Teaching Yoga in Spanish in Popoyo, Nicaragua
Because it’s slow season in Popoyo, Magrock doesn’t currently have a set yoga schedule. However, the studio is still open for private classes and reservations—which means I have become the “on-call” yoga teacher.
The other day, I received a message asking if I could come in and teach a class.
The student was running a little late, but instead of getting frustrated, I treated the extra time as part of my own practice. I grounded myself, prepared my music, warmed up, and settled into the space.
When she arrived, I realized she was Nicaraguan, and that I was probably going to have to teach the entire yoga class in Spanish. Uh, oh.
Teaching Yoga in a Second Language
Most of the people who attend my yoga classes in Popoyo are tourists. Yoga is becoming more popular in larger Nicaraguan cities like Managua, but it still hasn’t taken off in the smaller beach towns in quite the same way.
Most of my classes are filled with sunburned travelers looking to stretch, recover, and take a break from surfing.
So when this woman walked into the studio, I suddenly became nervous.
I speak Spanish, but teaching yoga in Spanish requires a completely different level of understanding. Sometimes when I’m folded up like a pretzel, I have trouble remembering left and right, or the names of certain body parts, even in English. Trying to guide someone through an entire yoga sequence in a language I only started speaking regularly about a year ago felt like a major challenge.
Before we began, I warned her that my Spanish wasn’t perfect.
She gave me an encouraging smile, and we started.
Finding Connection Through Movement
I have no idea exactly what I sounded like, but she seemed to enjoy the class. We moved, stretched, breathed, and somehow understood each other.
I was also impressed by how flexible and comfortable she was in many of the poses. Because yoga is still less common among locals in this part of Nicaragua, I wasn’t expecting her to have so much experience. So I told her so, “You are really flexible! “
She smiled, “Do you know Isaac, the Ashtanga yoga teacher?”
I did!
When I first arrived in Nicaragua, I spent some time in San Juan del Sur and attended one of Isaac’s rooftop yoga classes. I loved his energy and teaching style, so I started following him on Instagram.
“That’s my son!” she told me.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
We took a selfie together after class, and I sent it to her son, a sweet reminder of just how small and interconnected the yoga community can be.
Yoga Creates Community Wherever You Go
This is one of the things I love most about yoga.
Yes, yoga helps us get out of our heads and reconnect with our bodies. It gives us a chance to slow down, breathe, and become more present.
But it also creates community.
You can arrive in a new town—or even a new country—and find people who speak the same language through movement, breath, and shared practice. Sometimes that connection happens even when you don’t speak the same language perfectly.
That day, I was nervous about teaching yoga in Spanish. But by the end of the class, I was reminded that connection doesn’t require perfect words. Sometimes, all it takes is a willingness to show up, try something uncomfortable, and breathe through it together.
Book a Yoga Class in Popoyo
Although Magrock doesn’t have a regular yoga schedule during slow season, classes are available by reservation.
If you’re visiting Popoyo, Guasacate, or the surrounding beaches and want to stretch after surfing, reconnect with your body, or simply slow down for an hour, you can request a private or small-group yoga class.
Classes can be taught in English—with a little Spanish when needed.