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, Betty Kong 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 Power and L2 classes, but it really depends on the instructor.
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, but the teachers here are experienced enough to provide options for regulars. I like to attend 101 for mindful, slower-paced flows.
Flow / Power / Core:
These classes are 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 to super mindful, breath-aligned flows. I’ve been enjoying Power over Flow or Core classes lately. I find Power classes to be less of a cardio workout and more of a mindful progression towards the peak pose. I love Zen’s breakdown of the asanas in Power classes, she makes even the most complicated pose manageable!
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. That said, I think only a few instructors can do this class well. Staying in a particular pose for 3mins can be physically tiring. Something that might look like an easy hold may get very tiring after a minute (e.g. holding up your foot using a strap). I loooooove Cheyenne’s take on this class.
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.
My favourite instructors at Yoga Lab are Erica (I pretty much buy my package to attend her classes) and Cheyenne. Having said that, the quality of teachers and classes at Yoga Lab is unparalleled by any other studio I’ve tried. Most of the instructors at Yoga Lab are very, very good.
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 – $30
10 classes – $250 ($25 per class)
20 classes – $420 ($21 per class)
50 classes – $870 ($17.40 per class)
Half Day Unlimited – $160
All packages are valid for 6 months
Updated August 2018
Check out their website https://shop.yogalab.com/ for promotions
Studio
You can kind of tell that the budget for furnishing each studio has increased with each new opening. Their Raffles outlet is their largest studio yet, and looks a lot more polished than the CBD outlet.
It has 2 main studios that are used for classes and 1 open studio on the top floor.
Each studio fits between 20-30 mats. This studio feels a little bit darker, as it doesn’t have the floor-to-ceiling windows that characterizes most shophouses. As a result, it can get a little bit warm.
They now use Manduka Pro studio mats.
Changing Room
The female changing room on the second floor has 3 shower stalls, 2 toilets and plenty of lockers. The lockers here require you to set your own pin but they are a bit finicky to use so you often have to hunt for an open, unlocked locker. The lockers are also pretty small, so it’s not a good idea to bring too many things with you.
I like that the shower stalls have both dry and wet areas that makes dressing so much easier.
There is also a communal sink with 2 taps and a vanity area with 2 hairdryers
Amenities
Towels can be rented at $1.
There is a water cooler on the second floor.
Location
The studio is on the second floor of 10 North Canal Road, in the heart of Boat Quay.
Roadside parking can be hard to find on weekdays, as you’d expect for a location in the middle of CBD. However, there are plenty of spots on weekends.
For those taking the MRT, it is a short walk from Raffles Place MRT (UOB Plaza exit).
Classes attended at Yoga Lab were paid for by The Yoga Society.
The Yoga Society: @TheYogaSocietySG 