I teach weekly yoga classes for all levels, regular yoga workshops, beginners yoga classes and private 1:1 yoga or small group classes, mainly in East London, including in the Docklands and Isle of Dogs in E14, near Canary Wharf, as well as in Hackney E8 and E9, and Bethnal Green E2.
I taught for over 10 years at Yoga Creation studio in E14 near Canary Wharf, until its sad closure in November 2020, as well as in many other yoga studios in London, including The Life Centre Islington, Animo Yoga, Yoga at The Arc and Yoga Place E2.
Most of my classes are now back in-person, with a few of them still also being live-streamed. Check below or follow me on Instagram to stay up to date with my current schedule of classes, workshops and courses.
East London Pregnancy yoga is running every Saturday mornings in Bethnal Green E2.
The Thursday evening pregnancy yoga class in Bethnal Green is taking a break and may start again later this year.
In addition to my weekly classes and courses, I am also available to teach yoga classes in your workplace and private one-to-one or small group yoga classes in your home. Privates classes can also take place via Zoom, or at a small space in either Docklands E14, Hackney or Bethnal Green E2, or even outdoors in a park or your garden. Please contact me if you are interested in finding out more.
I also have a great deal of experience of working in a corporate environment and have taught classes in some of London’s leading companies including Deutsche Bank, Freshfields, Allen & Overy, the FCA, Wagamama and Merrill Lynch Bank of America – so rest-assured you are in very safe hands should you wish to book a one-off or series of corporate yoga classes with me.
Schedule
Monday
18:30 – 19:30 FREE* Community Gentle Hatha Yoga class (open level, suitable for beginners, everyone welcome)
Location: Island House Community Centre, Roserton Street, Isle of Dogs, E14 3PG
Booking via: admin@island-house.org or T: 020 7531 0310
(*classes are free as the centre receives funding for me to provide them)
Tuesday
18:00 – 19:00 FREE* Community Gentle Hatha Yoga class (open level, suitable for beginners – women only)
Location: Island House Community Centre, Roserton Street, Isle of Dogs, E14 3PG
Booking via: admin@island-house.org or T: 020 7531 0310
(*classes are free as the centre receives funding for me to provide them)
Wednesday
18:30 – 20:00 Ashtanga Yoga All levels
(Abbreviated and accessible Primary Series)
Live online via Zoom
Contact me to book
Thursday
10:15 – 11:15 Postnatal Yoga for Mums & Babies 5 week course (in-person)
Advance booking required
Next dates:
Thursdays 9th January – 6th February 2025 – booking now open
Thursdays 13th February – 13th March 2025
Thursdays 27th March – 24th April 2025
More dates to be announced shortly
Location: FieldWorks Dance, 274 Richmond Road, Hackney, London E8 3QW
Contact me to book
Saturday
10:30 – 11:45 Pregnancy Yoga (suitable for 14 weeks – 42 weeks)
In-person only and advanced booking required – spaces are limited
Cost: £13.00
Location: The Canvas, 27 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PJ
Booking via: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/stmargaretshouse/1220445
(this is an on-going class but the booking system will usually only show classes for the next 6-8 weeks. Please contact me if you have any issues booking in)
Sunday
10:30 – 12:00 Vinyasa Yoga All levels
In-person & live online
Location: Docklands Sailing Centre, 235A, Westferry Rd, Docklands, London E14 3QS
Advance booking and payment required to attend in person. Cost: £14.00
Contact me to book
15.30 – 18:00 Regular Yin, Restorative Yoga & Yoga Nidra weekend workshops
See below for details of upcoming workshops
Latest workshops and courses
Healing Hibernation: a mid-winter retreat to deeply rest and replenish
**Live online via Zoom**
Date: Sunday 19th January 2025
Time: 3.30pm-6pm
Cost: £25.00
Pre-booking required – please contact me to book
Postnatal Yoga for Mums & Babies – 5 week courses
Next dates:
Thursdays 9th January – 6th February 2025 – booking now open
Thursdays 13th February – 13th March 2025
Thursdays 27th March – 24th April 2025
More dates to be announced shortly
Time: 10:15 – 11:15
Cost: £70.00 for 5 week course/ £84.00 for 6 week course
Location: FieldWorks Dance, 274 Richmond Road, Hackney, London E8 3QW
Pre-booking required for the 5 weeks – places are limited to ensure everyone feels comfortable and has enough space – please contact me to book
More workshops to be announced shortly for next year – both online and in-person – watch this space or follow me on instagram to stay up to date @yogini.sarah
Types of Yoga
There are many different styles or types of yoga and it is good to try different classes and different styles to see which one suits you best. The overall aim, benefits and effects of all types of yoga are essentially the same but there are different ways of exploring the practice.
Sarah teaches the following classes:
Ashtanga
Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic, physically demanding and flowing practice, incorporating a particular type of breathing known as Ujjayi breathing and the use of internal energy locks or bandhas. Students are led through some or all of a set series of postures, practised in a particular order, known as the Primary series. This type of yoga was first introduced and taught in Mysore, India, by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and continues to be taught there by his grandson Sharath.
This practice aims to build heat in the body to help it to open, become more flexible and to release toxins. Through repeated practice students become familiar with the series of postures and eventually the focus moves away from the postures to following the breath and the gaze points for each posture, allowing the whole practice to be become more like a moving meditation.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa Yoga is similar to Ashtanga yoga in that it is also a strong, energetic and flowing practice, with an emphasis on coordinating movement with the breath and flowing from one posture to the next. Imaginative, sometimes challenging, and always fun sequences of postures will be practised in different classes and may focus on areas such as standing postures, backbends, forward bends, hip openers, hand balances, twists or inversions, or a flowing sequence combining all of these. The classes are fun, playful and creative and a chance to try out new postures that you may not have done before.
My classes are welcoming and friendly, and you are always encouraged to move at your own pace and to listen to the needs of your body as you practice.
Each class starts slowly, with a drawing inwards and connection to the breath, some gentle movements and stretches, and then gradually builds up into more flowing movements and a stronger asana sequence.
The sequence always looks to create a balance between strength and flexibility in the body, and will energise and invigorate, whilst always bringing more calm to the mind. And I always leave time for a long relaxation at the end.
Hatha
Hatha Yoga is a more gentle approach to yoga and is often a good class for those completely new to yoga. This style of yoga is slower and less physically demanding than other styles of yoga, but it will still help to build strength, stamina and flexibility through the yoga postures whilst also allowing space for deep release and relaxation with guided meditation and breathing exercises. I addition to drop-in classes, I run regular Hatha Foundation Courses for Complete Beginners which are a great way to start your yoga journey.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a much slower practice, where postures might be held for up to 5 minutes to allow the body to open, soften and surrender and for the mind to quieten. Yin yoga works on the connective tissues of the body, rather than the muscles, as well as the meridian energy lines, and allows the body to open in a very different way from other yoga practices. As such, it can be a very good complement to more dynamic practices, and can help to open and release particularly stiff areas of the body such as the hips and back. Yin yoga is also very helpful in dealing with specific ailments and in boosting the immune system and restoring depleted energy.
Yin Yang Yoga
Yin Yang Yoga is a perfect combination of movement and stillness.
The soothing and contemplative practice of Yin Yoga invites us to slow down, turn inwards and become more present with our sensations and thoughts. These longer held poses will be combined with more dynamic (yang) movements and poses. The class will start slowly with some breath work and gentle stretches, building up to some more active flowing movement, before settling down in the stillness of longer held yin poses and a guided savasana, to leave you feeling well balanced and rested.
Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga is by nature a receptive practice rather than an active practice, and in that receptivity you can guide yourself towards a more healthy and balanced state of being. It is a practice of consciously turning inwards, of quietening the body and mind, and kindly nurturing ourselves. Restorative yoga is much more like meditation, deep relaxation or yoga nidra than like other more dynamic forms of yoga. Restorative poses are be held for anything between 5 and 20 minutes and you are always supported and held in these shapes with the aid of blocks, bolsters and blankets. When you are in these passive postures supported by props, and thereby using no muscular effort, the focus can really be on releasing the grip of deep muscular and inner tension, you can begin to feel more spacious and receptive, and both the body and mind can take very deep and healing rest.
Slow Flow
Slow Flow is suitable for all levels, including beginners. Classes will build slowly; we’ll begin by pressing pause from our working day, and exploring some floor-based slow movements to release tightness and tension from the body & mind, and to allow ourselves to really turn inwards, connecting to our body and breath. From there we’ll transition up to seated stretches and a slowly flowing sequence of postures, ending with deep relaxation. You’ll finish the class feeling more ease in your body and calm in your mind, and ready for a good night’s sleep.
Pregnancy Yoga
The primary focus of Pregnancy Yoga is to support and enhance your pre-natal experience. The aim is to encourage a sense of relaxation and confidence all the way through your pregnancy up to, and including, labour. As your familiarity and confidence with the practice grows, you’ll find yourself more relaxed and at ease with the daily changes occurring as your baby develops. You will also find that as you progress you will feel more prepared for labour and will have learnt useful practices you can take with you. Students are encouraged to work at their own level and with awareness of their body and baby.
Pregnancy Yoga classes are also a great place to meet other mums-to-be and many lasting friendships can be formed at this time.
The benefits of Pregnancy Yoga include:
- strengthening and toning the muscles of the pelvic floor
- preparing the body for labour
- learning deep relaxation techniques
- helping with effective breathing techniques for labour
- deepening the bond between mother and baby
- helping to alleviate ailments commonly experienced during pregnancy
Pregnancy Yoga classes are suitable for anyone over 14 weeks pregnant. No previous experience of yoga is necessary.
Sarah Burgess is a registered pregnancy teacher with Yoga Alliance Professionals. This accreditation demonstrates excellent standards as set by Yoga Alliance Professionals
Sarah is qualified as a Level 2 qualified Pre- and Postnatal Yoga Teacher with Birthlight
Postnatal Yoga for Mums & Babies
Fun, engaging and relaxing classes for mums & babies.
Based on the Birthlight approach, these yoga classes are specially designed to aid new mother’s postnatal recovery whilst also allowing time for engaging, bonding and relaxing with baby.
These classes will help new mothers to regain strength in their body, to open and release areas of tightness and tension in the back, neck and shoulders, and to find space for relaxation.
We aim to gently tone the abdominal muscles from deep within, allowing them to knit back together, and look to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles in conjunction with the breath: a ‘closing of the body’ after pregnancy and labour.
The classes also focus on the re-alignment of the spine and pelvis, and encourage an awareness of posture in all movements, including the care and handling of baby.
An emphasis on the breath throughout the class helps to develop a sense of wellbeing, and we build in time for relaxation so both mothers and babies feel nurtured.
We explore postures and practices mums can do with and without their babies so they can easily continue their yoga at home.
Classes are informal, fun and relaxed, and mums are free to feed, change, comfort or soothe babies to sleep whenever necessary. It’s a wonderful and friendly environment to meet new mums or reconnect with familiar faces from your Pregnancy Yoga classes.
The benefits of Postnatal Mother and Baby Yoga include:
- strengthening & re-aligning the physical body after pregnancy & birth
- helping to re-energise the body as well as enjoy relaxation
- helping to settle babies and improve sleep patterns
- enhancing bonding and communication between mother and baby
- improving confidence in handling baby
- encouraging physical & emotional postnatal healing from deep within
Postnatal Mother and Baby Yoga classes are open to all new mums with babies aged 6 weeks (or 8 weeks post-Caesarean) to 7/8 months old (pre-crawling).
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness is in essence a practice of developing greater attention and awareness; of openness; of kindness and compassion; and a way to get to know ourselves and others better. It is something that we practice formally in our meditation and then take with us into all aspects of our daily lives as we develop a greater sense of inner mental calm and clarity.
A regular meditation practice will help you to become more alive to each moment; to slow down; to become aware of – and then let go of – the busy thought patterns of the mind; to see life more clearly; and to develop a greater understanding of, and compassion for, yourself and others around you.
