UNDERCOVER: SPORT WITH STYLE TAKE 2

I was lucky enough to have gotten a place on the Boutique Sport Sport with Style event at Blue Cow Yoga. I have loved all the Boutique Sport Sport with Style events so far and we all know how I feel about cocktails, goodie bags and yoga so I was pretty much set. I'm not sure why but the day after the paralympics closing ceremony everyone seemed exhausted...that is everyone that wasn't lucky enough to get out of work and to the parade (boo). I was really hoping that we would be relaxing and slowly stretching in yoga because, if I'm really honest, the thought of the complimentary cocktail from Late Night London at Gable & Cellar Bar is what got me through the day!

The class was really invigorating! It was not a relaxing or calming class but, as it turns out, was perfect for me! I needed a class that made me sweat and work hard so by the end of it I really felt like I deserved my cocktail. By the fourth side plank I was feeling the burn and sweaty! The instructor that took class was Harry who was great. There were a mixture of beginners and yogis in the class but he was clear and calming (even when we were in horse rider's pose for what seemed like forever). I felt a lot of clicks through out the class which meant that by the end my body felt great and all the aches and pains I had from sitting in the office all day had gone. Apparently Harry only teaches in the mornings but his class was perfect for a Monday night as I was able to shake off whatever was making me tired and felt really invigorated and sweaty after the class!



After class the Boutique Sport ladies gave us all vita coco and goodie bags full of UNE All In One mascara, Alpro chocolate mouse, Yu! Jus Fruit Pieces and Kiwi Shoe Passion gel cushions. If you haven't tried any of the above do it! The Yu! Jus Fruit Pieces were delicious and are 1 of your 5 a day and are now a new (not-so-guilty pleasure of mine, than you Boutique Sport ladies. Aand if all of that wasn't enough there was a running guru at the studio giving advice. When I was showered and dress I walked to Gable & Cellar Bar, which is literally 10 seconds from Blue Cow, where I enjoyed my complimentary cosmo in the lounge room that had been booked out for us very grateful ladies! The convenient location of the bar to the studio was an added bonus that really topped off the event! The Boutique Sport team really know how to throw an event with the right balance of exercise, fun and free things! Thank you for another great event.Best Bit: The free event, location of the bar and the feeling after the class!Worst Bit: Wanted a longer class

Good for: Networking, Mondays and cosmos!

UNDERCOVER: Alchemy, The Centre

Wednesday afternoon open yoga class at 2.30pm

Its a nightmare to find this place - the stables is a huge market and there are no signposts for anything. The centre is based in one of the historic Camden stables built in the late 1800′s. Obviously you're meant to just meander around and look at the stalls, but it was quite frustrating when I was trying to find somewhere specific.  After a few helpful hints from a stall holder I asked, I finally found this little oasis of calm in crazy Camden. I ended up walking in a couple of minutes late, and rather flustered, but they still let me attend the class, and were really helpful at getting me signed in and settled quickly. It's a great space, with a cafe in the front and a big & airy yoga studio with high ceilings.

The class was all about flow and I find that can sometime feel a little relentless & too repetitive, but this class didn't fall in to that trap. It was nicely challenging; we were encouraged to push ourselves as far as we could and take on the challenge. But that meant something different to most of us as there was a varied level of ability in the room. There was no-one really inexperienced or rubbish though! I felt really energised after the class as well as relaxed.

It was unusual for me to have time to attend a mid afternoon, midweek class, but I'm sure all their classes would be similarly relaxing. There was some noise of chatter & music drifting in from outside through the open window but there was also a lovey cool breeze, so it was worth a little murmur of disruption. I do think it might be a bit distracting if the volume went up a bit, for example if you went to a class when people are out for drinks nearby in the evening. I loved the class, so I'll go back again to check it out one night and report back on the noise. 

The changing rooms are nice and clean and spacious, with big lockers, good hairdryers and straighteners to use too. The changing room is on two levels and you have to go down a spiral staircase to get to the showers. It looks very cool, but it's a pretty treacherous climb! 

I'll head back if I'm in the area again. It would be a great place to go for a class with a mate, then a spot of lunch in their cafe, followed by people watching and shopping in Camden. They even have a little treatment spa in the centre, so you could treat yourself to a massage too. What a perfectly indulgent day off!

Best bit - the friendly team

Worst bit - the scary stairs

Good for - spending a bit of time relaxing and rejuvenating

Score - 8/10