Teaching in Coastal Environments
Laurie Kinkel teaching a beach yoga class at sunset on Tybee Island, Georgia 2019 at Mermaid Point
More Than a Beautiful Backdrop: The Ethics of Teaching Yoga in Shared Coastal Spaces
Teaching beyond the studio. Protecting the places we practice.
When most people picture beach yoga, they imagine sunrise over the Atlantic, the sound of waves, and a peaceful practice in the sand.
It's beautiful.
But what many don't realize is that teaching outdoors comes with a unique responsibility.
At Tybee Yoga & Healing Arts, we've been guiding beach yoga experiences on Tybee Island since 2013. Over the years, we've learned that leading yoga outside isn't simply about taking a studio class to the beach. It's about becoming part of a community, respecting a shared public space, and caring for the coastline that makes this practice possible.
Whether you're joining us for your very first beach yoga class or you're a fellow yoga teacher dreaming of teaching outdoors, we believe these principles matter.
Public Spaces Deserve Professional Courtesy
Tybee's beaches belong to everyone.
They are shared by local families, visitors, surfers, fishermen, photographers, birdwatchers, sea turtles, nesting shorebirds, and countless small businesses that help make our island special.
Because these spaces are public, none of us own them.
But we all have the opportunity to choose how we show up within them.
Professional courtesy is one of the most overlooked aspects of teaching outdoors. When another instructor, guide, or local business has spent years building a consistent gathering place, introducing students to a specific location, and cultivating community there, a simple conversation or choosing a different beach access/area can go a long way toward preventing confusion and building goodwill.
Community grows through communication, not competition. And why compete? Its not like local yoga studios are killing it but I tell you what, I know I pay more than most teachers, why not learn from someone who’s been doing this awhile and make sure you are practicing ahimsa!
Ahimsa Doesn't End When Class Begins
One of the first ethical principles of yoga is Ahimsa, the practice of non-harming.
Ahimsa isn't limited to what happens on our yoga mats.
It extends into our words, our choices, our businesses, and the way we interact with our communities.
Before making a decision, we can ask ourselves:
Does this create unnecessary confusion?
Am I respecting the people who have invested in this community?
Am I acting with kindness and integrity?
Is there a way for everyone to thrive?
Yoga asks us to look beyond what we're allowed to do and consider what reflects the highest expression of our practice.
Being a Guest in Nature
Teaching on Tybee Island means becoming a guest in an incredible coastal ecosystem. That goes for Yogi’s, Surfers, Scientists, Paddleboarders, etc..
Every season brings new responsibilities.
Sea turtles return to nest.
Migrating shorebirds depend on our beaches for survival.
Protected dunes stabilize our shoreline.
The tides shift our teaching spaces from week to week.
As yoga teachers, we have an opportunity to educate students about respecting wildlife, avoiding the dunes, leaving no trace, and protecting the beaches that support our practice.
Every class can become an act of stewardship.
Supporting the Community That Supports You
Running a small business is about more than offering a service.
It's about becoming part of the community where you work.
That means supporting fellow local businesses, understanding local regulations, ordinances, collaborating with neighbors, and investing in the place that allows your business to flourish.
For me, that commitment has looked like:
Adopting Mermaid Point through Tybee Island's Adopt-a-Beach Program.
Organizing beach cleanups.
Teaching students about sea turtle nesting season and migratory shorebirds.
Partnering with local nonprofits and conservation organizations.
Encouraging Leave No Trace practices in every outdoor class.
Administrating the Connect Tybee community to help share local events, conservation efforts, small business news, and opportunities for neighbors and visitors to care for our island together.
These efforts aren't separate from yoga.
They are yoga.
There Is Room for All of Us
I truly believe there is room for many wonderful yoga teachers.
Healthy communities grow when teachers support one another, communicate openly, and recognize that collaboration creates far more abundance than competition ever will.
The goal isn't to claim a beach.
The goal is to honor it.
To respect those who came before us.
To welcome those who come after us.
To remember that yoga is much more than movement.
It is integrity.
It is service.
It is stewardship.
It is community.
Those values don't stop when class ends.
In many ways, they begin long before anyone steps onto a mat.
Practice With Us
If you're looking for an authentic beach yoga experience rooted in community, nature, and traditional yoga, we'd love to welcome you.
Explore More
🌊 Weekly Beach Yoga Schedule
Join one of our weekly sunrise, sunset, and community beach yoga classes on Tybee Island.
Internal link: https://www.tybeeyogahealingarts.com/community
🧘 Private Beach Yoga Experiences
Planning a bachelorette weekend, family vacation, retreat, or private gathering? Let us create a memorable beach yoga experience just for your group.
Internal link: https://www.tybeeyogahealingarts.com/bachelorette
🌿 Beach Yoga Certification
Are you a yoga teacher interested in leading safe, ethical, and environmentally responsible outdoor classes? Learn the skills needed to become a Responsible Coastal Yoga Teacher.
Internal link: (coming soon)
🤍 Our Community
Discover the conservation projects, nonprofit partnerships, and local organizations we're proud to support on Tybee Island and beyond.
Internal link: https://www.tybeeyogahealingarts.com/our-community
Since 2013...
Tybee Yoga & Healing Arts has believed that every yoga class should leave two things better than we found them:
The people.
And the place.
