Great for those those who’d like to switch up their practice
The newest addition to this tiny island’s burgeoning boutique yoga community is Jyan Yoga by popular acro-yogi, @jyanyoga. Even if you’ve not heard of @jyanyoga before, you’d probably would’ve seen owner Jiamin’s face whilst scrolling through instagram. Sometimes in gravity-defying acro-yoga poses and often decked out in the latest activewear brands that she’s the face of.
The offerings at Jyan Yoga are a little different from the usual basics/flow/power classes you see at other studios. And she’s already got recognised teachers on the roster. It’s a great studio for those who’d like to switch up their practice or try something different.
Class
Jyan Yoga’s class offerings ranges from the mainstream Basic and Flow classes to funky stuff like Acro, Gong Meditation and Crystal Bowls + Yin (this sounds lovely). I would definitely head back to try out some of these classes.
I was invited by their lovely studio manager, Esther, to try out their opening weekend classes. I had attended the Mindfulness class with Kathy and Backbends class with Mark. I’d practiced with them both before at other studios and knew that I’d enjoy their classes.
Mark is one of my favourite backbend instructors. I first practiced with him at a different studio when I was on guavapass but I never got the chance to practice regularly with him. So I jumped at the chance to attend his first backbend class at Jyan Yoga. Mark led us through a well-paced warm up flow that didn’t overtire us, followed by a workshop-style session. There was a wide range of students in class that day, some who were unable to lift up completely in wheel and others who were able to drop back effortlessly into wheel. Mark was able give options that catered to the needs of everyone in class, effectively pushing everyone to the edge of what they were capable of achieving. I don’t know about you, but that’s my favourite kind of practice – where you’re just about able to get into the asana or at the cusp of achieving a breakthrough.
Kathy’s class was the first mindfulness class I’ve ever attended and I wasn’t sure what to expect. A 60min mindfulness/meditation class sounds a lot more intimidating than it actually was. It was a little strange at first, more than a little hippie, but Kathy made us all feel safe and tried to make the practice as relatable as possible. Ok I won’t lie, it was really uncomfortable for me to share my meditation practice with a group of strangers and having to partner with a stranger. Having said that, I felt great after class – I walked out feeling at peace. I would absolutely sign up for another mindfulness class.
Check out their website https://www.jyanyoga.com/classes for class descriptions.
Price
Updated August 2019
Studio
Unlike most boutiuqe studios congregated in the CBD, Jyan Yoga is housed in a shophouse at the fringe of the city at Prinsep Street. The studio is very pretty, with very @jyanyoga-esque aesthetics. Think arched nooks and whitewashed walls with pink and blue accents.
To the left of the reception is a cozy space students where students can wait for class to begin or chill after a good workout. Framed by large windows and the insta-worthy arched nook, the space feels like a friend’s living room. A very trendy friend whose living room was featured on the Home Decor magazine.
The studio fits about 25 mats, depending on the configuration. The room is long and narrow, which means there is wall space for everyone if mats are aligned against the wall.
The studio uses Jyan Yoga-branded mats. I can’t tell what brand they are but they have alignment markings and have strong grip.
Changing Room
The changing area is situated across from the main studio. Which means it would be quite challenging to access (or leave!) it when a class is ongoing.
There is a small vanity area with hairdryers.
There are 2 toilet cubicles (1 of which has a shower) and 2 sinks.
Amenities
Location
The studio is on the second floor of a shophouse (above the ever-crowded Curious Palette cafe) in Prinsep Street.
Roadside parking can be hard to find. There are plenty of lots at Sunshine Plaza, but parking charges are pretty steep there. On the bright side, there are plenty of cheap food options in the area.
For those taking the MRT, it is a short walk from Bencoolen MRT.
The Yoga Society: @TheYogaSocietySG 