Start your practice with us.

First thing, don’t worry about it, we all have to start our yoga journey somewhere and you’ll find the studio very welcoming. Don’t worry if you’re not flexible or fit or have any balance, that’s why we practice.

• Arrive 15 minutes before your first class, we’re at 136 Old Christchurch Rd, find the black double doors, ring the buzzer and come up to the second floor. Give yourself a little bit of extra time so you have time to ask any questions you may have and have a few minutes in the studio to acclimatise and relax.
• Bring a mat if you have one and a reusable water bottle. We have mats you can borrow if you need one and there’s a water fountain where you can fill your water bottle.
• Wear loose, light, comfortable clothes. Gym clothes or shorts and a t-shirt will be fine, if it’s cooler out you might want a long-sleeve top and socks for a Yin or Restorative Yoga class.
• If it’s an early class try having a banana, for other classes it’s a good idea not to eat for an hour or two before class. We don’t recommend drinking during class if you can avoid it but hydrate before and rehydrate after.

Don’t feel you need do every pose, listen to your body and you can always lie down on your mat and take a break. Arrive with an open mind and you’ll be amazed by what you’re capable of.

Why practice Yoga?

Never before have our nervous systems been so constantly stimulated than in today’s world of sensory overload. There is a drive in our culture to search for logic and meaning in every activity. Combine this with the overwhelming amount of information available to us and our minds run at full speed with our nervous systems never completely relaxing.

The practice of Yoga allows us to create a space that brings a full stop to this constant mental stimulation. Practiced regularly Yoga brings increased physical and mental flexibility and decreased stress, leading to a improved state of general wellbeing.

To get out of your headspace

Yoga reminds you to direct your attention to your own needs as well as to the needs of others. It is the ideal path to achieving inner peace. If your aim is to be a happier human being, Yoga reminds you to have a sense of gratitude for what you have and to prioritise helping others and caring for all beings on the planet.

To relieve stress

Yoga reduces stress and anxiety in a unique way by decreasing the physical effects of stress and encouraging relaxation to reduce the levels of cortisol in your body. Practising Yoga can lower your blood pressure and heart rate, improve digestion and boost the immune system. Restorative Yoga can be particually benifical in aiding stress releif.

To improve you breathing technique

Yoga uses breathing exercises both in a passive position such as sitting or lying down as well as incorporated into postures and movement to help open your lungs and explore what it means to breathe consciously. Yoga encourages a more focused and centred way of breathing, providing effective stress-management and generally making you feel better.

To prevent injuries

Yoga reminds you to honour your body’s limits and needs. Beginning with a mental body scan and assessing yourself during your practice helps to reduce injuries. Moreover, Yoga provides flexible, well-stretched muscles that heal and recover more quickly after getting strained. Yin Yoga is particually good at keeping the deeper tissues of the body well maintained and functionally optimally.

To gain strength, stability and balance

Regular practice of more vigorous styles of Yoga, such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga or Rocket Yoga promotes strength and stamina. These dynamic styles of Yoga also promote the opportunity to use your core muscles which can help improve your overall stability and sense of balance. Balancing has been shown to be a very good general indicator of health. From the age of fifty after accounting for age, sex, and underlying conditions, the ability to stand unsupported on one leg (in Tree Pose for example) for 10 seconds was associated with an 84% reduced risk of death from any cause within the next decade.

For weight management

Practising Yoga can aid weight control efforts by reducing levels of stress hormones as well as burning excess calories. Improved eating habits can often arise out of the desire for a sense of lightness during your practice. No matter what your current or ideal weight is, Yoga will provide you with a heightened sense of wellbeing, self-esteem and self-acceptance.

Common questions at the start of your yoga practice

What happens at the end of my 4 Week Introductory Offer pass?

Hopefully you will have enjoyed practising with us and are keen to move onto a regular membership to continue your practice. We’ll call or email you before your pass expires with details of a one-time special membership offer for new students which will give an ongoing weekly discount to your membership.

You can also continue as a casual student and pay per class or with 5 and 10 pack class passes. We also have a number of different memberships that offer one or two classes per week depending of the amount of time you have to practice. You can find details of membership options on our Passes & Memberships page.

Where can I park?

There’s free on road parking five mins from the studio all along on Dean Park Road. For the early classes and on Sundays you can park right outside on Old Christchurch Rd. There is a short stay car park on Glen Fern Road two minutes from the studio and a long stay multi-storey just opposite it.

If you’re visiting the studio during rush hour morning or evening, we advise setting off a little earlier to allow for unexpected traffic and time to find a car park so you don’t have hurry!

I am running late can you hold the doors?

We’re really sorry but you won’t be able to practice if you’re late. All classes start on time and the studio doors are locked before the start of class. If you’re new to the studio please leave a little extra time to park and find us – 136 Old Christchurch Rd, find the black double doors, ring the buzzer and come up to the second floor.

I need to have my mobilephone with me.

Again we are really sorry but you won’t be able to attend class if you are not able leave your mobilephone for the duration of your practice.

Can I leave before the class ends?

Ideally not, we’d like you to stay in the room so as not to create a disturbance to other students. Also for safety and security reasons as there is often no one out on reception during class times and the teacher needs to stay in the room with the students. However, if you need to visit the toilet, it is ok to step out and return quietly. A simple head nod or wave to the teacher is appropriate to let them know you’re coming back.

Does the studio have any rules I should be aware of?

We have a few simple rules that we hope are pretty self explanatory:
I will behave with care and respect for my fellow students.
Doors close strictly on time.
Strictly no mobile phones in class.
No shoes in the studio.
No talking in class.

I have a health condition.

Always talk to your doctor first, we are simple yoga teachers with no actual medical training.

• Heart Conditions: We advise that you consult with your doctor as to whether Yoga is a suitable form of exercise for you.
• Pregnancy: During the tender and risky time of your first trimester, we ask you to refrain from practising Yoga. If you are pregnant and have never practised Yoga before, we advise that you find a pregnancy Yoga class and come to Yoga One Bournemouth at least 8 weeks after the birth of your child. If you have had a regular practice for at least a year before becoming pregnant, we advise you talk to your doctor after becoming pregnant and a senior teacher after your first trimester about attending regular classes. If you have been practising for any less than this then we advise you to join a pregnancy Yoga class, and you can come back to Yoga One Bournemouth at least 8 weeks after the birth of your child. If you’d like to talk about this, just find Lucy as she’s been through all of this and will be able to answer your questions in more detail.
• Astma: We ask all asthma sufferers to keep their blue inhalers with them when they practise.

Any reason I shouldn’t be practising?

• If you are sick or have a fever.
• If you are pregnant please see above.
• If you are under 16 years of age.
• If you are fasting.
• If you are already doing an intense detoxification.

Why all the Sanskrit?

The sanskrit words we use such as the names of the postures are a way of honouring what has gone before us in the way of yoga teaching and practice. If it’s something you find creating a barrier to your practice just think of it like the “Love” used in tennis or “Googly” in cricket.

Um what?

Om what! Give it a go and you might just find you love it, however we completely get that it just isn’t for some people and if that’s you just use the time to clear your head and meditate on your intention for the class.

Chanting for us is completely religion-agnostic in the sense that it is compatible with any belief or no belief, it is a beautiful way to set the stage for a class and allows us to punctuate our practice with an audible shared energy. Try it and who knows you may find yourself oming to yourself in the shower!

We often say that “Om” is the sound the universe makes to itself and that when you’re far from civilisation and the air is still, you can feel the vibrations living organic matter makes and that is what Om sounds like, a pulsating all encompassing stillness.

Our Yoga styles

Vinyasa Yoga

A dynamic practice balancing structure and stability with breath and movement. Explore a flowing physical practice with an emphasis on Yogic breathing and mindful transitions in between postures. Technique is refined to lengthen and tone your muscles as well as to boost your energy and flush your internal organs. You’ll improve quickly yet find it challenging enough that you can choose how deep you want to go and how many vinyasas you want to include. This class is gently warmed with Far Infrared to deepen your practice and you will leave feeling balanced and centred.

Yin Yoga

A reverent introspective practice featuring classic Yin Yoga poses of targeted stretching. This practice focuses on opening connective tissues and joints with deep stretches, practised with a focus on internal awareness. Promotes circulation, flexibility and mobility of the joints, and stimulates the flow of qi, prana or subtle energy that runs through the meridian pathways, or nadis, of the body. Improves organ health, the immune system and emotional wellbeing. Most of the postures involve sitting or lying down, it is beautiful meditative experience.

Hatha Yoga

A slow and powerful practice that combines many aspects of Hatha Yoga. Mantra, pranyama and asana are all explored followed by longer holds in short sequnces of postures designed around a specific theme or archytype.

Ashtanga Yoga

Students are guided through a modified version of the Ashtanga primary series, based on a traditional vinyasa count which links breath with movement. The focus is on building equal strength and flexibility, introducing the charismatic ujjayi breath, combined with visual drishti points to create an energetic, yet calm practice.

Rocket Yoga

Rocket Yoga is a modern playful practice, accessible for everyone whilst providing an upbeat tempo to the class and different levels of challenge. As well as traditional asana, Rocket has a focus on arm balances and inversions and teaches these skills in an adaptable and progressive way. Everyone in class is encouraged to make their own interpretation of the traditional postures and these modifications make the sequences accessible to all. From beginners to advanced, there is something for everyone here!

Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga is a class of just two or three poses such as a gentle twist, a seated forward fold or a gentle backbend followed by an extended Savasana, all supported by an arrangement of props designed to allow you to completely rest and relax. This gives you an opportunity to be passive, not active in your yoga practice, so prepare yourself for deep relaxation. The use of props is a necessity in this type of practice in order to create a sense of safety and protection for the physical body to completely relax. You will also be invited to cocoon yourself in a blanket for extra warmth and cosiness.

Hot Yoga

A dynamic energising practice featuring classic Hatha Yoga poses integrated with the flowing vinyasa style. Our most dynamic Yoga class features Double Chaturanga as our transition Vinyasa in between postures. This class is enhanced with Far Infrared Heat to deepen your practice while maintaining a safe comfortable environment to practise in. 

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda Yoga is a classical and holistic approach to Hatha Yoga, which stretches and tones the whole body. We will begin with a series of pranayama exercises starting with Kapalabhati, which is a cleansing pranayama. This is followed by alternate nostril breathing with a rhythm of 4:16:8. Practitioners will experience a fully balanced practice at the proper pace, with proper breathing technique as well as time for reflection and relaxation which are essential to an effective practice. The sequence is available to all abilities and ages, so whether you practise Yoga regularly or are just starting out, it is open all. 

Barkan Hot Yoga

A traditional Hot Yoga style that merges the Ghosh Hot Yoga lineage with the dynamic vinyasas of the Krishnamacharyan lineage.This blend of flowing movement to the more static Calcutta style of yoga promotes a more holistic physicality to the practice that provides a complete experience for mind and body.