New to Madrid? How to Find a Yoga Community in English
Moving to Madrid can be exciting.
The city, sunshine, food, parks, late dinners, the feeling that there's always somewhere new to explore...
But once the initial excitement wears off, there can be another side to starting a life in a new city.
How do you actually meet people?
Making friends as an adult isn't always easy, particularly when you're new to a city and don't yet have a network around you.
And if you're an international resident, there's another question:
Where can I find people I can communicate with comfortably in English?
One of the things I've loved seeing through Atiyasana is how yoga can become a good way to build that sense of connection.
You come for the yoga.
You start recognising familiar faces.
You stay for coffee.
And you start to feel like you belong.
An English-speaking yoga class in Madrid with Atiyasana, bringing together an international community to practise yoga and connect
Why community matters when you're new to Madrid
When you first move somewhere, it's easy to spend your time ticking things off a list.
Visit this neighbourhood.
Try that restaurant.
See the museum.
Find your favourite café.
All of those things are part of getting to know Madrid, but building a life here takes more than knowing where the best places are.
It takes people.
Having somewhere you go regularly can make a huge difference.
You start seeing the same faces each week. You have conversations that continue from one week to the next. You begin to recognise people outside the original activity.
That regularity is one of the things I think makes a community different from simply attending an event.
Why yoga can be a good way to meet people
You don't necessarily have to go to yoga because you're looking for new friends.
That's actually part of what makes it work.
You have a shared reason for being there.
You're practising together for an hour, perhaps trying something new, laughing when you wobble out of a balance and then relaxing together at the end.
You don't have to walk into a room and immediately start making conversation with strangers.
The connection develops naturally.
And because yoga classes happen regularly, you have the opportunity to see people again.
That's often how friendships begin.
Finding yoga classes in English in Madrid
If English is your first language, or a language in which you feel comfortable, finding an English-speaking yoga class can make a difference.
It's not just about understanding instructions.
It's about being able to relax into the experience without having to concentrate on translating what's being said.
It also makes it easier to chat before or after class, ask questions and get to know the people around you.
I've written more about this in Why Practicing Yoga in English in Madrid Makes a Difference When Living Abroad.
But an English-speaking class doesn't have to mean a room full of people from the same country.
Madrid is an international city, and one of the lovely things about an English-speaking community is meeting people from lots of different backgrounds.
Look for somewhere you'll actually want to return to
When you're looking for a yoga community in Madrid, I'd consider more than just the timetable or price.
Ask yourself:
Do I feel comfortable here?
Can I imagine coming back next week?
Does the teacher make beginners feel welcome?
Is there an opportunity to connect with other people?
Does the style of yoga suit what I actually need?
A beautiful studio isn't necessarily the right community for you.
And the most advanced class isn't necessarily the most beneficial.
The right place is somewhere you feel comfortable enough to keep showing up.
If you're completely new to yoga, you might also find my guide to what to expect in your first yoga class in Madrid helpful.
Yoga doesn't have to be your whole social life
I don't think a yoga community needs to become your entire social circle.
It's simply one way of creating regular connection.
At Atiyasana, we often go for coffee after Sunday classes, and we've had picnics, brunches and other social meet-ups.
Sometimes people come to yoga class and quite often they stay for coffee/the social side.
That's part of what I wanted to create: somewhere that makes it easier to meet people without the pressure of a formal networking event or organised social.
And what about the yoga itself?
Of course, the yoga class still matters.
Different people are looking for different things.
You might enjoy a more active Hatha practice.
You might prefer the slower pace of Yin.
Or perhaps meditation is what you need when your mind feels particularly busy.
If you're not sure which one is right for you, I've put together a guide Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga or Meditation? How to Choose the Right Yoga Class in Madrid.
And you definitely don't need to arrive flexible, experienced or particularly "good" at yoga.
You just need to arrive as you are.
A new chapter for Atiyasana
Atiyasana started with the idea that yoga is about more than an hour on a mat.
It's about how we feel in our bodies, how we relate to ourselves and how we connect with other people.
And now we’re working towards creating a permanent home for that community.
Atiyasana Yoga Social's new studio in central Madrid is planned to open in the coming months.
The aim is to create a welcoming space where you can practise yoga in English, meet people and feel part of something - not a place where you need to be flexible, experienced or particularly "yoga-y" to belong.
Until then, we continue to meet for weekly classes in central Madrid and in Retiro Park during the warmer months.
You can find our current yoga classes in Madrid here.
New to Madrid? Start exploring
Of course, yoga is only one part of discovering a new city.
If you're looking for places to walk, relax and look after yourself while getting to know Madrid, I've also put together a free Madrid Mind & Body Wellness Guide.
It includes some of my favourite places and ideas for enjoying the city in a way that supports your wellbeing - from Retiro Park to food markets, hot chocolate and other places to slow down and enjoy Madrid.
Get your free guide :
And if you're looking for somewhere to practise yoga and meet people along the way, we hope you will join us at Atiyasana.
You don't have to know anyone when you arrive and you will be warmly welcomed.