Beach Yoga Classes Abound on the Island

Few people would look back on the COVID-19 pandemic and find anything good about those difficult years. But on Amelia Island, there was a silver lining. A robust beach yoga community was founded that thrives today.

Almost every day of the week, year-round, Nassau County residents and tourists can find a beach yoga class. The one-hour classes are geared to all levels of expertise and are open to all. Even the fees are flexible. Teachers simply ask for a donation.

The popularity of beach yoga mirrors trends around the country that started in 2020 when the COVID pandemic forced yoga practitioners to gather outdoors to safely continue their beloved classes, says Deb Cunningham, a long-time Nassau County yoga teacher.

“Beach yoga has grown significantly since COVID,” Cunningham says. “Everyone loved it so much, it’s become part of our culture.”

When COVID struck, Cunningham arranged to teach yoga on the balcony at Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, thanks to the generosity of the lodge’s owner. At that point, Cunningham notes, even the beaches were closed due to COVID concerns. Eventually, the beaches reopened. But yoga studios and gyms remained closed, so Cunningham scheduled some yoga classes on the beach outside Elizabeth Pointe Lodge.

Cunningham says she thought students would return to their indoors studios and gyms once COVID restrictions were lifted in 2021. But a dedicated group of students voiced support for staying on the beach.

Cunningham has since brought additional instructors to the consortium — known as Amelia Island Beach Yoga — and those instructors now offer classes from North Beach to beach access #39 on various days of the week. Depending on the day, there are morning, afternoon, sunrise and sunset beach classes, drawing from a few students to a couple of dozen. Class schedules are posted and updated regularly on the group’s Facebook page (Amelia Island Beach Yoga). Weather updates are posted on the Facebook page prior to classes. Classes are even held on chilly winter days.

“If it’s 35 degrees or up, I still get people out there,” she says. “We get people in Ugg boots, hats and gloves. If it’s under 35 degrees, we’ll cancel.”

While some yoga practitioners prefer climate-controlled studios and sand-free mats, those who love beach yoga say the outdoor setting enhances their practice. Lauree Hemke, a ballroom dance instructor and long-time yoga enthusiast, describes beach yoga as different from a studio practice.

“I push myself a little harder on the beach,” she says. “What I like about beach yoga is that every day is different. It makes me find my balance very day.  Surrounded by the dunes, beach, wind, sound, smells — it’s a whole-body experience. “

The instructors tailor their classes to suit a wide range of yoga experience, says Chris Brazie, who has been teaching classes on the beach for about a year.

“It’s all levels,” he says. “We accommodate everyone. The only deterrent is we don’t have a solid, flat platform. The sand makes it a little harder or different. But you can still get your footing. The sand is super grounding.”

The beach yoga instructors encourage people to give beach yoga a try.

“If you’re good with sand and love the beach, you’re going to love yoga on the beach,” says Kayla Jones, who has been teaching yoga on the beach for about four years. “It’s about the connection you find within yourself and the connection you find within nature. We are so grateful to live in such a beautiful place.”

Yoga is suited to outdoor environments, says Kellie Boston, who has been teaching yoga on the beach for more than two years and operates an outdoor yoga business called EcoYoga. Boston and other “outdoors” instructors also teach standup paddleboard yoga at Jaybird Hammock Farm.

“I want my yoga outdoors,” Boston says. “When you connect with nature, you connect with your body as well. It allows the body to be stimulated by nature.”

Every day on the beach is unique, Cunningham notes. The ocean looks different every day. Each sunrise and sunset is unique. Beach yoga students have seen space shuttles soaring into space, she says, and dolphins leaping over waves. Despite sand between their toes and fingers, students keep coming back.

“It’s the healing energy of the ocean,” Cunningham says. “That effect is very powerful and profound. I see it every single time I’m out there. Someone comes up to me and they’ve experienced this magical moment.”