About Us
Join Our Welcoming Yoga Community in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
At our Birmingham-based yoga studio, we aim to create a warm, inclusive space for all practitioners. Located in the heart of Edgbaston Village, we invite you to be part of a vibrant yoga community that nurtures both personal growth and connection.
Our collective of passionate yogis in Birmingham is dedicated to guiding you on a transformative journey through the ancient practices and philosophies of yoga. Whether you’re new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, we offer classes that support your journey towards physical and mental well-being.
The word 'yoga' comes from the Sanskrit root 'yuj,' meaning to yoke, bind, or connect. In a world where many of us feel disconnected—whether from our bodies, ourselves, others, or the world around us—yoga offers a powerful way to reconnect. We understand how the transformative power of yoga can heal this sense of disconnection, helping you achieve balance and deep inner peace.
Experience the profound benefits of yoga in Birmingham with our expert teachers. Join us in Edgbaston and discover how yoga can help you heal, transform, and connect on a deeper level.
Yoga and Mat Pilates Classes
We want to serve the Birmingham yoga and pilates community as best we can by offering a variety of different styles.
Here’s what we have on offer:
Hot Yoga Basics
A great practice for both yoga newbies and veterans alike. It’s the basics (but that doesn’t mean it’s easy). The class comprises the foundations of the Hot Yoga tradition; static asana (postures) practiced in the heat, where you work as intensely or gently as you want to. Prepare to sweat. Wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring a large towel and bottle of water.
Open to all.
Hot Yoga Fusion
A dynamic hot class with a sequence amalgamated by the teacher to keep you wondering what’s coming next. Bring a large towel and bottle of water with you. Open to all.
Jivamukti
A class that incorporates the 5 tenets of the Jivamukti method. A dynamic and (w)holistic practice that involves an engaging asana sequence alongside breathwork, sanskrit chanting, hands-on-assists, yoga philosophy, massage, meditation practice and the most blissful extended savasana to finish.
Open to all.
Restorative
This class offers the perfect opportunity to decompress. A nurturing and gentle sequence involving mostly floor-based and passive asana (postures), leaving you feeling in a deep state of recovery and relaxation. Especially beneficial for anyone feeling fatigued/burnt-out or dealing with injuries. Open to all.
Hot Mat Pilates
Build strength, improve flexibility and deepen your core connection in our Hot Mat Pilates class. Practised in a gently heated studio, this low-impact, full-body workout combines controlled movements with mindful breathing to improve posture, stability and muscular endurance. Expect a challenging yet rewarding practice that leaves you feeling stronger, more balanced and energised.
Our Teachers
Craig Hayes
Senior Yoga Teacher and Studio Founder
Craig has been practicing yoga since 2001 and teaching since 2007. He is a qualified Jivamukti Yoga teacher, having studied the method intensively in New York, and a qualified Hot Yoga teacher. His studies have included training under the guidance of Sharon Gannon, David Life and Bikram Choudhury.
Craig was Studio Manager and Senior Teacher at Yogahaven Birmingham for over 18 years, where he also assisted with the teacher training programme. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for yoga to his teaching.
Saskia Kinsley-Holmes
Yoga Teacher
With a background in dance, movement has always been a huge part of Saskia’s life. She first discovered yoga in her late teens, initially drawn to the physical practice, but quickly found that it offered so much more. For Saskia, yoga has become a place to reconnect with herself, find a little inner peace and reset away from the busyness of everyday life. As a current PhD student, she knows just how valuable it is to take a moment to slow down, breathe and simply be.
After completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Bali, where she explored Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Yin, Saskia also qualified as a mat Pilates instructor. Her classes bring together her love of movement and creativity, with playful flows that invite you to try new things, challenge yourself and have fun along the way.
Saskia believes yoga is a beautiful journey of self-discovery, and she wants everyone who steps onto the mat to feel welcome, supported and free to explore. Her aim is to help you build confidence and move in a way that feels good for you.
Mark Varney-Bennett
Yoga Teacher
Mark is a dedicated yoga teacher based in Birmingham, drawing on Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin Yoga to create classes that cultivate strength, balance and mindfulness. Subtle influences of Qigong are woven throughout his sequences, bringing a sense of fluidity, energy and connection to his teaching.
His classes balance challenge with accessibility, welcoming all levels of experience. Through thoughtful guidance, breathwork and mindful movement, Mark encourages students to explore their potential and progress at their own pace.
For Mark, yoga goes beyond the physical, offering a pathway to greater mental clarity, emotional resilience and self-awareness. Committed to his own continued growth through further training, he invites students to discover a more balanced and connected way of living through their practice.
Join Mark on the mat at Yoga Sanctuary Birmingham and discover a practice that brings together movement, breath and mindfulness to support a more balanced and connected way of living.
Location
First Floor
4 Greenfield Crescent
Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 3BE
Yoga Sanctuary is conveniently located on Greenfield Crescent in the centre of Edgbaston Village. We're less than a 5-minute walk from the Five Ways Island, which is serviced extremely well by many frequent public transport links (bus and tram) going in and out of the city. We're also only a 15-minute walk away from Five Ways train station.
Parking - you can park for free for up to 2 hours on Greenfield Crescent. Alternatively, the large Morrisons supermarket just around the corner offers free parking for 2 hours. There is also a pay and display 'Ring Go' car park at the back of the studio building which currently charges £1.40 for up to 1 hour of parking, and £2.60 for up to 2 hours.
