Studio Sptlight: L’Atelier Yoga, London

L’Atelier Yoga is a boutique yoga studio for women in the heart of Muswell Hill by longtime friends Claire and Hélene. We caught up with Claire to learn more about the inspirations to set up the studio and their mission going forward…

Find out more about L’Atelier Yoga and book a class through the link here: https://www.latelier.yoga/

Tell us a bit about your background and your yoga journey…

Armed with a MBA, I spent almost 30 years in the Corporate world to launch new products and services. About 6 years ago, as I was going through perimenopause, I felt constantly tired, run down. My mental health was at an all time low. I had no motivation for anything. My back was in constant pain, day and night. My joints felt rusty. I just felt old. Despite many visits to different doctors, nobody was able to tell me what was wrong with me. ​Part of this journey back to myself was a return to exercising.  Hélène, yoga teacher and friend, reminded me, as she had done many times before, that yoga was a very good form of exercise. This time I listened and I joined one of her classes. I would have loved to say that yoga made an immediate difference, that I instantly enjoyed the classes. But no. The first months were difficult for me, physically and even more so mentally. I could not accept that my body had changed. I was no longer that 20 something full of stamina and strength. But each time I fell, each time I was about to give up, Hélène was there. With her gentle and patient approach, she gently guided me on my new path, my second spring.

Today my back pain is gone. I can tie my shoes.

What inspired you to open L’Atelier and when did you open the space?

I was diagnosed in 2023 with cancer and a month later lost my job. This is when I decided that I needed to change my professional life and realise my dream to be my own boss and support women to realise their own professional dreams.  At that moment, came an opportunity to open a yoga studio with my friend Helene. It was as if the planets were aligning so we jumped on the opportunity and opened the yoga studio on the 1st of October 2024.

What is your mission with L’Atelier Yoga?

We are a studio dedicated to women of all ages, all abilities. We are inclusive for the local community of Muswell Hill and North London where the founders live also.

How is L’Atelier Yoga different from other wellness spaces?

A different kind of studio going beyond just classical yoga classes. For instance, we have just launched a Social Media Club dedicated to support women entrepreneurs with social media through the support of the community and the expertise of our social media manager, Diana. Also our teachers are fully part of L’Atelier Yoga’s community. We offer them also help with their own social media. We organise regular teachers only classes so that we have an opportunity to get together and share stories, knowledge and fun.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of opening their own wellness space or studio?

Be patient and resilient. Rome was not made in one day. You will probably make some mistakes. Things might not go as you predicted. All this is normal. Also, I think that you should accept any help that comes your way and not hesitate to ask for too.

Do you have a quote or mantra that you live by?

It is never too late. Or Life is fun.

What’s coming up for you in 2025…

We are only 6 months old so we are still a baby studio. And things are still in flux so we can certainly expect many new things, come unexpected and some expected:

New classes: Pilates, Kundalini yoga, Yang to Yin, Somatic yoga
More workshops: sound bath, yoga and creative writing, women circle, etc.
More support to local women entrepreneurs with the Social Media Club with a coming masterclasses and workshops on Instagram Reels, social media for crowdfunding, best way to use ChatGPT to write for Instagram, etc.
Our first yoga retreat outside our studio in Muswell Hill
An open day 
A pop up shop 
A Poetry club

Find out more about L’Atelier Yoga and book a class through the link here: https://www.latelier.yoga/

The post Studio Sptlight: L’Atelier Yoga, London appeared first on Blog – Yogamatters.