OUR STORY
ABOUT JONATHAN SATTIN AND BOB TAYLOR, HOME’S FOUNDERS
CIGARETTES & COFFEE
In 1985, I was a senior partner in my own West End law practice. I was smoking 40 cigarettes a day, drinking 14 mugs of coffee (each with at least 2 sugars) and… other things. These were countered (at least in my mind) by playing football and tennis (I was a bit competitive), running and meditating.
It was at this point that one of my partners in my law firm suggested I try yoga – his wife had been attending a really good class and, having always considered me a little 'left of centre’, he thought I might like it.
In my first class, at some point as I lay there with my eyes closed, in my mind I saw a wall of mirrors. And I was running, not wanting to stop and look at myself in the mirror. For some reason, I knew it was time to pause and take a good look. Within a few months, as corny as it may sound, yoga completely changed my life. I gave up smoking and coffee and made a few other health tweaks along the way. It wasn’t that I suddenly gave up law, shaved my head and began wearing orange robes (never been my colour), but practising yoga and gradually becoming aware of its breadth beyond asana – especially the practice of service – combined with meeting my meditation teacher, were all catalysts for change.
SHARPENED INSTINCT
Practising yoga – both on the mat and more broadly – heightened my awareness and instincts across all areas of my life. It improved my football without dulling my competitive streak (much to the dismay of some of my friends), and it changed the way I practised law, allowing me to trust my instincts as much as my knowledge and experience.
CHANGING LANES
In 1996, after many years of being certain that practising law wasn't what I should be doing, I finally decided to stop, without knowing what I would do next. Flaky? Maybe. Scary? Yes. But somehow, I knew it would be okay (easy to say that now). What came next? I started looking at what I actually wanted to do. In the meantime, I helped in the set-up of Yo! Sushi and Protocol Multimedia Talent Agency. Eventually, I came up with a concept for the health and leisure industry – a holistic health club called 'tribeca.' While tribeca never quite got off the ground, a conversation with some friends in Los Angeles shifted the focus. They asked, 'Why don’t you do what you love – yoga? In that moment, everything shifted, and 'Tribeca' became 'triyoga’. triyoga Primrose Hill opened on 19th February 2000 with help from various friends along the way (in chronological order: Teddy, Scout, Tina, Ford, Bridget, Lee and Simon). Over the next 22 years, triyoga grew to 5 centres across London. It became a home, and maybe even a launching pad, for so many people – teachers, therapists, students and staff – and a place of work over the years for my golden retrievers: Teddy, JayJay, Peaches and now Piper.
THEN WHAT? HOW DID YOU GET HOME?
I left triyoga at the end of July 2022 and took a break to hang out with JayJay (who was approaching his 14th birthday) and Piper, and contemplate the meaning of life. Which I did. A lot. Especially after JayJay passed away that November.
I began to realise that the world had changed since the start of triyoga – and even more dramatically since COVID. It was ironic: while society seemed more connected than ever in the history of the world, we, as individuals, felt more disconnected. It seemed that what we truly craved was real connection. Although I never thought I would do it again, hearing so many people talk about this loss of genuine connection, I began to wonder.
By some quirk of fate, on my many visits to ‘The Little Bread Peddler’ in Primrose Hill, I saw that quite a few of the buildings in the redeveloped courtyard off Erskine Road (which was home – excuse the pun – to the original triyoga) were vacant. The seed was sown – and ‘HOME’ had to be the name.
It wasn’t quite ‘hey presto’, but we’re getting there. We’ve been backed mainly by local people who believe in the sense of community and connection we want to create, with lessons learned (hopefully) from our past to improve what we do this time.
BOB’S NOT MY UNCLE...
Bob Taylor is my partner in HOME, and he’s my friend. A longtime, dedicated student of yoga at triyoga, he has been a fellow student in a lot of classes (not to mention a rather good golfer). Bob and I used to find the least hot place in the hot yoga studio to practise, and he was almost always the one out of the two of us to try the more advanced versions of the poses offered by the teacher. He’s also a long-standing resident of Primrose Hill and the former owner of The Lansdowne – just one part of his extensive business background.
GUIDANCE & GRATITUDE
There have been many trials and tribulations along the way, and my guess is there are more to come before opening. But we’re moving forward. Whatever obstacles have come up, a way through has emerged. And I’ve always felt there’s the hand of grace guiding us, though sometimes I only see that after the event 😊.
I am grateful for everyone who was, and is, involved and trust that we can serve you well in your new HOME.
“Bob and I used to find the least hot place in the hot yoga studio to practise.”
JONATHAN SATTIN
OUR VALUES
OUR VALUES
– Authenticity
– Excellence in service
– Connection
These values are reflected in the uncompromisingly and consistently high quality of the teachers, therapists and team we select; the genuinely warm and caring welcome extended to every visitor, new or old; the beauty of the space and its amazing location; and the optimal timetabling of classes and treatments to suit our clients’ varying schedules and needs.
Authenticity
Every class or treatment we offer, whether at the centre or online, has been carefully chosen to be both authentic and healthy – honouring the essence and being relevant today.
Excellence in service
Everything we do is held to the highest standard and delivered with exceptional care. Our teachers, therapists and staff are selected with the utmost attention and thought.
Connection
By creating a warm, friendly and welcoming space for people to relax, be healthy and hang out, we hope to provide a feeling of connection and community.