Yoga in Thailand is some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere around the world. Plus, the weather in this country is about perfect for a year-round, outdoors yoga practice.
If the latest fitness-friendly Instagram selfie craze is anything to go by, jaunting around the world to deepen your yoga practice is more popular than ever – and Thailand serves as a perfect place to do your downward dogs while staying in some gorgeous spots.
Thailand is one best places in the world to practice yoga, of the mind and the body.
You can attend classes, studios and retreats across the country, but there are some main hubs where you’ll find particularly large yoga scenes throughout the year.
Yoga in Bangkok
When I think of Bangkok, the first thing that comes to mind is traffic. Then food. Then big fancy hotels… not yoga. However, because of all its craziness, fitting in a couple yoga classes while in Bangkok is a great way to try and balance out the big city buzz and carve out a little space for yourself.
Yoga Elements
While the yoga centers here aren’t quite as charming or yoga-y feeling as elsewhere in the country, there are still some excellent options with one in particular standing out. Yoga Elements is regularly recognized as one of the top studios in the city – Travel + Leisure even named it “Bangkok’s best yoga studio” – and runs a range of classes, workshops, teacher trainings and private sessions so you’re sure to find some yoga classes in Thailand here that appeal to you.
Of course in a city the size of Bangkok, there are plenty of additional options for you to choose from. Yoga in Thailand is nothing if not varied.
Absolute You
Absolute You was Thailand’s first hot yoga studio. Their signature class is called Absolute Fit class and it is a definitely great way to improve your overall health and fitness. It’s a mix of yoga and cardio, and it will challenge even experienced yogis.
They have multiple branches in Bangkok, but the main branch in Silom and they offer more than 50 classes per week. Absolute You offers a variety of classes including Vinyasa yoga, Hatha yoga, Yin Yang, Absolute Fit, Hot series, Hot Flow, and many other styles. You can email them at info@absoluteyou.com for more information.
Yoga Elements Studio
The latest news is that this studio is currently closed, but due to reopen in the new year under a new name, but same owner: Adrian Cox School of Breathwork & Yoga. Stay tuned on their website for more updated information.
If the new incarnation is similar to Adrian’s old studio, there will be Vinyasa yoga, classes to learn the basics of meditation, the art of pranayama, and also chanting lessons, for a state of meditative calm.
Divine Yoga
This yoga studio provides yoga therapy for different disease management including tips for the prevention, cure and rehabilitation of physical, mental and emotional problems. Their yoga is based on the teachings of Bihar School of Yoga, under the guidance of Master Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who has received his Masters Degree in Applied Yogic Science from the Bihar Yoga Bharati in 2004.
They also have Zumba, Piloxing, Dance Workout and Bollywood Dance classes, if your interests extend beyond yoga. Their email address is info@divine-yoga.com for more information.
YOGA LOFT Metropolitan studio
This studio is located right next to Lumphini Park in Pathum Wan District of Bangkok. You can find them on Facebook here. They have a variety of classes, from basic yoga all the way to power yoga. Walk-ins are welcome and there is also a monthly pass option.
Yogatique
Located in the heart of the Phrom Phong area of town, the cosy Yogatique is all about feeding your inner curious yogi. It is open 7 days and week and prices are reasonable. Classes range from Hatha flow to Vinyassa flow to Sivananda and they offer yoga training as well.
Yoga in Chiang Mai
It’s no secret that I’m partial to the north but (along with some of the country’s best food, accommodation, markets, and landscapes) it truly is the best place for yoga as well. There is a strong yoga and wellness community here with a solid set of local and foreign teachers that work around town. Several yoga studios close to the Old City, such as Namo Yoga or The Yoga Tree, make it easy for travelers to drop in on a class and the welcoming, laid-back attitude helps them feel immediately welcome.
There are also several small studios outside the city center and the Northern Thai hills are a popular setting for yoga retreats. Thailand Yoga Holidays, for instance, runs 10-night retreats that combine a yoga focus while taking full advantage of the true beauty of the north and all that Thailand has to offer with stops in places like Pai, Chiang Dao, a permaculture farm and even a floating retreat center. By discovering the area through one of the company’s retreats, run by a Canadian instructor who’s been living in Chiang Mai for the past eight years, you’ll practice yoga in some unbelievable places you never would have found on your own while also learning more about the country, culture and, of course, eating delicious food.
Yoga on Koh Phangan
You can find yoga studios and classes to a certain degree on every island, but if you’re serious about your practice and want yoga to play a major role in your Thailand holiday, Koh Phangan is by far the place to be. Yes, the island is infamous for its Full Moon Beach Party (and Half Moon Party and Quarter Moon Party…) but it’s also the yoga center of the south and home to more yoga and retreat centers than any other island.
The Sanctuary
including The Sanctuary, a highly popular wellness and detox center, along with a number of other studios such as
Agama Yoga
All Yoga Thailand
Blooming Lotus Yoga
Yoga on Koh Pha Ngan
One of the other great spots for a yoga retreat in Thailand is the Wonderland Healing retreat centre in Koh Pha Ngan. They offer yoga, a meditation retreat, and wellness retreats in peaceful, tropical island setting.
Wonderland Healing offers retreats throughout the year that range from four to 22 days, including walking meditation, vegan, and detox experience retreats. Highlights of the experience include Thai massage, Reiki treatment, daily yoga tips and meditation sessions, and full access to their swimming pool and herbal steam sauna.
They have a variety of options for accommodation, including the retreat facility which consists of 37 rooms, dorms, and private villas. Your price will include your room, meals, and a shuttle to and from the ferry port.
Yoga on Koh Samui
Koh Samui is one of my favorite islands in Thailand,
One of the better yoga retreats in Thailand is Samahita Retreat, located on the island of Koh Samui. Their experiences are specially tailored to help participants unlock their potential and enhance their vitality and capacity for self-care through massages and reflexology with their great team.
The price of their retreat includes the yoga and fitness program you choose, a snorkelling boat trip, daily buffet meals, and accommodation in a private or semi-private room, or a shared two-bedroom loft.
Samahita offers YogaCoreCycling, Detox and Wellness Programs daily no matter what day you arrive. They also offer both initial yoga teacher training as well as advanced training, and they also offer weight loss and detox programs as well.
Yogatique in BKK is awesome! Totally recommend it, my favorite studio in Southeast Asia aside from Radiantly Alive in Bali.
Thanks for the suggestion, Steph – I’ll have to check it out!
I’ve never done any yoga before and was completely against the idea when (pretty much) everyone around us in Thailand was talking about how they’d done a week long course of yoga training and were now “experts”.
It was enough to put me off the idea for life.
Thankfully though we’ve since met a number of great yoga instructors who’ve convinced me that if you go to the right place to learn about yoga for the mind, soul, AND body; it can be amazing.
Already familiar with yoga back home in my country, India but this one in Thailand sounds interesting as well, would love to check these someday!
I’m heading to Thailand next week! I’ve done yoga once in my life, so I think it’s the perfect time to take your tips on board 🙂
You just saved my time…….Thank you.
Yoga just does and bring miracle to your life.
Thanks for this information about all the yoga studios and the best ones !