The Yoga House

The Yoga House is a 6-month old yoga studio, health store and macrobiotic food cafe just behind St. Andrews Church on Chimbai Road. Using one of Bandra’s quaint old bungalows as its home, The Yoga House is “a destination for the health conscious.”

When French expat Maud Chuffart and Ajit Tapaswi had the idea to set up The Yoga House, Bandra was the only place that came to mind. “I don’t think it would have fit in anywhere else,” says Maud, who is also a resident of the suburb and “can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

As I left my shoes at the door and walked in, I felt like I had stepped into a world that is a little bit Goa and a little bit Greece. The wooden floors and ceilings are painted white, offset by sea blue walls. The cafe is housed in the trellised patio, looking into the yoga studio, which also doubles up a lounge space when there are no classes. Despite the noise outside, the decor acts as placebo for peacefulness.

Photographs by Divya Mahindra

Further inside is the boutique that sells yoga clothes, books, and a variety of organic foods. Huge glass jars of jaggery and quinoa line the shelves, above bottles of pure rose water.

I sat down to order, and what caught my eye right away was the breakfast menu. Have to come back for that!

The specially prepared food specializes in whole grain nuts, seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables that all work together to nourish and detox the body. I ordered the Somerset Tartine, which has melted cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, tomatoes and zucchini.

It was extremely light and you definitely know you’re eating healthy. Given the method of cooking and the focus on healthiness, the dishes may not always be the most flavourful, but they’re satisfying nonetheless.

My sister ordered stir-fried tofu and vegetables with rice, which she said tasted a little bit like Chinese fried rice, but was good all the same.

The food is served on Khansa plates, which are handmade vessels of a mixture of copper and tin that is supposed to have minerals to strengthen the body’s immunity.

Apple, carrot and beetroot juice. Quite delicious.

Finally, we ordered a masala chai and a Pune Shrewsbury(!) biscuit from the guilt-free dessert menu – they are all made from fruit based sweetners.

The Yoga House was a great discovery. It’s a casual hangout that is mostly frequented by expats (they seem to be the coolhunters of Bandra). However, Maud says that her clientele is largely made up of people in creative fields, so it sounds like a a good option to meet some interesting new folks. Even if you’re skeptical of these new-age health mantras, it’s worth dropping in for a cup of tea and to enjoy the ambience.