In my extremely biased opinion, anytime is a good time to practice yoga. But this summer, in particular, taking yoga classes – especially outdoors in the sunshine – is a fantastic way to move your body and give your mind a break from all the COVID chaos, all while safely practicing social distancing.
Full disclosure: Yes, I am a registered yoga teacher, and yes, I work for Morning Sun yoga studio. But you don’t need to be an experienced yogi or be able to do anything crazy like the splits (I can’t!) in order to enjoy yoga classes. Taking an hour on your mat, just for yourself, has the physical benefit of stretching and strengthening your muscles, with the added (and much-needed) emotional benefit of quieting and calming your mind. (Need tips on incorporating meditation into your life? Click here.) We are especially fortunate in this area to have a wide range of outdoor yoga classes available this summer – many of which are held for free.
If you want to try one of my yoga classes for zero dollars, come find me Tuesday, July 28, at Josten Park, 2280 Town Hall Road in Bellevue. Morning Sun teachers rotate free yoga classes there on Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m., weather permitting. Bring your mat and a water bottle and unwind at the end of a busy day. Find more info under “events” on the Village of Bellevue Facebook page. Classes run weekly on Tuesdays through Aug. 18; no registration required!
For other free classes in the area, go to:
- Titletown’s great lawn: 6-7 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 24. For this class, presented by Humana’s Get Fit program, registration IS required in advance, every week, to maintain social distancing guidelines. Instructors are from the Kroc Center.
- Howard’s Pinewood Park/Suamico’s Ancestry Acres: Teachers from The Yoga Loft in Howard alternate weekly Wednesday classes at these two great parks, from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Classes run through the end of August; no preregistration required. Check The Yoga Loft’s Facebook page or click here for updates due to weather, etc.
- Prince of Peace Catholic Community, 3425 Willow Road, Green Bay: Saturday mornings from 8:30-9:30 a.m. behind the church (west side) in the shaded area. Runs weekly through the end of August. Note: Donations to the church will be accepted but are not required for participation. Find details here.
Now if these free yoga classes don’t fit into your schedule, some of the local studios are offering outdoor yoga classes and venues as part of their paid programming:
- Bay Area Yoga Center, located at 1825 S. Webster, Green Bay, has an outdoor patio where a variety of classes are held throughout the day.
- JenStar Movement Studio, at 368 Main Ave., De Pere, has a limited number of in-person yoga classes offered on their outdoor yoga deck.
- Vibe & Flow Wellness has use of a farmhouse on the west side of town off Highway 32, where sunrise classes are conducted. In addition, outdoor $5 classes are held Mondays at 5 p.m. in the Vickery Village Pavilion, 1749 Riverside Drive, Suamico.
Where is your favorite place to practice yoga outdoors? Did we miss any free classes? Please let us know in the comments! Namaste!
