The Life Centre

I bought ten classes as part of a Groupon deal but would have been very disappointed if I had paid full price. I went to pilates on a Sunday - there were sixteen people in a tiny room and it was so crowded that people were laying their mats on top of each other and we couldn't do any standing poses because there was not room. The teacher was a bit manic, didn't stop talking the whole time and didn't really explain much since it was supposed to be a beginners class.

I am really not sure about this place.
Firstly, I miss the fact that there appears to be zero attempt to teach the philosophy of yoga at all in normal classes-if I just wanted yoga as a workout and not a practice that impacts our lives as it is meant to be I could to any one of the yoga classes offered at gyms all over London. I thought by going to a specialist centre I would get some insight-not the case. I am not expecting a lecture each time but a little insight into the teaching or why we are doing a certain posture & what it is good for would be helpful and deepen the benefit of the time I spend there.
Second, I have been now to 4 classes and so far not once has a teacher laid a hand on me to correct my posture at all. Not that I am perfect-far from it-I have not seen the teachers correcting anyone really and in a couple of classes they seemed more interested in getting a good workout for themselves than guiding the students. I have also seen alot of fellow students making some horrible basic mistakes and no-one addressing it which is of concern. Again as a specialist centre I would really expect some attention to form and adjustments.
Lastly-I have no idea who runs the place so to whom I should escalate my concerns. Maybe I expect too much-I understand this is a business but also its yoga-I want to be inspired by the people teaching me and setting the spirit of the practice-this all seems very lacking. I have experience in practicing yoga but I would be very nervous to be a beginner here as I feel bad habits do not get any attention from the teachers.
This all said-not at all sure where to get good flowing (not astanga) yoga in London. Anyone feel free to comment and help me out!

Horrible experience from the beginning. I signed up for pregnancy yoga and the yoga teacher was giving birth. The back up teacher supposedly could not make it so as a result there were around 20 pregnant women waiting in the reception for over twenty minutes as they were unorganized (half standing because there were not enough seats). On top of that the receptionist had forgotten to ask another yoga teacher that was qualified to teach before her class, so we were all left standing till her class ended so she could find out.

The same receptionist forgot to mention that they could not honor the inclusive ten consecutive days of free classes as they were closed that weekend as it was bank holiday (thus I would lose out on three days and only get seven). This was extremely unfortunate as I had told her I could only go on weekends because I work during the week! I had to then convince the manager to give me back those days as it was part of the agreed contract. The reaction I basically got was that they were doing me a favor by giving them back!.

Completely unprofessional and draining. I regretted ever stepping foot in that place even though it seems like a good venue and is clean.
I would suggest to save your money and buy a video to practice at home!

I was treated to a massage at this hidden gem on Kensginton Church Road.

It is a Yoga, Pilates or Life Centre as they preferred to be known.

Paul who does the massage was great and being a computer glued personnel the tension is surreal in my neck and shoulders.

Pleasant and tranquil and friendly staff.

This practising and teaching centre was taken over five years ago by Elizabeth Stanley and Christine Letter who I must say have turned this into a very smart welcoming centre which is at the top of its game.
There are 60 classes a week held here offering many different types of disciplines.They rang from Astanga,Iyurvedic,Self-Pratice and hard or gentle yoga. The Life-Centre has a huge following and other than classes they also hold talks and teacher training programmes to anyone who would like
to teach the disciplines or open up their own school. The centre is alos know for its impressive list of complementary therapies.