Yoga in Madrid
Madrid is a perfect place for many things: shopping, sightseeing, tapas, a few beers, going to the theatre, the cinema, visiting museums... In short, a city with an infinite number of things to offer, including, of course, sport and nature. In addition to the wealth of its cultural and leisure offerings, Madrid is a city that is very involved in the practice of all kinds of physical exercise.
A multitude of sports centres and gyms fill the city offering a wide range of disciplines and rates to exercise our body. One of the most popular and recommended disciplines is, without a doubt, yoga. This sport also has numerous centres specialising in this practice that offer specific plans led by qualified instructors. Practicing yoga in Madrid is, perhaps, one of the best decisions we can make for our health. Yoga is capable of providing us with that corner of peace and calm in which to rest from the frenetic pace of life typical of a big city. Therefore, yoga and Madrid are the perfect tandem.
Why do yoga in Madrid?
Are you always rushing around? Do you not rest well at night or do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you feel like your work and social life doesn't leave you any time to breathe? Can't you find a moment to connect with yourself and be calm? Yoga in Madrid is waiting for you.
Practicing yoga in Madrid is like finding a haven of peace where we can stop to disconnect and reconnect with ourselves. In addition, it is a discipline that, due to its benefits for relieving stress and its ability to tone the body, is highly in demand. This means that we will find a wide range of yoga in Madrid, so we can choose between different centers, schedules, disciplines, etc. It is also a very popular activity, especially among women, so we can meet and connect with many women who share our hobby.
The mix of cultures and the large number of sports centres within our reach will make practising yoga in Madrid even more enriching. Not only will we have many options to choose from, but it will also allow us to choose in an even more selective and detailed way. However, the practice of yoga in Madrid is not only relegated to sports centres or gyms. It is the city in Spain with the largest area of parks and green spaces nationwide with a total of 50.23 km². Environments in which, when the weather is good, we can find crowded with people doing their favourite sport or physical activity, including yoga. And doing yoga in Madrid outdoors will give us an extra peace and connection that is priceless. Connecting with ourselves and with nature is possible if we practice yoga in Madrid.
Types of yoga
Knowing the types of yoga disciplines that we can practice will help us narrow down our search when we google 'yoga Madrid'. Therefore, in this post we will give you a brief overview of the main existing yoga disciplines:
- Hatha yoga: This is the most basic yoga discipline and the one most practiced in sports centers and gyms. It is known as the 'yoga of postures' or 'yoga of effort'. It is especially indicated for beginner yogis who want to start practicing it. It combines postures (asanas), breathing (pranayama), relaxation and meditation.
- Vinyasa yoga: The word vinyasa means 'to place in a special way' or 'to align in a specific way'. This type of yoga comes from hatha and aims to synchronize breathing with movement. It is perfect for those who want to strengthen their muscles.
- Bikram yoga: This type of yoga consists of performing 26 postures combined with breathing exercises. This discipline is usually performed in a specific environment and conditions, specifically in closed spaces with temperatures up to 40°C. It facilitates the elimination of toxins and weight loss.
- Ashtanga yoga: synchronizes breathing and movements and is one of the most demanding types of yoga along with Vinyasa yoga. It links one posture with the next, maintaining three clear principles: Ujjay breathing, muscle contraction and Dristi or concentration of the gaze. It promotes greater control of our body and mind.
- Kudalini yoga: This is possibly the most spiritual type of yoga, as it combines postures and breathing with mantras and meditation. It aims to put the energy of our chakras into motion. It is also known as the 'yoga of consciousness'. It is especially helpful for people who are experiencing periods of high stress.
- Acroyoga or aerial yoga: as its name suggests, this yoga discipline is performed through acrobatics or in the air. Both strengthen balance and concentration. In the case of aerial yoga, we need a cloth or hammock attached to the ceiling to perform the postures, which, when done in the air, are more intense and require greater effort.
Benefits of yoga in Madrid
The benefits of yoga are endless, but these are the advantages we will find if we want to practice yoga in Madrid:
- Wide and competitive offer. The number of centres and gyms will allow us to compare a large number of offers. We will be able to compare prices, quality of the facilities and their services, types of yoga, schedules, distance from home, etc.
- Great influx of yogis, veterans and novices. Many times we want to drag a friend to start the adventure with us, but we don't always succeed. Practicing yoga in Madrid will put us in contact with women of all kinds who share the common interest in yoga with us and we can create very valuable links.
- Green spaces to connect with yoga in nature. As we mentioned before, yoga in Madrid is not only practiced in sports centres. There are many green spaces where you can practice it alone and there are even groups and yoga classes organised outdoors.
- Relief from daily stress. The hustle and bustle of the city can often push us to the limit. Doing yoga in Madrid will help us better manage the stress of our daily routine and improve our mood.
- Improves overall health. Regardless of the city in which you choose to practice it, this wonderful discipline is a sure ticket to improving your health. It promotes digestion, helps you fall asleep, improves breathing capacity, corrects posture, strengthens and tones our muscles, increases our flexibility, etc.
Still not convinced to practice yoga in Madrid?
The best outdoor yoga spots in Madrid
Below are some of the most ideal green spaces where we can practice our yoga postures in Madrid this summer:
- El Retiro. A classic, the most famous lung of the city. El Retiro Park is an idyllic place in which to do some of our yoga training in Madrid. It is in this same space that numerous groups of yoga lovers organize their classes outdoors. It is a different way and with numerous benefits to carry out our yoga sessions.
- Madrid Río. More than 10 km with grassy esplanades all around. Next to the Manzanares River, this park will provide us with comfortable and fresh spaces in which to do our favourite postures, finishing with some relaxation and stretching exercises.
- Juan Carlos I Park. A little less central than the two previous parks, but with more than 160 hectares of gardens and areas where you can practice any sport, including yoga. It also has a beautiful lake that creates an aura of nature and peace that can be very interesting for the meditation phase of our yoga class in Madrid.
Practicing yoga in Madrid outdoors will benefit our health in many ways, including helping us maintain our vitamin D levels and lowering our blood pressure. But, also on an emotional level, exercising in green spaces like those mentioned above will benefit our mental health and fill us with vitality and energy.
