Yoga isn't yoga for Barcelona natives. It's "Joe - Ga" so if you get confused looks when enquiring about a studio...that little difference makes everything clearer!
I was literally walking, mapless, through the alleys of Barcelona when I saw a curly-haired, tanned, super stylish hipster Spanish girl about to enter her (enviably city central) apartment and I tapped her tattooed shoulder and asked if she knew of a nearby yoga studio. She was hugely generous in recommending
Yoga Studio and going through directions 3 times for me. Located through a hidden side door inside a children's shoe store, I would never have found it without her help!
The classes were extraordinarily cheap, especially for Europe! Just 12 Euros for 3 classes a week. Perfect for the short term traveller. The classes are entirely in Spanish, but I kept up in the three 1.5 hour classes I did without an iota of Spanish literacy. I loved it. We started each class with the Om, then a rejuvenating vinyasa flow and strength moves, followed by meditation. I met some wonderful women and I hope to remain in touch with all of them. I highly recommend doing yoga there and if you can, attending Maria, Beatriz and Reitxu's classes. They are incredible instructors who provide excellent instruction and assistance with alignment and technique. They're also beautiful people with a quick laugh and generous spirit.
Yoga Studio
Pza. Universitat, 4 - 1º - 2ª
T. 934512928
Website:
http://www.yogastudio.es/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yoga-Studio-Barcelona/
Bonus! If you love raw food or you have a curiosity for it, Reitxu has a mouth-watering blog at
http://rawtxukitchen.com/
Also, before the LONG LONG flight, I shopped Kiehl's at Mecca Maxima for the skin perfecting toners and super hydrating serum. Don't skimp on quality skin products when you're spending 20 hours in a tiny, compressed air space. My pick? Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner and Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate
Get the Barcelona Look
Lipstick: Flat Out Fabulous by
MAC
Skin: St Tropez Self Tan Dark Mousse and MAC Strobe Cream for highlighting brow, cheekbones and cupid's bow (instant GLOW!)
Fragrance: Orange & Bergamot Aroma Reed Diffuser by
Molton Brown and the enormously tropical and summery Frangipani by Demeter (
available at MU in Australia)
Drink: Organic Birch Juice (it's the new coconut water!) by
Weleda
Eat: From the fresh food market! Fruit salad with tiny plastic fork will make you right at home.
Yoga pants: Ellebie purple tights (available at
Be Activewear)
Yoga top: Mandy neon orange tank (available at
Be Activewear)
