There is an extra incentive to get involved in yoga emerging in Melbourne where instructors are running their classes in studios so aesthetic, you will forget you are even exercising. Think sun-flooded, white bamboo floored, inner-city escapes where you can release your inner zen no matter your level of experience. So dig up those dusty yoga pants of yours and prepare for the ultimate stretch session within one of these Instagram-worthy spaces. Here are 15 of Melbourne's most beautiful yoga studios.
Hip Hop Yoga
Brunswick
Starting out as a casual Saturday morning class, yoga instructor and music enthusiast Victoria Alessi has transformed this minimalist space into an inclusive and fun sweat-out running all week long. With all levels welcome, yogis will be moving to hip hop and RnB tracks in this trendy Brunswick studio. What’s more, Hip Hopa Yoga is offering a special glamping weekend in February 2020 involving yoga, meditation, hiking and pure summer bliss...Christmas present anyone?
UPG Studio
South Yarra
Picture this- you’re on a yoga mat in downward dog position with a skyline view of South Yarra and the city skyscrapers in the distance. UPG Studio caps classes at 5-8 people to ensure you are getting quality time with your instructor to nail every position and get the most bang for your buck. The minimalistic space with light neutral tones and whitewashed timber floors also offers physio, pilates and could even be your next venue for hosting a corporate event.
Good Vibes Yoga
Collingwood and Northcote
With two studios in Collingwood and Northcote, Good Vibes is all about authentic yoga with a laid back and friendly philosophy in helping people to experience yoga as a complete system, both on and off the mat. The Northcote classes are kept small, in an environmentally sustainable space at a climate-controlled temperature of 23, perfect for moving. The Collingwood space offers two larger studios flooded with natural light and fresh air to get those electric energies flowing.
Little Mandarin Studios
CBD
With stunning views of St Paul's Cathedral at seven stories high, this studio is drenched in sunlight and serves as a perfect before or after work session to sweat out the day’s stress and calm your senses. Enjoy a cup of tea after class and chat to your fellow yogis in this light, white space with wooden flooring. Keep an eye out for Little Mandarin’s upcoming workshops including Aerial Yoga and Inverted Perspective.
Downtown Yoga
CBD
Situated in the heart of the city, Downtown Yoga offers over 100 classes a week including yoga, pilates, meditation, barre, fitness and strength with a huge team of passionate instructors. This versatile space features lofty roofs and rustic brick walls and new members will be given special discounted introductory classes- get your sweat on.
Move Yoga
CBD
There’s no excuse to skip your daily dose of T-out with MOVE Yoga located just around the corner from Flinders Street. Classes include Yin Yang Flow yoga, three levels of power flow and sweaty hot flow yoga. Distinctively, express classes run for just 45 minutes and longer classes run for up to 75 minutes.
One Hot Yoga
South Yarra
Walking into South Yarra’s One Hot Yoga studio is like walking into a luxury spa. Open concrete floors, grey brick and cream furnishing create a calm, elegant space. Classes range from meditation to Power Flow yoga. One Hot Yoga’s signature class, Slow Hot Flow, is held in a sizzling 37-degree Celsius room for one hour, targeting your core and improving balance.
Fauna Yoga
South Yarra
Hands down the most spectacular yoga studio that’s opened in the last few years. How many other studios can boast rooftop views over the trees of the Botanic gardens? Fauna Yoga is tucked up some stairs above the Domain Brasserie (if you hit The Botanical you’ve gone too far). Up some winding stairs, and you emerge onto a stunning rooftop yoga terrace. They run dawn classes here, so you start in pitch darkness and Namaste as the sun rises over the treetops. If you’re a Melbourne yoga junkie, add this to your bucket list pronto.
Yoga 213
Richmond
Yoga 213 takes a different approach to mindfulness, with a lil’ well-intended hip-hop. Originally coined in LA, Hip Hop yoga classes involve static contractions and active movement to the beats of Biggie, Jay Z and Snoop Dogg. Other musical yoga classes including Chill Yoga (its full name) and Yin Yoga. Beach-coloured furnishing, timbers, and contemporary patterns make up this cheeky, bright space.
Light Space Yoga
Mitcham, Balwyn, Ivanhoe
The open-plan studios in Mitcham and Balwyn will make you feel lighter as you walk into Light Space Yoga. With the Ivanhoe studio up and running, these locally loved studios offer traditional yoga classes like slow flow, yin and vinyasa along with meditation. White bamboo floors and gorgeous wallpaper mural features create these little sanctuaries in suburbia.
Humming Puppy
Prahran
Leave Humming Puppy humming. Known for it's mellow, humming studios specifically designed by acoustic engineers, Prahran-based Humming Puppy offers luxury, relaxing yoga in their charcoal-coloured studios. Featuring smooth, coffee-blushed timber and the highest quality Manduka yoga mats, marinate in classes that range from low intensity to dynamic.
The Beatt
Armadale
Part health-care, part sanctuary, part ridiculous yoga studio, The Beatt wears a lot of hats (mostly hats made out of ethically-sourced, 100% hemp and chia seeds). Walk through The Beatt’s cafe space, down through the little Zen garden, and up the stairs—it’s here you’ll find the second story yoga studio. It’s one of the most beautiful spots we’ve ever had the pleasure to Downward Dog. You can sign up for classes via The Beatt’s website—there’s a helpful calendar to show you what’s coming up, you can even filter by your favourite instructor. Ashtanga flow, Vinyasa sessions, Mat Pilates, Yin and Hatha Yoga, you can do them all.
Happy Melon Studios
Armadale
Housed in a gorgeous sun-lit studio, Happy Melon Studios is like your home away from home. Green gardens, a contemporary meditation room and clean white walls create a warm space for yoga, meditation and fitness. Offering five unique yoga classes including prenatal yoga, yoga flow and yin yoga, Happy Melon’s yoga classes have a strong focus on mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation.
Jessica Dewar Yoga
Hawthorn East
Jessica Dewar Yoga is like the Lentil As Anything of the Melbourne Yoga Scene. They popped up in Hawthorn East with a pay-what-you-feel approach. The fact that they’re still alive means people must feel they do some pretty damn good yoga. Jessica Dewar wants to make yoga accessible to every budget, body type and level of flexibility (she’s good like that). You’ll find the studio on Camberwell Rd in Hawthorn East, just down from the Rivoli Cinema. Post sesh movie? We’re keen.
Barre Body
Fitzroy, CBD, Windsor, South Melbourne
You’ll find Barre Body in either the CBD, Fitzroy or Windsor. It’s been around the traps for a while. While technically not a pure yoga studio, their unique ballet-style approach fuses the best of barre conditioning, yoga and pilates. It’s all designed to create longer, leaner muscles, particularly in the legs. Some of the stretches are up on the barre, while others are down on the matt. It’s all inspired by the famous Lotte Berk Method (with maybe an extra dash of yoga goodness). Don’t forget to point those toes.
Keep up the wellness trend by hitting up Melbourne's best places to soak and steam.
Image credit: UPG Studio