8 Best Studios for Yoga Classes in South Delhi
Delhi has many terrific yoga studios where visitors can drop in and take classes. Besides being healthy, going to a local yoga studio gives you a glimpse into everyday life.
I’ve done plenty of yoga classes in Delhi and belonged to different studios. Now I practice mostly at home, but I still like going to a yoga studio when I can.
Yoga in India is not just about exercise, it’s a way of life. Don’t be surprised if a yoga class in Delhi is more than moving from one asana to the next. It will probably include breathing techniques and meditation.
The Best Yoga Classes in South Delhi
Some yoga studios have mats visitors can borrow for a class. If you aren’t travelling with your own yoga mat, make sure you inquire about this beforehand. Here are my favourite places for yoga classes in South Delhi:
1. Lifeyoga
This is probably the closest you’ll find to find to a Western style studio in Delhi. Most expats I know swear this is the best studio in Delhi.
The facilities are excellent: private yoga rooms, showers, change rooms and steam rooms, onsite restaurant, most of which you won’t find in other Delhi studios.
By Delhi standards it’s expensive, but it’s located in the Diplomatic Enclave and caters to expats as well as Delhiites.
2. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Nataraja Centre
If you are looking for a traditional and classical yoga experience, this is the place. The focus is on yoga as a way of life, not just exercise (which is what classical yoga is all about).
The yoga centre has special sessions for beginner to advanced levels. New students can take open classes (drop in) once they have learned the fundamentals.
Sivananda Yoga was founded by Sri Swami Vishnudevananda, who was a disciple of the well known Sri Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. There are Sivananda Vedanta centres and ashrams across India – it’s a well respected yoga centre.
3. The Pink Lotus Academia
This is one of the few yoga studios in Delhi that have yoga classes all day. It’s located in Greater Kailash II and frequented by expats and locals living in the area.
The Pink Lotus Academia has a strong aerial yoga program and even offers an aerial yoga teacher training course.
The concept at this studio is unique, focusing on Indian classical dance and music in addition to yoga. Students can learn kathak dancing, sitar, tabla and Carnatic vocals.
4. Seema Sondhi The Yoga Studio
This is the private studio of yoga guru Seema Sondhi. I really like this studio because it mixes the best of traditional yoga with modern power yoga.
Seema’s classes are a bit longer, 75 minutes, and incorporate challenging sequences with breathing exercises, meditation and chanting. These are well rounded, full body yoga classes.
The studio offers classes in the mornings and evenings. It’s locate in Hauz Khas.
5. P.A. Yoga Studio
Expats love this yoga studio run by Preeti and Anushka, a mother/daughter team. They offer morning classes which focus on Hatha yoga, but incorporate elements of Vinyasa and Ashtanga to keep them challenging.
Preeti and Anushka are known for the guidance and attention they give students, regardless of level.
Advanced classes as well as breathing techniques and guided meditation are also available. The location is great for anyone living in South Delhi, it’s right between Hauz Khas and Greater Kailash I.
6. The Yoga Institute Delhi
If you want to experience authentic, classical Indian yoga, this is the centre for you.
The Yoga Institute was founded by Shri Yogendra Ji in 1918 and is the world’s oldest organized yoga centre. The Delhi branch operates under the guidance of the original Yoga Institute in Mumbai.
The Yoga Institute teaches Hatha yoga, but incorporates elements of other yoga forms so students can benefit from all yoga systems. Student can expect to practice asanas as well as learn about the philosophies of yogic living.
7. Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi offers yoga classes to the public every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, 6:30-7:30 am.
Keep in mind this is not a yoga studio, it is one of the most serious ashrams in Delhi. Taking a yoga class here is something few visitors get to do.
Definitely leave the lululemon at home for this one and wear loose, conservative exercise clothes. If you are a spiritual seeker you will really enjoy a yoga class here.
8. Iyengar Yoga Centre Yogakshema
Technically this studio is in Central Delhi (near Connaught Place), but if you are an Iyengar practitioner you will want to come here. Morning classes are taught by Nivedita Joshi, a disciple of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar.
Nivedita’s story is remarkable. She was stricken with a debilitating spinal condition as a teenager and unable to use her legs or hands. She spent one year doing yoga with BKS Iyengar in Pune and left walking.
Ever since she has been sharing and teaching the benefits of Iyengar yoga.
Things to Know Before You Take a Yoga Class in Delhi
A yoga class in Delhi may be different than what you’re used to at home. Here’s a few things to keep in mind:
There Will be Pranayama and Meditation
Yoga classes in Delhi will vary greatly in terms of how traditional they are, but you should expect do breath work and guided meditation in most classes.
My first Delhi yoga classes were a bit of shock. They started with 20 minutes of breathing techniques, and I had no idea how to do them.
My instructor literally could not believe I had never been taught breath work. To him it was unthinkable that Pranayama (breathing techniques) was not part of every yoga class.
Most Students Don’t Wear Tight Fitting Yoga Clothes
Most Indian yoga students wear t-shirts and track pants to yoga classes. Sure, if you go to a studio that has a lot of foreign students, there will be more lululemon etc., but traditional schools are pretty conservative.
Yoga Teachers are Addressed as Sir or Ma’am
I was a little surprised to hear students in my Delhi classes address our yoga teacher as ‘Sir’. But in India, teachers are very respected, and addressing a teacher formally as Sir or Ma’am is normal.
How Much Do Delhi Yoga Classes Cost?
Costs vary depending on the studio. Generally, they are less expensive than in North America and Western Europe.
Single classes range from INR 500 – 2000 (Lifeyoga is the most expensive), and most studios offer discounts for class packages and monthly memberships.
South Delhi yoga schools are more expensive than other parts of Delhi. When I lived in Noida, for example, I paid INR 2000/month for unlimited yoga classes. But just like rent, yoga classes cost more in South Delhi.
Last Words on 8 Best Studios for Yoga Classes in South Delhi
Attending yoga classes while travelling is a great way to keep fit and have an immersive experience. This is especially true in India, where yoga is a way of life, not just exercise. You may come away with a very different understanding of what yoga means in India.
