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Tel Aviv, like most major cities of the world, has become a city filled with yoga. Yoga studios of all sorts have been popping up all around, with teachers guiding eager students from their homes, Yogis practicing asanas on the beach and Friday morning workshops in the park.

I started practicing yoga about five years ago and have become completely hooked. Ever since, my other hobby has become checking out as many yoga teachers and studios as I possible can. So after some long and tiring research, here are my conclusions:

Yoga at Gan Hahashmal
This studio is a true combination of Tel Aviv and yoga. On the one hand the studio is situated in the middle of a busy urban area, and on the other hand, once you step in, you can slowly wind down, relax and find the tranquility and the focus you need for your practice. This studio focuses mainly on Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga, and there is also my personal favorite class - the mixed class, which combines different yoga methods with martial arts such as Taichi and gives the opportunity to completely let go. Gan Hahashmal has only one practice room, but classes are conducted between 4-5 times a day, by the same 5 teachers, which are all very experienced and charming. The studio is the kind of place where everybody knows your name and they will always give you a homey feeling, like serving you with herbal tea and health cookies as soon as you finish class.

Bikram Yoga
Before you take a class at Bikram yoga class you have to know what you are heading for - this is one intense practice, mainly because the whole room is heavily heated. So first of all come wearing almost nothing; Seriously, I’m talking sports bra and short tights for girls and just underwear for guys, because you will come out completely soaked. Classes are given about 5 times a day by a small group of teachers (most of them are very good looking, which is always a plus when you’re half naked). If you like to feel completely worked out when you finish a class this is the place for you, no muscle in you body will be left untouched after this 90 min hardcore workout. When you finish if you feel like pampering yourself , walk down to the very appetizing Onami sushi restaurant located right down Haarbaa street.

Ella Yoga
Ella Yoga is the most invested studio in town. First of all its located in the middle of the Tel Aviv Harbor right in front of the sea, so the view from the practice rooms is phenomenal. Apart from this there are lessons given around the clock, about 10 different classes a day covering the different types of yoga, and a variety of teachers, each with their own expertise. In addition there is a fancy health bar in the entrance to the studio, where you can drink your favorite energy drink before practice, and a small shop displaying some very trendy organic yoga wear. About once a month, Ella Shemer, who runs the place, will also organize some special workshop on a Saturday morning, and if you’re very lucky the teacher might even be some really old Yogi from India!!! All and all Ella Yoga surely gives you the full yoga solution, all in one place.

Prana Yoga
If you look at this studio from the Ben Gurion Boulevard, all you can see is a tacky neon sign. Even when you come a little closer and walk in to the studio, chances are you won’t be impressed by its looks. But don’t be deceived! At Prana Yoga you have the best chance of feeling the basic, down to earth feeling yoga is supposed to give you. Most types of yoga are practiced here and the teachers are very shanty spiritual types and it is easy to fall in love with them and find your own favorite. My absolute fav is Jamey Marks, he is a sweet and hunky teacher who can lead you through a class with such gentleness that you can almost feel you are practicing by yourself. If for some strange reason you leave Tel Aviv and step out to the neighbouring city of Givatiam, Prana also has a studio there too. Anyway I always recommend on sticking to TLV, but I’m biased…

The Astanga Yoga Shala
Here there is only one legitimate type of yoga: Ashtanga. All day, every day this is what you will get, and Ashtanga addicts flow in like maniacs. This is a very well known studio and is run by a married couple called Gili and Miri Harouvi, who have been teaching yoga for more then twenty years. The current location is the third place they have moved to, and they’ve been working from this location for about 4 years. The studio is very big and spacious and is filled with light and energetic powers. If you are looking to expand your practice and become a teacher, this is a very good place to take a yoga teacher training courses, as the teachers are very serious and experienced and they even help you find a job afterwards.

P.S. All of these recommended studios conduct practices in English, all you have to do is let your teacher know and they will surely change to English. I don’t exactly know why, but even though I’m a Hebrew speaking Israeli I’d rather do a yoga class in English…