Sky-High Balance
Yoga with a view, in one of Live Gorge’s favourite London hotels? Alfresco downward dog has never looked or felt so good
A soft honey-hued light, fragrant herbs gently swaying in the breeze and delicate olive trees framing my view. No, I’m not relaxing in Puglia or Mykonos, I’m in London’s Soho, ready to sweat. But up here the perspective is oh so different; peaceful, calm and contemplative. Other than the odd muffled siren, you’re blissfully unaware of frenetic W1 life going on just four floors down.
I’m in the tranquil oasis that is the Roof Terrace at the Ham Yard Hotel. Beautiful in that inimitable Kit Kemp way, the space is upscale bohemian with a firm focus on nature. Bamboo, wicker, stone and driftwood feature heavily and integrate seamlessly with the fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables that are growing in abundance.
I wouldn’t consider myself a fully-fledged yogi, but I’m excited to try out one of the Summer Sunrise Sessions. Run in partnership with high-end lifestyle and training members club Equinox, the hour-long classes focus on flow vinyasa yoga, and I’ve heard great things.
It’s an early start, so I’m feeling a touch groggy and ready to give my muscles and mind an energising wake-up call. The class is headed up by Equinox’s Kathryn Fielding; she’s warm friendly and has an exacting tone of voice that instills you with confidence. You know you’re in very capable hands and you’ll be pushed. Plus, she’s lean, lithe and toned. The perfect advert for her practice.
The next hour flies by in a beautifully choreographed sequence of vinyasa flow yoga moves. Having practiced both Ashtanga, hot power yoga and vinyasa myself, there’s many postures I know, but a few interesting twists and new additions. I’m definitely challenged but in a good, positive way. (not the kind that has you rolling up your mat for weeks and converting to pilates).
It’s definitely dynamic; you can feel how it’s working on your muscles, charging them and your mind with strength, all set to the meditative and restorative rhythm of your ujjayi breathing.
Kathryn talks us step by step through every move, demonstrating at the start of each sequence and frequently comes over to adjust my posture. (hunched shoulders are standard for me).
There’s around 12 of us in the class and it certainly gets a little sweaty, but there’s sublime cucumber and mint infused water on hand to help you cool down. And Kathryn urges us, if we are feeling a little too challenged, to kick-back and rest in child’s pose for a few minutes.
At the end of the session I begin chatting to a few of my fellow Sunrise Session classmates. In amongst them are two emerging stars of the Insta-yogi set- Kat Harding or @yogakiss to her followers and @yogakiss, aka Lorena Kastner. Both are, like Kathryn, vital, fresh and full of an infectious passion for yoga. I watch them as the super supple trio try a few advanced lifts and manage to achieve an impressive double bird. (see picture below).
Lorena then invites me to try it for myself. And astonishingly, I manage the bird lift myself. Who would have thought it? A genuine yogi flyer!
As I leave the serenity of the rooftop behind me, I’m feeling calm, happy and with that glow of positive achievement. I hop round the corner to pick up my complimentary juice from Press (6 Denman Street, W1D 7HD) the hip cold-pressed juice destination and order a Greenhouse 2- an invigorating blend of kale, spinach, romaine, celery and cucumber.
I’m charged and ready for the day and it’s only 8.30am. Namaste.
The Ham Yard Hotel is running a series of Saturday Summer Sunrise session brunches on August 13, 20 and September 3.
Tickets are £35 and include brunch at the Ham Yard restaurant. Doors open at 9.45 am for a 10 am start and a 60 minute open level vinyasa yoga class.
The Ham Yard Hotel, 1, Ham Yard, London, W1D 7DT
