The most unique yoga classes & studios in Sydney

For testing your balance on the water  

Connect with the flow of the ocean and build your core during a stand-up paddleboard yoga class. Held in the calm waters of Manly Cove, Flow mOcean’s floating yoga studio will challenge your balance and put your skills to the test. But be warned: even the most experienced yogis should expect to get wet! 

Yoga on stand-up paddleboards, Flow mOcean - Credit: Flow mOcean

For bridge pose by the beach 

Nothing says ‘Sydney’ quite like a yoga class by the beach. Yoga by the Sea runs classes in the east at Bondi and Bronte beaches, and in the north at Manly and Freshwater, so you can start the day with sunrise power yoga or wind down with a relaxing evening class, all accompanied by the sound of the pounding surf. Also in Manly, Cambrian Yoga runs regular classes on the beach and even has dedicated sessions for toddler yogis. 

Yoga class at Freshwater Beach

For saluting the sun beneath a city icon   

Gaze up at the intricate metalwork of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from your yoga mat during a free Sunday morning class with Yoga Under the Bridge. Suitable for all levels, the class focusses on strength, flexibility and movement while invigorating you for the day with those spectacular harbour views. 

Yoga Under the Bridge, Dawes Point

For an upside-down adventure 

If you’ve ever dreamed of running away with the circus, you’ll love embracing your inner trapeze artist with these aerial yoga classes. Using large hammocks made of silk, you’ll be suspended from the ceiling for a fun, high-energy class that’s a mix of yoga, Pilates, dance and aerial arts. Sky-lab in Surry Hills is one of the best, letting you defy gravity in an industrial-style studio decorated with graffiti and flooded with natural light. 

Sky-lab, Surry Hills - Credit: Sky-lab

For a class surrounded by ancient gum forest 

Paradise Yoga’s tiny Avalon studio sits amid a cluster of ancient spotted gums, overlooking Pittwater on the Northern Beaches. Teacher and owner Claire offers a gentle style of yoga that blends hatha and yin, so you can expect lots of calming, slow stretches that won’t require you to practice any fancy poses or headstands. Book a full-day yoga retreat for the ultimate relaxation experience. 

Paradise Yoga, Avalon Beach - Credit: Paradise Yoga

For getting in touch with your inner frequency 

Enjoy a full sensory embrace at Humming Puppy, the Redfern studio infused with ‘the Hum’: a unique soundscape that combines digital and organic frequencies to bathe you in constant soundwaves while you practice your yoga. Teachers also use singing bowls to create another layer of sounds, said to increase focus and promote a deep sense of calm. 

Humming Puppy, Redfern - Credit: Humming Puppy

For feeling the heat 

Bikram yoga first became popular in the 1970s, with people flocking to practice in studios heated to over 40 degrees Celsius. The stylish One Hot Yoga in Potts Point puts its own spin on the practice, offering classes at 21, 27 and 37 degrees. Each temperature brings its own benefits for health and movement, while also providing a gentler way for hot yoga novices to dip their toes into the (warm) water

One Hot Yoga, Potts Point - Credit: One Hot Yoga

For an immersive retreat 

Take your yoga experience to the next level with a multi-day immersive retreat. Heart & Soul is a yoga and wellness retreat tucked into tranquil bushland in Otford, just outside the Royal National Park on the southern edge of Sydney. Each retreat includes daily yoga and meditation sessions, vegan meals, inspiring workshops, and time spent in nature. 

Heart and Soul Retreats, Otford - Credit: Heart and Soul Retreats

Further afield

For yoga fun in the mountains

Distance from Sydney: 90 minutes 

Happy Buddha Retreats offer a serene escape from the daily grind, inviting you to swap city noise for rustling leaves and chirping birds. Whether you're a yoga novice or a seasoned practitioner, their retreats cater to all, blending dynamic yoga sessions, meditation and even the occasional drumming circle to awaken your inner rhythm. With cosy accommodations and nourishing vegetarian meals, Happy Buddha is less about finding yourself and more about rediscovering your inner joy.

For a peaceful retreat

Distance from Sydney: 50 minutes 

For those looking to go a bit deeper on their stretches, ​Billabong Retreat's Day Retreat offers a rejuvenating yoga experience in tranquil natural surrounds in the outskirts of Sydney. The program includes a yoga class suitable for all levels, focusing on enhancing flexibility, strength and mindfulness. Add personalised yoga consultations tailored to individual needs and free use of the rejuvenating magnesium pool and you’ve got an experience ideal for both yoga enthusiasts and newcomers looking to deepen their practice.