Yotopia

at leas Lisa, the owner, seems to be on top of her isht. trying this place again.

Yotopia gets a solid three stars from me.
+ Great location.
+ Hot classes and non-​hot classes, and no Bikram (you can read about why he’s problematic).
+ Great changing rooms, with shower facilites.
+ We’ve only had one class, but the instructor was solid.
— Their prices just went up.
— The hot room is seeeeriously funky-​smelling, indicating poor ventilation. And I get that they want to get classes in there back-​to-​back, but having a 10min window to /​open/​the windows to air the room out would be great. That, or invest in some proper air filtration.
— No super-​early (pre-​work) classes, which is a big bummer. Weekend offerings are a bit sparse.
— The classes are seriously packed. I get cozying up to your neighbour, but not being able to make a single move without accidentally pawing someone’s sweaty thigh or having someone’s hand whack your shoulder is uncool.
I get the feeling that Yotopia is still getting its bearings and feeling out the market. I look forward to watching them grow. Hopefully, they’ll only get better with time.

A brand new yoga and Pilates place in the midst of Covent Garden next to St. Martin’s Courtyard. This studio only opened end November so while they are settling in, I am already reviewing them!
A few days ago, I passed by this new studio that I had heard about recently and thought I could just pop in and have a look since I am looking for a new studio and they were offering a free trial at the moment. I went in on 1^st December to find them still setting up the office /​reception equipment (but since they only just opened, this little faux pas is forgiven).
As I did not have the time then to take a class I was given some information about the various classes they offer and a consultation on what courses would suit me best. Afterwards I had to take off my shoes and got a little studio tour.
And what a studio! They have two studios — one normal, one warm — where classes are taking place. They offer courses for all levels, beginners to advanced. The studio provides yoga mats so all you need to bring is yourself, clothes to change and of course a towel.
The classes they offer range from traditional yoga to Pilates but also a new style called myo-​fit which is a combination of the two. Additionally, workshops are offered, usually over two hours to deepen your knowledge of yoga and train your core.
I also got to see the changing rooms which are practical (just bring your own padlock) and which also also equipped with showers (in which you can find shower gel and shampoo — very good service!!)
So, check this studio out if you like to try out new styles and developments in yoga and Pilates and take advantage of the free trials that is offered until the end of 2011! Although I have not yet taken a class at Yotopia, I am very much looking forward to it and will update this as soon as I have more information. Until then, Yotopia gets a good four-​star rating for now which I might alter once having attended a class. Enjoy!

Yotopia is in a really great, central location only a couple of minutes from Covent Garden tube and not far from Oxford Street. This is a bit plus for me as it offers two different ways to get home.
The studio is pretty cool looking, very clean and sleek and new looking. No shabby edges, or poky spaces. Another big plus are the snacks and water on sale in the lobby. I almost always forget my water, so it’s good to be able to buy some, or a snack if I’m finishing a class late.
The changing area is good, but often gets crowded at busy times. Compared to some of the bigger gyms, it is obviously a lot smaller, but when you take into account how big other similar studios are in the local area they are more than adequate. The showers are nice and clean, although there isn’t a huge amount of space for drying hair if you go before work. Not the end of the world at all, but it can sometimes be a bit of lottery if you’ll get to use the hairdryer exactly when you want to. Hardly a big problem though!
Yotopia has two studios, one (much larger) hot studio and one smaller and only warmish room. They are both kept clean and tidy (no smelly carpets) but again can pretty crowded at peak times. There are lines on the floor, but obviously you do have to be careful of space and not knocking into your neighbour!
Class-​wise, there is a really great mix to keep things interesting and there are good options for beginners and advanced students alike. I’m a particular fan of Jennifer Ellis’ Ashtanga and Hot Flow classes. I’ve been practicing yoga for several years now and have been to most of the studios across London, so I think I can comment with quite a lot of authority on how good a particular studio is. Where Yotopia is really great, I think, is that it blends some of the ‘trendier’ and newer (or non dogmatic) yoga practices with traditional and expert teaching. I’d recommend it to any level of yogi, although perhaps not very very beginners as the heat can sometimes be a little overwhelming if you are completely new to yoga.
Namaste!

Hello sexy! This is definitely the type of interior design where I can ease my mantra. Cool sleek designs and love that the waiting areas and locker rooms which are generously spacious. Bring a lock with you — they have lockers unlike the typical open space hot yoga studios usually provide. Also, I really do appreciate the separate shower cubbies!
Classes
I’ve practiced all sorts of yoga the past couple of years and it was nice and refreshing to take the beginners hot yoga class to break down really good techniques like where to put the weight in your hands in a downward dog. I love that the hot studio has windows that brings in a lot of natural light but there are no mirrors. I think it’s good to change the focus to how you feel rather than your form which is important in bikram yoga.
Watch this space — will update after I take a few more classes. Namaste.