A week of yoga in Munich
- Elodie
- Feb. 19, 2025
Monday: 5pm @Jivamukti Yoga Munich, Glockenbach – Medium with Barbara
alternative: 7.45pm @Hairu – Open Flow with Caro
Tuesday: 12.30 @Yogaloft – Medium/Open with Nuri
alternative: 7.30am resp. 5pm @Jivamukti Yoga Munich, Glockenbach – Spiritual Warrior with Andrea OR Open with Kari
Wednesday: 9am @Jivamukti Yoga Munich, Glockenbach – Morning Detox with Kari
alternative: 12.30 @Yogaloft – Medium/Open with Lars
Thursday: 7.30am @Jivamukti Yoga Munich, Glockenbach – Spiritual Warrior with Caro
alternative: 6.15pm @Hairu – Yoga for Cyclists with Daisy
Friday: 7pm @Yogaloft – Yin Yoga with Nuri
alternative: 11am @Jivamukti Yoga Munich, Glockenbach – Open with Petros
Saturday: 10am @Yogaloft – Medium with Ekaterini
alternative: 5pm resp. 4.30pm @Yogaloft – Yin &Yang with Franzi OR – Complete Practice with Yoshio
Sunday: 8pm @Hairu – Restore & Balance with Christiana
alternative: 12pm @Jivamukti Yoga Munich – Restore & Renew with Andrea & Eleonora
A schedule similar to this one is how a week of yoga looked like for me when living in Munich. I tried to go 3-4 times a week to the studio, at least, and was lucky enough to have flexible working times and an amazing unlimited, across-studios membership (Wellpass :')) that made this possible. You can use this schedule as a guide and pick a session or two per week (or as many as you like), depending on what calls you the most at the time. I used to go to three main studios: Jivamukti Yoga Munich, Yogaloft and Hairu, all quite centrally located and more or less close to my beloved Isar.
Jivamukti Yoga Munich has two locations, one in Glockenbach and one in Lehel, both quite centrally located. This is the first studio I started going to, so it always felt a bit like home to me. Also, Jivamukti yoga has been the first yoga style I practised, and I did a short yoga teacher training with Petros in Munich. The week starts great, with Barbara who always has a smile and hug to greet you with, that warms your heart, and on Wednesdays Kari brings the occasional challenging asana into the flow and usually has her darling dog Michu in tow; her AUMS to start the class are exceptional. I attended also one of Karis retreats, in which I gained cherished memories and fellow yogi friends. Andrea and Eleonora are the sweetest team, radiating balance and calmness and are always nice to chat with. Petros’ classes are unique, ranging from beginner friendly to frustratingly advanced, with amazing music playlists and my favourite chants. Also, you can be sure to get some longer or shorter dharma talk in his classes. Other teachers I really appreciated and would like to mention here in the studio, whose classes now are not listed in the schedule, are Jessina and Patrick. The studio also organises regular Kirtan evenings, on donation basis, which I certainly valued as lovely community event. Regularly they also have guest teachers from abroad visiting the studio, with Ian from Paris and Andrea from Cambridge being my favourite guests.
Yogaloft is a very big studio, they have classes for everyone and any time of the day, and a selection of beautiful shalas. Nice bonus: a super nice and tasty (vegan) breakfast café opposite the studio, with an amazing sun terrace during the warmer months. My favourite class here was the one on weekends, with Ekaterini, who has well-planned classes with a purpose, delivered with wit, humour and charm. Then we have Nuri, who seems almost always in a good mood, and is not afraid to compliment you on your socks or give you a high-five in your asana (e.g. triangle pose). She has a beautiful voice too. Similarly, Franzi, which also teaches at Jivamukti, her voice enough to calm you down and her face displaying pure focus. Lars is clearly a handstand fan, and he seems always very energetic and positive. Yoshio is a “recent” addition to the team, or at least he was in the beginning of last year, but he is certainly no novice. Unfortunately, I had only once the opportunity to practice with him, the complete practice on Saturday afternoon, which feels like a condensed mini retreat and makes you exit the studio almost reborn.
Hairu is the cosiest and family-feeling yoga studio. It is the smallest one on the list (whereas I have heard that they expanded just recently...) and the classes are always fully booked. The yoga clientele is slightly different here when compared to the other studios, it feels more welcoming to all kind of students (the others may feel sometimes a bit exclusive). They have a variety of classes and the kindest and most-dedicated studio owner. There is so much attention paid here into the details. (Disclaimer: It is also the studio where I have been teaching so maybe I am a bit biased here hehe – but you may see for yourself). I got here through my yogi friend Caro, who is teaching here, in a most patient and well-thought-through manner. She has a very calming aura and is always just so easy to talk to. Caro also teaches at Jivamukti Munich. I don’t know Daisy personally well enough to describe her much here, but I have visited her yoga for cyclists classes a few times with a friend and I just particularly remember refreshing and innovative flows. Then, finally, your Sunday evening is best spent with Christiana and her yin class. She is the sweetest person and has also just such an amazingly calming voice. Her yin classes make sure you start the following week in the most relaxed way.
I would like to mention here still, that this is just a very personal suggestion of yoga studios and yoga classes, as well as subjective descriptions and impressions of the classes and their teachers (personally knowing some of them more or less). These are my favourites and were my go-to's when living in Munich, with some teachers (and students) turned friends. I would lie if I said that I do not miss my yoga community in Munich. Also, I tried to make sure, that the classes, as listed in the schedule above, are up-to-date, status February 2025. Last but not least, there are still PLENTY of lovely yoga studios in Munich and even more yoga teachers, so of course, I still encourage you to try out more than is suggested here!
Kritajna Hum (I am grateful)
Elodie