Welcome to our historic Iyengar yoga studios in Maida Vale, North London. First established in former artists’ premises back in 1983, today you’ll find beautiful, purpose-built studios that were completed in 1994.

View the yoga studios at Iyengar Yoga London, Maida Vale

Amongst the many yoga teachers who gave their time and money to help provide the dedicated facilities (originally known as the Iyengar yoga Institute) was B.K.S. Iyengar. He raised funds, visited and taught here, and opened the building in 1994.

Here’s a more in-depth look at the design of our building, followed by our exciting and ambitious proposals for a dynamic expansion.

Clean, crisp simplicity of yoga studios helps unite mind and matter

Clarity, control and peace – these simple attributes are at the heart of our studios, creating the ideal environment for your Iyengar yoga practice.

Tucked away down a wooded lane in Maida Vale, the front elevation comprises a stout, low wall, evocative of the fortified walls of a medieval keep. Beyond is a small courtyard, then a glazed timber screen enclosing the spacious, light-filled reception hall.

On entering the centre you’ll be struck by its brightness and simplicity. The flooring is pale maple wood, (please remove your shoes as you enter), and natural light pours in through a grid of square light ceiling wells and full-height glazing. Our large yoga studio occupies the rear portion of the building, and can be divided into three smaller units by fold-back acoustic partition screens.

The architect’s aim was to achieve a perfect union of mind and matter, and the design of the Iyengar Yoga London studios reflects yoga philosophy, helping free you from external disturbance. Underfloor heating makes the timber flooring warm and comfortable to sit and lie on, and panels of opaque glass blocks let in light and protect privacy. On the gable wall, glass doors look out on a small sheltered garden.

We invite you to come and experience the unique Iyengar yoga studios and environment for yourself.

Ambitious proposals for future expansion of the centre

The growing membership and class popularity at Iyengar Yoga London have raised the question of how to house this expansion. This would aid the achievement of the centre’s strategic and charitable aims, increasing its reach and enhancing its reputation as a centre of Iyengar yoga excellence.

Our Board of Trustees has been working with architects to create exciting proposals for the future refurbishment, extension and improvement of the building and facilities at Maida Vale. This would add a third yoga studio suitable for classes with a minimum of 21 students, as well as for use in teacher training and assessments.

View the visualisation of the proposal:

The proposals combine two related extensions

• At ground floor, a new single storey front extension would enclose half of the front stone wall to create a new reception and shoe storage area.
• Above the existing flat roofed area, a new full-width roof extension would house the third studio, a toilet and storage facilities.

The refurbished and new facilities will transform the experience for everyone visiting Iyengar Yoga London. They include new reception and shoe storage facilities, upgraded changing rooms and new benching and coat hooks.

The new yoga studio itself will provide a superb new facility, giving much greater flexibility for class timetabling and assessments. The reconfiguration of the space will also provide inviting places to sit, new display opportunities to showcase the centre’s rich heritage, and improved storage provision for yoga props.

The process

We’ve been exploring the possibility of this expansion of the centre since 2018, and the current scheme incorporates ‘preapplication advice’ received from Westminster City Council in 2019. Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has meant the plans have had to take a back seat for a while.

Once we are able to focus on taking the scheme forward and planning permission is achieved, investigative works and technical design will begin. This will enable a competitive tendering process for construction, followed by selection of the contractor and implementation of works.