Be Flexable

October 1, 2012 | By Waikiki Magazine Team

Surrounded by uplifting island environs, these yoga venues make it easy to say “Om.”

For those of you who refuse to put your fitness regime on hold while on vacation, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to staying active in Waikiki. After all, there’s a reason why so many hotels in town have their own gym facilities, not to mention the 24 Hour Fitness (perhaps one of the few in the U.S. that has an ocean view) just across the beach—Hawai‘i is just as conducive for exercising as it is for rest and relaxation. Even the sand itself serves as nature’s own resistance to make those seaside jogs just a wee bit more challenging. And if you’re yoga proficient (or even just a novice) looking to strike a pose between tours, Waikiki certainly has more than a few classes and styles of instruction to choose from to ensure you attain the mind/body workout you’re yearning for.

Whether it’s the warrior pose on the beach or downward dog in a heated room, yoga classes are easily found here in Waikiki. If you really want to break a sweat, heated classes are available at Waikiki Hot Yoga (808-277-9935, www.waikikihotyoga.com). Located on the fifth floor pool deck of The Miramar Hotel, the 1,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art studio uses an infrared heating system for deeper stretching, strength building, and detoxification during each yoga session.

But if you’re looking for yoga classes alfresco, there’s a couple to chose from. Try taking a class with Dennis Miller at Chocolate-Pineapple Sports-Yoga (808-922-0171, www.waikikiyoga.com). Two of his class offerings include a beach yoga class (sand) and a park yoga class (grass). Miller’s classes are a hybrid of “Hatha yoga with movement fundamentals from modern dance training and PNF-style (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) sports stretching.”

With classes also held outdoors near the Diamond Head side of Waikiki, Sunset Yoga Hawaii (808-321-3297, www.sunsetyogahawaii.com) caters to those who prefer to practice Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga— an offshoot of classic Indian yoga practice. With credentials from Aryan Yoga & Reiki Centre in McLeod Ganj, India, RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) instructor Karen Le helps her students find proper alignment, focus and balance with every breath.

“I want to introduce and share [yoga with others]. Our class focuses on alignment and breath. It has helped so many of our folks gain patience, learn how to deal with stress and become so much more comfortable in their own skin and mind.”