The Best Destinations for Outdoor Yoga

Whether you are into Hatha or vinyasa, acro, or aerial, there is an outdoor yoga opportunity for you. From summer yoga classes on the beach to SUP yoga in the harbor and goat yoga, there are endless classes that take advantage of the unparalleled California weather. While you may stumble upon a free yoga class or find yoga in the park during the summer, there are a few studios fully dedicated to providing special outdoor yoga experiences as often as possible. Some of our favorite places to enjoy yoga classes alfresco include these top California studios.

Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Yoga

YOGAqua  

Settled along Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey, YOGAqua is the region’s ultimate stand-up paddleboard studio, hosting weekly vinyasa yoga classes Friday through Sunday. Classes last 90 minutes and are suitable for all levels, with the first half-hour dedicated to instruction on how to properly move the paddleboards around the harbor. When the outdoor yoga class is about to begin, participants paddle into a line and drop their individual anchors so they can solely focus on their practice, without having to worry about floating away. Check out the sunset paddle on Friday evenings for an extra special SUP yoga experience.

OnBoardSUP

Hit Richardson Bay in Sausalito for weekly SUP yoga classes on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and on Sundays from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Each class with OnBoardSUP lasts 75 minutes and combines yoga and pilates—with the additional challenge of using your core to help you stay stable on a moving stand-up paddleboard. Once you’re better acquainted with the board, try the studio’s monthly full-moon paddles for a unique water adventure after the sun goes down—they’re summer fitness classes you just can’t miss.

Floating Yogis

Head out to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad to reconnect with yourself and with nature by taking a Floating Yogis class. You’ll quickly see why locals and visitors alike keep coming back. The additional challenge provided by the paddleboard allows you to become more present and truly understand balance while you hone your practice atop the beautiful teal waters under the California sun.

Yoga on the Beach

Beach Yoga SoCal 

Celebrate the power of outdoor yoga on the sands near Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica with Beach Yoga SoCal. Roll out a large beach towel on the shore, slather on the sunscreen, and listen to the waves roll in as you flow through this yoga class by the beach. Rest assured that you’ll be trying the most stress-relieving yoga poses out there.

Yoga On The Beach Huntington Beach

Just to the left of Tower 14 on Huntington State Beach, yoga enthusiasts gather daily for morning and evening yoga classes. Yoga On The Beach Huntington Beach offers a myriad of classes, including vinyasa, yin, power flow, pilates, and qi gong throughout the week. What’s even better is that all classes are donation-based. Gather your friends, grab your outdoor yoga mat, and prepare yourself for the best beach yoga in Huntington Beach.

Outdoor Yoga SF

Lay out a beach blanket, take in the gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and get ready to stretch your limits on the shores of Baker Beach. Head out to the San Francisco shoreline for a sunrise or sunset session to appreciate the beauty of the city. Don’t worry about missing a thing during your class; Outdoor Yoga SF practices silent-disco yoga, meaning each person wears wireless headphones emitting soothing music and yoga instruction so there are no distractions. Watch the waves along the coastline, see the sky come alive with a burst of colors at sunset, and revel in your practice outside.

Yoga Outside

Riffs Yoga Studios

Located in the upscale town of La Jolla, Riffs Yoga Studios is doing things differently. Inspired by his father’s music store and the restorative powers of yoga, owner Steve Hart set out to combine the two in a space of healing. Throughout the studio, you will find acoustic guitars, ukuleles, and even crystal singing bowls to inspire your musical inklings as you connect with your roots in unique classes such as live music vinyasa or yin yoga with sound healing. Roll out your mat in the covered outdoor yoga studio—or practice on the wooden floor next to the calming green foliage—and feel the soothing ocean breeze wash over you.

Retreat to the Farm

Tucked along the San Francisco Bay-Delta on Grand Island, Retreat to the Farm provides a way to relax—away from modern distractions. Book a spot for a multi-day yoga retreat in California so you can tour the 15-acre organic farm, practice yoga on the outdoor deck, lie on the quaint beach, and meditate under the warm rays to fully recharge and reconnect.

Sagrada Wellness

The Central Coast offers some of the best yoga retreats in California. Right outside of San Luis Obispo in Santa Margarita, the family-owned Sagrada Wellness offers all-inclusive yoga retreats to their guests. Located on a majestic hilltop, Sagrada Wellness is where you’ll enjoy boutique-style yoga retreats, a sacred sanctuary, and mouthwatering rustic food. Leave the loud city life behind and enjoy one of the most unforgettable things to do on the Central Coast.

Aerial Yoga

Trilogy Sanctuary

If you find yourself at the beach in La Jolla, head inland for a few blocks to find Trilogy Sanctuary, where you can take a swing at the studio’s rooftop aerial yoga—one of the premier yoga classes in San Diego. Aerial yoga is perfect for all levels and is a great way to decompress and find comfort in difficult poses while facing your fears. Float above the beach and strengthen your muscles in these fun and dynamic classes.

Up Flying Yoga

Located in the affluent L.A. neighborhood of Sherman Oaks, Up Flying Yoga is where your yoga practice will reach new heights. Instructors Nariri Tahmizyan, Liberty Solek, and Kaylee Sachs take their expertise outdoors in the hills of Sherman Oaks, to teach you the best hot yoga and dance yoga moves. The studio incorporates core strengthening, flexibility, traction, and meditation during all of its classes. Get up in the air in the comfort of your soft aerial hammocks and boost your flexibility, strength, and confidence in no time as you practice yoga outside.