John Collins teaches dynamic Vinyasa Yoga all over London. He has been practising Yoga for over 20 years.
About me
I stumbled across Yoga in 2000 whilst living and working in America. A great friend of mine had been practicing Ashtanga for some time and asked if I fancied joining him the next morning at 6am... To this day I'm not sure why I said yes, as getting up before anyone else to practice Yoga in a friend's garage was certainly not my usual morning routine. But, bleary-eyed, I stepped onto the mat and have never looked back.
Regular practice brings with it so much; focus, health, determination, real knowledge of the self, the strength of mind as well as body, and a profound connection with others. Starting Yoga 22 years ago has undoubtedly changed my life. My body, diet and most importantly mind have all changed, I think Yoga is, quite literally, magic.
Some years ago, I made another yoga discovery. The brilliant teacher Stewart Gilchrist... When I discovered that Stewart was to direct the teacher training at The Power Yoga Company, I knew I had to take the leap and do my best to become a teacher... one of the best decisions I've ever made. I am indebted to him for his wonderful teaching, encouragement and commitment to yoga. I qualified in 2012 and have been teaching all over the place ever since.
Outside of my family, Yoga is my greatest love. I will be forever grateful to all the people who have taught me and everyone I've had the privilege to practice with. My aim is to teach an authentic, challenging Yoga class with good humour and love.
online & in-studio TIMETABLE
Here is where you can take a class with John either online at home or at a studio.
HOW TO BOOK FOR AN ONLINE CLASS
Please book into a ‘At Home Studio’ class with John via PayPal by clicking the below link.
Please leave a note (with the £8-£10.00 payment on PayPal) to say which date the class is that you would like to attend.
Please do this at least an hour before the session starts in order to receive your email invitation to the class.
MONDAY
9.30 AM - Practice via Kindred Yoga -please book directly through their website (75 min class)
12.30PM - Practice via Yogarise Covent Garden - please book directly with Yogarise through their website
8.15 PM - At Home Studio - £8.00 - £10.00 per class. You decide how much you can afford to pay.
60-minute online vinyasa class. Please book HERE, ideally at least one hour before the class to receive your email invitation to the class.
TUESDAY
09.45 AM - Practice via Yogarise Peckham-please book directly with Yogarise through their website.
WEDNESDAY
7.30 AM - Practice via Kindred Yoga - please book directly with Kindred Yoga through their website.
12.30 PM - Practice via Kindred Yoga - please book directly with Kindred Yoga through their website.
THURSDAY
11.00 AM - Practice via Phoenix Yoga - please book directly with Phoenix through their website
12.30 PM - Practice via Phoenix Yoga - please book directly with Phoenix through their website (45 min class)
FRIDAY
7.30 AM - At Home Studio - £8.00 - £10.00 per class. You decide how much you can afford to pay.
60-minute online vinyasa class. Please book HERE, ideally at least one hour before the class to receive your email invitation to the class.
SATURDAY
8.00 AM - Practice via Soma Space - please book directly with Soma through their website.
9.30 AM - At Home Studio - £8.00 - £10.00 per class. You decide how much you can afford to pay.
60-minute online vinyasa class. Please book HERE, ideally at least one hour before the class to receive your email invitation to the class.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO DOWNLOAD ZOOM TO ATTEND ANY OF THE ONLINE CLASSES.
Please get in touch if you would like to schedule a private or corporate online class HERE
DEVON RETREATS IN 2024
DATES FRIDAY 5TH OF JULY TO MONDAY 8TH OF JULY OR 4TH OF OCTOBER TO 7TH OF OCTOBER.
Fancy escaping your home this July or October this year, for a few days and retreating to the North Devon coast? While you’re there, how about doing some yoga, eating some delicious plant-based food, going to the beach and getting a massage? Maybe on the next day, more yoga, more healthy food, do a bit of nothing for a while, take a countryside walk, do some more yoga before experiencing an incredible live gong bath.
Here’s the plan: Fill a beautiful farmhouse in North Devon with some lovely, like-minded people to practice three days of exceptional yoga over a long weekend. You will arrive on Friday the 5th of July OR Friday the 4th of October in the afternoon (welcomed with afternoon tea, a light yoga practice before a delicious supper) and you will leave, rested, relaxed and energised (after morning practice and a good breakfast) on Monday the 8th of June OR Monday the 7th of October..
Your home for the weekend is a Farmhouse in East Down, a lovely Devon village, about four hour’s drive from central London. By train it's a three and a half hour journey from London Paddington to Barnstaple train station and then a fifteen minute transfer.
The Farmhouse is situated in a tranquil and rural spot near woodlands with lovely gardens to relax in. It's also a short drive to the many beautiful North Devon beaches, National Trust spots and walking trails. While you’re on retreat you'll have the option of doing as much or as little as you like. You might find yourself sea kayaking, paddle boarding or have surfing lessons. Alternatively you could go for a hike on the headland around Morte Point or Woolacombe beach or book a session with the in-house holistic practitioner for massage, reflexology or reiki. The Farmhouse has a newly built sauna inside its walled garden with stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
A day on retreat will probably look something like this:
A morning 90 minute vinyasa yoga class
A hearty plant-based brunch
Free-time to do what ever you like:
You might explore the local area, relax in the farmhouse or book a holistic treatment etc.
A pre-yoga snack
Your second, more restorative, 90 minute practice of the day
(or a gong bath on one evening)
A delicious plant based dinner
A great nights sleep
The accommodation at the Farmhouse is spread out over seven rooms accommodating a maximum of fifteen guests.
Most rooms are en-suite with twin beds, but there is an option of a double bed in some.
There is one triple room and one twin room that share a bathroom. These rooms are priced accordingly.
Bathroom towels, yoga mats, straps, blocks and eye masks are all provided for you at the Farmhouse.
The following prices for the three-day retreat include all meals, snacks and herbal teas, all yoga classes and a gong bath on one evening:
One triple and one twin room with a shared bathroom cost £540 per person (£270 non-refundable deposit)
The remaining twin/double rooms with ensuite bathrooms cost £595 per person (£297.50 non-refundable deposit)
N.B. There will be an additional charge for any additional activities such as a surf lesson, sea kayaking, the use of the sauna or any holistic treatments.
PLEASE RESERVE YOUR SPOT
(WITH A 50% DEPOSIT)
Mrs Ursula C Lake
Sort Code: 30 -80-97
Account number: 11602168
Here are some comments from previous year’s retreat attendees:
"Well, what was not to love?! Holwell is an incredibly relaxing, nourishing space. Set in beautiful rolling fields with the most incredible vegan chef whipping up 3-course meals and delicious treats. I just felt so spoilt! The treatments on-site are also truly divine. All this and then there is the yoga: John is certainly one of a kind. His wit and depth of knowledge is such a refreshing alternative to anything else available and he manages to combine these attributes to create a fun, challenging class for all levels - clearly evidenced by all the sweat, laughter, and smiles on and off the mat!"
***
"Holwell is such a special place - lovely hall to practice in, comfortable rooms, exceptional food, and a short drive away from the beach. John never fails to get a lovely mix of people, too. I can’t recommend enough"
•••
"Your long weekend retreat was more restorative than the week-long holiday in Greece I had later in the year. I think that was a combination of the amazing food, lots of extremely well-led yoga, lovely people, sun, sea, and the lack of decent wifi/phone signal. Oh, and the gong bath - that was a trip!"
***
"Best setting for a yoga retreat I’ve ever been on! We were an easy drive to several gorgeous beaches, silence reigned (especially when the 3-course meals were served), the rooms were clean, comfortable and well-equipped, the yoga studio was serene, the treatments were elegantly given and the yoga was, as always with John, challenging, fun and exhilarating. The only downside was going home..”
•••
"Great location, great food and great yoga! John’s yoga retreats at Holwell are a complete salve for the soul. And as an added bonus you get to laugh and sweat a lot too!"
***
"I did John’s yoga retreat at Holwell in July 2021 and it was amazing! The yoga was absolutely brilliant, very revitalising. Holwell itself is so peaceful and beautiful, with a lovely team (including their two gorgeous cats) who made the most delicious food"
Contact John
Please get in touch with any enquiry big or small