Spas and Yoga

The sun, the surf, and the laidback lifestyle make Bocas [1] a natural magnet for yogis and yoginis, who come to the island on yoga retreats and to teach classes.

Bocas Yoga (Calle 4 near Avenida G, cell 6658-1355, www.bocasyoga.com [2], Mon.–Sat.) is a well-established studio run in a large wooden house that is also the home of Laura Kay, a yoga teacher who takes her work seriously, yet seems to have a playful bohemian streak as well.

Her studio is modern, spacious, and well designed—it’s a nicer space than any of the several yoga studios I’ve attended in Northern California. It has hardwood floors, air-conditioning, good natural lighting, and new yoga mats and equipment. Because Bocas town can get noisy even on the edge of town, the studio is soundproofed.

Laura occasionally hosts guest classes taught by highly respected yoga teachers from Colombia and Costa Rica. Morning group classes are held at 9:15 A.M. Monday–Friday. There are frequent noon, evening, and Saturday classes as well. Group classes are US$5 a session. Private classes are also available, for US$35 for the first person, US$5 more for each additional person.

Spa services come and go in Bocas [1], but one that seems destined to stick around is Starfleet Spa (Calle 1 next to the Buena Vista Bar and Grill [3], tel./fax 757-9630, www.starfleetscuba.com [4]), upstairs from and run by the same couple that owns Starfleet Scuba [5]. It offers massages, facials, waxing, and various skin treatments in pleasant and comfortable treatment rooms, though some street noise inevitably spills over.

I had an excellent massage from one of the owners, Georgina, who was trained as a massage therapist in London. Her massages are far better than the ineffectual “fluff and puff” variety one usually gets in Panama. The most expensive is US$65 for 75 minutes. Some of the spa treatments, including reflexology and highlighting, are provided by Donna (cell 6591-3814), a Bocas veteran who also works out of her house in town.