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

Museum
The York Dungeon

Prepare for an exciting adventure as you delve into the chilling history of York at the York Dungeon! The York Dungeon offers an immersive exploration of 2,000 years of the city’s most haunting tales.

Leeds
Restaurant
White Cloth Hall

White Cloth Hall is a new food and drink project, based in a Grade II listed venue in Leeds city centre.

Manchester
Restaurant
MUSU Restaurant & Bar

Musu is a modern Japanese restaurant and bar in Manchester City Centre, specialising in awe-inspiring food. We take an advance look at their festive menu. 

Manchester
Restaurant
House of Fu Manchester

First Leeds, now Manchester. Expect picture perfect ramen, gyoza and cocktails at the upcoming restaurant and cocktail bar.

City Centre
Restaurant
Allpress
at NOMA

Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.

Manchester
Hotel
Forty-Seven

Forty-Seven is a luxury boutique hotel on Peter Street in Manchester city centre, above the high-end Indian restaurant Asha’s.

Visitor Guides

Blossom on trees in Manchester
Parks and Gardens in Manchester

There are more green spaces in Manchester than you might think. We've picked out some of the best parks and gardens in and around the city.

Literary places in Cumbria
Literary places in Cumbria

If it was good enough for Wordsworth and Wainwright, then Cumbria surely has much to offer the literature lover who strayed off the M6. From Kendal in the south to Carlisle in the north, we sniff out the best bookish shenanigans.

UNITOM bookshop
Bookshops in Manchester

Manchester is a UNESCO City of Literature, so of course there are a few go-tos for books. Read our guide to discover the best places to pick them up.

Aubergine dish at Bistro 1847
Vegetarian Food in Manchester

We’ve gathered together a handpicked list of some of our favourite vegetarian places in Manchester – meaning you need never suffer a stuffed pepper ever again.

impressions
Art Galleries in Bradford

Bradford has given us giants of the visual art world such as David Hockney and Ian Beesley, check out our guide of art galleries to find the best places to experience art in the city.

Science and Media Museum
Museums in Bradford

As a northern city with a culturally rich past, Take some time to explore the weird, wonderful and wacky variety of museums in Bradford.

The Alhambra
Theatres in Bradford

As the birthplace of J.B. Priestly and the home of the Alhambra, the city's longstanding thespian tradition ensures there are no lack of theatres in Bradford.

Father John Misty and Friends at The Piece Hall
Spotlight on

Things to do in West Yorkshire

Our guide to the best things to do in culture-packed West Yorkshire, including Hebden Bridge, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Music in Manchester and the North

From post punk legends to the leading lights of modern shoegaze, read about the most exciting artists playing in Manchester and the North this autumn.