Yoga Archives - Wharf Life

Photographer, designer and entrepreneur Steve Nyman has brought his talents together in Royal Docks spaces beside Tate & Lyle

Our Urban Oasis is located in Royal Docks at The Factory Project opposite Tate & Lyle

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Venture to the banks of the Thames in Royal Docks and, on a patch of land close to Tate & Lyle’s North Woolwich factory, you’ll find a small forest of logs and tree stumps arranged behind a shipping container.

But this collection of offcuts isn’t a pile of unwanted timber, dumped by an unscrupulous tree surgeon.

It’s the raw material from which two interrelated businesses have emerged.

Steve Nyman knows the power of an image.

Bitten early by the photography bug he was “obsessed with the camera” as a schoolboy, turning that passion into a successful shooting career in the fashion sector that’s taken him all over the world working with models and brands.

However, there was also an underlying desire to explore creativity beyond the lens.

“During the pandemic, I was just sitting there and thinking,” he said.

“I’d always been good at sourcing locations – I guess I’ve got a sense for an aesthetic and an eye for design.

“I love nature and it was on a trip to Thailand that I found inspiration.

“There was this piece of driftwood on a beach that just looked like a coffee table – I wanted to take it home and regretted leaving it behind, although I did bring back an amazing shell.

“I thought that if I could find these kinds of pieces of wood and work with them in England, then that’s what I’d like to do.

Steve Nyman of Our Urban Oasis and Hidden Gems Design, surrounded by the raw material he works with

“By chance, I met a guy with a woodworking shop at Thames-Side Studios in Woolwich where I was based.

“I approached him with some of my ideas and designs, started working in his workshop and learnt a lot from him as he turned them into a reality.

“That’s how Hidden Gems Design was born.

“We use pieces of natural wood that would otherwise be burnt or end up in the chipper to create pieces of furniture and sculptures.

“We reclaim them from tree surgeons and give them a new lease of life.

“It’s very sustainable because we’re saving this material from going to waste.

“If it wasn’t for someone making something out of a fallen tree, it would be burned.”

The furniture at Our Urban Oasis comes from Hidden Gems Design

creating Our Urban Oasis

Hidden Gems took off, with Steve’s work in demand from interior designers and a stream of direct commissions, but things haven’t ended there.

In tandem with his furniture business, he’s created a fresh, innovative venture in Royal Docks that’s also proving a hit with clients.

“I live locally and I was scouting around with the idea of opening a photography studio,” said Steve, who also makes ceramic pieces.

“I used to store my wood at The Silver Building which is also owned by Projekt and space at The Factory Project came up so I took it on and opened Our Urban Oasis.

“I now have two photography studio spaces that I hire out and my workshop is also here, so it’s really convenient.”

Both studios are on two levels and, in contrast to the typical blank canvas approach of many providers, Steve has kitted them out with a wide selection of pieces from Hidden Gems that clients are free to incorporate into their photoshoots, videos or other creative works.

Steve has filled his studios with furniture and sculptural pieces mostly made from natural wood

Visitors can even buy the pieces on display, should they so wish.

“A lot of these studio spaces tend to copy each other, but I trust my own tastes,” said Steve.

“I think that if I like it, then there will be other people that do too.

“It’s satisfying to see people enjoying it and we’re very popular. I think people hire the spaces because they want something different.

“I hope they find the furniture and decor inspiring – some of the walls are natural clay.

“It’s a creative space where people can come and it’s organic, they can use it for whatever they want.

“It can be a film set, a place to record podcasts, video content or to do fashion shoots. Everything can be moved around and we have plain backgrounds too so it can be used for e-commerce.

“There’s a kind of zen feeling about it, so I get a lot of people involved in the wellbeing sector using it.”

Steve’s pieces from Hidden Gems fill the space, with everything from sofas and chairs to dining tables and tree stumps on wheels available as props.

“A lot of them feature live edge work – where the bark has just come off and the wood has a natural shape to it,” he said.

“Each piece is truly unique. I could make a new version of a piece we’ve already done, but it will never be exactly the same because the wood will be different.

“I always get surprises with the timber we work with because, until you get it inside the workshop and start to cut it and work with it, you don’t know what it will be like.

“We’ll plane a piece down and it’ll be: ‘Wow, look at that,’ and there’s the inspiration.”

Our Urban Oasis' spaces are available for a wide variety of uses — Our Urban Oasis’ spaces are available for a wide variety of uses

providing flexible spaces

Our Urban Oasis enjoys a varied array of clients with people finding all kinds of uses for the space.

“It’s such a mixture,” said Steve.

“We’ve had celebrities here doing shoots for magazines and we get big fashion brands as well. It’s really surprising.

“We get plenty of natural light and there’s a real summer vibe when the sun is streaming through the window.

“The building itself is very secure and I think people sometimes wonder what they’re coming into when they arrive at the gates because of The Factory Project’s industrial history, but it also means we’re nice and quiet.”

That’s likely to be of special benefit for Our Urban Oasis’ forthcoming evening of Candlelit Yin Yoga And Sound Bath.

The event is set to take place on December 7 from 4pm to 6pm and will be led by Yoga and Pilates teacher Suzan Altay.

Tickets for the event, which include home made muffins and herbal tea, cost £40 per person and are available online via this link.

Fitting for the flexibility of the space, that this event offers a fresh dimension to the possibilities amid Steve’s sculptural creations.

key details: Our Urban Oasis

Our Urban Oasis offers a range of studio spaces at The Factory Project in Royal Docks, decorated with pieces from Hidden Gems Design.

Steve’s pieces are also available to purchase online and he remains available for interior commissions

Find out more about the studio spaces here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

Third Space mind and body master trainer Clare Walters on the physical and mental benefits of exercise

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Will 2023 be the year it happens?

That the resolution takes and the good intentions are converted into consistent, positive action?

January and February are traditionally the months of busy gyms as, for whatever reason, people decide to get fit, lose weight, gain muscle, improve their endurance or boost flexibility.

But, how to achieve those goals and develop a habit that will stick beyond the arrival of spring?

That’s where Third Space mind and body master trainer Clare Walters can help.

Along with her colleagues, her role is to help the health club’s members take the steps they need to get where they want to go.

“Our message for 2023 is all about training for life,” said Clare. “It’s the idea that everything you do in the gym supports what you do outside it.

“At Third Space we provide facilities where you can train every part of your body.

“But it’s not just the physical, it’s also about training the mind and about the restorative side of things.”

Billed as the largest luxury health club in Europe and spread over three floors of the building that houses Waitrose in Canada Square, Third Space Canary Wharf isn’t short on space or amenities.

There are free weights, a swimming pool, a climbing wall, saunas, steam rooms, ranks of cardio machines, a combat zone, weights machines and a vast Crossfit-inspired training area called The Yard.

Third Space Canary Wharf is currently undergoing a major update

That’s before you even get to the hundreds of classes every week – all included in the monthly membership. So how best to navigate such a wealth of options?

“The best thing you can do if you’re coming into training or returning to the gym, is to get as much guidance as possible,” said Clare, who trained as a dancer before embarking on a career in the fitness industry.

“You’ll see people on social media promoting crazy workouts and doing 30-day challenges. They can be great as a gateway into fitness but they are only ever the start.

“You want to be training to make your life easier, whether that’s with the aim of climbing a mountain or just running after your kids in the playground.

“In my classes I use the example of my mum. She’s retired and she loves hiking.

“She was struggling on the hikes to get over stiles, so I’ve given her barre exercises and Pilates for strength, flexibility and stability.

“It’s about working out why you want to train – whether your goals are aesthetic or fitness related. I think having longer term goals really helps.

“They make you realise you don’t need to go hell for leather – you don’t want to start with a marathon if you’ve not been running before.

“It’s the same with any type of training – pace yourself, get expert guidance and speak to the instructors for advice.

“They will be able to suggest classes that will help.

“For example, a high intensity class will be very fast-paced with larger movements designed to switch on the bigger muscles.

“Adding in something like a Pilates class can help by focusing on the lesser muscles in the body that help with posture and general alignment.

“It’s more of a holistic approach to help maintain a balanced body and avoid injury.”

Then there are the mental health benefits, derived from both intense exercise and slower disciplines.

“People who train regularly can expect to feel like they have more energy,” said Clare, who practises circus skills including the trapeze, outside work.

“The endorphins it creates give you a natural mood boost and help minimise pain.

“Training makes you feel better about your life, yourself, better in your body on a mechanical level, a bit brighter, stronger and fitter.

“Walking up the escalator on the Tube won’t leave you puffing at the top.

“There’s something about lifting a weight that’s heavier than the one a week before, when you feel connected to your breath doing Yoga or when you go swimming and you can do more lengths than the time before.

“We lead such busy lives, especially in London – having the space to concentrate on one thing is really important.

Clare enjoys Yin Yoga as a break from busy London life

“My favourite Yoga practice is actually Yin – it focuses on the softer, slower aspects of the discipline, with long held postures that are quite meditative.

“It’s good if you just need that little bit of space in your day – you can come into our studio, it’s warm, we dim the lights, we have calm music, and we’re creating that relaxing atmosphere.

“It’s like a haven – a third space away from work and home life where you can come in and only focus on yourself.

“Of course, one of the other great things about Third Space is the community.

“Members meet other members and become friends, whether that’s through attending classes or just chatting in the sauna.

“One of the things we’ve learnt during the pandemic is that people need other people – isolation isn’t good for humans at all.

“It might simply be that you’re in a class, finding it tough, look to your left and right and feel that sense of connection – something that spurs you on.

“As a teacher, it’s really beautiful when I see this happening, or when people come to a class and then end up chatting a bit more and hanging out afterwards.

“We’ve also launched Hyrox classes that are aimed at equipping members with the skills to compete in those competitive events.

“Members can do those individually, just like the event, or they can team up with a partner and the classes are the perfect place to find someone to do that with.”

In other news, the Canary Wharf club is undergoing an extensive refurbishment programme with many machines already replaced and interiors updated.

Membership for Third Space Canary Wharf costs £210 per month with group-wide access £20 more.

There is currently no joining fee.