Laci Lester had a great idea: free yoga in the park. Now, every Saturday in November, from 10 am to 11 am, Valley yoga instructors will teach hatha yoga for free at Civic Space Park.
The Community Yoga Project arrives just in time to take advantage of the brisk fall weather and the need to release those pre-holiday knots, now forming in my neck and yours as the relatives fly in and the chores mount.
“The classes are designed for all levels,” says Laci, a yoga instructor herself. For anyone who’s pretty much a newbie like me, that translates as: beginners will feel at home, and advanced yogis and yoginis can get back to their roots.
The classes offer traditional yoga, which pairs breath and movement. The sun salutation – a basic flow practice that opens the shoulders and hips – will be taught in each class.
Got kids? A storytime and creative dance class for children will be offered at the same time, so you can enjoy a worry-free hour. After all that peaceful chakra-aligning and third-eye-gazing, you may need a caffeine boost, and the Fair Trade Café is just a few steps away.
Class sizes are still relatively small, but Laci hopes that the park will eventually be filled with practitioners, moving in quiet harmony on the lawn.
Be sure to bring your own yoga mat, towel or blanket and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. So far, classes are only scheduled for November, but depending on the weather, Laci may offer classes in December and January, too.