Hi, I’m Nicole and this is my second time writing for Healthy Living London. Did you see my reviews of Tesco’s Wicked Healthy Vegan ready-made meals? What did you think? This week, I was so excited about trying out Frame’s Yin and Gin Yoga at the awesome D&D Restaurant/bar/club 100 Wardour Street in Soho. This is because I love yoga and have tried all sorts of types since I first started over fourteen years ago. Having said this, my only experience of yin yoga was as part of a different yoga practice. I had never done it on its own. Secondly, I love 100 Wardour Street, such a cool place and awesome for live music!
Frame are landing in Fitzrovia and have therefore joined up forces with D&D for D&D London’s Mindful City Campaign by doing a number of exercise classes in Soho. Frame has six studios across London and their focus is on fun and flexible exercise. You can get a top-up card that you add credit to, like an oyster card, and then you can book onto classes across any other studios. This is how they describe their yin practice:
Nicole and Bianca, theyoga teacher
“Yin Yoga has transformative effects on the body and mind. The gentle but consistent stimulation of connective tissues encourages long-term health and flexibility of the joints and recharges the energetic systems of the body, whilst drawing the mind inward into a relaxed state. The poses are soothing and calming and allow your body to release any physical and emotional tension.”
It was a wet, dark, winter evening and I rushed into the stylish 100 Wardour Street in my yoga leggings. I was directed to the back of the restaurant, to the Playroom, and drew back a thick, layered curtain. The class had just started and there were a few yogis settled on their mats. I looked to the front and was met by a kind, warm smile. This was Bianca Capstick, our instructor for the next hour. She led us through poses which often lasted up to 5 minutes and ensured we experienced a thorough stretch of our backs, hamstrings, gluts, inner thighs, ankles and shoulders. The poses initially felt easy and slow, but because you maintained them for so long, along with your breathing, you really felt the amazing stretch by the end. After each pose, re “recovered” in the “rebound pose”, often in the corpse pose. This was completely different to the yogas I have previously practised and much slower than the Vinyasa Flows I like, but it was fun consciously slowing down and feeling each stretch on a much deeper level. Bianca was able to challenge each individual separately.
The Yin & Gin goodie bag!
As cool as this Soho spot is though, I would say that it was extremely difficult to hear Bianca talk as the noise from the restaurant completely overpowered the class, there was after all only a curtain separating us. Bianca promised us this would not be the case in a yoga studio. I asked her how many hours of yoga she practised a week and she replied ten. Three of those she spends practising yin. Despite the noise of chatter and drinks on the other side of the curtain, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Bianca’s yin practise and I loved that she encouraged us to set an intention for our practice. I always feel this encourages both a physical and mental release of tension.
The goody bags were not bad either: a deliciously, invigorating lime and ginger drink and a discount card to try out more Frame classes. Thank you Frame!
My verdict?
If the class was held somewhere else quiet where you could hear the instructor, it would be so amazing. It still was, despite the noise, Bianca led the yin practice beautifully. A great value class if you got the yin and the gin, but maybe a little expensive if they advertise gin but only give yin!?
More Information
Who’s it for: busy Londoners who need to gather their thoughts and stretch out their sore bodies that are becoming chair shaped at a desk in front of a computer
How much: £15 for this yin and gin class, check out the frame website for their prices on other classes
Where from: Frame were doing a few different exercise sessions at 100 Wardour Street during January and February
Website: 100wardourst.com & moveyourframe.com
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