Relax this holiday season with yoga at the Maui Ocean Center

Maui Ocean Center hosts twice weekly Aquari-Om yoga classes, with a portion of proceeds from ticket sales to support sea turtle rescue and coral restoration efforts on Maui.

Classes are held each Tuesday and Thursday, excluding Thanksgiving, now through Jan. 5, 2023. Each session is held facing the aquarium’s 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit filled with sharks, rays and other marine life.

“Whether you are new to yoga, or an experienced yogi, Aquari-Om is an experience unlike any other class,” said Amber Tesoro, one of three yoga teachers who lead the sessions. “There is something that is very calming and serene when practicing in front of Maui Ocean Center’s Open Ocean exhibit. You can anticipate feeling grounded, connected and renewed, while being surrounded by the wonderful energy from Maui’s marine life.”

The hour-long classes start at 5 p.m., after the park’s closure to the public, to allow participants to experience the exhibit in a tranquil setting. Yoga classes are open to all skill levels, and participants must be at least 12 years of age (anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult).  

Aquari-Om classes cost $30 per person for visitors, and $25 for kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi residents) or Nā Hoa Kai members, including state tax and processing fees. Five dollars from each ticket will be donated to the Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center to support coral rehabilitation and sea turtle rescue on Maui. 

Participants must register online in advance, and they must bring their own yoga mat and water bottle. Yoga class check-in will take place at 4:45 p.m. in the Administration Office at Maui Ocean Center (building to the left of The Sphere Experience) and doors will close at 4:55 p.m. To view the full schedule and reserve a class, visit www.mauioceancenter.com/aquari-om.