12 Wellness Design Tips From Gorgeous Yoga Studios

Wellness spaces can provide great design inspiration. Mirror a few design moves from some of the most stunning studios in the country — and we’ll explain the science behind what makes them feel so magical.

Classes are in session once again (the team at Richmond, Virginia’s lovely BareSOUL Yoga and Wellness, pictured here, is now teaching in person throughout their city), but there’s no reason that beatific balance you feel in child pose can’t infuse your space all the time.

If you’re looking to bring just a sprig or two of the outdoors in, collecting foliage and blooms on a walk around the neighborhood and displaying them in a vase can bring a room to life. If you’re ready for a major connection to your environment, consider this stunning yoga studio at the Ranch Creek Spa at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, a resort in the Colorado Rockies. Along with sweeping views of the Continental Divide, this space’s interior boasts walls and beams that were constructed from local beetle-kill pine and recycled spruce flooring. Looking to revamp a significant surface at your place? Exotic woods and stones are lovely, but it’s hard to beat the soulful feel of materials that are already at home in your area.

Set an explicit intention for a relaxing room by illustrating your goals with a striking visual. This series of serene and oceanic abstract panels inspired by the Pacific Northwest sets the tone for gatherings at Bohemian Studios’ West Seattle classroom. “We wanted the space to feel welcoming, like you were stepping into a dear friend’s living room,” director Miranda McRae explains. “Our beautiful mural encompasses all the reasons why we come together in the space: empowerment, positivity, movement and connection.”

The aptly-named Green Yogi studio in Berkeley, California features both smooth, uninterrupted surfaces and a mantel that comes to life with lush trailing plants. “Our minimalistic space is meant to serve as a calming refuge from the busy world. Decluttering translates to quieting the noise of the mind and in turn living with more presence, fulfillment and serenity,” owner Nasiem Sanjideh says.

You don’t need to have a green thumb to enjoy the benefits of plants, mind you. “From a psychological perspective, fake plants are just as good as real plants — as long as you get good fakes,” says Sally Augustin, Ph.D., an environmental/design psychologist and author of Designology: How to Find Your Place Type & Align Your Life With Design. “In a place where you want to relax, you want to have a couple of plants that are a couple of feet tall.”