Yoga on the Beach

It all began when Ria Mountford, founder of the Yoga On The Beach, took a holiday in Port Douglas — a five-day escape and a chance to bask in the sun and tropical warmth.

She planned to join a yoga class but soon realised that retreating indoors didn’t quite fit with the spirit of her holiday in paradise. Instead, she headed to the beach, where an hour of doing her own yoga under the open sky sparked an idea: Yoga On The Beach. 

Fast forward 21 years, and what started as a simple idea has blossomed into a beloved Port Douglas tradition. Every morning at 8 AM, dedicated yogis, enthusiastic newcomers and absolute beginners practise together against one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world.

Over the decades, Yoga On The Beach has welcomed locals, Aussie holidaymakers, and travellers from all over the world to come and experience the magic. Some make the daily classes part of their own yoga retreats, while others embrace the class as a once in life-time experience.

For many, it becomes an annual ritual, planning their holidays around the Yoga On The Beach teaching season.

There’s something undeniably special about starting your day doing yoga and even, more so, doing it on Four Mile Beach. Maybe it’s the sensation of sand beneath your hands and feet, the sound of the waves and the rustling palm trees, and the endless expanse of sky that creates an atmosphere like no other. 

In a world that often moves too fast, Yoga On The Beach is a tonic for the soul.

Yoga On The Beach is far more than a class. It’s a moment to reconnect with yourself and nature.  A most cherished memory is a moment with two visitors from USA.

"Two women approached me after the class absolutely beaming with excitement and told me that for years their yoga teacher would finish each class by asking them to imagine lying on the sand, feeling the sun on their body, listening to the movement of the waves. ‘Today—we actually lived it! It was the class of a lifetime.' “

“And for those people who have never done yoga before in their lives, there is something about being able to see the class in action on the beach that sparks the confidence to give it a try – ‘I reckon I could do that!’  So many people have begun their yoga journey this way, with us on the beach.”

In a world that often moves too fast, Yoga On The Beach is a tonic for the soul. It invites you to slow down, to listen to the quiet beneath life’s noise, and to embrace the natural rhythm of the earth.

Each session is woven with the elements of nature—the shift in morning light, patterns in the sand, the fresh sea breeze — making every class as unique as the day itself.

And so, the tradition continues. Every morning at 8 AM, on Four Mile Beach. Here’s to 21 years of movement, connection, and community — and to many more mornings on the sand of Four Mile Beach.