Words: Georgina Warrick
It wasn’t that long ago when the only option as a venue to teach yoga was the trusty local church hall. However, whilst still a great option, often they are fully booked. It’s time to get creative when it comes to teaching yoga and seek out those secret spaces in your local community that are full of inspiration. From teaching at an old Bank to the Beach, a Florist to a Farm and a Studio that was once a Stables, Eva and Georgina are thinking outside the box when it comes to venues.
Georgina’s favourite secret spaces
Forage and Fleur St Leonard’s on Sea- florists and café
One place I teach yoga workshops at is a florist’s which is a feast for the senses. When students arrive they immediately step into the florists onto the beautiful stripped back wooden floor and the sweet scent of the flowers fills the air. Peonies peek out of the corner in huge antique vases, roses and delphiniums blossoming in milk churns and houseplants and ferns create a mini jungle. The senses are awakened and this really helps students to be grounded in the present moment surrounded by nature and invoking a deep sense of calm. The students naturally inhale deeper each time, filling their noses with the sweet smell of the roses.
The décor is bourgeois bohemia and it is a treasure trove of vintage furniture and it transports you to another time and another place full of beauty and decadence, far away from the to do lists waiting at home.
It is a delicious café too and at the end of the workshop students are invited to come together as a community and connect and enjoy home-made cake and coffee.
Bank House Studio St Leonard’s on Sea
An artist’s studio and an accidental yoga/movement studio. Keren (an extremely talented artist) who lives upstairs with her family never set out to become a yoga studio. However, once one local teacher started teaching in her downstairs art studio and other teachers saw the unique space, she was inundated with requests The pastel pink building that used to be a bank has high ceilings, stunning paintings that adorn the walls that are forever changing and every shelf is carefully curated with vintage curiosities.
In Savasana, she leaves us her own personal collection of vintage wool blankets to use stored in a wicker hamper which lives inside the old Bank’s safe. Life drawing takes place at the studio and the works are out on display and this always creates lots of interesting conversations between the students.
Yoga Life Studio Eastbourne
Nestled in courtyard away from the hustle and bustle is Yoga Life Studio run by the Eva Kristlova. It was an old converted stables so it is full of character- though nowadays no horses remain! Exposed brick work, wooden floors and soft lighting and candles all help to transport you out of the busyness and into the bliss.
A huge Buddha painting is hung from the walls honouring the Indian roots of yoga and the crystals artfully scattered around the studio refracting the light from the enormous sash windows. Sari style purple material is draped over the windows frames which billow softly in the breeze when the windows are open.
Eva’s favourite secret nature spots
Eastbourne Beach Yoga with Eva
Eva runs classes from Eastbourne beach and Georgina regularly covers her when she is away teaching retreats. Walking towards the beach class seeing the impressive white cliffs, the sea glistening and the pebbly and sometimes sandy beach takes my breath away. I feel like I am on holiday when I am covering for Eva and I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Immersed in bird song and the crashes of the waves rolling in and out there is no need for a soundtrack for meditation and Savasana. We simply let nature do her job. I often encourage students to try to sync their breath and movements with the waves rolling in and out. Even though we often lay on the pebbles if you get your position right in poses like Apanasana (knees to chest) you can even use the pebbles to create a little bit of a back massage!
Eva even runs sunrise yoga (yes it does start at 4.30am!) but seeing the magnificent golden orange sunrise over the sea it is always worth the early start.
Yoga with the Alpacas at the Farm with Eva
Held in the open green pastures is Jijies Rest, a stunning alpaca farm. The alpacas are very curious and intently watch over the students as they practice yoga. As Eva has been teaching here a while, the alpacas have grown in confidence with the yoga groups and they will now come really close and lie down by the mats especially if they sense feeding time is coming up. It is a picturesque setting in nature and the yoga is playful and fun and with these gorgeous furry friends for company you just can’t help but smile!
Time to get inspired
When you are out walking in your local area or in nature get creative and ask yourself, do I feel inspired by this place? Could this be turned into a teaching venue? After all there is an abundance of places to teach and practice yoga. Let your imagination lead the way.
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