It’s August, everyone’s on holiday. Lucky them! If you’re still in town though, check out the best fitness events on offer this month. Including Shakespeare yoga, WTAF?!
I Weigh X Frame
From 14 August to 14 September: Wednesdays, 17:00; Fridays, 17:00; Saturdays, 14:15, £15
Frame Fitzrovia
I Weigh is a body-positive community created by actress and activist Jameela Jamil (you know, off The Good Place and T4) and this new collaboration with Frame supports mental health through the act of ‘self love and dancing’.
Join a 45-minute cardio dance class, designed to be fun, empowering and full of sass. £5 from your entry fee will be donated to mental health charity Heads Together.
FREE
Colombia Carnaby Summer Run
14 August, 18:30
Colombia Carnaby Store
In the August instalment of this summer series of runs from sportswear company Columbia, you’ll be joined by top Irish ultrarunner Eoin Keith. He holds the Irish record for 24hour track running and won the Spine Race in 2016 – a frankly ridiculous, week-long race along the Pennine Way thorough the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Cheviots and up to the Scottish Borders in the middle of January.
You can ask him about that as you enjoy a leisurely 6k run to Regent’s Park and back. There’s a 30% discount in store for all runners, too.
FREE
ASICS Run Club
Every Monday and Friday, 19:00
ASICS Oxford Street
Looking for another free run club to add to your weekly workout schedule? ASICS has free sessions for all abilities leaving from their flagship store twice weekly – there are lockers for your bag so you can nip in after work. Every session is different but you usually cover between 5-7k.
Killing Kittens Workshop: Self Defence Class
16 August, 18:30, from £21.91
Mindset, Waterloo
This hour-long self, women-only, self defence class will teach you some of the best combinations to give you the confidence to tackle different situations. Because kicking them in the groin only gets you so far.
The moves will be combined with high-energy conditioning routines and breathing techniques so you get a good work out too. Then there’s a free drink with your classmates in a nearby bar, it is Friday after all.
Summer of Self Love Workshop
17 August, 14:00, £25
Frame Shoreditch
Blimey, there’s a lot of self-love focused classes going down this month. If you fancy spending some time making yourself feel good, then this two-hour yoga workshop at Frame sounds rather delightful.
Expect a gentle and restorative flow to release tension and encourage feelings of self acceptance, followed by some healing meditation.
FREE
Sunday Morning Yoga at Portman Square Gardens with lululemon Selfridges
18 August, 09:30
Portman Square Gardens, Marylebone
This hour-long freebie yoga class is held in one of those private gardens that usually only posh residents have a key for. Mats are provided but there’s only space for 30 people so it’s a case of first come, first served, get there early to bag a spot.
FREE
NTL Yoga Series with Jessica Skye
21 August, 07:45
Nike Town London
This is now waitlist only, but get on that waiting list and keep your eyes peeled for next month’s event as places go quick. This is a free, 45-minute monthly yoga session with the lovely Jess from Fat Buddha Yoga to get you feeling all zen before work.
You get a free breakfast afterwards, mats are provided and it’s suitable for all levels. Just wish it wasn’t so darn popular.
Strides For The Streets – The Soup Kitchen x Fresh Fitness Food
22 August, 18:30, £10
Hyde Park
Running Instagrammers Twice the Health and meal-delivery service Fresh Fitness Food are putting on a little fundraiser for the Soup Kitchen’s brand new mental health drop-in centre. And all you have to do is go along and enjoy yourself!
After a warm up from the run coaches at TrackLife, you’ll take on a 5k social run around Hyde Park followed by free post-run snacks. All proceeds go towards the drop-in centre, aimed at supporting mental health for the homeless.
Tales of Adventure: Women in Adventure Special
22 August, 19:00, £8
The Devereux, Temple
Looking to be inspired? In the latest in the talk series Tales of Adventure, you’ll hear from several ‘ordinary’ women who’ve gone on to have mad adventures. Including:
Laura Try, who left her job as a salon owner and rowed the Atlantic;
Paralympic cyclist Mel Nicholls, who suffered a series of life-changing stokes in her 20s and went on to become a pro athlete;
and Anna McNuff who’s done all kind of crazy challenges including cycling 11,000 miles through every state in the US.
Shakespearean Yoga
24 August, 11:00, £12
Rich Mix, Shoreditch
This sounds utterly bonkers!
Over the bank holiday weekend, there’s a Shakespeare festival called Shake it Up! Happening in Shoreditch. One of the events they’re holding is this hour-long Shakespearean yoga class.
There’s live music (presumably Elizabethan), a few quotes from the Bard throughout and some 16th century aromas by AVM Curiosities. We’re not sure if they’re pleasant aromas or not, we’ve been to Yorvick.
Apparently, ruffs aren’t suitable clothing for the class but yellow stockings are fine.
Third Space Rooftop Yoga and Brunch
Every Saturday until 31 August, 09:30, from £39
Ham yard Hotel roof terrace
If we were to describe the weather in August so far, we’d only need one word. Shit. However, we‘re hoping it takes a turn for the better so we can go and do lovely things like this.
Among the olive trees and flowers on Ham Yard’s roof you’ll take part in an hour-long Hatha yoga session led by the guys from the swanky Third Space gym.
Afterwards there’s a seasonal plant-based brunch in the hotel’s restaurant. Avocado Benedict and turmeric porridge are on the menu, we can’t decide whether the latter sounds yuck or yum.
Greenwich Park 5k or 10k
24 August, 10:00, £22
Greenwich Park
It’s good to get something healthy under your belt at the start of the bank holiday, then you can launch into the three-day festival of beer gardens, Prosecco in the park and barbecues that go on till four in the morning, knowing you haven’t completely abused your body.
Greenwich Park is always a nice place for a run – despite that b****d hill. Choose from 5k or 10k, get a cool medal for your efforts, then start the weekend as you mean to go on. Pub lunch!
Nude Glow Yoga
29 August, 18:30, from £32.93
Ministry of Sound Fitness, Elephant and Castle
Shakespearean yoga not nuts enough for you? How about nude yoga with glow-in-the-dark body paint then?
During this women-only body-confident yoga class, you’ll be turned into a glowing UV masterpiece by a team of body painters. Body Image Coach Laura Phelan will share tips on learning to love yourself and leading a healthy life, and then you’ll take part in a yoga class surrounded by other glowing, body painted women.
You get a goody bag to take away, all levels of yoga and body shapes welcome. Plus you get to keep you knickers on, phew.
Camp Wildfire
30 August–2 September, £224
Sevenoaks, Kent
Fitness festivals are all the rage at the mo, so if you’re feeling the need to get active and have a rave up in a field at the same time get yourself down to Camp Wildfire. Held in a forest, the emphasis here is on adventure by day with quad biking, paddleboarding, survival skills, flying trapeze, tree climbing, axe throwing and yoga, just some of the more than 60 activities on offer.
By night you’ve got music from Craig Charles and Dj Yoda, secret parties, hot tubs… sounds wicked. Not cheap but you get a lot of activity for your money, if I wasn’t away on my jollies I’d be there for defs.
Beginners arm balances workshop
31 August, 13:15
Frame Kings Cross
Love yoga but a bit crap at crow? Yep, us too. If you’re forever falling out and getting a face full of mat, this 90-min workshop could be just what you need. Dedicated to arm balances, including crow variations, it’s designed to give you a bit more support and confidence in some of those trickier postures.
Know of anything ace happening in September? Email charlotte@lungesandlycra.co.uk