Yoga FAQ: Your Questions About Flametree Yoga Darwin, Answered
Answers to the questions people ask us most, about starting yoga, classes, passes, online yoga, breath meditation and staying safe. Everything is on this page, with nothing hidden behind buttons. If your question is not here, email [email protected].
Last updated: 25 October 2026
Jump to: Starting yoga at Flametree | Why Flametree | Classes, times and places | Passes and paying | Breath meditation (pranayama) | Health, body and safety | Masterclasses, workshops and retreats | About Iyengar yoga and our teachers
Starting yoga at Flametree
Is Iyengar yoga suitable for a complete beginner?
Yes. Iyengar yoga is one of the best styles to start with if you have never done yoga before.
It is taught in clear stages. You start with very basic beginner poses and move up through the levels as and when you are ready. It also uses props: chairs, blocks, belts, bolsters and the wall make each pose easier to reach, so whether you are stiff, not very strong, or have not exercised in years, you can still do every pose in some form.
You do not need to be fit or flexible. The teacher watches you and adjusts the pose to your body. You can start any week, because beginner classes are not a course you have to join at the start.
The best way to start is the half price beginner pass.
What should I expect at my first yoga class?
You will do a range of basic standing, sitting and lying poses, with props to help you. You do not need to know anything before you arrive.
For a studio class you do not need to book. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and have a quick word with the teacher, especially about any injury or health condition. The teacher shows you each pose, then watches and helps you. If a pose does not suit you, ask for an alternative. Most classes finish with a few minutes of rest, lying down.
Your first class is free if you are new to Flametree and an NT resident who has been permanent for three months, or if you join online.
What should I wear and bring? Do I need my own mat?
Bring nothing at all, not even a mat. All mats and props are provided free. Wear something comfortable you can move and stretch in. You practise in bare feet.
Try not to eat for about three hours before class. If you are coming to a rope class, arrive up to 25 minutes early, as those classes are popular.
Do I have to book classes?
Not for studio classes. Just come along 10 to 15 minutes before the start.
Online classes need a reservation, because that is how the Zoom link reaches you. Reserve an online class here and the link is emailed to you. If it does not arrive, check your junk or spam folder.
How much is a single class, and is the first class really free?
If you are new to Flametree and an NT resident who has been permanent for three months, your first class is free, with no obligation. Your first online class is free too.
After that, a casual beginner class is $14. If you will come more than once or twice, the half price beginner pass is far better value: 12 classes for $59.50, which is $4.96 each, for people who are new or have been away three months or more.
Am I a beginner or a non-beginner?
If you are not sure, start with a beginner class. Most people find they are at beginner level, because Iyengar yoga is more exacting than most styles, and because most of us are less fit than we remember.
Having done yoga years ago, or another style, does not mean you are ready for a non-beginner class now. It is much better to start at beginner level and move up than to start too high and struggle. If you buy the wrong pass, we can sort it out for you.
I am stiff, unfit or over 50. Will I be the least capable person in the room?
No, and this is the question we are asked most often. Iyengar yoga was built for exactly this. Props mean a pose is adjusted to your body rather than you straining towards a shape you cannot reach yet.
Most Flametree students are women over 40, many starting or restarting, and there are plenty in their 60s, 70s and beyond. Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Backs and Restorative Yoga suit a cautious start. If you have an injury or health condition, tell your teacher before class.
Why Flametree
Why choose Flametree? What makes it different from other studios and gyms in Darwin?
Flametree is built for people starting yoga, and four things make it different.
More beginner classes than any other Darwin studio. Flametree runs 17 beginner-level classes a week: 11 Beginner 1 classes, four open-level classes (Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Backs and two Restorative classes) and two breath meditation classes. When we checked every Darwin yoga studio’s timetable in October 2026, none had as many. Most gyms run little or no yoga, and almost none of it is labelled for beginners.
Studio, online, or both. Seven beginner-level classes also run live online over Zoom, and the beginner passes cover both.
A level for everyone, and a way up. Gentle Yoga, Beginner 1, then non-beginner, intermediate and experienced classes. You start where you are and move up when you are ready.
The price. A beginner class is $14 casual, and new students can get 12 classes for $59.50. Mats and props are free.
Every class is Iyengar yoga, the method of B.K.S. Iyengar of Pune, India, taught by certified Iyengar teachers and teachers in advanced Iyengar training. With around 30 classes a week across all levels, Flametree teaches more Iyengar yoga than any other studio in Darwin.
More in Yoga For Beginners In Darwin: How To Choose A Studio.
How many beginner classes does Flametree have each week?
17 beginner-level classes a week, more than any other yoga studio in Darwin from our check of every studio’s timetable in October 2026. They run mornings, evenings and weekends at Woolner and Coolalinga, and seven are live online as well.
Come as often as you like. The one limit: not two beginner classes straight after each other on the same day. See the beginner timetable.
How often should I do yoga to make it a habit?
Two or three classes a week is a good aim while you are getting started. More is even better.
Research on habits found that a new routine took about two months, on average, to start feeling automatic, the point where you just go without having to talk yourself into it. Missing the odd day did not undo it. What mattered was coming back regularly. Our teachers see the same thing: students who come a few times a week in their first couple of months are the ones who keep going.
If you plan to come often, the unlimited weekly beginner pass is the cheapest way, and it covers studio and online classes. More in How Often Should You Do Yoga?
What levels of yoga does Flametree teach?
Gentle (Gentle Yoga and Restorative Yoga), Beginner (Beginner 1, plus open-level focus classes such as Yoga for Backs), Non-beginner (Non-Beginner Mixed, Fifty Plus and Women’s Wellness), and Intermediate and Experienced classes for students with a well-established practice.
Many gyms and studios run one class for everybody. Here you join the next level when you are ready, not before. Ask your teacher when you think it might be time. See how the levels work.
Is Flametree cheaper than other yoga studios in Darwin?
For beginners, usually by a long way. A casual beginner class at Flametree is $14, where most Darwin studios charge around $27 a class. New students can get 12 beginner classes for $59.50, about $5 a class, with six months to use them. Mats and props are free, so there is nothing to buy before you start.
Are there reviews of Flametree?
Yes. Google is the easiest place to check, because you can read every review. There are also student reviews of our studio and online classes and Bali retreat reviews on this site.
One student summed it up: “Going to Flametree yoga is the best investment I’ve made in my mental & physical health in my adult life.”
Classes, times and places
Where are the Flametree studios?
Two studios. Woolner: 19B Bishop St, upstairs via the stairs at the right of the building, about 3 km from the Darwin CBD and 8 km from central Casuarina. Coolalinga: Shop T31, Coolalinga Central, 425 Stuart Highway, inside the mall opposite Coles, about 8 km from central Palmerston. Many classes are also live online.
Where do I find the class timetable?
There are two: the beginner timetable and the non-beginner timetable. Both cover both studios and the live online classes. All times are Darwin time (ACST), and the Northern Territory has no daylight saving, so from October the eastern states are an hour further ahead than usual.
What classes are on at Coolalinga, and is there yoga near Darwin’s rural area?
Coolalinga runs 11 classes a week, 7 days a week, and is the closest studio for most of the rural area, including Howard Springs, Humpty Doo, Bees Creek, Virginia, Girraween and Berry Springs. All Coolalinga classes are studio only. Times and directions are on the Coolalinga page.
Is the studio accessible?
Coolalinga is at ground level inside Coolalinga Central and is wheelchair and pram accessible. Woolner is on the first floor up quite high steps, so it does not suit a wheelchair, a pram or anyone who finds stairs difficult. Live online classes are another good option.
Which classes are online, and can I mix online and studio on one pass?
Seven beginner-level classes and most non-beginner classes also run live on Zoom. The timetables mark which ones. Coolalinga classes are studio only.
Yes, you can mix them. Flametree’s beginner passes cover both live online and studio classes, and each class uses one class from a 10 pass wherever you do it. A few passes are online only and cost less; the pass name says so. Online classes need a reservation so the Zoom link can reach you: reserve here.
Can I do yoga online if I am older or unsteady on my feet?
Yes, and we teach it every week. Your camera is on and set so the teacher can see your whole body, and you work with a wall and props within reach. The teacher can correct you by name, the same as in the studio, and standing poses are taught at a wall. If you are unsure your space will work, email [email protected] and we will talk it through.
Can I bring my child, toddler or baby?
Children are welcome to join in and do the class with you, at the normal class rate. A child old enough to be bored rather than join in can sit at the back with a device. Children too young to amuse themselves, usually under about five or six, cannot come, except a very young baby still in a pram or basket, who is welcome at Coolalinga.
What is the difference between restorative yoga and general yoga?
General (active) yoga is most of the timetable: you move in and out of poses and work your muscles, building flexibility, strength and bone. Restorative yoga is slower: bolsters, blankets, chairs and the wall hold you in each pose so you can stay longer without effort. It still helps flexibility and strength, and it is even better for de-stressing and learning to relax on purpose.
Ideally do both. If you are tired, stressed, sleeping badly or finding the heat hard, restorative is a good choice that week.
What yoga is suitable in Darwin’s heat?
Both studios are fully air-conditioned, so you practise in a cool room whatever the weather. This is not hot yoga. The aim is to work steadily and calmly.
If the heat knocks you around, try Restorative Yoga, Gentle Yoga, early morning or evening classes, or live online classes at home.
Do you teach yoga nidra or yin yoga?
Not under those names, but what we teach covers the same ground. Restorative yoga does the job people come to yoga nidra for, and every class includes floor-based work that gives at least what yin offers. More in Yoga For Body, Breath And Mind.
Why are beginner classes one hour long?
An hour gives time to settle at the start, to repeat poses so you strengthen your body and notice how you are doing them, and to finish with a rest lying down.
Do I need to practise at home?
It helps. Yoga is a practice, so a little time of your own between classes adds up. Our free home practice sequences give you a sequence for your level.
Passes and paying
What is the best deal for beginners?
The half price beginner pass: 10 classes at half price plus 2 free, so 12 classes for $59.50 ($4.96 each), in the studio, online or both. It is for people who are new or have been away three months or more.
What is the best pass for non-beginners?
New or lapsed three months? Start with the half price non-beginner 10 pass, which includes 2 free classes. A non-beginner pass covers the non-beginner timetable, the beginner classes, Women’s Wellness, and pranayama at both studios. After that, if you come at least once a week, the pay-by-the-week passes are the cheapest ongoing option.
How long does my pass last?
All 10 and 20 passes last six months from when you buy them. If illness, caring for family or a long trip will get in the way, contact us before the pass runs out and we will see what we can do.
How many classes have I got left on my pass?
Ask your teacher in class, or email [email protected]. To check yourself, log in at flametreeroom1.punchpass.com, click your name at the top right, and choose Active Passes.
The reservations system is separate from the shop where you bought your pass, with its own login. If you have never reserved an online class, you may need to create a free reservations account first, even though your purchase went through fine.
Can I pause my weekly pass?
Yes, with no charge and no time limit. Email [email protected] with the date you want it paused from, and the date you will be back if you know it, and we will book the restart in for you. Weeks already paid for are credited forward.
I have moved onto a weekly pass. Do I book the same way?
Yes. Studio classes: just turn up. Online classes: reserve the online version as before. The difference is that weekly passes are unlimited, so come as often as you like, in the studio, online or a mix.
I paid but did not get a receipt, or I think I was charged twice. What should I do?
Email [email protected] with roughly when you paid, how much and what for. We will check, send a receipt, and refund anything taken by mistake. Please do not pay again on the assumption it failed, and check your junk folder first.
Can I pay by bank transfer?
Yes. Email [email protected] for the account details, then put your name and what you are buying in the payment reference and email us to say what you have paid for. If your bank asks you to confirm the name, Flametree Yoga Studio is correct.
Is the Link button at checkout safe? Do you store my card?
Yes, it is legitimate, and no, Flametree does not hold your card details. Our checkout is run by Stripe, and Link is Stripe’s own remember-my-card service, which recognises your email from any Stripe shop you have used. To use a different card, choose the option to pay another way on the payment step.
Do you have gift cards?
Yes, for yoga or meditation, at $50, $100 or any amount you choose. Buy one online and have it emailed, or pick up a voucher at either studio.
Can I claim yoga on my private health fund?
Possibly. Ask your own fund, especially if you have Extras cover, whether they cover yoga classes and intensive workshops. Many allow a rebate when the teacher is registered with Yoga Australia and your health professional signs the fund’s form. We do not issue an item number or provider number ourselves.
Breath meditation (pranayama)
When are the pranayama and meditation classes, and can I try one free?
At Coolalinga, 7.30am Tuesday and 7.45am Sunday. These are beginner class options, so a beginner pass covers them. At Woolner, 6.30am Tuesday and Thursday, on the non-beginner timetable. If you are already a Flametree student and have never been to a Coolalinga meditation class, your first one is free.
Is pranayama safe?
Yes, for most people, when it is taught slowly with a teacher guiding you. Flametree starts with slow breathing, lying down and supported, with no breath holding. We explain the research, including when parts are left out for blood pressure, heart and eye conditions, epilepsy, pregnancy, trauma or panic, in Is Pranayama Safe?.
Can pranayama help me settle before sleep?
For most people, yes. Slow, steady breathing calms the nervous system, which makes it easier to fall asleep. Learn the techniques in class first, then a few minutes of the same quiet breathing, lying down, can help you settle at night. More in Is Pranayama Safe?.
Do you teach Wim Hof, holotropic or box breathing?
Not those branded methods, but we teach breathing practices from the yoga tradition that cover the same ground and more, in a careful order, starting with the slow practices. More in Is Pranayama Safe?.
Health, body and safety
I have an injury or a health condition. Can I still come?
In most cases, yes. Iyengar yoga uses props and alternatives rather than expecting everyone to do the same thing. Tell your teacher before class so they can give you options from the start, and never do a pose you do not want to do. If you have something significant going on, such as recent surgery or a serious condition, email [email protected] before you come.
Can yoga build muscle and strength?
Yes. Holding a pose makes the muscles on both sides of each joint work hard, so yoga builds real strength, not just flexibility. We explain how, pose by pose, in Can Yoga Build Muscle?, including core strength, toning, how long to hold a pose, and getting stronger after 50.
Is yoga good for osteoporosis or bone density?
The research is encouraging, and careful rather than miraculous. Standing poses load the hip and spine from angles walking never reaches, with no impact, and they train balance. If you have osteoporosis or a past fracture, some poses are changed for you. More in Yoga For Strength.
Is yoga good for balance as I get older?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons people over 60 come to us. We build the legs, hips and spine, and steadiness follows. Standing poses are taught at a wall or with a chair in reach. The research is in our falls and yoga studies article and Yoga For Seniors.
Do you teach pregnancy yoga?
Yes, in Darwin and live online, with pregnancy-certified female teachers. If you have done yoga before, you can start at any stage; if you are new to yoga, wait until 15 weeks. Please email [email protected] before you start. More in Pregnancy Yoga Near Me.
Can I do yoga during my period?
Yes. A few poses are done differently at that time, so have a quiet word with your teacher before class and she will give you the alternatives. More in Pregnancy Yoga Near Me.
Is yoga a religion?
No. What we teach is secular yoga: the poses, the breathing, and their effect on body and mind. There is no worship, ritual or chanting, and it is compatible with any religious belief, and with none. More in Yoga For Body, Breath And Mind.
Masterclasses, workshops and retreats
What level are the masterclasses, and can I join from interstate?
If you have been doing yoga regularly for about six months, you are ready. They run live online as well as in the studio, so you can join from anywhere in Australia. After each one you get Chris’s notes and the video in your Flametree video library. Details are on the masterclass page.
I will miss a workshop or masterclass session. Can I watch it?
Yes. Every workshop and masterclass runs live online at the same time as in the studio, so reserve the online version and join from wherever you are. The sessions are also recorded, so you can watch them later at no extra cost.
What are the Flametree Bali retreats like?
Six days at Pondok Pisang in Candidasa, taught by Chris Lalor, with pranayama, active and restorative yoga each day, three meals, a cooking class, transfers and a half day tour. Beginners are welcome and partners who do not do yoga can come too. See dates and rooms and what guests said.
About Iyengar yoga and our teachers
Are the teachers qualified to teach Iyengar yoga?
Yes. Classes are taught by certified Iyengar yoga teachers, or by teachers well advanced in their Iyengar training under Christine (Chris) Lalor, Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher and founder of Flametree.
Becoming a certified Iyengar teacher takes years: at least three years as an Iyengar student before training starts, then a minimum of three years of training. Certified teachers keep up professional development every year. Meet them on our teachers page.
What is Iyengar yoga?
Iyengar yoga is the method of B.K.S. Iyengar of Pune, India. It is known for precision, for props that let every body do every pose in some form, and for teachers who watch you and adjust the pose to you. More in how Iyengar yoga is taught at Flametree.
What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient discipline from India, practised for thousands of years, that works on body, breath and mind together. At Flametree it means poses, breathing and relaxation, taught step by step. As the teacher T.K.V. Desikachar put it: “The goal of yoga is to encourage us to be a little better than we were before.”
Still have a question?
Email [email protected], use the chat button at the bottom right, or ask your teacher at the end of any class. See class times or reserve an online class here.
