New to Madrid? How to Find a Yoga Community in English
New to Madrid? Finding your people can take time. Discover how an English-speaking yoga community can help you meet people, practise yoga and feel more at home in the city.
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: we are soon opening our own studio home near Ópera, Madrid.
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 guides on Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga or Meditation? How to Choose the Right Yoga Class in Madrid and more on Yin Yoga here.
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.
You can find out more about the studio near Ópera, Madrid and join our waitlist here.
Our 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.
Wellness Communities for Expats in Madrid: How to Build a Life You Love
Social after yoga in Retiro Park
Moving to Madrid is exciting! Although navigating bureaucracy, adjusting to a new pace of life and building a social circle from scratch can also feel quite overwhelming especially in those first months while you are still finding your way around.
The good news is that Madrid has a genuinely brilliant ecosystem of expat communities across wellness, nature, language and connection. You don't have to build everything from zero. You just need to know where to look.
Here are five communities run by real people, mostly free or low-cost that can help you feel at home faster.
Social after yoga in Retiro Park
Yoga Social Madrid: English-Speaking Yoga & Community
If wellness is part of how you take care of yourself, starting with a yoga practice is one of the best things you can do when you move somewhere new. It gives you a routine, a physical outlet, and, when you find the right community, a real sense of belonging.
At Atiyasana, I run Yoga Social Madrid, a community built around yoga classes in English and the connections that grow through practising together. I started the group in 2019, soon after moving to Madrid myself. Having taught yoga in the UK for eight years, I wanted to continue teaching while creating the kind of community I'd appreciate as someone new to the city.
We began with yoga in Retiro Park, and I'm proud to see the community grow to more than 2,300 members on Meetup. Over the years, people have come together to practise yoga and also to share coffees, brunches and picnics after Sunday classes. It's lovely to see people arrive without knowing anyone and gradually make friends.
Our community brings together internationally minded people from different backgrounds. Classes are taught in English, so you can practise in a language you're comfortable with while meeting others who are also building a life in Madrid.
Our next chapter: a yoga studio in Ópera, Madrid Centro
We are excited for our next phase! We are preparing to open our own yoga studio at Calle de la Amnistía, 2, in Ópera, Madrid Centro, near the Royal Palace (Palacio Real). We will offer classes in English including Hatha, Vinyasa, Slow Hatha, Yin and meditation, with the same community-minded approach that has shaped Yoga Social Madrid from the beginning.
Beyond weekly classes, I also organise retreats near Madrid offering more opportunities to practise, connect and spend time together outside the city.
If you're looking for an English-speaking yoga studio in central Madrid, whether you live nearby or are new to the city, you'll find a welcoming space to practise, explore yoga philosophy and connect with other people.
You can find out more about our yoga classes in English in Madrid and sign up for updates about the new studio here.
La Cordobesa: Free English/Spanish Language Exchange
One of the things expats can underestimate is how much speaking Spanish, even badly, changes your experience of living here. It opens doors, builds confidence and makes Madrid feel less like somewhere you're visiting and more like somewhere you actually live.
La Cordobesa is a long-running, free language exchange that meets regularly at a terrace bar in La Latina. You're placed in small groups of 4–6 people, alternating 15 minutes of English and 15 minutes of Spanish. It's low-pressure, genuinely fun and a brilliant way to practise your Spanish while also helping Spanish speakers with their English.
With over 8,000 members and over 550 past events, it's one of the most established and well-loved expat-friendly meetups in the city. And because it's run by Sara and her team of warm, dedicated organisers who genuinely care about the community, it has a real neighbourhood feel rather than a corporate networking vibe. This is something I personally did a lot in my first few years in Madrid alongside taking Spanish classes.
Minimum spend: three drinks. Maximum benefit: considerable!
Find upcoming events on Meetup
Hiking Madrid: Mountains, Fresh Air & Proper Perspective
Madrid is one of the few European capitals where you can be in real mountains in under an hour. The Sierra de Guadarrama is spectacular and easy to get to.
Hiking Madrid organises regular group walks in and around the mountains near the city. It's a wonderfully low-pressure way to meet people: you're outdoors, moving, the conversation flows naturally and there's no awkward vibe of a networking event. Philip is really knowledgeable, friendly and knows the areas really well.
For anyone who finds city life a bit relentless, or who simply misses being in nature, these hikes are so good and a great way to get to know people.
New(ish) in Madrid: A Community for Women Starting Over in Madrid
If you've ever sat in your Madrid flat wondering where your people are or just about how to go about practical day-to-day things New(ish) in Madrid is perfect for you.
Founded by Aída Ramos, New(ish) is a welcoming community for women who are new to Madrid. The name says it all: it doesn't matter if you arrived last month or years ago. If you're still finding your footing, building friendships or simply missing the kind of connection that takes time to grow, this is a genuinely warm and supportive space to find it.
There is a free WhatsApp chat, monthly events, lots of recommendations, community as well as a paid membership (just €120 for six months, including more curated content and support).
Find out more at newishinmadrid.com
IWBB: International Women Building Businesses
The name says it all - this is to support women entrepreneurs and business owners.
Run by Natasha Mason Kennedy, a fantastic business mentor, having built and running several successful businesses including BLC Spain.
Throughout the year, IWBB hosts various events including networking sessions and dedicated business focus days. Many of these events are free and held in-person, making them highly valuable for expat women setting up businesses in Spain. For those looking for deeper support, Natasha also runs a smaller, more focused group called The Vault, a paid membership program packed with resources, training and special events.
The group is run through Facebook.
The Bigger Picture
The secret to feeling at home in Madrid isn't finding one perfect community - it's layering a few that serve different parts of you and your life Something for your body, mind, getting you out of the house, in nature, speaking Spanish and connecting with like-minded people.
Madrid genuinely has all of this, mostly in English, mostly free or affordable. You just have to take the first step.
If yoga is the missing piece or you’re interested to try, come and find us at Atiyasana. There'll be people there who completely understand what it's like to build a life somewhere new, because we’re doing it together.