Friday
Since the start of Yoga Flux last September ,weekends just aren't as leisurely as they used to be (late mornings, brunch, Columbia flower market, shopping, galleries, dancing until the early hours ).Friday afternoons are spent teaching at clients houses and whizzing around London on my scooter. Once i've finished, I love to go for a leisurely dinner somewhere like Lemonia on Primrose Hill (89 Regent's Park Road, London, NW1 8UY, 020 7586 7454, lemonia.co.uk). It's a favourite of mine and a real North London institution , with a chilled, family run atmosphere and amazing authentic, tasty Greek food. Afterwards Ill swing by the Lansdowne pub to catch up with friends, 90 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8HX, 0207 483 0409 90, thelansdownepub.co.uk/
They are famous for their fantastic pizzas, so if I haven't eaten too much at Lemonia I might sneak a slice.
Saturday
I race around town on my scooter for more private classes to fit in as much as I can in a few hours. The day cannot start without coffee.... If at home I will use Jail Breaker blend, delivered weekly by Has Bean (hasbean.co.uk); if out, I go to Kaffeine, above (66 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7QJ, 0207 580 6755, kaffeine.co.uk), and since it is going to be a long day Ill treat myself to their special Tasting Flight (I wont elaborate, go see for yourself!). It's my favourite spot to meet friends in the week too, for post lunch coffee.
Then I head up to Home House (20 Portman Square, London W1H 6LW, 020 7670 2000, homehouse.co.uk) to give a few yoga sessions. I might step on the treadmill there and do my 'homework (I love to swap skills and am very lucky to get to meet many talented experts in different fields who are keen on trying yoga. Nadine Horn (nadinehorn.com) has reconciled me with the idea of running, I even bought some not so sexy but very comfortable barefoot trainers (64 Neal St, London WC2H, 020 7379 5959, vivobarefoot.com).
On my way back to North West London to teach Sadie Frost for her 20 minutes fix, I stop at Alfies Antiques Market, above (13-25 Church Street, London NW8 8DT, 020 7723 6066, alfiesantiques.com/cafe.php) for a quick look at the latest deliveryof vintage clothes and jewellery. and juice and snack on London hidden gem, Rooftop Kitchen (13-25 Church Street, London NW8 8DT, 020 7258 3300, rooftopkitchen.co.uk).
Saturday afternoons I love my flying trapeze classes with the Gorilla team, above (Hanger Arts Trust, Unit 7a Mellish House, Harrington Way, London SE18 5NR, gorillacircus.com). I cant wait for May when the rig is moving back outdoors in Regents Park.
In the evening I often meet my cinema buddy Davey to watch a film at the Everyman Hampstead, below (5 Holly Bush Vale, London NW3 6TX, 0871 906 9060, everymancinema.com) the most comfortable of all the Everyman cinemas, with large leather sofas. Or I might go with my circus and dance buddy Sarah to see a show - usually some form of performing arts - at Sadlers Wells (Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN, 0844 412 4300, sadlerswells.com) or the Barbican (Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS, 020 7638 4141, barbican.org.uk). And soon is the long awaited yearly Circus Fest season at the Roundhouse, weve booked for most shows (Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH, 0844 482 8008, roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/circusfest-2014)
If I have no plans, and I must confess I often chose this option, its a quiet night in, sometimes with a friend over for dinner, sometimes just me and a book. But beforehand I'll treat myself to a massage with Ricky Hindmarsh (145 Woodseer Street, London E1 5HG,07877846503, facebook.com/ChittaVrittiMassage), who is the only one who can unknot my tight back.
Sunday
Sunday mornings are sacred. I dont leave my flat until 11am at the earliest, as I like time to listen to music, put together a new playlist (currently featuring tracks by Darkside, Just friends, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Philip Glass..), read my friend Tessas latest blog (tessaszy.com) and make some coffee with my Aeropress (aeropresscoffee.co.uk).
If going for brunch and it's sunny, I love the terrace of Caravan (1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA, 020 7101 7661, caravankingscross.co.uk), but if I want scrambled eggs, then it has to be Ottolenghi, above (287 Upper Street, London N1 2TZ, 020 7288 1454, ottolenghi.co.uk).
Then I head off to Indaba, above (18 Hayes Place, Marylebone,London, NW1 6UA, 020 7724 9994, indabayoga.com) to teach my 2.30pm Handstand Focus class (indabayoga.com/classes/handstand-focus-class).
Sometimes I go the West end to see an exhibition, usually photography. I saw Baileys Stardust last weekend at the National Portrait Gallery (St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE, 020 7306 0055, npg.org.uk), but I prefer going on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
Sunday evenings I often hang out at my friend Patrick Clayton Malone and Angela Hartnett s latest venture, Merchants Tavern, above (36 Charlotte Road, London, EC2A 3PG, 020 7060 5335, merchantstavern.co.uk), or its time for a guilt- free Honest Burger in Camden - yes I do eat meat! (Unit 34a, 54-56 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF, 020 8617 3949, honestburgers.co.uk). These are the best burgers around and Camden Lock never fails to intrigue me with so much to do and see...
Hortense started Yoga Flux last September, creating bespoke yoga classes to fit in with clients' hectic schedules, and can take place at home or at work.
Yoga Flux, 07957 568 306, yogaflux.com
