California has 840 miles of coastline.
Most yogis never use it.
Studios work.
Beaches work better.
Sand under your feet.
Salt in your lungs.
Waves instead of music.
Beach yoga in California works best at dawn, before the wind and the crowds.
These are the places that hold.
Zuma Beach (Malibu)
Go early. Before 7 a.m.
Parking is free. The beach is quiet.
Walk north. Past the crowds. Toward the rocks.
The sand is firm. The horizon stays open.
Surfers paddle out while you move.
This is California yoga.
Will Rogers State Beach (Santa Monica)
Less noise than the pier.
More space than Venice.
The bike path runs nearby. Ignore it.
Set up south of the volleyball courts. Morning light lands clean here.
Sunset works too. Locals already know.
Manhattan Beach — Sand Section
The strand runs wide.
Practice near the tide line for firm sand.
Move uphill if you want more work.
Pier views north and south. Clean beach. Steady energy.
People return here.
Crescent Bay (Laguna Beach)
A protected cove. Calm mornings.
Cliffs frame the water. Tide pools appear at low tide.
It's small. Intimate.
Tourists arrive late. You'll be finished by then.
Swami's Beach (Encinitas)
Surf meets yoga.
The Self-Realization Fellowship watches from the cliff.
Long stairs lead down.
Offshore morning winds. Glassy waves.
This place remembers.
Dog Beach (Del Mar)
North end of town.
Dogs run free. Energy changes with the hour.
Early mornings stay quiet. Sunsets fill fast.
The beach is wide. There's room for it all.
Scripps Beach (La Jolla)
Torrey Pines rises to the north.
Gentle waves. Soft sand.
Locals guard it.
Respect gets space.
Arrive early. Earn your spot.
The reputation holds.
What You Need
An extra-long mat.
Standard mats cramp tall bodies. California deserves room.
A strap for tight mornings.
A block for balance on moving sand.
A towel for salt and sweat.
Water. Sunscreen.
Respect for the ocean.
The California Difference
Beach yoga isn't a trend here.
It's a habit.
The coastline is public.
The practice is personal.
Studios charge by the class.
The beach charges nothing.
Pick your spot.
Roll out your mat.
Practice.
Choose the beach.
Choose California.