New year, new you?
Going to the gym is a pretty standard New Year’s Resolution, but Gymbox has gone one step further for those wanting to supercharge their 2025: aura reading classes.
Yep, you read that right. And if you’re wondering how the gym and auras go together, so did we – which is why we went along for a session to see what it was all about.
First things first, 202Vibe (yes, that is the name) is not a demanding class. Entirely the opposite, in fact. I had images of myself pressing weights while a gym instructor screamed at me to focus on my breathwork and realign my chakras – but instead, it’s conducted in a small studio in the Victoria and Farringdon Gymbox studios.
Gymbox is an achingly trendy kind of place: think low level lighting in shades of blue, purple and red, which makes it rather hard to see things properly, and lots of loud music.
In the aura studio, though, all was calm. The class promises to “combines mindfulness and aura readings” with meditation techniques, breathwork and “an aura reading to interpret and transform your personal energy.”
As such, the hour-long session is split into three sections: the first, breathwork, is designed to put you in touch with your body. Attendees are encouraged to sit any way they feel comfortable before the teacher leads them in a series of exercises.
That’s then followed by a round of meditation, and finally, the chance to go and get your aura ‘read’ by one of the in-house experts.
Open heart, open mind, and all that, so I dutifully sat down and got ready to centre myself. And it is a very soothing class: perhaps not the right one to be doing at lunchtime (the class is available at 1pm and 6pm). About five minutes into the breathwork, things suddenly started getting sleepy.
This was not helped by the following meditation session, which involves lying on the ground under a blanket and listening to a pre-recorded audio track with headphones on. The meditation session tells you things like ‘visualise your aura’: easier said than done when the temptation to doze off is so strong.
As for the promised aura reading? First, attendees are encouraged to lie down and colour in a sketch of a body with the colours that ‘speak to them’. One by one, we were taken aside by the expert and given our reading. Slightly disappointingly, this was done via an iPad app, which took your photo and then added the aura in after processing.
Mine came back with shades of cloudy turquoise, which apparently meant I was stifling my own self-expression. Surprisingly accurate? Yes, actually.
Which kind of sums it all up. If you’re a sceptic, this is not the class for you. Everybody else, though? It’s fun, and more importantly, it’s relaxing: the perfect antidote to a stressful, dark January.
Available in January at Gymbox Farringdon and Victoria. Find out more here: https://www.gymbox.com/classes/202vibe
(Gymbox)
In the mood for more ideas to start January the right way? Try these
Heartcore On The Mat Infrared Classes
You’ve tried hot yoga, now try hot pilates. Uber-trendy studio Heartcore has recently launched this sweatfest session, which basically means doing pilates while being irradiated with infrared light. Apparently, it helps boost physical recovery, heart health and metabolism: we’ll leave you to be the judge of that. https://weareheartcore.com/en-gb/inspiration/how-exercising-in-infrared-can-improve-pilates-practice/
1Rebel Rides
Quirky gym company 1Rebel has made its name with its irreverent attitude towards gym sessions: think club nights, live music and even parties. And while alcohol might be off the menu, their super-intense ‘ride’ sessions might be up your street. Themed like a club night (Time Travel to 2005 and Charli xcx and Troye Sivan are just some of the session names) they’re spin classes with a difference. https://www.1rebel.com/en-gb/events
A cycle class at boutique gym chain 1Rebel (1Rebel)
Sound Bath at Third Space
Time to open your third eye. This is a meditation class with all the bells and whistles – or rather, bowls. An instructor leads attendees through a meditation session, using gongs, crystal bowls and percussion instruments to encourage an even deeper trance-like state. Omm. https://www.thirdspace.london/classes/
4Beat Yoga at Psycle
A yoga class with music? Yes please. Every move in this Vinyasa flow session is synced up to the beat of what’s being played, which makes the time pass surprisingly quickly. https://psyclelondon.com/pages/yoga