Wellness centres have closed their doors due to COVID-19 but many are adapting quickly to a locked-down society by offering virtual yoga classes. Those struggling with long days sitting on the couch can get their daily exercise via digital yoga, pilates and meditation classes – and see inside some spectacular studios around the globe at the same time.
Enjoy these uplifting workouts – and spaces – wherever you are.
Basecamp Power Yoga
Virtual students are invited to peek inside this vast converted warehouse yoga studio with soaring ceilings in New Zealand’s Auckland. Melbourne practice Studio 11:11 designed the space with raw textures, washed timber and natural cork. Exposed concrete walls and steel elements ‘bring a grounding strength back into [the] power yoga studio,’ says the practice. Basecamp Power Yoga has digitized its yoga and meditation classes for online consumption, live streaming them via Zoom – see more.
Egg of the Universe
Australian practice Brewer Studio designed Sydney yoga studio Egg of the Universe. The cosy ‘Earth’ studio space has no windows, and its floors, walls and ceiling are clad in plywood. Back-lit timber beams run across the ceiling and a glowing artwork is placed behind the teacher’s podium. Classes are live-streamed for impromptu midnight workouts and are available for $10 AUD for 10 days.
Sweat + Tonic
Toronto’s Sweat + Tonic opened late last year in the city’s downtown, taking over a redbrick building that once housed legendary Yonge Street drinking haunt The Silver Rail. Vancouver practice Cutler oversaw the adaptive reuse of the building, which is a stone’s throw from the Eaton Centre. Ornate interiors take their cue from the building’s past with a jewellery-box colour scheme in communal areas and the upstairs lounge. Meanwhile, the HIIT and ride studios are drenched in dark tones that contrast the all-white yoga studio.
While the city is on emergency lockdown, Sweat + Tonic is offering free Instagram live streams and an at-home membership package.
One Hot Yoga
Classes are delivered from inside a converted Art Deco building at this Sydney studio with muted interiors. Sheer floor-length curtains hang from the ceiling while white timber and neutral colours promote a sense of calm. One Hot Yoga is offering live group and private online yoga, pilates and meditation classes. Group classes are free for the rest of this week.
Humming Puppy
Humming Puppy’s classrooms have black floors, floor-to-ceiling curtains, exposed brick walls and high ceilings. Architect Karen Abernethy and NYC practice Mesarch Studio collaborated on the Aussie transplant’s semi-industrial yoga studio space in Manhattan, exposing Corinthian columns, towering ceilings and wooden floor. Pre-recorded and live classes are being streamed from each of their Sydney, Melbourne and NYC locations, including some free sessions.
Warrior One
Melbourne’s minimalist Warrior One yoga centre was designed by local studio Golden. Colour has been kept to a minimum and timber beams and pink marble adds texture to the backdrop of virtual yoga classes which are currently available for free on their YouTube channel and Instagram.
