One Year On — From Bare Walls to a Living Practice
- Prajnananda (Marcio da Rosa)
- Mar 16
- 5 min read
Almost a year ago, we were preparing for our soft launch at LoveYour.Studio.
At that time, the studio still had unfinished walls. It was cold in more ways than one — a building site slowly becoming something else. What it already had, though, was something that cannot be installed with tools: shared care, stubborn dedication, and a great deal of personal investment.
Those early weeks were not glamorous. Many evenings were spent painting, assembling, adjusting heating, moving furniture, fixing small problems, and wondering whether everything would come together in time. Yet even then, the space had a certain warmth. People came not because everything was perfect, but because something honest was happening.
Nearly a year later, the major works are finished. The rooms have settled. Plants are growing. The light through the skylights changes through the day. The practice halls hold silence and movement in equal measure.
What once felt like a construction project now feels like a home for practice.
A space for honest people.
And like any real home, it is not meant for everyone.
Many people walk in and immediately feel they belong. Others realise quickly that the style, pace, or philosophy is not quite what they are looking for — and that is perfectly alright. Yoga should never try to please everyone. It should simply be authentic.
Keeping Our Word
When we opened, we introduced a Founders Pricing of £5 per class.
We made a promise that those who supported the studio early would keep that pricing, and we have honoured that commitment.
In fact, many of our regular students now practise for less than £5 per class, depending on the memberships and packs they use.
Across the studio as a whole, our average class price today sits between £7 and £9.
For a guided practice with experienced teachers — in a carefully held environment — we believe this remains one of the most accessible ways to practise yoga regularly.
Yoga is not an unsupervised low-cost gym session. It is an invitation to practise with teachers who have dedicated years to understanding how to guide breath, movement, and attention with care.
Even when the practice appears simple from the outside, there is a great deal of experience behind it.
Building Something That Lasts
The studio you see today did not appear overnight.
Every wall, every light, every plant, every floorboard has been placed here through patience and steady work. Behind the scenes there have been countless small decisions — about safety, heating, acoustics, accessibility, and comfort — all made with the long term in mind.
We wanted to create a place that would still feel good in ten or twenty years.
A place where people can come quietly, practise sincerely, and leave feeling a little more organised than when they arrived.
Teacher Training Begins in May
Another important step begins this spring.
In May, we will start our Yoga Teacher Training programmes — Foundation and Advanced.
Until now, LoveYour.Studio has been intentionally open. Teachers from many schools and traditions have shared our spaces, and we have been glad to offer opportunities for practitioners from different backgrounds to teach and grow here.
As our own training programmes begin, however, we will gradually prioritise teaching opportunities for those who study and train within our school.
This is not about exclusion; it is about responsibility. When people commit time and energy to training with us, we believe it is right that they also have a pathway to practise and teach within this community.
At the same time, we want to say something gently to those who are beginning the journey of becoming yoga teachers.
Travelling to India for training can be beautiful and inspiring. Many people dream of doing this, and we understand why.
But an intensive course abroad — however meaningful — rarely gives the time required for deeper internal development.
Yoga is not simply something we learn. It is something we grow into.
Before travelling far away, it can be wise to practise close to home. Train with teachers who know your context, your culture, and your everyday life. Let practice mature slowly in the community where you live.
Over time, the teachings begin to deepen.
You start to notice your citta vṛttis — the movements of the mind.You begin to recognise your saṃskāras — the patterns shaping your behaviour.Your ahaṃkāra, the sense of self that wants to prove or perform, softens a little.And buddhi, the discriminating intelligence, becomes clearer.
When humility grows, when curiosity replaces ambition, when practice becomes sincere rather than impressive — then travelling to India, or anywhere else, becomes a beautiful pilgrimage rather than a hurried certification.
Learn about yourself and the world you live in first. Then go exploring.
A Small Celebration — Bringing the World Closer
To mark one year since our soft opening at LoveYour.Studio, we are hosting a small and joyful gathering.
On 18 April, Marcio and Isabel will offer a short Portuguese music concert — around 40 minutes of traditional and gentle songs. Afterwards, we will simply stay together for conversation and celebration.
There will be:
• Portuguese custard tarts (of course)
• Tea and matcha lattes
• Decaffeinated drinks
• And, exceptionally, a little wine
Nothing formal — just music, chats, hugs, and the pleasure of sharing the space.
Free admission. Everyone is welcome.
This evening will also launch a small cultural initiative we are starting at the studio called “Bringing the World Closer.”
LoveYour.Studio is home to people from many cultures and life journeys. Through this series of informal gatherings, we hope members of our community will share music, dance, poetry, storytelling, food, and traditions from their cultures.
The Portuguese concert will be the first of these evenings, but our hope is that it becomes something ongoing — a chance to celebrate the richness of the world together through meaningful local activities.
So if you are Portuguese, English, Nepali, Indian, Brazilian, African, European, Asian, Antartican, Martian, or from the Milky Way — naturalised, descendant, simply curious and live here — speak with us.
Let’s share our cultures and enjoy what the world has to offer, right here in our humble studio.
Thank You
If you have been part of this journey — whether since the early days with bare walls and cold floors, or if you have joined us more recently — thank you.
Studios are not built by buildings.
They are built by people who show up.
And so we continue, step by step, breath by breath, building something simple and genuine together.
Prajnananda (Marcio)
Director, LoveYour.Studio
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