof is an online platform that links people who want to learn with people who want to teach. Our pool of certified yoga instructors based in Edinburgh offer different specialisms and different experience levels, with prices available to fit all budgets. Their profiles are easy to understand and compare, giving you information about what styles they teach, their location, their prices, their experience and their methodology. You can even read recommendations from previous tutees to get an idea of the instructor’s style and manner. Finally, most instructors offer a free taster lesson so that you can work out if it’s a good fit.

Browse our yoga instructors based in Edinburgh and find your perfect instructor today!