MANCHESTER is full of indulgences. If it wasn’t for the ever expanding scope of bars and restaurants, this website may not even exist.
City centre health and wellness on the other hand is a little less abundant. Chain gyms aside, finding niche exercise classes in the city centre can be a workout in itself.
"I wasn’t aware but apparently there are quite a few gay social sports groups including gay volleyball and gay squash in Manchester. We had a request to put on a gay pilates class in the city centre and it’s likely to go ahead."
Fans of yoga however, will be pleased to hear one studio is slowly building up a calming presence smack bang in the middle of the city.
Janine Kelly is the yogi responsible for The Yoga Rooms. Having practiced yoga for over ten years, thanks to a chance encounter many years ago with her mum “who wanted someone to go to a class with her”, Janine set up a successful studio in Chorlton.
Janine KellyThat’s the thing about yoga. Unlike formulaic step aerobics or fun time zumba, people tend to take it a little more seriously. As Janine said “people want to go in pairs I think perhaps because they feel self conscious at first.”
The Chorlton studio has built up a good reputation over the last five years, inspiring Janine to open up a sister site in the city centre for those looking for an after work de-stress.
Janine said: “We're open to anyone, but most people who come along are between 20 and 40 years old and we get a mixture of men and women. We did try a location in the city centre once before but I think we were too far out of the way. This King Street location in Smarter Rehab has been great so far. We’ve already seen big numbers.”
Currently open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, at the moment Janine and her team practice ashtanga yoga in the city centre because “the more dynamic classes such as ashtanga tend to be most popular.”
Participants can expect a vigorous, dynamic Monday class with yogi Granville Cousins, who is a yoga teacher of over 30 years.
Janine said: “It’s a set range of postures in continuous flow and is one of the only types of yoga for fitness. It’s arguably better than a gym workout in some ways as it makes you sweat but also works with breath, relaxes your mind and helps you to de-stress.”
The Yoga Rooms, Manchester city centre
Thursday’s class is the same but for beginners. “You still sweat, but it’s not as demanding. I work on building flexibility in a nurturing way and also aim to build confidence. You’ll learn the postures and how to breathe.”
In addition, the studio also offers one pilates class a week with teacher Alexandra Lamb. The class is part of Janine’s long term plans to expand and pilates provides the perfect balance, in both senses of the word.
“Pilates is for conditioning and strength. It’s particularly beneficial for the spine and pelvis and for strengthening the core while improving balance. In yoga you have more specific relaxation and meditation techniques. Working with the breath is more deeply embedded in yoga.”
And there’s plenty more where that came from.
“Eventually we’d like to offer lots of different types of yoga.” Everything aside from hot yoga however, which Janine confesses was a step too far beyond Ashtanga for her. “I have low blood pressure so the heat made me feel very light headed, but it’s great for those who do enjoy the heat.”
The Yoga Rooms, Manchester city centre
The Yoga Rooms is open to other alternative ideas however, and following a request from a customer, gay pilates could be launched very soon. Yes, gay pilates.
Janine said: “I wasn’t aware but apparently there are quite a few gay social sports groups including gay volleyball and gay squash in Manchester.
"We had a request to put on a gay pilates class in the city centre and it’s likely to go ahead. We’re planning on having the class on Tuesdays, straight after the 5.45pm pilates class, at 7.30pm. Of course we wouldn’t turn anyone who wasn’t gay away but the idea is that it’s a social event as well as a pilates class.”
Gay or straight, advanced or beginner, The Yoga Rooms aims to please everyone with an interest in yoga and pilates, but perhaps more importantly being a happy, balanced person. As Janine said "I hope you learn to love it as much as I do."
Priced at £8.50 per class and £6.50 for concessions, The Yoga Rooms also offer cheaper rates for block booking (four classes within a four week period for £26 or eight classes within a four week period for £44). No kit is required and Janine advises attendees to dress “comfy – leggings, shorts, joggers, t-shirts or anything loose. We practice yoga bare foot too.”
For more information please visit www.theyogarooms.co.uk
The Yoga Rooms
Smarter Rehab Studios
1st floor
38 King Street West
Manchester City Centre
M3 2WZ
