Yoga is, by far, one of the most popular sporting disciplines Down Under for Australian to get their cardio fix. While it is most definitely a more female-dominated area of fitness, it’s not uncommon for men to try their hand at bending their bodies into unthinkable positions, all in the name of a calm state of meditation.
But where exactly should you practice yoga? Finding the best studio for you can be tricky since there are several variations of yoga you can enrol in – and you wouldn’t want your fancy new yoga clothing to go to waste – including classical yoga, tantric yoga (for spicing up your sex life) and Bikram yoga, which is practised in rooms with high temperatures.
Fortunately, Sydney has plenty of options to choose from, but for the creme de la creme of yoga studios, allow us to point you in the right direction.
Humming Puppy
With studios in New York City and Melbourne, as well as Sydney, Humming Puppy is certainly a yoga studio to get excited about. Each studio quite literally has a hum to it, deliberately, with the space being injected with frequencies that help you during yoga sessions to reach peak performance. How scientific. Studios are capped at 39 people so as to give you enough personal space and not have everyone crammed in, and you can even choose which spot you want to put your mat on, kind of like selecting a specific seat at the cinema.
Address:
Levels 1 & 2/146 Abercrombie Street, Redfern, 2016
Phone:
02 9318 0986
Yoga Style:
No specific style. Teachings based on breath-pranayama, movement-asana and awareness-meditation.
Studio Locations:
Sydney; Melbourne; New York City
Power Living Australia Yoga – Manly
Power Living in a chain of yoga studios founded by Duncan Peak in 2004, in Neutral Bay. Dedicated to the art of Vinyasa yoga, Power Living saw rapid popularity and growth and has since expanded to several studios, including this one in Manly. It’s widely regarded as one of the best yoga studios in the whole Sydney region and offers two yoga rooms in which to practice the Vinyasa style. It’s also a place where yoga teachers can learn the discipline with 200hr and 500hr courses. There are several classes held throughout each day, so you’re always able to find a timeslot to suit you.
Address:
Level 1, 15 Sydney Road, Manly, 2095
Phone:
02 9977 5001
Yoga Style:
Vinyasa – heated & non-heated; Yin
Studio Locations:
Sydney: Neutral Bay, Manly, Bondi Beach
Melbourne: Fitzroy
Adelaide: Adelaide City; Glenelg
flow mOcean
For yoga with a bit of a difference, check out flow mOcean’s kayak and SUP yoga classes. Both classes take place on the water, with the kayaks being able to paddle to a “secret beach location”. If you don’t fancy the risk of getting wet, land-based yoga classes are also available, but hey, where’s the fun in that? flow mOcean can cater for private group bookings, so could be a good way to add a bit of variety to a bucks party.
Address:
West Esplanade Beach, Manly, 2095
Phone:
0452 249 895
Yoga Style:
Kayak Yoga; SUP Yoga; Beach Yoga
Divine Flow Yoga
Divine Flow Yoga is the brainchild of local resident Eliza, who decided to quit her corporate job in 2015 and opened up this studio in 2016. She’s since been joined by her husband, and today, Divine Flow offers some 35 classes of yoga a week, encompassing a range of styles. These include Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Yin, Pilates and prenatal for expectant mothers.
Address:
22 William Street, Brookvale, 2100
Phone:
0413 713 380
Yoga Style:
Vinyasa; Slow Flow; Yin; Pilates; Beginner; Prenatal
BodyMindLife – Surry Hills
BodyMindLife has studios in all the hip hotspots of Sydney, including Surry Hills, Bondi Beach and Redfern and there’s even a studio in Byron Bay. Why so many studios? Because BodyMindLife – run by the husband and wife team of Phil and Ferique – offers an extensive array of classes, taught by world-class teachers along with a welcoming environment for yogis of all levels. Each studio has top-of-the-range facilities too, including rain shows and sustainable, organic products.
Address:
(Surry Hills) 1/84 Mary Street, Sydney, 2010
Phone:
02 9211 0178
Yoga Style:
Yin; Beginner 28 degrees; Advanced 30 degrees
Studio Locations:
Surry Hills; Bondi Beach; Redfern; Kirrawee; Potts Point; Byron Bay
InYoga
InYoga welcomes everybody into the family of yoga, believing the connection with like-minded others is just as important as the practice of yoga itself. Not only does InYoga offer its members a wide range of classes, but they can also enrol in workshops, training classes and other events, to provide a complete and well-rounded yoga experience. A live timetable can be found on the company’s website, so you can always know what classes are on for the day.
Address:
Level 2, 137 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, 2010
Phone:
02 9319 1999
Yoga Style:
Vinyasa; Yin; Meditation
Bikram Yoga Darlinghurst
Like it when things get hot under the collar? You may want to give Bikram yoga a go. This Darlinghurst studio is built on four core values, which include not only teaching you how to perform Bikram, but to understand the history of it and the benefits it can bring you. Not only this, but Bikram Yoga Darlinghurst aims to give its members a welcoming environment that, despite the heat, can be incredibly fun.
Address:
2/256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst, 2010
Phone:
02 9356 4999
Yoga Style:
Bikram
Flow Athletic
Flow Athletic isn’t strictly a yoga studio, but rather, it’s a gym that encompasses yoga within its training methods. The idea behind Flow Athletic is to help you become stronger and fitter through traditional gym classes, but to add in the recovery and mindful benefits of yoga to help prevent any future injuries. Better still, Flow Athletic is very much about creating a community vibe within its gym, rather than it be a space where individuals may feel judged by other members.
Address:
Level 1, 134 Oxford Street, Paddington, 2021
Phone:
02 9331 6721
Yoga Style:
Vinyasa; Yin
Now Yoga
A short trip out of the CBD will bring you to Now Yoga, which offers members a variety of classes all carried out in its one yoga room. The room has integrated heating panels, which are heated to different temperatures depending on the class style. These can reach 35-degrees to help you focus attention on breathing and to help relax the muscles, or can be left off entirely for a more zen approach.
Address:
55 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebury, 2018
Phone:
02 8387 7167
Yog Style:
Hatha; Vinyasa; Flow; Yin; Zen; Low Intensity Interval Training (LIIT)
HYA Yoga
First-rate yoga isn’t solely reserved for inner-city residents, as HYA Yoga in Cronulla proves. The studio offers members classes first thing in the morning and late in the evenings, to cater to those who have to go to that thing called work. Vinyasa, Yin Yoga and Hatha dominate the calendar, so there should be a style of yoga to suit all. HYA also has a 40-day challenge for anyone wishing to completely rejuvenate their lifestyle, not just through yoga, but by becoming far more mindful of themself in the process.
Address:
7/64 Cronulla Street, Cronulla, 2230
Phone:
02 8060 0104
Yoga Style:
Yin; Hatha; Vinyasa
