Yoga has become a significant part of the wellness culture in Brazil, with São Paulo at the forefront of this movement. From the bustling streets of Vila Madalena to the serene parks of Jardins, yoga studios have flourished, catering to both locals, expats and travellers. The diversity of yoga practices available reflects the city’s cosmopolitan nature, offering something for everyone—whether you’re seeking the intensity of Ashtanga, the fluidity of Vinyasa, the grounding nature of Hatha, the meditative pace of Yin, or the sweat-inducing challenge of Hot yoga. Each form of yoga provides a unique approach to achieving balance and mindfulness, allowing practitioners to find what resonates with their individual needs and energy levels.
I had been practicing yoga sporadically for many years and when living in Milan, Italy in 2018, I was first introduced to Ashtanga yoga with a wonderful teacher guiding me through the sequence of the first series. Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic and structured practice that follows a set sequence of postures, designed to build strength, flexibility, and focus through a synchronized flow of breath and movement. Physically speaking, it is more rigorous than Hatha yoga, which tends to be slower and more focused on alignment and holding poses for longer periods. However, Hatha is considered foundational, providing the basics of postures and breath control necessary for Ashtanga.
If you don't know what yoga you are doing, you are likely doing Hatha yoga. When I was studying in Nijmegen, the Netherlands I occasionally went to Vinyasa and Kundalini classes. Vinyasa yoga is closely related to Ashtanga in its flowing, breath-linked movements but offers more flexibility in sequences, allowing for creative variations and a less rigid structure. It is a bit further away from the traditional practice of yoga in India and more western, sometimes for example practiced with music.
Alongside Ashtanga, Kundalini is my favourite type of yoga and focuses more in the spiritual and meditative aspects of the practice. It's focused on awakening the dormant energy at the base of the spine, known as Kundalini. The practice consists of a combination breathwork (pranayama) - which you will also find some Ashtangis do -, repetitive movements, chanting, and meditation, to channel the energy along the spine through the chakras.
If you want to know more about philosophy of yoga and what role it can play in someone's life - such as in your own! - this conversation that I had with Amber, one of the best yoga teachers I have ever had, is a good 8-min watch!
Having lived in Xela (or Quetzaltenango), Guatemala for nearly eight months, however, I got more into Ashtanga as this was offered every day in the Yoga House with two very experienced teachers. So although my basis was laid in Italy, Guatemala is where I learned most of my Ashtanga practice. Since then, I have been exploring different teachers and studios when travelling, and find it a joy to learn how different teachers teach across the world.
In Mexico City, I for example found the space very crowded and the guidance therefore slim, but we did extensive pranayama at the end - making the entire practice about 3 hours long - which I really enjoyed. In São Paulo, Brazil, I used my trial month of the app ClassPass to try out different studios during my ten days there.
Of course, I did not try every single yoga studio in São Paulo, so this is in no way an exclusive guide. And I included two studios in at the end that I have not been to, but were rated really well on ClassPass. I hope that this post gives you an idea of the different types of studios and the ones I liked the most - which is a very subjective opinion, but my descriptions may help you decide which one you want to try out!
Studio Comparison
Purusha Yoga e Terapias Integrativas
Location: Rua São Benedito 1532, Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP 04849-329, Brazil
Website: purusha.eco.br
Instagram: @purusha.eco
Atmosphere: The studio was beautiful, very light and looking out over trees in the newly being built space. It is very calm, relaxing and soft energy wise. The yoga is taught according to traditional teachings in India, but from the own energy of the teachers. The building is located in a nice neighbourhood on the outskirts of São Paulo, but easily reachable by metro. There is also a nice and well-visited brunch cafe around the corner. Bonus point is that the building is ecologically friendly with solar panels and a special water system that recycles water!
Equipment: At least for the Ashtanga, most people seem to be bringing their own mat. But you can borrow mats, blocks and heavy blankets to upgrade your savasana experience.
Rating on ClassPass: To trust others besides me, the rating on ClassPass is 5/5 stars with over 500+ people that gave a rating. So that is very very high!
Types of Yoga Offered: Ashtanga Krama, Hatha, Iyengar, Soft Yoga ('Yoga Gentil'), Vinyasa Flow, Vinyasa & Alignment, Yoga with Props. They also offer meditation sessions.
Ashtanga: I went to the Ashtanga class in the morning with Fernanda. There was only one other woman practicing with me and we both went on our own pace, with Fernanda spending careful attention on both of us to enhance our practice. I really liked how she guided me because she also gave me certain practice exersizes to help me get into postures I did not manage to fully get into yet. Every last Thursday and last Friday of the month there are guided Ashtanga classes.
Teachers & Language: There are various teachers here. I was with Fernanda, who was very kind, compassionate and calm. I really liked her style of teaching with personal attention and according to the abilities of each individual body/person. She also showed me several ways to practice how to get deeper into certain postures which will help me a lot in the upcoming time! We spoke Portuguese, for me to practice, but she also speaks English.
Gallery 1: Purusha Yoga e Terapias Integrativas
2. Mahadeva Yoga
Location: Rua Pelotas, 302, Vila Madalena, São Paulo, 04012-001, Brazil
Website: mahadevayoga.com.br
Instagram: @mahadevayoga
Atmosphere: To get to the yoga space you enter a small and cosy reception area that feels like a living room. Then you walk up the stairs, actually passing a low-ceiling, one-person living room area, until you arrive to the final floor with the yoga space. The yoga space itself is very open and spacious with a wooden floor and large windows, creating beautiful natural light and a fresh wind on warm days.
Equipment: Most people bring their own mats, but you can also use the mats from the studio. There are different props like blocks, bands, and pillows to help you during your practice.
Rating on ClassPass: To trust others besides me, the rating on ClassPass is 5/5 stars with over 500+ people that gave a rating. So that is very very high!
Types of Yoga Offered: Ashtanga, Hatha, Power Yoga, Sattva Chikitsa, Vinyasa Flow,
Ashtanga: I only went to the Ashtanga class here and it is easily the best Ashtanga class I have ever been to, primarily because of the amazing teacher Fernando. We all got to work on the sequence on our own pace and if you got stuck somewhere Fernando was right there to help. Fernando gave me tips I had never heard or even considered before that completely shifted the ease of certain positions that were formerly hard to get into. If I were to live in Sao Paulo, this would be the studio I would go to.
Teachers & Language: There are various teachers here. I had a class with Fernando, who is one of the best yoga teachers I have practiced with. Besides Portuguese, he also speaks English and can teach the class in English for you.
3. My Yoga in Jardins
Location: Alameda Casa Branca, 604, Jardins, São Paulo, 01422-003, Brazil
Website: myyoga.com.br
Instagram: @my_yoga
Atmosphere: The yoga studio has a cafe right next to the reception area where you enter, which feels very cosy and welcoming. Upstairs is the area where I practiced Ashtanga, it was a cornered space so I am assuming that other classes are held in another space where you can more clearly see the teacher. It was very light with large windows letting sunlight in and a little altar in the corner. And no phones allowed into the space, which I like! Also this neighbourhood is very nice and has good brunch cafes, such as Botanikafe which I can highly recommend also for digital nomads.
Yoga equipment: You can bring your own mat, which most people seemed to do, but they also have mats available. They also have blocks, pillows, blankets and weights to really upgrade your savasana at the end!
Rating on ClassPass: 4.9/5 stars with over 5.000 reviews. Note that the other My Yoga Studio, in Vila Nova Conceicao, is rated with 5/5 stars with over 2.500 reviews.
Types of Yoga Offered: Ashtanga Mysore, Core Vinyasa, Hatha, Hatha Flow, Iyengar, Kurunta, Meditation, Vinyasa and Alignment, Yin, Yoga with Props. Note that the last Thursday at 7pm and the last Friday at 7am of each month, there is a guided Ashtanga class for the ones that cannot do the sequence by themselves yet, or would like to be guided completely for a change. So this is a good place to get started with Ashtanga!
Ashtanga: The class was taught by Andrea Felice who had a very gentle style of guiding each person individually. She took the time to sit with you through certain postures and gently align certain parts of your body into the correct position. She was very kind and had a loving energy. She can also guide you through working on your bridge, headstand, handstand, crow position, or whatever specific posture you are still working on. I would totally come back to this place for her teaching!
Teachers & Language: They have different teachers. I only had Andrea, she spoke perfect English besides Portuguese.
Gallery 3: My Yoga Jardins
4. Cittá Studio Yoga
Location: Alameda dos Anapurus 1210, Indianapolis, São Paulo, 04087-003, Brazil (close to the airport).
Website: cittastudioyoga.com.br
Instagram: @cittastudioyoga
Atmosphere: This is a very modern studio where the traditional practice of yoga has merged with more of a western wellness culture. The studio is beautiful and quite luxurious with showers, shampoo, soaps, hairdryers, towels, and all the yoga equipment imagineable to your disposal. There are separate spaces designed for the different types of yoga they offer.
Yoga equipment: You don't have to bring your own mat and most people don't as the mats are already laid out at the beginning of the class. They also have pillows and blocks.
Rating on ClassPass: 4.9/5 with 100+ reviews.
Types of Yoga Offered: Starter Flow, Flow II, Slow Flow, Express Flow, Kundalini, Yin
Yin: As there was no Ashtanga and as I was menstruating, I opted for a slow yin class. I thought I knew what I was in for, having done yin once before in Nijmgen, the Netherlands, but it was a lot slower than I expected. In the one hour class, we only went through six or seven postures, all on the floor. However, if you are looking for a slow, deep, and meditative class this is a good option. The large space was set up very peacefully with dimmed lights and candles all around.
Teachers & Language: There are several teachers. I only had a yin class from Lola. Besides a brief private explanation for me at the start, she did most of the class in Portuguese. This was not a problem for me, also because yin is very calm and does not need much guidance. She was also doing all the postures in the front herself. She did speak English and the other teachers at the studio also did, so presumably more intensive classes can be guided in English if you want.
Gallery 4: Cittá Yoga Studio
5. Studio GOA
Location: Rua Faustolo 1007, Agua Branca, São Paulo, SP 05041-001, Brazil
Website: goa.art.br
Instagram: @goahotyoga
Atmosphere: So I haven't been to this studio, as I left earlier than planned to explore Trancoso in Bahia with my first couchsurfing host. However, the photos look amazing with yoga in a space with small fires and candle lights. This studio seems to be focused on hot yoga, with many hot yoga classes a day. They also have Ashtanga.
Rating on ClassPass: To trust others besides me, the rating on ClassPass is 5/5 stars with over 1.000+ people that gave a rating. So that is very very high!
Types of Yoga Offered: Ashtanga, Hotyoga, Goa Lua
Gallery 5: Studio GOA
6. Awake Yoga Studio
Location: Rua Aspicuelta 339, São Paulo, SP 05433-010, Brazil
Website: awakeyoga.com.br
Instagram: @awake.yoga
Atmosphere: I have not been to this studio because I left for Trancoso in Bahia with my first couchsurfing host, as also said above. However, it is high-rated on ClassPass and so I wanted to include it in this overview. From the photos it seems to be a yoga space that is used to receive many practictioners. However, the looks of the studio feel like a home. They also have showers.
Yoga Equipment: They seem to offer mats and other props.
Rating on ClassPass: To trust others besides me, the rating on ClassPass is 5/5 stars with over 2.500+ people that gave a rating. So that is very very high!
Types of Yoga Offered: Ashtanga, Hotyoga, Goa Lua
Gallery 6: Awake Yoga Studio
Conclusion
Each of these yoga studios offers a unique experience, catering to different preferences and levels of practice. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just starting out, São Paulo’s yoga scene has something for everyone. If you’re interested in exploring more about this vibrant city, check out my broader post on [link to your broader São Paulo post], where I dive into the best neighbourhoods, cafes, and hidden gems.
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