I Tried Underwater Yoga at Atlantis, The Palm Surrounded by Sharks and Stingrays

“How do you even do yoga underwater?” my boyfriend asked as we walked to the Lost Chambers Aquarium located inside Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. This was a fair question, considering we had just traveled over 20 hours across the world to reach the resort, and our first planned activity was an underwater fitness class.

“Just go with it,” I responded confidently, despite not even being able to properly Chaturanga on land, let alone in the water. I didn’t know much about what the actual class would entail, but I did know that the website promised it would “drown out the noise of city life” and “rejuvenate me.” With these benefits, I was down to Cat-Cow anywhere.

When we checked into class at the Lost Chambers Aquarium located on the east side of Atlantis, The Palm, we were pleasantly surprised to find out the yoga wouldn’t actually be underwater. Instead, it was held inside the aquarium, which meant we’d be surrounded by 250 different species of 65,000 marine animals during our flow. To me, this was like being underwater without actually being underwater.

Though we weren’t wearing wetsuits and I didn’t have to blow dry my hair afterward, the experience definitely tapped into my blue mind and made me feel more zen than any other yoga class I’d done before. Here’s how it went.

What Is Underwater Yoga?

At Atlantis, The Palm, the underwater yoga class is inside the Lost Chambers Aquarium, so it’s not actually underwater, but you’re still surrounded by plenty of fish, sharks, and stingrays. Though there are many different types of yoga practices out there, the class offered at Atlantis, The Palm focuses on Hatha yoga. According to the Atlantis, The Palm website, “Hatha Yoga is known as the yoga of balance, with ‘ha’ referring to the sun and ‘tha’ relating to the moon.” The practice includes breathing exercises and yoga poses.

What Underwater Yoga Is Like at Atlantis, The Palm

After my boyfriend and I checked into the Lost Chambers Aquarium, we walked into the main room where there were yoga mats laid out on the floor and three floor-to-ceiling windows with incredible views into the aquarium. Before class even started, I got lost peering into the tank. Some of the fish swam around together harmoniously, while others went around on their own.

The first few minutes of the underwater yoga class focused on getting our breath and mind right. The instructor prompted us to close our eyes, inhale for three seconds, and then exhale for three seconds. We did this for the first 10 minutes while listening to sounds coming from a very peaceful playlist.

Then, we moved into some stretching, which actually felt amazing on my body after a 20-hour travel day the night before. We started on the ground with some yoga basics, like Cat-Cow and Child’s Pose. We also did some twists and lunge movements that relieved tension in my hip flexors.

When we were done on the ground, we stood up and went into Mountain Pose and Tree Pose, where I practiced my balance; to my surprise, this was the hardest part of class. Though we went into Downward-Facing Dog at one point, we never did a full Vinyasa flow sequence or Chaturanga, which is normally what gets my heart rate going. I didn’t really mind, because I was jet-lagged and hungry, so the slow movement and stretching actually felt euphoric. Plus, this slower movement made it easier to pay attention to the friendly stingrays that flocked to the glass. But if you’re looking for a workout class that will make you sweat, this isn’t the right option for you.

Generally, I’d say the underwater yoga class at Atlantis, The Palm is a great option for beginners or for people who like to do cool, low-key things on vacation. It’s definitely not for anyone who wants to sweat or work out, because it feels more relaxing than challenging. Sometimes, though, that’s exactly the kind of vibe you need on a trip.

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or someone who just wants to stretch a little while watching sharks swim by, you’ll truly get a restorative experience for your mind and body in this class. Plus, you don’t even have to get wet to experience the oceanic vibes.

If you’re interested in an underwater yoga class at Atlantis, The Palm ($48) during your stay or as an outside guest, classes can be booked via this link here.

Travel and expenses for the author were provided by Atlantis, The Palm for the purpose of writing this story.

Related: What Staying at the Luxurious Atlantis, The Palm Resort Is Really Like

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.