The Art of Yoga Siva Yoga

By Ayush Madan

Thursday, January 15, 2026

I like to think of yoga as body art. If you can imagine your body as a giant swatch of paints, then your mat represents the canvas. As a novice yogi, I am always on the lookout for a yoga class that makes me feel graceful in my body, while still offering a challenge for my endurance and strength. Moreover, studios which help you become aware of your consciousness, and guide your mind towards stillness have quickly become my most visited spaces. One such space is Siva Yoga, located in Phra Khanong. Since 2023, this studio has been instilling its students with these four pillars:

1. Sama (Balance): The art of moving through life with grace

2. Ishvara (Divine Connection): A reminder that we’re part of something greater

3. Vidya (Wisdom): The light of awareness we cultivate through practice

4. Ananda (Bliss): The radiant joy of self-realization

THE SPACE

As you arrive to Vision Square, you can get to Siva by walking up the stairs to the 2nd floor and turning left. Straight down the hallway to the back is the reception area, and to the left is the main practice room. Opposite the practice room is a large window spilling light into the space, and pothos plants growing like vines. In this area you can remove your shoes and stow away your belongings before heading into the practice.

If you need to change your clothes before or after the session, the reception room has two toilets and a dedicated changing room. There are also chairs and a small table for you to sit at as you wait for your Grab or sort your belongings. Along the far end of the room, you will see a rack with yoga and athletic clothes for sale — both new and preowned. When I was there last week, I picked up a pair of brown yoga pants for just 100 THB. In fact, one of my first times there there were even free mats you could take home! 

Connected to the reception area is another smaller room used for private practice and meditation. While I have only been here once, the atmosphere is identical to the larger one outside — clean, spacious, and warm with lots of natural light coming through. Overall, the studio maintains a consistent minimal design, with wooden tile floors and white walls embellished with hand-woven rattan decorations. In both the practice and reception rooms, you will find inquisitive quotes on the wall.

“Darkness is an absence of light. Ego is an absence of awareness.” － Osho

THE PRACTICE

After taking three classes at Siva, I can see why many of my friends and members of my climbing community all attend classes here. Firstly, the classes are capped at small sizes of 10 or below, to ensure enough space and attention is given to each individual. Moreover, all the instructors here are experts in their field who will challenge you as well as help adjust your posture during the practice. Some classes I attended here included Yin and Yang Yoga with Jaszmine, Morning Stretch with Seal, and Ashtanga MPS with Oliver. For beginner yogis, I would advise you to check the class schedule before coming to practice, since about half of their classes are listed as “challenging”. After Jaszmine’s Sunday morning class, I could feel the deep stretch and soreness lingering in my body for the following days. During the class, I was struggling, but afterwards, it felt exhilarating. The fact that I had come out the other side feeling stronger and more balanced made me realize exactly what I was capable of. It’s the kind of inner joy you get after the gym, but even more intense. As someone who used to struggle to touch their toes, I surprise myself today when I can do skin the cats, wheel poses, and even wall assisted headstands. 

When I practice yoga, I feel deeply connected with my Indian heritage and roots. My only regret is not starting my journey sooner. It is a practice that makes me feel whole, and has helped shaped my body and mind into their most uninhibited and positive states. If you are thinking about going to a class but feel nervous or shy about it, please reconsider. I remember when my downward dogs looked more like planks. I still struggle to do a proper pancake fold. But I show up anyway. Not for perfection, but to put in the effort, knowing that even if I don’t get there today, one day I will. 

THE FOUNDERS

Siva Yoga is a co-op studio. This means the founders and owners of the studio are the same people who will be teaching you in class. While there are still other yogis who host classes here like Seal, Oliver and Jaszmine — two of the founders — teach several classes a week, taking up half of the schedule on their own. I asked them a few questions about Siva that I was curious about, here are their answers:

What prompted you to start your own co-op studio?

Jaszmine: Starting my own studio had been on my mind since I first began teaching yoga. I initially opened a small studio in 2017, but it didn’t succeed due to my lack of experience in studio operations at the time. By 2023, I had gained much more experience teaching at various studios, which allowed me to understand how studios function behind the scenes. I was also fortunate to receive guidance from a studio owner I worked with, who supported me in learning how to start and manage a studio properly. All of this gave me the confidence to begin again—this time with more clarity and readiness.

Oliver: I’ve been curious about becoming a yoga teacher since high school, but at the time there weren’t many Thai yoga teachers in the industry. My mom didn’t really see it as a viable career and encouraged me to pursue something more “stable.” From 2018 to 2023, I ended up working in startups, first in the restaurant world and then at a yoga studio. Those experiences taught me how businesses are built from the ground up. During that time, I also met Jaszmine, and we immediately connected over our shared values around community, integrity, and how we wanted a studio to feel, not just look.

When we first opened Siva Yoga, I wasn’t teaching yet. I had a deep personal practice, but no formal teaching experience. After a few months, Jaszmine encouraged me to start teaching. That decision changed everything. From getting my certification to collaborating with brands like Lululemon and working with corporate partners, it’s been a wild and humbling journey. Siva Yoga really grew alongside me.

Why did you settle on this location on Rama IV?

Jaszmine: One of the co-founders, Patty, is based close to this area, making it practical for both living and working. While the location isn’t ideal without personal transportation, it is still within a reasonable distance from the BTS. It’s also situated away from busy main roads, allowing access from multiple directions, which creates a calmer environment. Most importantly, the rental price was within our budget for the space we needed, making it a realistic starting point for building our dream studio.

Oliver: Patty, recommended the space. It’s close to all of our homes, right on a main road, easy to find, with good parking—and the rent was within reach for us at the time. When we first saw it, it was just a warehouse, but we could feel the potential. We put a lot of love into transforming it into something warm, calm, and inviting. Now it feels like a sanctuary in the middle of the city.

How do you recruit new teachers and ensure they align with your studio’s mission?

Jaszmine: We recruit mainly through social media and within our existing yoga community. Often, it happens organically—through mutual connections, attending each other’s classes, or personal recommendations. We take time to experience their teaching, connect with them individually, and feel their energy. Alignment for us isn’t just about qualifications, but about shared values, authenticity, and openness. Sometimes, we simply trust the connection and allow space to grow together.

Oliver: Most of our teachers come from within our community. Some I met through my own yoga teacher training, and others through inviting them to teach community classes so we could really feel their energy and teaching style.

We don’t just look at technique, we look at how they connect with people. What matters most to us is whether a teacher can hold space with sincerity and make students feel safe, seen, and supported.

Can you share a success story of a student whose life was transformed by yoga?

Jaszmine: One private student shared that yoga helped him reconnect with himself, both physically and mentally. He told me that the practice inspired him to become a better version of himself on and off the mat. As a new father, he felt more grounded and intentional, and he expressed a deep hope that his personal growth and commitment to yoga would positively influence and inspire his son in the future.

Oliver: One student has been practicing Ashtanga with me since I first started teaching. In the beginning, she struggled with basic poses like Chaturanga. However, she kept showing up.

Over the years, I’ve watched her grow stronger… not just physically, but emotionally too. She moved from struggling with the foundations into more advanced poses, and when we talked about her journey, she shared that yoga gave her confidence both on and off the mat. That’s always been the real gift for me. Not just seeing people get stronger, but seeing them trust themselves more.

SIVA Yoga 

4170/2 Vision Square Unit E5&E6 Level, 2 Rama IV Rd, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

@sivayogabkk