North London Food & Culture

Kentish Town gets a brand new studio

The old tube station gets a welcome new tenant: pilates, yoga, barre and garuda classes are taking over, in a totally refurbished space

Brand new studio space with a view of central Kentish
Brand new studio space with a view of central Kentish

The former Kentish Town South underground station has played home to all sorts of businesses since its closure as a tube stop in 1924, from a Kawasaki motorbike shop to loans-for-gadgets specialists Cash Converters – not to mention the infamous Omega Sauna downstairs, recently busted for providing extra-curricular gentleman’s massage services.

So we were excited to see work underway through the top floor’s glorious half-moon windows. The builders finished a couple of days ago, and now bright throw cushions and stripped pine are visible where once disused office space stood.

Yoga mats in the second large studio
Yoga mats in the second large studio

Kentish Town Studio is the brand new enterprise. It’s run by pilates entrepreneur Monika Zarebska, who is realising her dream of owning a space for teacher training as well as public mat classes.

The yoga gods work in mysterious ways, and her opening in Kentish Town has ended up coinciding with the sudden sad closure, last weekend, of the beautiful Alchemy Centre in Camden’s Stables Market. (After six years, the passionate founders have been unable to continue to support the studio financially. We wonder what will happen in the purpose built space next – hopefully not just racks of touristy t-shirts?)


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Fully equiped pilates studio
Fully equiped pilates studio

But Chalk Farm’s loss is K-Town’s gain in this case, as a whole influx of skilled yoga teachers are now holding regular classes at Monika’s brand new studio. These include plenty of Kundalini yoga sessions, which are hard to find elsewhere in London.

Take a look at the current class schedule, which Monika is as pains to point out is still a work in progress.

Other initial highlights include trendy new cardio/mindfullness workout garuda on Thursdays, Persian dancing from October and a complete pregnancy and post natal pilates program including home visits in the local area.

Kentish Town Studio 2

Cast your gaze skywards at night to see when the next full moon meditation will be held, and there’s the first male only Jade Arrows taoist meeting in a couple of weeks too. Off peak you’ll find a selection of free or charity donation classes.

It sounds like another great addition to the area. So all that’s left now is to give some of the classes a try. We shall report back soon.

It’s well worth paying a curious visit in August, as all matwork sessions are just £10, and pilates studio classes £20 until the end of the month. Then look out for other discounts.


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