Anahata Yoga Shala

Anahata Yoga Shala sits on the beachfront of Haad Yao Beach on the west side of Koh Phangan, Thailand, nestled within the grounds of Sandy Bay Resort. Founded by Vanessa Burger in November 2016, the studio originally operated at Bovy Beach before relocating to its current home in 2019, where a dedicated yoga shala was completed in January 2020. Despite the challenges of the years that followed, the studio has steadily welcomed back both tourists and the local expatriate community, and today stands as a warm, inclusive space open to practitioners of all levels.

The studio takes its name from the Anahata chakra — the heart centre in Hindu and Buddhist tantric traditions, meaning "unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten" in Sanskrit. This philosophy shapes everything about the space: an emphasis on self-awareness, compassion, emotional balance, and the kind of grounded presence that comes from consistent practice. Classes draw on yoga philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, and universal laws of nature, weaving together physical postures with a broader invitation toward self-knowledge and loving awareness.

Anahata Yoga Shala offers a varied class schedule including Aerial Yoga, meditation, and restorative yoga, with morning classes held in the open-air beach shala and sunset Aerial Yoga sessions taking advantage of the studio's west-facing position over the water. All classes are priced at 400 baht per person, and the studio provides mats and equipment, making it particularly welcoming for beginners. Sessions run daily, weather permitting, with closures during heavy rains and flash floods — a natural rhythm that suits the island pace of life.

Beyond drop-in classes, Anahata also offers Yoga Teacher Training Courses and Aerial Yoga Retreats for those looking to deepen their practice or take it in a new direction. The studio serves a genuinely mixed community — visiting travellers, long-term island residents, and those drawn to a more contemplative approach to health and wellbeing. Located in Tambon Ko Pha-ngan, Chang Wat Surat Thani, it is the kind of place that feels rooted in its setting, shaped by its surroundings, and guided by something more than just the physical practice of yoga.