• Mindfulness
• Yoga and Pilates
• Individual Teachers
• Yoga for Recovery
• Family Friendly Yoga
• A week’s worth of intermediate yoga

Mindfulness

Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. Some people call this awareness ‘mindfulness’. Mindfulness can help us enjoy life more and understand ourselves better. You can take steps to develop it in your own life.

There are lots of mindfulness courses available in Oxford, usually provided in blocks of 8 weeks. Here are a few of the best:

The Oxford Mindfulness Centre teaches us how to deal more skilfully with the stresses and strains of daily living, by practising the skill of deliberately paying attention to what happens in mind and body, to become more familiar with the workings of our own mind patterns and habits. This helps plan for how best to respond, rather than react in our old familiar, often unhelpful ways.

Paula Haddock trains on mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness for social change, collaboration and group working, training of trainers and co co-ordinating the Mindfulness for Social Change Network.

Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil, leading on to clarity and understanding. By regular daily practice the chattering, unruly mind gradually becomes calmer and clearer.

Meditation, Mondays, 7.30-9pm
23 Osborne Close, OX5 1TU
Informal meditation led by a Zen priest. Beginners welcome and booking essential.

Yoga and Pilates

Yoga has been in existence for many thousands of years, although in recent decades it has become ever more popular for a variety of beneficial reasons, not least as a way of dealing with our daily stress.

Yoga aims to strengthen your body while allowing it to become more flexible; you cannot have one without the other. It aims to bring our distracted thoughts to a single focus for the duration of a class, bringing together the often disparate aspects of the mind and body. Ultimately, Yoga is used to quieten the body and mind so that the practitioner can concentrate on achieving a state of concentration or meditation. This can take some years of practice!

Yoga Venue
263 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7HN
The Yoga Venue hosts around six classes per day and offers a wide range of payment plans, starting at £15 for a drop in session, but with great savings available for block-booking. Their schedule is packed with classes for all abilities, take a look at what they have on offer here.

Yoga Move Oxford
North Oxford Community Centre, Diamond Place, OX2 7DP
Daria Ricchi teaches private and group yoga and movement classes: a gentle flow + meditation on Monday mornings 9.30-10.30am and more vigorous flow on Thursdays 5.30pm-6.30pm. All classes take place at the North Oxford Community Centre or in Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park. For more info see https://www.yogamoveoxford.co.uk

Prana Yoga
Jericho studio: 85 Walton St, Oxford OX2 6EA, Cowley studio:2 Avenue Lane. Oxford UK OX4 1YF
Yoga for people of all abilities, with some classes focusing more on beginners. They offer a wide range of packages – you can drop into classes for £13 or get deals when you book 5, 10 or more classes at once. Pre/post-natal and kids classes are also offered. Take a look at their full schedule here.

Tara Yoga Centre
2nd Floor Crown House, 193 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UT
Drop in yoga classes guided by an experienced teacher that are free and suitable for everyone. Visit their website for more information about their ethos and vision.

Monday, 5:15-6:15pm, Yoga for the Heart
Tuesday, 5:15-6:15pm, Yin Yang Yoga
Wednesday, 5:15-6:15pm, Core Strength

Pop Up Pilates
Various Locations, based at 56 Weyland Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 8PD
A team of Physiotherapists who bring the benefits of Pilates to you. They offer classes tailored to complete beginners, those who’ve been doing Pilates and yoga for a while, pregnancy and post-natal Pilates, and cardio Pilates. Block book classes in sets of 8 on their website. Also available for corporate classes or 1:1 tuition.

Grace and Gravity, throughout the week, classes from 7am-8pm
Innovation Annexe,W-13,Howbery Business Park,Wallingford, OX10 8BA/The Swan, Streatley, High Street, Streatley-on-Thames, Berkshire RG8 9HR
Based at two beautiful locations in Oxford and Berkshire. Specialising in yoga, circus and wellbeing 7 days a week. Their dedicated group of teachers bring you everything from calming hatha yoga to strengthening pilates, and everything in between..

Individual Teachers

Yoga with Scarlett Moon
Various Locations
Yoga indoors and outside, with a special focus on yoga for women, from a teacher passionate about making yoga accessible. Classes are all £10 and available to book on Scarlett's website.

Tuesday, 9:30-10:30am, Beginners’ Yoga: Flo's the Place in the Park
Thursday, 7:30-8:30pm, Yoga for Sleep: Barracks Lane Community Garden
Friday, 10:30-11:30am, Yoga for Women and Women-aligned: Yoga Quota
Saturday, 8:15-9:15am, Vinyasa Foundations: St. Albans Hall
Saturday, 10:00-11am, Vinyasa: Yoga Quota

Calm Yoga with Lara
West Oxford Community Centre, Mondays from 5:30pm-6:45pm
Hatha Yoga Class suitable for all abilities. The class aims to allow people to move and stretch their bodies in a mindful way, using the breath to bring awareness to the movement. We use breath and visualisation techniques to allow our minds to focus and become calmer. Find out more about Lara and how each session works on the West Oxford Community Association website.

Yoga with Becci Curtis
Various Locations
Whether you are looking to simply improve mobility, get a bit more exercise and try something new; or you are after a method to help you live your life more skilfully (or, you don’t even know what you want yet!) – Becci’s online yoga classes are for you. Try out the free beginner series of mini classes, before moving on to two weekly live classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Find out more about Becci and how to book classes at her website.

Yoga and Pilates with Ajactive
AJ offers persona one-to-on training in yoga, pilates or body conditioning depending on your individual needs, either in her garden studio, on home visits or remotely via Zoom or Skype. She also offeres collective Pilates and Yoga classes to schools and businesses; get in touch here.

Yoga with Nadia Saadi
Various Locations
Drop in yoga at £7 per class, with private tuition, corporate and charity Yoga classes in Oxford available on request. Check out Nadia's website for more information.

Wednesday, 6:30–7:30pm, Ark-T Centre
Friday, 6:30-7:30pm, Old Headington Village Hall

Pilates with Alexandra Merson
Various locations
A class to aid flexibility, core strength, and balance, taking place across the week at Cholsey Pavillion, Woodcote Village Hall, Drayton Village Hall, Northcourt Centre and Benson Parish Hall. Find full timings for the week here.

Gabs Brown Writing and Wellbeing
Gabs is a yoga teacher and published author and writer specialising in wellbeing and personal development. She welcomes students of all levels (including absolute beginners) to share an hour of movement, gentle breathwork, and guided relaxation. She teaches two weekly yoga class in Appleton (Monday mornings 9.30am-10.30am and Wednesday evenings 6.30pm-7.30pm) and private classes in her studio in Appleton or in your own home/space. See her website for more information.

Yoga for Recovery

TOPS Physiotherapists
Four clinic across Oxfordshire; find your nearest location here
Classes which modify traditional exercises to allow for the classes to be undertaken by all abilities and also when rehabilitating from an injury. Clinical Yoga classes are offered across TOPS locations in Oxfordshire. Check out their website for more detailed information.

The Foscote Hospital
2 Foscote Rise, Banbury OX16 9XP
Yoga is increasingly being recommended as a treatment to help with muscular problems, and can be beneficial to people who have back or neck pain, sports injuries and postural problems. Classes take place at the following times, after an introductory session which can be booked here.

Tuesday, 12.00–1.00pm
Wednesday, 5.00–6.00pm
Thursday, 5.00–6.00pm

Gentle Seniors Yoga
Drayton Village Hall, Drayton, Abingdon OX14 4LF.
Seniors Yoga every Monday at 11am, with the option to participate in the class mostly sitting. Has great results in easing sciatica - find out more here.

Family Friendly Yoga

Soul Movement, Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30am
Various Locations
Affordable and family friendly yoga and capoeira, tailored to those just starting out. £5 to drop in, or block book a term’s worth of classes for £50. More information here.

Children Inspired By Yoga
Available for hire for schools, pre-schools and nurseries
An innovative yoga programme for children aged 0-11 years to promote physical, mental + emotional wellbeing. Find out more here.

Kids' Yoga at Everybody Studios
New dates for Kids' Yoga coming soon - watch this space! Find the rest of Everybody Studio's inclusive classeshere.

Pure Relaxation Yoga, Tuesdays, 6pm
St Johns Church Hall, The Broadway, Kidlington OX5 1DN
Friendly yoga class: asana, pranayama and relaxation, build strength and flexibility to reduce stress. More information here.

Prenatal Yoga, Tuesdays, 11:00am-12:15pm
Satya Yoga Studio, North St, Islip OX5 2SQ
Pregnancy yoga is one of the best ways to exercise during pregnancy. A gentle, safe way of keeping toned and supple without strain. £15 drop-in or pay for 6 sessions in advance for £78. More information here.

A week’s worth of intermediate yoga

Marston Yoga, Mondays, 7pm
Marston Scout HQ, 238 Marston Rd, Oxford OX3 0EJ
6 week block of yoga classes, offering a rejuvenating and restorative flow for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
Find out more

Mixed Ability Class with Sue Pennington, Tuesdays, 6:00-7:30pm
The Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, Oxford OX4 1GH
This is a friendly class for all abilities, including postures to stretch and strengthen your body, breathwork and relaxation.
Find out more

Free Hatha Yoga, Wednesdays, 5:15pm
Tara Yoga, 193 Cowley Road, 2nd Floor Oxford OX4 1UT
Free drop-in yoga classes to harmonise the body and focus the mind.
Find out more

Yoga sessions, Thursdays, 7pm-8pm
Ferry Leisure Centre, Diamond Pl, Oxford OX2 7DP
Mixed ability, led classes. Strong, dynamic, energising yoga. Beginners welcome.
Find out more

South Oxford Friday Yoga, Fridays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
South Oxford Community Centre, Lake St, Oxford OX1 4RP
60 min yoga class for beginners and intermediate practitioners. All welcome! £9 drop in.
Find out more