The Life Centre Islington

A great place to practice and escape the stresses of the city. The studios are light and airy, the teachers are amazing and all the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.

Literally my quiet place, so glad I found it and every class I've done is excellent

THE TOP VALUE OF THE LIFE CENTRE ISLIGTON: YOGA AS A BUSINESS I have attended yoga classes at the Life Centre in Islington over 4 years. I started with a trial where you could attend unlimited classes for a month, for just £25. I got immediately hooked: ample spaces with plenty of light, calm atmosphere, generally knowledgeable teachers. I kept a very regular practice (once or twice lessons per week), and to be able to do so, I used to buy 20-session class passes that could be spent over 6 months. At some point and due to increased work commitments (I often travel abroad), I realized that I was not being able to spend the 20-class pass within 6 months, and was losing 2-3 session on each pass. For this reason, I started buying 10 class passes I was sure of being able to use, even though classes turned out more expensive. This morning, I intended to buy a new 10-class pass, when the employees at reception informed me that I now had to spend it within 3 months. I was slightly shocked and was not sure of what to do, but since the class started in 5 minutes, I went ahead and bought the pass. I had a very restless practice, trying to figure out how I could possibly use 10 classes within the next 12 weeks, with the upcoming Easter holiday and work trips. The main question going around my head was: what could be the reason for the Life Centre getting rid of the one option that allowed me to attend yoga classes on a (relatively) affordable basis? Though £13 for a group session is not what many people would consider to be affordable. After the class, I went to Reception and I asked the two employees there about the reasons for the 10 day class pass now expiring in 3 rather than in 6 months. What happened next left me without words. The male employee rolled his eyes, snorted and blurted out: “because this is a business”. Then, he turned his back on me and started busying himself with something else. The female employee looked concerned, and she offered a second explanation: “because this was a decision of the management” – she also mentioned the “business model”. I replied that I imagined that was the case; however I wanted to know the actual reason for such decision. Then she seemed to vaguely remember something; and ventured out that the Life Centre wanted to “help me keep a regular practice”. I opened my eyes in disbelief: how would she know, I wondered, whether I keep a regular yoga practice or not? I made a last effort and explained that this was a tough predicament, since I am currently not able to spend 10 sessions in three months, and the other alternative is to pay £15 for a (I must say as of late absolutely crowded) single yoga session. I also tried to transmit my concern that a Centre dedicated to teaching a discipline with a focus on spirituality, tolerance and kindness should really not pursue such an aggressive capitalistic policy, by charging high prices for classes where there is literally 20 cm of space between yoga mats, and forcing people to spend passes within shorter and shorter time periods. At that point, the female employee advised me to “provide feedback” to the Centre in writing. And this is what I am doing. The best feedback I can think of is to reproduce this experience. I believe it speaks by itself, and is aptly summarized in the title of this letter: “the top value of the Life Centre: yoga as a business”. And to conclude: ample, beautiful, full of light spaces are nice. Bronze bodhisattva statues are inspiring. A kitchenette full of cute tea cups feels welcoming. But at the end of the day, one wants to practise yoga in a place that is not completely at odds with what yoga as a humanistic practise and philosophy entails. A place where people are not treated merely as customers that need squeezed to the maximum for revenue. And a place where the FIRST explanation they provide for a decision that affects your ability to practise is not the “business model”. Namaste, Delio O.

I go all the bloody time !!

I was lucky enough to attend Ulric's workshop for Bullet Proof hips in April and it was revolutionary for me. For a long time I have been more focused on the lack of flexibility that my hips offered instead of appreciating the range of movement that they did allow. My poor hips have always been to blame for things I couldn’t do, as opposed to what they allow. I was a little hesitant about a workshop that focussed purely on this area of my body that I tend to neglect but Ulric’s workshop on Saturday felt like it was made for people like me and helped me to dramatically shift this negative perception. Ulric encouraged us to work with our natural ranges of movement and think about building strength, as opposed to focussing purely on flexibility (or lack of in my case!). The workshop was taught in an inclusive and accessible manner with just the right amount of fun and humour thrown in. We started with some mindful movement which helped to create the necessary awareness and an openness to new ways of moving. This was followed by some strengthening exercises with a refreshing focus on controlled movement rather than flexibility. The final part of the workshop allowed us to put everything into practice in a playful and exploratory manner. This helped to pave the way to new movement patterns and a different, more ‘friendly’ approach to my hips. Something that can definitely be taken off the mat! Since taking part in the workshop I have been consciously playing with these new ways of moving, from the way I move out of Savasana to the route I take to work and thinking about ‘moving for the pure joy of movement’. I have also been showing much more gratitude to my hips for everything they allow me to do. Thank-you Ulric. Looking forward to the next workshop!