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Yoga in Santa Cruz: Where to Go

Namaste Santa Cruz. Whether you are an aspiring yogi or a current regular to the practice, there are numerous studios to visit during your stay in the Santa Cruz Area.

From Pleasure Point to Aptos and Capitola, you can learn postures and puja from the limber and lithe to help you find your center and relax into your holiday. After all, Yoga is the single most popular fitness class in the Golden State. You can create or maintain your healthy routine from our luxurious vacation rentals. Choose a property with a beachy sea view or balcony to hone your breathwork and yoga practice in the fresh Santa Cruz air!

Here’s everything you need to know about where to practice Yoga on your next visit to Santa Cruz.

Yoga Culture in Santa Cruz, California

Yoga is an ancient Hindu practice that originated thousands of years ago to connect the body, mind, and breath. It wasn’t introduced to the United States until the late 1800s. After establishing on the West Coast in the 1950s, however, Yoga’s popularity in the US exploded, and it now sits alongside wellness classes like pilates and rock climbing at every gym from San Jose to New York City.

California, in particular, has embraced Yoga as a fitness tool. Santa Cruz has a dozen yoga studios offering Hot Yoga, an Intro to Yoga for beginners, Vinyasa Flow, and Hatha Yoga. While surfing in Santa Cruz is the primary pastime, this allows less sea-faring visitors the opportunity to move.

Where to Do Yoga in Santa Cruz

Here are our favorite studios in Santa Cruz to partake in a single yoga course or enroll in thier class pass-style packages.

Santa Cruz Yoga

Photo Credit: Santa Cruz Yoga

This inclusive yoga studio for all skill levels is one of the most popular in the city. It offers a wide variety of classes, from dozens of different Vinyasa to Gentle Yoga for those interested in less strenuous workouts designed to help with flexibility and balance. This studio also offers more traditional yoga classes incorporating the spiritual elements in its Ashtanga and Candlelit Meditative Restore sessions.

Pleasure Point Yoga

Photo Credit: Pleasure Point Yoga

If you’re looking for variety, Pleasure Point Yoga might be your studio. They offer pole classes, workshops, dance, teacher training, and traditional yogic practices. Most of their classes are heavy on spirituality and offer an opportunity to understand yoga on a deeper level than just a fitness class. Some of the yoga offered include Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Restorative, Pranayama, Meditation, Sound Healing, Kirtan, Satsang, Dream Yoga, and Chair.

Village Yoga

Photo Credit: Village Yoga Santa Cruz

Village Yoga is all about love and gratitude—and sweat, of course. Offering an abundance of courses, all available to sign up on the MindBody App, you can come to Village to engage with the local community and unplug. All classes are smartphone-free. This is a good place for people who have little Yoga experience (although they welcome beginners).

It’s important to note that at this studio, you will need to bring your own mat or pay to rent one from their collection.

Estrella Collective

Photo Credit: fizkes

Increase your inner and outer beauty at Estrella Collective. This hair salon is also Santa Cruz’s Premiere Buti Yoga studio. Combine upbeat Yoga and Belly Dance classes with a wide variety of beauty, scalp, and hair treatments to look and feel your best.

Channel your woo energy with sound healing and oracle readings while you’re at it. With competitive pricing and an ongoing 14-day $50 “new student” offer, it’s an excellent place for travelers to dip their toes in!

West Cliff Yoga

Photo Credit: West Cliff Yoga

This yoga space is known for its airy atmosphere and the private outdoor sessions it offers. At West Cliff, they stick to the basics, making this the perfect studio for first-timers. They focus on Foundational and Vinyasa Flow. They even offer Zoom classes and live recordings to guests who can’t make it to the studio!

Hot Elevation Studios

Photo Credit: Hot Elevation Studios

Sign up for a 30-day class pass (or 30 days unlimited) at this scorching studio. Just prepare for the heat!! The yoga on offer at Hot Elevation is often of the 100-degree plus variety! In addition to yoga, you’ll also find hot pilates, HIIT, Power Yoga, and hundreds more unique classes for those looking to get a killer workout.

Breath&Oneness

Photo Credit: Carrie Arlah

Cooling, calming, and grounding the courses at Breath&Oneness offer holistic wellness, including yoga, sound healing, and meditation. While you’ll find the classic restorative and energizing flow classes, you can also try unique asanas in Kundalini, Qigong, and Urban Zen. This is an excellent studio for visitors who will stay in Santa Cruz longer to take advantage of their lower 3-month member prices.

Yoga Center Santa Cruz

Photo Credit: Yoga Center Santa Cruz

Want to learn Hatha Yoga in the style of BKS Iyengar? This is the place to do it. This precise form of yoga focuses on correct alignment and develops strength, flexibility, stamina, and balance. It’s an excellent exercise regimen for those struggling with scoliosis, carpal tunnel, sports injuries, arthritis, and other physical ailments. They offer in-person and Zoom classes, which means you can enjoy this class from your rental balcony or on the beach.

Outdoor Yoga Santa Cruz

Photo Credit: Dalton Johnson

There is no better way to practice yoga than in the great outdoors. The waves lap at the shore, and the sea breeze flows through your hair. You can feel at one with nature and yourself. This is the philosophy behind Outdoor Yoga Santa Cruz.

This company hits the beach to practice their poses, and all bodies and skill levels can feel comfortable in this fun, inclusive environment. It’s also a great way to see more of the Santa Cruz area and meet people during your stay!

Non-Traditional Yoga

Photo Credit: Yoga Center Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is all about the weird and wacky, which means you can also find some non-traditional yoga classes within the city. Ganja Yoga Santa Cruz combines cannabis and yoga, and Goat Santa Cruz combines outdoor yoga with friendly goats. Watch for local events, including Yogic dance, silent disco yoga, beer yoga, and beach yoga!

Considering Yoga Teacher Training?

A handful of places in Santa Cruz offer Yoga Teacher Training. Remember that a course like this usually takes a minimum of 3 weeks to complete. But if you’re visiting the Santa Cruz area for the summer, then this is something you might be interested in!

These are a few places that offer teacher training courses in Santa Cruz.

  • Pleasure Point Yoga
  • Santa Cruz Yoga
  • Hot Elevation Studios

Find Your Yoga Center in Santa Cruz!

Whether you add a standalone class to your weekend getaway or join a month-long membership to dial in your pranayama skills, these studios throughout Santa Cruz will help you hit your physical and mental fitness goals.

Our rental properties offer you a private slice of solitude on your next relaxing getaway to the Santa Cruz region. Close to nature or right in town, you can easily practice yoga from all of our vacation homes, whether it’s just a place for two or the whole family!

Book your Beachnest stay today!