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Essaouira is the perfect destination to balance travel and wellness. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, there are a handful of options for visitors to practice yoga in Essaouira.
Considering the laid back, alternative vibe of Essaouira, you won’t be surprised to hear that a number of yoga studios and classes have popped up in and around the medina over the years. And what’s great for short-term visitors to Essaouira is that drop-in classes are available, as well as more immersive yoga experiences by way of a retreat.
Essaouira is the perfect Moroccan destination to balance travel and wellness. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just starting your practice, the city’s serene beaches, peaceful riads, and growing yoga community offer the ideal backdrop for reconnecting with your mind and body. In this post, we’ll explore the best spots for yoga in Essaouira and why this coastal gem is becoming a must-visit for yogis around the world.
Best yoga classes in Essaouira
There are three main yoga studios in Essaouira for those visitors looking for one-off classes. While drop-in may be possible, it’s best to email ahead and book in advance.
1. Moga Yoga Studio
Situated in the heart of the medina close to the ramparts, Moga Yoga Studio offers a variety of classes, including Vinyasa, Hatha, and Pranayama, catering to all levels from beginners to advanced practitioners.
The studio is a beautiful space with stone walls and dark wooden beams, which all help to create a calm atmosphere. Classes are available every day of the week, so you will definitely be able to combine an Essaouira yoga class with your visit.
Moga Yoga is not just a place for physical exercise. Some classes also include a sound bath or ‘healing journey’, which includes using instruments such as singing bowls, chimes and gongs, and there are regular cultural workshops and wellness events. Plus, you can also book in for massages and treatments on request.
2. Swira Yoga
From a beachfront studio, Swira Yoga offers variety of daily classes, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, and Gentle Yang to Yin (closed on Sundays). Classes are available in English and in French.
Classes are split between the two instructors, Jenny and Omar, and are very easy to book online via their website. Each class is one hour long. Mats and props are provided for all in studio classes.
All regularly scheduled classes are held in studio. However, they do sometimes arrange beach classes, which are announced on their Instagram page.
Private classes, workshops, and retreats can also be arranged.
3. Shanti Yoga Studio
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Offering evening classes four days per week, Shanti Yoga Studio is a small but airy studio offering Yin, Vinyasa and Hatha yoga taught by the excellent instructor, Mohammed.
Class times can change depending on the season, so check the Instagram or Facebook page for up-to-date information (there is currently no website).
This Essaouira yoga studio is towards the outskirts of the city, a 25 minute walk from Bab Doukkala (exiting from the Jewish Quarter of the medina).
4. AcroYoga Experience
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A fun dive into the world of partner acrobatics with 90min beginner level acro yoga class on the beach.
The class begins with warm up, partner stretches and moves into progressively more difficult acro yoga poses. Poses are broken down and explained in detail in order to make them attainable and to create and deepen the body awareness. Attention to detail also creates safety.
Class ends with high fives and an optional dip to the ocean.
This class is suitable for singles, couples and groups. Acroyoga is a fantastic way to discover a fun new way to play together and to connect with others. A safe space to test your strength as a base and your balance as a flyer.
There is also a WhatsApp group where free training sessions (jams) are organised. In the acroyoga jams there are no teachers specifically, but everyone can come and train what they wish. It’s a communal event where more advanced practitioners also help beginners to learn more.
Message on Instagram for dates and times and further information.
Yoga retreats in Essaouira
For those looking to deepen their practice in a truly immersive experience, Essaouira’s yoga retreats offer the perfect blend of mindfulness and escape.
There are a handful of Essaouira hotels that offer ad hoc retreats, but the following are the best places when considering a yoga retreat in Essaouira.
1. La Vida Surf
Between the 1st September and 31st May, La Vida Surf offer four and seven day yoga retreats at Villa Dar Zitoon. This is located a 30 minute drive away from Essaouira, just off the road to Marrakech, so you are away from the hustle and bustle of medina life.
It’s a true oasis in the countryside, offering a peaceful environment for those looking to unwind, recharge, and deepen their practice. Plus, there’s a pool.
Yoga classes are twice per day (once before breakfast and once before dinner), and there’s a daily activity (such as a conscious walk or workshop). The classes follow a classical yoga protocol including pranayama (breathing), asana (seating or dynamic posture) and savasana (relaxation). Afternoons are left for you to relax in your own time.
Accommodation, all yoga classes and workshops, yoga equipment, and most meals are included.
2. Les Jardins De Mogador yoga et SPA
In a stunning countryside setting, Les Jardins De Mogador offers five and eight day retreats all year round. Included in the package are yoga classes twice a day, accommodation and meals.
Classes take place in the yoga studio or outside in the gardens.
3. Iris Retreat
Situated south of Essaouira, just outside Diabat, Iris Retreat also offers yoga retreats. These are organised by independent yoga instructors using their space, rather then through the centre itself. Click here to see the calendar of upcoming Essaouira yoga retreats and then email Iris Retreat for further information.
Retreats are offered in a range of languages (English, French, German, Spanish) and are for a maximum of ten participants.
Accommodation is provided in a modern, homely villa with a pool. Extra activities are often included such as a surf lesson or hammam.
Hotels offering yoga classes in Essaouira
Many hotels are now recognizing the value of wellness and relaxation for their guests, and offering yoga as part of their experience has become increasingly popular.
Riad Dar L’Qdima is the only accommodation that we know of that provides regular weekly classes to guests. These take place every Wednesday on the terrace.
Other Essaouira hotels that can arrange yoga classes for you if you book in advance include:
- Les Terrasses Essaouira
- Essaouira Lodge
- Riad Yanitri
- Riad Les Trois Merveilles
Final thoughts on yoga in Essaouira
When we first visited Essaouira back in 2014, there were no yoga classes that we knew of, and I did think this strange at the time as yoga perfectly fits the vibe of Essaouira. But it’s great that there are now a range of options for visitors wishing to practice yoga in Essaouira.
Whether you’re practicing on a rooftop with panoramic ocean views, in a tranquil studio, or directly on the sandy shores, Essaouira’s yoga scene invites you to slow down and connect with the natural beauty around you. With a range of styles and instructors, there are options that cater to all levels, ensuring everyone can find their flow and cultivate mindfulness. In this coastal haven, yoga becomes more than just a practice: it’s a transformative experience of relaxation and renewal.
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Explore Essaouira ebook£16.95
Explore Essaouira ebook
Updated for 2025, the Explore Essaouira ebook is the only travel guide you need for exploring Essaouira. It is jam-packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes the step-by-step self-guided walking tour (with photos).
This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Save it to read on the plane to Morocco, download to your phone to follow the self-guided walking tour around the medina, or print it off at home before you leave on your adventures and highlight all the bits you want to remember for your visit.
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Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Essaouira
Essaouira walking tour (self-guided)
Day trips from Essaouira
How to get around Essaouira
The best restaurants in Essaouira
The best hotels in Essaouira
Essaouira travel FAQs: everything you need to know before your visit
A brief history of Essaouira