‘Truly magical’: Best bets for beach yoga on Pawleys Island

With its scenic beauty, peaceful environment, and fresh ocean breezes, Pawleys Island is the perfect place for yoga on the beach.

“There is something truly magical about combining the serene practice of yoga with the tranquil atmosphere of Pawleys Island,” said Jeanne Adams, co-owner of Inner Connections Yoga & Wellness with her husband, John. “Imagine your toes in the warm sand, the sound of crashing waves, and the gentle sea breeze caressing your skin.”

Inner Connections Yoga & Wellness is one of two businesses in Pawleys Island that offer yoga classes on the beach. The other one is Pawleys Island Yoga.

Inner Connections Yoga & Wellness

Beginning in the early 1990s, Jeanne and John Adams have been teaching yoga since the early 1990s. They opened their first Inner Connection Yoga studio in Castle Rock, Colorado in 2002 and ran that until they moved to Pawleys Island in 2021 and opened Inner Connections Yoga & Wellness at Pawleys soon after they arrived.

Now in their third season in Pawleys Island, they lead yoga classes on the beach from May to October on the island’s Second Street beach access off Atlantic Avenue on the north end of the island. Times are from 8-9 a.m. on Tuesdays and from 6-7 p.m. on Thursdays. The cost is $10 per person, per session. For more information, click here.

“We create a space that invites people to open their hearts, quiet the noise in their heads, and to help them release what no longer serves them to be fully present, fully alive, and to remember to appreciate every moment for what it is – the miracle of life,” Jeanne Adams said. “There is no better place to show people how yoga and sacred spaces are medicine for our bodies and souls than Pawleys Island.”

She added that the Pawleys Island beach offers a unique experience that not only enhances physical well-being but also nourishes the mind, body, breath, and spirit.

“There are so many benefits, too, such as boosting your body’s Vitamin D, relieving stress, connecting with nature and all her gifts, enhancing focus and mindfulness, deepening your sense of clam, relaxation, and connection, and much more,” she said.

Inner Connections Yoga & Wellness also offers private yoga lessons, yoga therapy, Tibetan singing bowls, and intuitive touch therapy. Click here for more information.

Pawleys Island Yoga

Pawleys Island Yoga offers Beach Yoga at Sunset classes from May to Labor Day, every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 p.m. on the south end of the island. Throughout the year they have pop-up yoga during full moon events and holidays. Classes are $10 per person per session.

Michelle Dzurenda and Amy Simonson King, co-owners of Pawleys Island Yoga, say they love to offer yoga classes on the beach, especially during sunset.

Dzurenda says Pawleys Island beach sunsets can even improve a person’s emotional well-being. Add yoga to the mix, and it’s even better.

“Just being in the presence of something beautiful can make you feel better and more connected to yourself and your emotions,” she said. “And not only will watching sunsets make you feel better emotionally, it will also help you be a better person to others.”

She also says that she and King practice yoga with joy and a loose flow.

“What I find most wonderful about practicing in this more open way is that I have to listen,” Dzurenda said. “I have to tune into my body and mind to find what would be nourishing for that day. As long as the practice brings a sense of presence and ease into your day. You are practicing joy.”

Drew McCall Burke, a yogi with over 20 years of teaching experience, leads many of the beach yoga classes. He said he also enjoys leading yoga classes on the beach.

Pawleys Island Yoga also offers private yoga lessons. Click here for more information.

“Practicing on the beach allows you to connect with nature, breathing the freshest ocean air and listening to the calming sounds of the waves,” he said. “The sunsets and sunrises on Pawleys Island provide spectacular backdrops and the sensory experience of the warm sand sea and wind enhances mindfulness, helping you stay present during your practice.”

So finding peace and tranquility has always been possible on Pawleys Island, but, with yoga, there’s even more to find to clear your mind.

As most folks say at the end of a yoga session … “Namaste.” That’s the transference of positivity.

Positivity and Pawleys Island. What’s better than that?

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce