Great for an invigorating and well-sequenced practice. Be prepared for a good sweat. Quality classes with an affordable price tag.
One of the fastest growing yoga franchises in the last year, Yoga Lab probably has the most insta-famous yoga instructors, with headliners like Jasmine Chong and Erica Tenggara.
Yoga Lab is one of my most frequented studios and is one of the few places where I’ve bought multiple packages from (the other being Yoga+). With 4 outlets now (Duxton, CBD, Raffles Place, East), there are now many types of classes to choose from. They’ve also done a good job in hiring amazing (and I mean amaaaaaaazing) instructors that have kept me going back again and again.
Class
Yoga Lab offers a wide variety of classes. Hot and non-hot options are available across their range of class types.
I’ve attended the Yoga101, Stretch, Flow, Power, Core and L2 classes. My favourites are the Flow and L2 classes, but it really depends on the instructor.
I’ve not attended classes by all the instructors (especially since they’ve been rapidly hiring in the last months), but my favourites thus far are Erica, Kathy and Georgia. If you’re new to Yoga Lab or yoga in general, I would suggest giving these ladies’ classes a try.
Yoga101:
This class is meant for absolute beginners and those who are relatively new to yoga. The intensity really depends on the instructor and the mix of students that day. I have been to crazy intense 101 classes and slow and alignment-focused ones. It can be a little boring for regular practitioners sometimes.
Flow / Power / Core:
This class is meant for those who have attended at least a couple of classes. It moves at a faster pace and instructors usually give a variety of options to cater to both the newer and more advanced students. Again, the intensity depends on the instructor and mix of students that day. It ranges from quad-quivering classes by Yong Xian to super mindful, breath-aligned flow classes by Miriam.
Stretch:
This is probably the most underrated class. They’ve been cutting down on Stretch classes lately as it hasn’t been very popular (I guess most students want to work up a sweat). But guys, it’s. so. good. I highly recommend trying this out, especially during weekday lunchtime. It’s a great way to refocus and get your zen on.
L2:
This class is meant for regular practitioners as students are made to go into pretty deep and intense postures (think Scorpion pose as a warm up and 5-minute headstand holds as a cool down). L2 classes ranges from 75mins to 2hours – the duration of the class can be quite daunting but I actually find it less intense than a 60min class, because the instructor has a little bit more time to spread out the instructions and there is some time to rest in between intense asanas. I’ve only attended Erica’s L2 classes and I absolutely loooooove them. She always offers neat tips and tricks to get deeper into poses and takes the time to guide us through a slow opening of the body.
Price
Yoga Lab used to offer one of the most affordable class rates in the market, but they’ve raised their prices recently. That said, it’s still pretty affordable and just a tad lower what other studios are charging.
I have noticed pretty stiff competition in the market lately as studios everywhere have been lowering the fees in smaller (e.g. 10 class) packages.
They regularly offer promotions so do check out their Instagram page. They also offer corporate discounts to selected companies.
1 class – $28 (+$2 one-off card activation fee)
10 classes – $215 ($2.50 per class)
20 classes – $375 ($18.75 per class)
50 classes – $790 ($15.80 per class)
Half Day Unlimited – $150
All packages are valid for 6 months
Card activation fee is waived for package purchase
Updated Feb 2018
Studio
You can kind of tell that the budget for furnishing each studio has increased with each new opening.
Like most boutique studios, Yoga Lab CBD occupies the second and third floors of a shophouse along Boon Tat Street.
It’s slightly larger than the Duxton outlet and looks a lot more put-together.
It has 2 studios, each framed by large windows and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
Each studio fits between 20-30 mats. As they’ve grown in popularity, the space between each mat has narrowed to about an inch apart. Some classes, like those led by Erica, can get so packed that you’d chaturanga right into your neighbour’s feet. That said, some L2 classes have limited the number of students to make sure everyone 1) gets enough attention, especially since it involves more advanced asanas and 2) everyone gets a piece of the wall.
They now use Manduka Pro mats and have gotten rid of the cheap rubbery mat they started off with. They also have a room full of props, like bolsters and foam rollers for Stretch classes.
Changing Room
The changing room has 2 cubicles to change in and plenty of lockers. The lockers here come with their own key so there is no need to bring your own lock. However, they are pretty small, so it’s not a good idea to bring too many things with you.
There are 5 shower stalls and 2 toilets.
There is a vanity area on both floors (slightly smaller one on the third floor) with a couple of hair dryers.
Amenities
Towels can be rented at $1.
Bottled water can be bought for $1 (there is no water cooler).
Location
The studio is on the second floor of 27 Boon Tat Street.
I love that there are so many food choices in the area, ranging from hawker fare at Lau Pa Sat or cafes along Telok Ayer. Perfect for an after-workout refuel.
Roadside parking can be hard to find in the evenings given the sheer number of bars and restaurants in the area. Parking in the skyscrapers nearby can be ridiculously expensive. I would suggest only driving here on weekend afternoons.
For those taking the MRT, it is a short walk from Telok Ayer or Downtown MRT stations. Those who would like to warm up before class can walk from Raffles Place or Tanjong Pagar MRT stations.
Classes attended at Yoga Lab were paid for by The Yoga Society.
The Yoga Society: @TheYogaSocietySG 