About us
Award Winning Yoga Studio
‘Best Yoga/pilates Studio in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’
The Breathing Space is more than a yoga studio – it’s a Yoga Shala – or House of Yoga. Here you will find Yoga rather than mixed disciplines or Yoga for body fitness. The traditional teachings of Yoga Philosophy shine through all our classes and workshops and our team of teachers are committed to a life-long pursuit of Yoga and all its challenges and beauty.
Derby City Centre’s first Yoga Shala is not just beautiful, housed in the 17th century Coach House of Friar Gate, but also welcoming, cosy and full of personality. We have two beautiful practice rooms offering a wide array of yoga classes as well as ‘bijou’ therapy suite offering, reflexology and massage therapies to promote your wellbeing.
We offer clean and secure shower and changing facilities and a community space where you can enjoy complimentary Yogi Tea® and relax with friends before and after your yoga class. You can even find an exclusive, customer car park right next to the studio.
Inside the Breathing Space:
- Studio One has state-of-the-art infrared heating to aid muscle relaxation and flexibility during practice. Also fitted out with everything needed for an aerial practice.
- Studio Two has magnificent 17th century king truss beams and an abundance of natural light to awaken the senses and please the eye.
- A props cupboard filled to the brim with goodies to make your practice accessible or extra challenging (depending on how you use them!); bolsters, bricks, blocks, chairs, straps, balls, blankets, beanbags, eye pillows, aerial silks, cushions… We believe in bringing the postures to the body – not just the body to the postures!
- A cosy, beautifully appointed, private treatment room, offering holistic therapies and massages.
- A homely community space where you can grab a complimentary Yogi® tea and spend some time relaxing before and after your yoga class or therapy.
- Clean, welcoming changing rooms and showers.
Meet our founder Christine
Christine Mason
Christine began her yoga practice in 2006, seeking relief from chronic back pain through movement and breath. Over time, as her health improved, her practice deepened into a dedicated home routine that wove together not only physical postures but also meditation and pranayama (breath work).
Her passion for yoga led her to spend three years in Bangalore, India, with her family, where she trained in the Bihar (Satyananda) tradition. During this time, she discovered the richness of the Yoga Shala—a sacred space for practice, study, and community—which left a lasting impression on her approach to yoga.
Christine has studied a variety of Hatha traditions as well as pre-natal yoga and remains a lifelong student of the practice. She is committed to sharing yoga in a way that honours the philosophies of the Yoga Sutras and the guidance of her teachers in India.
Inclusive and accessible yoga lies at the heart of Christine’s teaching. She believes that every body is a yoga body, and that yoga is not about flexibility or appearance but about connection and presence. She incorporates chair yoga, aerial silks, and a wide range of props, supporting practitioners to meet the practice in a way that works for them—wherever they are on their journey.
With a background as a primary school teacher, Christine brings her skills as an educator into her yoga teaching. She especially enjoys helping children and families discover how yoga can be woven into daily life, making it both practical and playful.