For years, the UK yoga scene has leaned heavily on wellness trends—think scented candles, pastel-hued leggings, and playlists that sound like Coachella’s B-side. But something’s shifting. In 2025, British yoga studios are beginning to peel back the commercial layers and finally reconnect with the deeper Indian roots of yoga. And honestly, it’s about time.

This isn’t just a vibe shift—it’s a conscious cultural correction. Studios are realising that yoga isn’t just about nailing your crow pose or getting a six-pack from power vinyasa. It’s a 5,000-year-old practice with philosophical, spiritual, and psychological depth. And instead of just appropriating aesthetics or sprinkling in a Sanskrit word here and there, many are taking serious steps to honour its heritage. Leading the charge? 3 Tribes in Borough, a South London sanctuary where yoga is no longer just a fitness class—it’s a journey inward.

The Rise of Respectful Yoga

So what changed?

Social media has played a double role in the Western yoga boom. On one hand, it's helped popularise the practice; on the other, it's flattened it into a photogenic pursuit—warrior poses on mountaintops, “namaste” mugs, and questionable henna tattoos. Over time, criticism of cultural appropriation in yoga reached a crescendo. Practitioners, especially those of Indian descent, began speaking up. Why were their traditions being diluted into just another Instagram workout trend?

This wave of dialogue forced many UK studios to pause and reflect. As yoga’s popularity continued to soar, so did the responsibility to represent it authentically. Some studios have responded by doubling down on tradition—offering workshops on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, integrating pranayama and mantra chanting, and inviting Indian-origin teachers to lead sessions in philosophy, not just postures.

3 Tribes in Borough: A Studio That Gets It

Among the studios making meaningful changes, 3 Tribes in Borough stands out.

Nestled between the bustle of London Bridge and the indie vibes of Bermondsey Street, this studio could’ve gone the typical route: throw in a few high-intensity HIIT yoga mashups, hire influencers, and call it a day. But 3 Tribes took a different path—one that’s reverent, inclusive, and deeply rooted in yoga’s origins.

Their 200-hour teacher training programme is a masterclass in balance. Yes, you’ll learn anatomy and alignment—but you’ll also dive into the Bhagavad Gita, explore the eight limbs of yoga, and study Sanskrit under instructors who actually grew up speaking it. One of the lead teachers, Arvind Suresh, spent over a decade studying at an ashram in Rishikesh before moving to London. He brings not only knowledge but context—something often lost in translation.

“There’s a big difference between saying ‘namaste’ at the end of class because it sounds cute and understanding the depth behind that word,” Arvind says during a post-class chat. “We don’t need to erase modern yoga, but we do need to ground it in something more meaningful.”

The vibe at 3 Tribes is warm, not preachy. Their intro to Yoga Philosophy classes are packed—not with hardcore traditionalists, but with everyday Londoners craving something more profound than a sweaty stretch. One attendee, Asha (who first tried yoga at a gym in Clapham), puts it best: “For the first time, I felt like I wasn’t just copying movements—I was actually doing yoga.”

Beyond the Poses

Let’s be honest: Western yoga’s obsession with physicality has long overshadowed the spiritual and ethical pillars of the practice. Ask the average UK practitioner to define ahimsa or aparigraha, and you’ll likely get a shrug. But that’s changing.

Studios like 3 Tribes are weaving ethical yogic principles into everyday practice. Students are encouraged to explore non-violence, not just in body mechanics but in speech and thought. The studio offers monthly satsangs (spiritual discussion circles), where students gather to reflect, question, and grow together.

Importantly, these sessions aren’t performative. There’s no “look how woke we are” energy. Instead, there’s quiet humility—a recognition that learning about yoga’s heritage is an ongoing process, not a checklist.

A Nationwide Shift?

Of course, 3 Tribes isn’t alone in this evolution. Studios across the UK are making moves to centre Indian voices and teachings. In Manchester, Yogaspace recently launched a series led by South Asian teachers exploring the yamas and niyamas. In Glasgow, Still Water Studio hosted a month-long immersion into Tantric meditation, guided by Indian scholars.

Notably, online platforms are also doing their part. UK-based app PranaPath now curates classes taught by Indian teachers around the world, offering livestreamed sessions that blend asana with dharma talks, chanting, and traditional storytelling.

But with progress comes discomfort. Some students resist the shift—confused by the sudden inclusion of Sanskrit or resistant to meditating in silence rather than flowing through fast-paced vinyasas. For others, though, it’s a revelation.

Take Dan, a 34-year-old architect from Shoreditch. “I used to think yoga was just a fancy name for stretching. Then I did a workshop on the koshas at 3 Tribes, and it blew my mind. It made me reflect on how disconnected I was from my own body.”

What Comes Next?

The push for authenticity doesn’t mean we throw away all Western interpretations of yoga. Not every class needs to feel like a pilgrimage. There’s still space for modern adaptations—just not at the expense of the original culture.

What studios like 3 Tribes show us is that both can coexist. You can do a dynamic vinyasa flow while honouring the traditions it stems from. You can wear your Lululemons and know who Patanjali was. It’s not about guilt—it’s about grounding.

As yoga in the UK continues to evolve, the focus is shifting from perfecting postures to asking better questions. Why are we here? What are we learning? How do we take this off the mat?

Final Stretch

If 2020s yoga was all about aesthetics, then 2025 is about authenticity. The days of “hot yoga with trap beats” may not be over, but they’re now sharing studio space with kirtans, vedic chanting, and teachers who view yoga as a way of life, not a weekly workout.

3 Tribes in Borough isn’t just leading the charge—it’s lighting the way. In its softly lit studio, surrounded by a community of curious, committed students, something deeper is happening. Something ancient. Something real.

And maybe—just maybe—that’s the true pose we’ve been trying to find all along. 🧘‍♀️