10 Tips for Teaching Yoga on the Beach

Teaching yoga on the beach isn’t all Instagram sunsets and perfect poses. It’s sandy, windy, unpredictable… and one of the best experiences you can give your students.

So if you’re thinking of taking your class or your practice outdoors, or just curious about what yoga looks like with a soundtrack of seagulls and crashing waves, this one’s for you.

1. Check if you need a permit

Let’s start with the serious stuff. If you are thinking of teaching yoga outside, whether on a beach or in another public place such as a park, you will probably need a license.

Depending on the local authority responsible for managing the space, check with them to see if a permit is required to teach. If so, you will likely have to complete an event form, perform a risk assessment, and show proof of your teacher qualification and insurance.

You don’t want a fine or the embarrassment of the local authority disrupting your class halfway through because you didn’t acquire permission, so get your paperwork sorted before anything else.

Once you have permission, the rest is (mostly) plain sailing.

2. Tides and times

This is a big one: remember to check the tide times. It’s so obvious that it’s all too easy to forget, and I’ve been caught out because I just assumed the tide would be out.

When you apply for your permit, you will need to specify the location, dates, and times at which you will hold your class. Don’t forget to check the tides and ideally, have a backup location.

Are you thinking of sunrise or sunset yoga? While you might be picturing a deserted beach with just you, your students, and a backdrop of a setting sun, ensure you make a sensible prediction on how busy the beach will be.

A good tip is to search for the location on Google Maps and look at the popular times data so you can avoid the busy times.

Try to have an alternative venue, even if the tide is out and the beach is deserted, the coastal weather can be unpredictable.

3. Perform a sand check

Litter, dog poo, jellyfish, or other detritus from the sea … not the props we’re visioning when we design our beautiful beach yoga class. But it’s the reality of being on the beach.

Before your class begins, give yourself enough time to scan the area where you will hold your class and ensure it is clean and safe.

4. Swap your mat for a towel

I know it might sound a bit unconventional, but we’re so used to our grippy mats in the studio, right? But when you’re teaching yoga on the beach, everything changes.

First off, mats and sand don’t mix well. Mats bunch, slip, or warp when they’re on uneven ground. But a towel? It settles into the sand. It moves with it, as if it understands the terrain.

And then there’s the clean-up. Sand sticks to yoga mats like glitter at a kids’ party. You’ll still be finding grains a week later. Towels, though, you just shake them out, rinse if needed, and pop them in the wash. Done.

On a sunny day, a dark mat can feel like a frying pan under your hands and feet. A towel stays cooler. And if you sweat, it’ll absorb the moisture and give you more grip.

But one of the biggest reasons I love using a towel is the sensory connection. You can still feel the sand beneath you, and it’s a beautiful reminder that you’re practising with nature, not trying to block it out.

And finally, towels are lightweight. You can fold one into your bag, wrap it around your shoulders, and they’re super easy to transport.

So if you’re heading to the beach with your mat, try switching it up, and feel the difference. You might be surprised by how much freer and more grounded your practice becomes.

Here are a few of my favorite towels (as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases):

• Blue Turkish Beach Towel

• Fit-Flip Hammam Beach Towel

• Haleey 2-Pack Turkish Cotton Beach Towel

There are lots of colors and patterns to choose from, so you can mix and match them to the theme of your class.

5. Useful equipment

The props you need on the beach are different to those in a studio. Forget lugging blankets and bolsters to the beach; you’ll need sunglasses and sunscreen.

I find a cap is essential for keeping the sun out of my eyes, especially for poses that have you reaching to the sky or looking upwards.

It’s also helpful to pack an eye mask for Savasana, the last thing you want is the sun blazing through your eyelids while relaxing the body and mind.

6. Grounding takes on a whole new meaning

Practicing on sand is a very different experience from a studio. Sand shifts beneath you, it throws off your balance, and it works muscles you didn’t know existed.

Balancing poses can be a wobbly adventure! But it teaches you and your students to really root down and feel the connection to the earth below.

Encourage your students to close their eyes in certain poses and let the sensation of their feet in the sand become the focus. It can be messy, yes, but it’s fun and powerful.

True grounding isn’t about a perfect posture, but about presence and adapting to how you feel in the moment.

When sequencing your class, think about how each pose will feel when practised on the sand instead of a hard floor.

And if you have the chance, rehearse your sequence on the sand before you teach it, as you might find some poses work better than others.

7. Sequencing matters

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that sequencing matters even more when you’re teaching yoga on the beach.

In a studio, we often begin seated, or in Child’s Pose. But out on the sand? Starting on the ground means you’re inviting sand everywhere: on hands, knees, and faces. It’s not the most comfortable way to begin a practice.

Consider starting with standing poses. This gives your students time to settle in, connect to their breath, and adjust to the elements without getting gritty too early on.

Begin with something like Mountain Pose, feet in the sand, eyes closed — feeling the beach beneath, the breeze on the skin, the rhythm of the waves. Then move into a standing flow — maybe some shoulder rolls, side stretches, or a soft standing twist — and gradually build into Warrior variations, Sun Salutations, or Balancing Poses.

You can then lower to the mat or towel for seated stretches, core work, and eventually, savasana.

It’s one of those small details that can enhance the experience for your students, especially if they’re new to outdoor yoga.

8. Create a beach-themed sequence

You don’t need an elaborate sequence when the beach is your backdrop, and the waves are your soundtrack.

But it can be fun to add some nautical poses. I’m thinking Mermaid, Fish, Dolphin, and Boat pose. Keep transitions between poses super fluid to feel at one with the sea.

Including Ujjayi breathing to synchronize with the waves can be a soulful experience that brings deep release.

Creating that oceanic sound at the back of your throat in tandem with the real-life beach experience brings an element to your class that you’ll never recreate in a studio.

9. Less is more

When the setting is this beautiful, you don’t need to over-teach. Forget fancy sequences.

Students come to beach yoga for the connection with themselves, the waves, and the outdoor experience.

The ocean offers rhythm; the wind brings movement; seagulls add sounds. You’re just there to guide.

The best classes are often the simplest: slow flows, long holds, space to just be. This is the time to speak less and trust the space more.

I love holding a pose for long enough to engage with my breath and appreciate the surroundings.

What better than having the mental space to absorb the beautiful environment?

10. Let go of control

When you teach in a studio, you have control. Lighting, music, props, temperature. On the beach? The tide rolls in whether you’re ready or not.

Sometimes the wind picks up halfway through Savasana, or a wet dog suddenly decides to join in.

And that’s the gift — learning to let go of control. To flow with what is. To accept the sounds, the interruptions, the imperfections.

Teaching on the beach taught me to hold space differently, not just as a teacher, but as a human. A listener. A witness.

🌼Final thoughts

So those are my tips and takeaways from teaching and practising yoga on the beach.

Every class will teach you something new. Not just about yoga, but about being okay with not knowing. About showing up with an open heart, even when things don’t go to plan.

Because let’s face it, that’s yoga too.

If you’ve ever practised outside, I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share your experiences in the comments. Check out the 7 Benefits of Practising Yoga Outdoors.

And if you’ve never rolled your mat out on the sand… maybe this is your sign that it’s time.

Until next time — stay grounded, stay open, and remember: your breath will always bring you home.