New to Madrid? Start here
Moving to Madrid is exciting, but it can also be a lot to navigate. There are new systems to navigate in a new language, unfamiliar neighbourhoods, and being away from the people and routines you know. When the excitement fades, this can make the move feel harder than expected.
I’m a former diplomat and have lived in six countries, starting over again building friendships and communities in each place - so trust me when I say I know what you’re going through! If you’re new to Madrid, here are five things that helped me settle in and build a life here.
1. Find your people
Building a community is one of the best things you can do when you move to a new city. Having people around you means you have somewhere to turn when you have questions, need advice, or simply have a day when everything feels a bit wobbly. And let’s be honest, it also adds to the fun because friends are for brunches and coffees, not just help when things go wrong.
For international people living in Madrid, joining an English yoga class can be an easy way to meet people. At Madrid Yoga Collective, our classes bring together international people who speak English, share an interest in yoga and are looking to build connections in Madrid. You see the same people regularly, which gives friendships the chance to develop naturally.
2. Learn Spanish as you go
Of course, learning Spanish is one of the best ways to feel more connected to Madrid. But learning a language doesn't have to mean sitting in a classroom studying vocabulary lists. One of my favourite ways to absorb Spanish is through everyday experiences. You start recognising words because you hear them repeatedly, in context, without having to consciously memorise them. When you think about it, that’s how native speakers learn…
That’s one reason we offer a bilingual yoga class in Madrid, taught in both English and Spanish. You’ll hear Spanish vocabulary like body parts, movement (helpful verbs!) and everyday instructions while still having the comfort of English to help you understand your practice.
Our bilingual yoga class takes place on Tuesdays at 7:30pm at BLC Spain Language School (re-starting in September).
3. Get to know the City
Madrid is a city made up of neighbourhoods, each with its own personality and local community. Get to know the one you live in: find your local café, walk around without a destination, discover the park, market or little shop around the corner. Say hello to your neighbours, and you might be surprised how quickly you neighbourhood feels like a little village.
Explore beyond your neighbourhood too. Our yoga classes take place in different parts of Madrid, and our community events are another way to explore the city while meeting people. With a bit of exploration, Madrid quickly starts to feel smaller once you know a few different corners of it.
4. Learn how to Manage stress
Moving abroad comes with a surprising amount of admin. There are appointments, paperwork, banking, bureaucracy, and approximately 7,000 things you didn't realise you would need to organise… all in another language.
When I first moved to Madrid, I lived in a pretty constant state of anxiety. I remember breaking down in public when I couldn’t figure out how to get a necessary prescription filled. When your nervous system is already overloaded, every small problem can feel much bigger.
Learning to regulate your stress response can make the whole process feel more manageable. Yoga can be one useful tool for this. Through movement, breath, and understanding how you feel, you can practice noticing stress and responding to it rather than immediately reacting. That’s one reason our English yoga classes in Madrid are about more than physical movement. They’re also a regular opportunity to pause, reconnect with yourself and spend time with people who understand what it’s like to build a life somewhere new.
5. Lean into the discomfort
This one can feel really hard. You will miss people from home. You might miss your favourite food, familiar routines, certain products or simply knowing how everything works. That doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong decision.
Yoga has a useful concept here: “vairagya”, often translated as non-attachment. It means learning to appreciate things without needing to cling to them. You can miss your family without needing them to be physically close. You can feel homesick without deciding that you don't belong here. You can appreciate your old life while making space for a new one.
Moving to Madrid is a process. Some days will feel easy, and some will feel much harder. Give yourself time.
Looking for English yoga classes in Madrid?
If you’re new to the city and looking for a way to meet people, explore Madrid and establish a regular routine, you are welcome to come practice with us at Madrid Yoga Collective. Our English yoga classes bring together international people living in Madrid, with regular community activities and opportunities to connect beyond the yoga mat. Because finding your people might just be one of the best ways to make Madrid feel like home.
