Member story: how Nadia built a morning ritual
Two years of Mondays
Nadia has been at the 7am class most Mondays for two years. She is also, by her own description, not a morning person, has never been especially flexible, and gave up on yoga twice before this. We asked her how the third attempt went differently.
What she would tell someone starting
Asked what she would say to someone in their first week, Nadia did not hesitate.
- Pick one class a week and treat it as non-negotiable.
- Make everything else optional so missing it costs nothing.
- Protect the half hour after class as much as the class.
- Go back after a gap without explaining yourself to anyone.
- Expect to be bad at it for a while; that is not a sign.
- Choose a time that ruins your week if you miss it.
- Tell nobody about it for the first month.
“None of that is inspiring,” she says. “It is just the bit that worked after two goes at the inspiring version.”
The first two attempts
“Both times I tried to do too much. Four classes a week, all of them hard, and I would keep it up for a month and then something would happen at work and the whole thing would collapse. And once it collapsed I felt bad about it, which made going back harder.”
I stopped trying to be a person who does yoga every morning and started being a person who gets on the mat before the kettle boils.
What changed
“A teacher told me to pick one class and defend it, and let everything else be optional. So I picked Monday at seven, because if I miss it the week has already gone wrong and I know about it by nine in the morning. Everything else I do when I feel like it, which is usually once or twice more.”
The bit either side of the class
“The practice is an hour but the ritual is about two. I walk in, which takes twenty minutes and is when I think. Then class. Then I get coffee and sit for a bit before work. If I drove and rushed off afterwards it would be a completely different thing and I do not think I would still be doing it.”
Two years in, Nadia is still not especially flexible and says she does not much care. “I sleep better, I am nicer to people on Mondays, and I have somewhere to be at seven. That was the whole point.”
FAQ
Frequently Asked
Questions
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Do I need experience to start?
No. Every class is taught with options rather than expectations, and our Fundamentals and Gentle sessions assume no prior practice at all. Tell your teacher it's your first time and they will look after you.
What should I bring to my first class?
Comfortable clothes and a water bottle. Mats, blocks, straps and bolsters are all provided, and there are showers and lockers in the changing rooms.
Can I come without a membership?
Yes. Drop-in classes and pay-as-you-go class packs sit alongside our memberships, so you can practise as often or as rarely as suits you.
How early should I arrive?
Fifteen minutes before your first class, and around five for every class after that. It gives you time to check in, settle and set up your mat without rushing.
Can I pause or cancel my membership?
Pause or cancel anytime with 30 days notice. There are no joining fees and no lock-in contracts, and any unused class credits stay on your account.
Do you teach pregnant or injured students?
We do. Several of our teachers are qualified in pre and postnatal practice and in therapeutic yoga. Let us know before class so your teacher can adapt the session for you.
