Meditation classes teach techniques for focusing the attention and settling the mind, usually seated and guided by a teacher. Styles range from breath awareness and body scans to loving-kindness, mantra-based and Buddhist traditions; many wellness centres also run guided relaxation and yoga nidra, done lying down. Classes are often followed by time for questions, which is where a good teacher earns their fee.
Regular meditation is linked to lower stress and better mood in a growing body of research, and it suits anyone who wants a quieter mind; no previous experience is needed. People with a history of trauma or severe mental illness should start gently and with an experienced teacher, as intense practice can sometimes bring up difficult feelings.
Drop-in classes of 45 to 75 minutes typically cost £8 to £18, and many Buddhist centres run donation-based sessions. One-to-one teaching costs £40 to £80 an hour, and day or weekend meditation workshops £50 to £200. Wear comfortable clothes; cushions, stools and chairs are provided.
Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Chelsea are home to the five-star hotel spas, where a spa day with lunch is priced as a special occasion and weekend slots go weeks ahead. Shoreditch has led the city's bathhouse and social sauna boom, with hot–cold circuits in railway arches and on rooftops that open late and book by the ninety-minute session. Kensington and Paddington hold the established holistic clinics, combining acupuncture, osteopathy and reflexology under one roof, while Soho's studios run yoga, breathwork and sound baths from early morning to late evening.
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