The Life Centre Islington

The classes I have attended have been good although at times very over crowded especially some of the work shops. As others have said some classes have to be adapted because of lack of space. However because of the congenial atmosphere and generally good teachers I used the center for sometime. My disappointment came when I purchased a new block of classes, I used half of them but then had back issues and was unable to do any classes at all while I had treatment. When I was ready to return, although I had gone in and let them know what was happening I was unable to book on line because my classes had been frozen. When I went in I had to pay the full price for the class because I could not access the classes I had already paid for. I was told I had to have a letter from my GP (which would cost me £25) pay £12 to unlock the classes for a month or buy a new block then the locked classes would be added. When I explained I would have to pay £25 for a GP letter I was told it would therefore be a bargain to pay them only £12. I have asked my osteopath for a letter but after being spoken to in such an aggressive disrespectful way (no manager available) showing no empathy what-so ever, such a switch from the smiley we love you all presentation, I will not be going back. This from a center that prides its self for its love and respect for all is as I said disappointing to say the least

Good teachers and classes, pleasant environment and vibe, good facilities.It does sometimes get too hot though and not that easy to breathe in the summer, so at least some fans would be a good change. My disappointment was losing the money paid for the 3 weeks trial, after getting a neck injury and not being able to attend for 2 of the 3 weeks paid. Not sure why I was asked for a letter from my doctor in order to extend the trial, only to be told after going through the hassle, that the policy does not allow for any extensions even on medical grounds. And it took more than a week to receive that decision from the management. I really like the centre, but not comfortable with such policies.

I wouldn’t go back just because it was so noisy. The studio is nice, the changing rooms small, the instructor seemed lovely but at times I couldn’t hear her over the din from outside. Buses, cars, motorbikes, kids smashing bottles and cursing outside. It’s warm at the moment so the windows are all open but it means that you have a less than tranquil experience. Not worth the money I think.

Fantastic teachers at The Life Centre - broad experience and knowledge. As someone that loves a dynamic practice, I couldn’t recommend it enough. I have also taken some restorative and mindfulness based classes which have been superb and a good way for me to balance out from time to time. The Mysore program is fantastic and is my go to these days for practice. The sense of community in the group is beautiful and it is led by Agi Gazda who is an outstanding teacher. It is the perfect setting to come and focus on your self practice. The classes set up during the Covid-19 Lockdown have been super enjoyable and very popular. Definitely would not be having this much of a good time throughout this crisis without the classes. Credit to the staff and teachers for making this such a smooth transition. Agi Gazda, Amanda Wright, Isabell Britsch, Harriet Bone, Huma Jalil, Joyce McMiken are some of the excellent teachers I have practiced with. All of the teachers and staff at The Life Centre are super friendly & knowledgable too.

THE TOP VALUE OF THE LIFE CENTRE ISLIGTON: YOGA AS A BUSINESS I have attended yoga classes at the Life Centre in Islington over 4 years. I started with a trial where you could attend unlimited classes for a month, for just £25. I got immediately hooked: ample spaces with plenty of light, calm atmosphere, generally knowledgeable teachers. I kept a very regular practice (once or twice lessons per week), and to be able to do so, I used to buy 20-session class passes that could be spent over 6 months. At some point and due to increased work commitments (I often travel abroad), I realized that I was not being able to spend the 20-class pass within 6 months, and was losing 2-3 session on each pass. For this reason, I started buying 10 class passes I was sure of being able to use, even though classes turned out more expensive. This morning, I intended to buy a new 10-class pass, when the employees at reception informed me that I now had to spend it within 3 months. I was slightly shocked and was not sure of what to do, but since the class started in 5 minutes, I went ahead and bought the pass. I had a very restless practice, trying to figure out how I could possibly use 10 classes within the next 12 weeks, with the upcoming Easter holiday and work trips. The main question going around my head was: what could be the reason for the Life Centre getting rid of the one option that allowed me to attend yoga classes on a (relatively) affordable basis? Though £13 for a group session is not what many people would consider to be affordable. After the class, I went to Reception and I asked the two employees there about the reasons for the 10 day class pass now expiring in 3 rather than in 6 months. What happened next left me without words. The male employee rolled his eyes, snorted and blurted out: “because this is a business”. Then, he turned his back on me and started busying himself with something else. The female employee looked concerned, and she offered a second explanation: “because this was a decision of the management” – she also mentioned the “business model”. I replied that I imagined that was the case; however I wanted to know the actual reason for such decision. Then she seemed to vaguely remember something; and ventured out that the Life Centre wanted to “help me keep a regular practice”. I opened my eyes in disbelief: how would she know, I wondered, whether I keep a regular yoga practice or not? I made a last effort and explained that this was a tough predicament, since I am currently not able to spend 10 sessions in three months, and the other alternative is to pay £15 for a (I must say as of late absolutely crowded) single yoga session. I also tried to transmit my concern that a Centre dedicated to teaching a discipline with a focus on spirituality, tolerance and kindness should really not pursue such an aggressive capitalistic policy, by charging high prices for classes where there is literally 20 cm of space between yoga mats, and forcing people to spend passes within shorter and shorter time periods. At that point, the female employee advised me to “provide feedback” to the Centre in writing. And this is what I am doing. The best feedback I can think of is to reproduce this experience. I believe it speaks by itself, and is aptly summarized in the title of this letter: “the top value of the Life Centre: yoga as a business”. And to conclude: ample, beautiful, full of light spaces are nice. Bronze bodhisattva statues are inspiring. A kitchenette full of cute tea cups feels welcoming. But at the end of the day, one wants to practise yoga in a place that is not completely at odds with what yoga as a humanistic practise and philosophy entails. A place where people are not treated merely as customers that need squeezed to the maximum for revenue. And a place where the FIRST explanation they provide for a decision that affects your ability to practise is not the “business model”. Namaste, Delio O.

After attending the Enchanted Wonders family yoga workshop at The Life Centre this afternoon my family now feel joyful and inspired. In a studio full of 15-20 children no older than 9, at the beginning I did wonder how the workshop would flow and function yet somehow Ayalla pulled it off with no cries, whinges, spills or complaints!! From playing with a ball whilst singing, playing with a ball whilst completely (kind of) silent, dancing, craft making, eating of her delicious spelt banana bread and of course yoga - we really did it all! What made the day most magical was the way all the children got so involved and were so happy to express their yoga postures in their own unique and individual ways. "We had so much fun didn't we! My favourite was the dancing doggy! And I laid on your back!" was the response when I asked my 3 year old daughter at the end of the workshop if she had a good time. From an adults perspective my favourite, aside from watching the children in their elements, was learning some new and neat tips for getting my children involved in yoga in a fun way. I also learnt some tricks on getting my children to learn to relax and reflect. We already have Ayalla's great Enchanted Wonders cards at home which the children have loved playing with, but during the workshop we learnt some great new ways to use them - like musical statues with a yoga posture to freeze on and creating stories out of a few cards. I will definitely continue to use them and create new fun ways to put them to use. Towards the end of the workshop we also did a mindfulness exercise which will definitely help me at home. And of course ended in savasana - yes all the kids lying down calmly together! All in all a great fun day for the kids and an educational day for myself that inspired me to continue guiding my children through yoga and meditation. I would definitely love to do this workshop again some time at The Life Centre. Thank you

Wonderful place. Oasis ! Many great teachers, great staff and fantastic place to practice, unwind, relax and work hard! I do not like the fact that you need to use your 10 class pass in 3 month.

I was lucky enough to attend Ulric's workshop for Bullet Proof hips in April and it was revolutionary for me. For a long time I have been more focused on the lack of flexibility that my hips offered instead of appreciating the range of movement that they did allow. My poor hips have always been to blame for things I couldn’t do, as opposed to what they allow. I was a little hesitant about a workshop that focussed purely on this area of my body that I tend to neglect but Ulric’s workshop on Saturday felt like it was made for people like me and helped me to dramatically shift this negative perception. Ulric encouraged us to work with our natural ranges of movement and think about building strength, as opposed to focussing purely on flexibility (or lack of in my case!). The workshop was taught in an inclusive and accessible manner with just the right amount of fun and humour thrown in. We started with some mindful movement which helped to create the necessary awareness and an openness to new ways of moving. This was followed by some strengthening exercises with a refreshing focus on controlled movement rather than flexibility. The final part of the workshop allowed us to put everything into practice in a playful and exploratory manner. This helped to pave the way to new movement patterns and a different, more ‘friendly’ approach to my hips. Something that can definitely be taken off the mat! Since taking part in the workshop I have been consciously playing with these new ways of moving, from the way I move out of Savasana to the route I take to work and thinking about ‘moving for the pure joy of movement’. I have also been showing much more gratitude to my hips for everything they allow me to do. Thank-you Ulric. Looking forward to the next workshop!

I bitched and bitched before I came back from Vancouver about not being able to find a good yoga in studio in London and dreading practising at the gym. And then I found the Life Centre Islington. Sweet relief. This is actually a really cool dedicated yoga studio. Very clean and well kept, with always friendly receptionists (trust me, that makes a big difference) and a nice selection of classes. The only complaint I have is that they claim to offer pilates but never in the evening and I can't come during the day. Also they seem to have more than a few substitute teachers which I think if I go with more regularlity would start to bother me. But then again, switching it up with teacher styles can keep it challenging. While the name leads you down paths of hippie women who don't shower and wear their hair in dreadlocks, it is comfortingly yuppish. Free mat rental too. And lockers. Winning.

I really really want to like this place but i am having a hard time with a few things. Coming from practicing other international studios, the teacher quality i find it quite high but there is a ton of subbing. I have only been to 3 classes and the teachers have been great accept for one that is supposedly world renowned.. go figure, but i never buy into celebrity yoga anyways. They offer free mats but they are DISGUSTING. I asked for spray to wipe mine down after class and they didn't even have any? I asked them when they are cleaned, she said when they get dirty.. like once every few months. YUCK! I don't know what era we are living in but foot fungus and spreading of illness is prevalent through these mats. This is first time i have ever been to (in 10+ years) a studio that offers mats, yet not tell us to clean them after use. Pretty gross for a nice studio. Cleanliness is part of yoga covered in the Nimyamas as Saucha, so that is why i am surprised to see such lack of care. Bring your own mat is the only solution, or keep bugging them and they may see the light.

I tried a range of yoga classes here, all were really good. I have a bit of yoga experience already which is needed for many of the classes, they do beginners classes and workshops which I hear are good. The space is lovely, the studios are a decent size but at the cost of the changing space which is tiny. Recommend trying the introduction 2 week pass.

This is a great beginner's studio... I ve been doing yoga on and off (mostly off) for the past 5 years, and still consider myself a beginner. But since I've become pregnant and my gym membership has expired, I figured doing yoga is a great way to stay healthy and stay off my bum. I've been coming here for the pregnancy yoga classes, and it's been really great! There are plenty of different teachers in rotation, which I don t mind because they all do different kinds of exercises which help me to stretch out. All of them are very knowledgable and approachable. The space itself is great as well! It s located off of Essex road, so it doesn't get too nosy. There are two spacious studios, changing rooms, and a room with one shower. It's nice that they offer free mats, but some of them are showing lots of wear and tear. But since it's pregnancy yoga, I do most of it sitting on a blanket. If you're picky about your mat, just bring your own. I know that finding the right studio is really important, but you have nothing to lose for 2 weeks unlimited classes for £20. They also offer a lot of packaged deals, which can bring the price of classes to £11 each. The Life Centre also offers "community classes" which make yoga really affordable for £7 a class.

THE TOP VALUE OF THE LIFE CENTRE ISLIGTON: YOGA AS A BUSINESS I have been attending yoga classes at the Life Centre in Islington over 4 years. I started with a trial where you could attend as many classes as you wanted for the span of a month, for just £25. I got immediately hooked: the beautiful space, ample rooms with plenty of light, calm atmosphere, generally knowledgeable teachers. I kept a very regular practice (once or twice lessons per week), and to be able to do so, I used to buy 20-session class passes that could be spent over 6 months. At some point and due to work commitments (I often travel abroad), I realized that I was not being able to spend the 20-class pass within 6 months (I noticed I was losing 2-3 session on each pass). For this reason, I took recourse to buying 10 class passes that I was sure of always being able to spend within 6 months, even though classes worked out to be more expensive. This morning, I intended to buy an additional 10-class pass, when the employees at the Life Centre reception informed me that I now had to spend it within 3 months. I was slightly shocked and was not sure of what to do, but since the yoga session started in 5 minutes, I went ahead and bought the 10-class pass. I had a very restless practice, just trying to figure out how I could possibly use 10 classes within the next 12 weeks, having the upcoming Easter holiday and three work trips over the next three months. The main question going around my head was: what could possibly be the reason for the Life Centre getting rid of the one option that allowed me to attend yoga classes on a (relatively) affordable basis? Let us please not forget that £13 for a group session is not what many people would consider to be affordable... After the class, I went downstairs to Reception and I asked the two employees there which were the reasons for the 10 day class pass now expiring in 3 months, rather than in 6 months, as it used to be. What happened next left me without words. The male employee rolled his eyes, snorted and blurted out: "because this is a business". Then, he turned his back on me and started busying himself with something else behind the counter. The female employee looked concerned, and she offered a second explanation: "because this was a decision of the management" - she also made some comment about a "business model". I replied that I imagined that was the case; however I wanted to know what the reason for such decision was. At that point, she seemed to vaguely remember something; and ventured out that the Life Centre wanted to "help me keep a regular practice". I opened my eyes in disbelief: how would she know, I wonder, whether I keep a regular yoga practice or not? I made a last effort and explained her that for me it was a tough predicament, since I am currently not able to spend 10 sessions in a month, and the other alternative is to pay £15 for a (I must say as of late absolutely crowded) one-off yoga session. I also tried to, somewhat incoherently due to my estate of shock and surprise; transmit my concern that a Centre dedicated to teaching a discipline with a certain focus on spirituality, tolerance and kindness should really not pursue such an aggressive capitalistic policy, by charging exorbitant prices for yoga sessions where there is literally 20 cm of space between yoga mats, and forcing people to spend the class passes within shorter and shorter time periods, if they want to take advantage of a small reduction in prices. At that point, the female attendant started looking elsewhere and, without further ado, advised me to "provide feedback" to the Centre in writing. And this is what I am doing. The best feedback I can think of is to reproduce this experience as I have done above. I believe it speaks by itself, and is aptly summarized in the title of this letter: "the top value of the Life Centre: yoga as a business". And to conclude: this experience has in fact proven valuable. Ample, beautiful, full of light spaces are nice. Bronze bodhisattva statues are inspiring. A kitchenette full of cute cups to have tea feels welcoming and cosy. But at the end of the day, one wants to practise yoga in a place that is not completely at odds with what yoga as a humanistic practise and philosophy entails. A place where people are not treated merely as customers that need being optimized to the maximum for revenue, according to a business model. And a place where the FIRST explanation they provide for a decision that affects your ability to practise is not the "business model". Namaste Delio

The best description of Life Centre I have heard was when I brought along friend visiting from San Fran to a class and she said "that yoga class was worse than the one I took in an alley in China and 5x more expensive. In China the mats were cleaner, actually". There you go. I've lived on Essex Road for years. I shop at Planet Organic. I love yoga. I wanted to love the Life Centre out of interest and convenience. In fact, I've tried on 5 occasions over 4 years to attend it regularly, always thinking it's my fault I don't like Life Centre - by taking different classes (maybe I just need to find the right teacher?), bringing friends (maybe it's bad because I'm alone?), attending workshops (maybe I need more direction?), and complementary therapies (maybe I need additional help to relax?). Finally I realised that it wasn't me. It was the Life Centre. It has consistently failed. The teachers are non-attentive and only concerned with their regulars and inner clique, the reception staff is useless, the management could not resolve a simple over-billing claim, there are no changing rooms, it is ridiculously hot and noisy, the mats and floor are smelly and GROSS with no cleaning materials available and on top of all, it has central London prices without the central London amenities. Now I shlep it down to Bank to attend Blue Cow Yoga. I'd recommend you do the same.

I've been going to The Life Centre in Islington for the past year and a half. I stopped for a while because I had taken a month off work and, honestly, spending £140 a month wasn't exactly what I needed! I went back at the beginning of this year, signing up for the unlimited membership (£105 a month for 6 months). It was a joy to go back, it was just what I needed and it really improved my life. I love some of the teachers: Anita Goa, Isabell Britsch, Susanne Lahusen, Gemma Soul, Tanja Mickwitz. I think the level of the classes is really high, whether you're a beginner or advanced and I like that they change the classes every time so you don't get bored and always feel challenged. Really satisfied with that. BUT, regarding the centre itself, the computer for the registration at the entrance is always out of order, which means having to wait long time before being able to check in because of the queue. The receptionists are normally quite slow and you risk missing the class or getting in later because of that (they have a maximum 5 min delay policy). The mats are seriously DISGUSTING, no one cleans them after use and I'm really surprised that neither reception nor the teachers tell people at the end of the class to clean them. Most of the time, if I got the chance to, I would clean my mat before the class (which is a pain because the spray doesn't dry straight away so you start to slip). However, sometimes I couldn't find the spray at all so.. well, too bad! Some time ago I bought my own mat and I'm not worried anymore about fungus, various infections, etc. Oh, and please let me say, those water glasses in Reception are the most horrible and uncomfortable thing ever. You can't hold them properly because of the shape and, to be perfectly honest, there are many other eco-friendly glasses with a normal shape. I don't understand why they want to submit us to such a pain! Do they want to look "different", "innovative" or what? Finally, I'm an unlimited member and I only get 2 extra passes a year for a friend. I think it's ridiculous with all the money I pay. Let's say that, overall, I would give 5 stars just for the teachers but the centre has A LOT to improve on.

i can't comment on the regular classes here, but i attended a "future sound of yoga" class here tonight, and it was AWESOME. unfortunately the instructor and her dj hubby are based out of sydney, but hopefully they come back! the studio itself is really nice, airy and clean w/ a large changing area plus showers.

This past weekend I had the painful pleasure of attending Leila's Body Rolling Workshop at the Islington Centre (we'll get to the painful pleasure part later). Being an avid yogi, fitness fanatic and having numerous major injuries over the years, I entered the studio pondering and curious as to what we could possibly do with three hours, and just what was I going to get out of "Body Rolling"? Would I get bored and distracted? Are we breaking for Tea & biscuits? Just what exactly were all 25 of us going to do rolling around on the floor with these balls? Well, little did I find out that not only did 3 hours go by in a blink of an eye, but I would learn that from feet up you can target superficial skin, fasciae, muscle fibers, tendons, ligaments, bones, internal organs with the use of a single hard plastic ball rolled along specific points of the body. Basically, you can ease all that tension and years of discomfort you carry around day-to-day, year-to-year from poor posture, old injuries or just stale and stiff joints. As Leila pointed out, it will be like "clearing the impact from the body...and re-building the blocks of the body one on top of another." As I like to put it is like a self-inducing Rolfing session, prompt the pain description here for those of you who know what Rolfing is. Some discomfort at times a level of 8 out of 10, followed by amazing openness and change. Leila warmly welcomed us into the room with a large smile and sincere eye contact as we sat comfortably in a circle. She enthusiastically explained us the origin of Body Rolling, her experience and training with Yamuna in New York City before opening the discussion to us, and what ails us day to day. Comments ranged from upper back pain, tight hamstrings, neck discomfort, crunchy feet to sitting at a desk, high heels, and just plain feeling crummy. She passionately listened to our ailments and addressed each issue with immense knowledge of the human anatomy, and how we can release and find freedom from discomfort with simple method of Body Rolling. Starting with a body scan standing upright, Leila had us close our eyes and feel how we were in that moment. What was pulling? Were we leaning on one leg more than the other, more forward, more backwards, was our jaw clenched, was one shoulder lower than the other, did we have any discomfort anywhere? What in that one minute felt icky and miserable? Remembering this feeling, she moved us back to our mats and we started literally from the ground up through the entire body. We worked repeating a deep inhalation and exhalation and varying ball sizes to literally roll on the ball in specifically placed locations along the muscles & tendons. Feet, outer edge, inner edge, middle foot, all the teeny tiny micro fascia between the toes, Achilles tendon, calves, lower, middle upper, shins, hips, outer hips, glutes, front body, spine & neck. We controlled the use of our own body weight, stimulating muscular origins, tendons, muscle bellies, and insertion points. She got into the nitty gritty places we all love to hate, but hate to go there. She had us "grrrrr.... (like a bear) and bare the weight of the body on the ball." We seized to fight the muscles and tendons and released into the freedom, freedom from past poor habits, inflexibilities, good & bad strengths and ailments. We sunk into that ball like it was going to break through the floorboards and pop out of the ceiling on the ground floor. We elongated muscles, increased the movement in the joints, we rolled on one part of the body only to feel it in another. Towards the end of the workshop, I looked up to find slumped over, unyogic bodies lying around. Looks of pure ecstasy and euphoria were setting in left and right. Grimaces turned to smiles, grunts turned to deep exhales of pure joy. Leila has successfully turned us into a pile of mush. My body felt literally like it was on cloud nine, tingly sensations ran through those tough spots I was nervous to work on, and felt as if I had shed years of discomfort. I got immediate and direct feedback with every move and change in pressure working through the ball. My nervous system was in shut down mode, my muscles and joints had undergone a gentle manipulation back to where they anatomically were suppose to be, the tightness in my neck was gone, and my feet felt like they were one size larger. In our closing body scan, I felt more open the front body, and like Leila mentioned, as If I had just restacked all the building blocks of my body back into place. She had accomplished convincing me that there something I was going to get out of the workshop. That being not only freedom in movement, but also this is something everyone should partake in and incorporate in their lives. Thank you Leila, I will be back!

The Life Centre Islington opened it's doors in January. They've recently added new classes to their timetable and offer a diversity of styles, each taught by highly regarded teachers. They have many exciting workshops that are held on Saturdays and also offer special New to Yoga workshops, beginners courses, pregnancy classes and mums and babies class. A great all round centre with friendly staff. The Life Centre creates a sense of community where you truly feel welcome. An amazing place to practice! Check it out!