If like me you landed one day in Stockholm and wanted to resume your Yoga practice, but didn’t know where to go, here is what I hope can be your ultimate guide to carrying on your practice in good hands and …in English – yes !
How many of you felt too shy to walk to the teacher in front of you and say « Hi, I’m sorry I just wanted to let you know that I don’t speak Swedish… just so you know .. » and never really dared asking the teacher to switch to English for you (at least during the guided meditation part)? Well, when you finish reading this article, you won’t have that problem anymore…
Our top picks in Södermalm:
YOS (SOFO) :
YOS is a fairly new boutique studio offering a mix of Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga, in English on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays .
Owned by two sisters, one being a yoga teacher and physiotherapist and the other a culinary food stylist and previously a chef, they offer early morning classes followed by a homemade breakfast. We haven’t tested it yet, but the concept sounded fabulous! The particularity of this studio is that it is small, minimalist with only one shala* to practice and intimate classes.
Changing room, shower facility (shower gel and shampoo included), towels free for the 6 month pass holders and at a fee otherwise. Drop-in available.
Yoga Shakti (Slussen and Mariatorget) :
Yoga Shakti offers English classes in both studios almost everyday (except Thursdays and Saturdays), sometimes twice a day. Here you can practice Vinyasa flow, Yin yoga, Restorative, Hatha and meditation in English. The best way is to email them to make sure you book the right class for you.
The newly opened studio in Slussen is bigger with immaculate large spaces and skylights throughout. It has bigger changing rooms and shower facilities – towels can be rented at a cost. Drop-in available.
Conscious Life Center (Södra Station – Medborgarplatsen):
Conscious Life Center offers two classes in English on Mondays, one on Tuesdays, two on Wednesdays and one on Sundays. The particularity of this studio is that it is centered around traditional Hatha yoga and positions itself as a “spiritual and holistic center” offering beginner, intermediary and advanced classes. It’s always nice to get back to the origin of yoga, mantra chanting and yoga nidra!
Our pick in Kungsholmen:
Yogansa offers yoga (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin ) classes almost everyday except Sundays with two classes on Fridays and one class on Sundays always in English. The specificity of this studio is that you can attend Yoga, Pilates and Dance classes, all available on drop-in basis. Very laid-back atmosphere here where it is all about sharing and practicing together with a great community feel to it! Yogansa offers free/on donation basis yoga classes too, usually during lunch time. Again, check their schedule online.
Our pick in Ostermalm :
Altromondo offers Vinyasa, Restorative and Kundalini Yoga classes in English – as it stands now, there are three classes taught in English on Wednesdays, one on Fridays and one on Saturdays! It is a compact studio with one Yoga room and typically a full-on choice of back-to-back classes .
Shower facility (including shower gel and shampoo) and a sauna.
Our pick in Vasastan :
Atmajyoti (Odenplan)
Atmajyoti offers yoga classes in English (mainly Hatha and Restorative) everyday except Sunday and sometimes two to three classes per day!
The free tea area is a very nice touch, together with several skylights throughout the yoga studio – changing rooms, shower facility, shower-gel, shampoo and towels available free of charge.
Our pick on Lidingö:
For all the above mentioned studios, the best way is to email them to make sure you book the right class for you, as schedules are subject to change.
Do want to practice yoga, but also love working out at the gym? These two women-only boutique gyms offer yoga in English:
At Rosa Skrot in Mariatorget , they offer two Vinyasa classes and one Yin yoga per week – only the Tuesday and Saturday class can be held fully in English as the teacher, Astrid, happily switches to English.
No drop-in here, you need to be a member. Yoga mats, towels, shower facility and a sauna available on site, comfy sofas for a good rest post yoga or work-out .
At the newly opened The Workout Plan in Kungsholmen, Yoga is taught on Sunday from 11 to 12 and here the teacher can also teach the class in English so don’t hesitate to ask her to run the class in English!
Drop-in available, yoga mats , towels , shower facility and a sauna on site, tea/juice area too.
If we have missed to review your studio, where you too offer classes in English, don’t hesitate to contact me on [email protected]
Notes: Shala is the Sanskrit word for “home, abode”. A yoga shala is a ‘place of yoga’. “It is a gathering place for students of Traditional Yoga to practice, share, experience and grow.”
All photos are owned by the author.
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