Federal Court Ruling Pauses San Diego Beach Yoga Ban

In a major win for San Diego’s outdoor wellness community, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has granted a preliminary injunction halting the City of San Diego’s enforcement of its controversial ban on group yoga and fitness classes in public shoreline parks and beaches.

Photo Credit: @yoga_jawn

The ruling, issued on June 4, 2025, found that the city’s ordinance likely violates the First Amendment rights of local Sunset Cliffs and Pacific Beach yoga instructors like plaintiffs Steve Hubbard and Amy Baack. The court’s decision temporarily blocks the city from enforcing the permit requirement for fitness instruction in these public spaces while the case proceeds.

The challenged ordinance had prohibited group instruction of four or more individuals in shoreline areas unless a city permit was obtained. The city’s active enforcement and beach yoga crackdowns began in May 2024, which included citations issued to long-time instructors like Hubbard. This sparked widespread frustration among the wellness community since many of these classes had long been offered for free or on a donation basis, playing a crucial role during the pandemic as safe, outdoor spaces for connection and healing.

"When they first shut down beach yoga, I was honestly heartbroken to have such a beautiful community space taken from me. But what I quickly realized was that these classes meant a lot more to people than I ever imagined," says fellow Sunset Cliffs yoga instructor Jacqueline Kowalik.

In May 2024, Baack and Kowalik issued a cease and desist letter to the city, citing constitutional violations. Their efforts helped rally community support through petitions and calls to the Mayor’s office. The city's cancellation of a scheduled meeting with the instructors only deepened public concern.

"Getting these classes restored didn’t just happen because Amy and Steve put their names on a lawsuit and stood up for all of us," says Kowalik. "It happened because our entire community got involved. People spoke up, showed up, and made it clear that this mattered."

Now, the Ninth Circuit’s opinion affirms that outdoor yoga classes are likely a form of expressive conduct protected under the First Amendment—and that the city's blanket permit requirement may be overly broad. The preliminary injunction means that, for now, yoga and fitness instructors can continue teaching in shoreline parks without fear of citation, at least until a final decision is reached.

"We’re still waiting to hear if the case will be settled or appealed, but the fact that the court decided this law was unconstitutional is a big step forward," says Kowalik. "Public parks and beaches belong to all of us. And no one should lose access to those spaces because of bureaucratic overreach. The takeaway here is simple: San Diegans want to be part of the process. We care deeply about how our public spaces are used, and we deserve a seat at the table."

Yoga instructors are preparing to return to Sunset Cliffs and PB. Some upcoming Sunset Cliffs classes include:

PB class:

Looking to find outdoor flows near you? Check out our Where to Find Outdoor + Beach Yoga in San Diego guide for a complete list! Or browse our Events Calendar for the latest.