Why are homebuyers snapping up yoga properties – and just what is the Yoga Index? Wellness, quality of life and environmental factors are at the forefront in Bali, Phuket, Spain and Italy
- Yoga studios and retreats are everywhere in Bali, from the coastal strip of Seminyak and Canggu, to upcountry spots like Ubud and Tabanan
- Phuket has the Kata Beach area, close to amenities in Rawai and Nai Harn, while ‘millionaires’ mile’ in Kamala offers sprawling clifftop villas
Local yoga lovers rejoice: you’re living in the best part of the world, according to a new index compiled by Savills.
Two Asian destinations – Bali, Indonesia and Phuket, Thailand – top the global ranking of second home locations with specific wellness credentials. Factors measured across the 30 locations start with straightforward metrics like the number of yoga studios and classes nearby, but also include broader measures such as perceived quality of life and air quality that relate to the environment in which you practice your yoga. It even examines access to “necessities”, such as high-quality leggings and low-cost smoothies.
According to Savills, its Yoga Index can be used to identify locations that might be most desirable for buyers looking to prioritise wellness, or for those considering a new business venture.
Kelcie Sellers, analyst, Savills World Research, said the aim was to capture wellness “in something that stretches across cultures, has almost universal appeal, and counts (wellness) practitioners in most locations”. “Yoga immediately sprang to mind,” she said. “People can practice for so many different reasons from health to spirituality, to getting more in touch with themselves, to joining a like-minded community.”
People can practice [yoga] for so many different reasons from health to spirituality, to getting more in touch with themselves, to joining a like-minded community
“Both Bali and Phuket have the highest numbers of yoga studios for the lowest cost of all the markets we examined,” Sellers continued. “Other elements for the yogi lifestyle are easily attainable at low cost – things like post-class smoothies, yoga kit and residential property. Both locations also have good air quality, low cost of living and high quality of life scores. They are hotspots for all-inclusive retreats and many of the top instructors host classes and retreats there.”
Both Bali and Phuket have global appeal for second homebuyers, Sellers added, and are very accessible for Asian buyers – particularly for Hongkongers looking to disconnect from the often frenetic pace of city life.
Marc Hirte, co-founder of Bali Real Estate Consultants, said the island has always been a key spot for wellness retreats and spiritual activities. “It’s a place for transformation,” he says. “Nowadays there are retreats everywhere – from the middle of the jungle to the urban hubs of Seminyak and Canggu – and heaps of yoga studios offering many different types of classes.”