Yoga in Manchester

Creative Tourist

From picturesque settings to pay-as-you-pose spaces, here’s our guide to the best yoga studios and classes that Manchester has to offer.

There’s only one problem with yoga: just as there are a hundred reasons for taking it up, so there are a hundred ways to practise it, from inclusive community sessions to outdoor groups, athletic-style classes to slower-paced, mindful ones. Working out which is right for you can be tricky; if you needed to unwind before you started searching, you’ll definitely need to after.

To save you the stress, we’ve been saluting the sun and doing the downward facing dog across Manchester, finding the best places to get you on the path to inner peace.

Our top picks

Yoga Soul

Yoga Soul, Yoga Soul, 49a Newton Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1FT - Visit now

Northern Quarter-based Yoga Soul provides a platform for you to take part in Manchester’s yogi community, and to help you grow your yoga practise in a way that is significant to you.

Madeleine Penfold

The Yoga Rooms

The Yoga Rooms, 483a Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M21 8AG - Visit now

The Yoga rooms in Chorlton offers a broad range of in-person and online classes, catering to all experience levels and wellness/fitness goals.

The Yoga Rooms

The Life Centre North

The Life Centre North, 293A Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EW - Visit now

With Bikram Yoga in the Northern Quarter no more, this is the place to get your hot yoga fix. You’ve probably already heard about hot yoga, but be prepared for how hot it actually is, which is to say very hot. Best to shower beforehand so you feel fresh, you need to bring a couple of towels, a yoga mat and plenty of water with you. But it’s not just hot yoga you’ll find here; there’s less mainstream strands of yoga such as Kudalini as well as incredibly relaxing somatic movement and restorative yoga, plus pilates classes, courses and retreats.

The Life Centre North

The Whitworth

The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now

If practising yoga in a picturesque place is a priority, then look no further than the Whitworth’s Iyengar Yoga classes. Taking place in a gallery that overlooks the park, these morning sessions give you the chance to get energised in a peaceful environment. There’s something rather satisfying about watching other people walking to work while you’re getting supple, and Ellen Cooper the instructor is easy to follow and relaxing to listen to. The Iyengar method of yoga that she teaches focuses on the correct alignment and precision of poses, to ensure you are working safely and gaining maximum benefits to your flexibility, strength and wellbeing. A lot of the participants have been coming to these kinds of classes for years, but this one’s equally good for beginners. Classes are at 9.00am-10.00 am on Thursdays and cost £5.

The Whitworth
The Whitworth, Photo: Alan Williams

Studio 25 Manchester

Studio 25 Manchester, 25 Church Street, Manchester, M4 1PE

Convenient for those in the city centre, Studio 25 has both early afternoon and evening drop in classes, which make for a good wind-down from work. Their instructors are brimming with positivity, offering helpful hints for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. The space itself is big (so you’ve got lots of space) and because it’s a dance studio the walls are mirrored, which really helps with holding the correct posture. The yoga classes range from Energetic Beginner Yoga, for those who thrive on being pushed to their physical limits, to the meditation-based Yoga Nidri. And there’s everything in between. Take a look at the venue’s website for a comprehensive breakdown of what they offer.

Manchester Buddhist Centre

Manchester Buddhist Centre, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester, M4 1DZ - Visit now

The epicentre of Manchester yoga, Bodywise offers a number of different classes, courses and ways to get involved with yoga. If you want to find out what yoga is all about this is the best place to start before trying out other options. Christine, who teaches several of the classes, was recommended to us by various yogis we spoke to across the city. The building can sometimes be a bit noisy, but the room is spacious and the Buddhist Centre generally emanates a tranquil vibe. And if it’s an online class you’re looking for, then Bodywise has that covered, too. Times and prices vary, see Bodywise’s website for details.

Z-arts

Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester, M15 5ZA - Visit now

If you’re looking for children’s yoga – yeah, it’s a thing – then head over to Z-arts, Manchester’s dedicated family arts centre. Their Yoga Stars classes encourage children aged 5-11 to be playful and understand how their breathing and body move together. Z-arts believe yoga is for everybody and that you’re never too young (or old!) to start stretching and exploring. They see yoga as a fantastic way for children to develop focus, self-awareness and confidence, and their Yoga Stars classes use animals, nature and other themes to help young people to explore as they move and learn to stretch their bodies in new creative ways. Led by Gill Balfour, it’s a welcome addition to the venue’s unrivalled canon of creative classes for kids.

Z-arts / Lesley Chalmers

Where to go in

Ripley's Believe It Or Not
Blackpool
Museum
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not

Located at Blackpool Pleasure Beach resort, this museum of oddities is the perfect place for families to discover the strange, the unusual and the extraordinary.

Image courtesy of Saoko Cocktail Bar.
Blackpool
Restaurant
Saoko Cocktail Club

This cocktail bar may be the new kid on the Blackpool block, but it’s already renowned for its excellent service and imaginative drinks that offer an ‘experience and a story’.

Little Black Pug by Ian Jones.
Blackpool
Restaurant
Little Black Pug

Head to Balckpool’s Little Black Pug for an historic, laid-back, family-friendly pub with a huge malt whiskey collection.

Ian Jones.
Blackpool
Shop
Aunty Social

Both a lifestyle store and a community arts hub, Aunty Social showcases the very best of Blackpool’s creative community. A great spot to pick up lovingly-made gifts.

Exterior of fish and chip shop
Blackpool
Restaurant
Harrowside Fish & Chips

Winner of the Good Food Award’s coveted Chippy of the Year award on multiple occasions, Harrowside is a great choice for fish and chips in Blackpool.

Ladies eating Fish and Chips
Blackpool
Restaurant
C Fresh

C Fresh is an old school, decidedly affordable chippy near Blackpool prom, consistently busy with locals – a sure-fire sign it’s doing something right.

Twisted
Blackpool
Restaurant
Twisted Indian Street Food

Blackpool’s number one Indian restaurant, Twisted Indian packs a flavour punch and isn’t afraid to mix the traditional with the modern. Their motto? ‘Being normal is boring.’

Visitor Guides

Bars in Manchester

The best new bars in Manchester, plus some old favourites for good measure.

Hebden Bridge
Walks in Hebden Bridge

A round-up of the best walks in Hebden Bridge, including the town centre, official tours and the surrounding area by Creative Tourist.

Tasting Menus in The North

Looking for the finest luxury multi-course restaurants in Manchester? Look no further. We've picked out the very best tasting menus in the city - just make sure you have deep pockets.

Photo of the Halle orchestra at Bridgewater
Music Venues in Manchester

Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.

Cinemas in Leeds Everyman Leeds
Cinemas in Leeds

From the latest art-house gems to the biggest blockbuster on the biggest screens, there’s a cinema to suit all needs in Leeds.

Sunday Roasts in Manchester

Looking for the finest roast dinners in Manchester? Look no further. We've picked out the very best Sunday dinners in the city.

Timekeepers
Spotlight on

Light Festivals in the North

From enchanting lantern parades to epic LED installations, light festivals are a brilliant way celebrate the magic of the winter months.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Alongside experimental performance, new writing and free arts festivals, we take a look at some of the Christmas shows happening in the North.