It’s possible to do yoga, for free, almost every day of the week this summer, as New York City’s parks are transformed into al fresco yoga studios. These classes are all either mellow Vinyasa flow or Hatha yoga–a gentle style that often includes a meditative component, so they’ll be satisfying and safe for all levels of practitioners, even total newbies. Wear comfortable duds, bring water and a mat, and use common sense, if it’s raining, classes will probably be cancelled. Remind yourself that there are green trees and soft grass in the city, and calm pastures in your own mind.
Mondays: Sunrise Abhaya Yoga in Brooklyn Bridge Park, 7:30am through July 31 Early risers, this one is for you. On Mondays from now through July 31, salute the sun on the lawn at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park while the rest of us are still groggily loading up on coffee and trying to figure out what to wear. Registration for each free class starts at 7am, so get there early if you want to stake out a specific spot.
Mondays and Thursdays: The Sunset Session, LIC Landing, 7pm through August 31 All you need is a mat to join in twice-weekly vinyasa sessions with Melissa Lomax. The setting on the oval in Long Island City is not far from where the East River Ferry drops off (it’s a short walk from the 7 train, too) and the view is a stunner.
Tuesdays, Metrotech Commons, June 20, 27, July 11, 18, August 1, 8, 15, 7:30am The Mark Morris Dance Group leads free one-hour yoga sessions on Tuesday mornings in June and July. This is a fantastic reason to set your alarm a little early.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Bryant Park, Tuesdays 10am to 11am, Thursdays 6pm to 7pm through September 14 If you work near Bryant Park this could be a great stop on your way home, or an excuse to take an early lunch. Fill out a frequent yogi card and you could get discounts on classes and events at Manduka.com, which hosts this series with Yoga Journal. Mats are provided, which is extra convenient.
Wednesdays: Mindful Pints at Coney Island Brewery, June 21 and June 28, 7pm Buy a pint at Coney Island Brewery on the next two Wednesday nights, and you’ll be treated to a free yoga class on the beach, a free pint after class and $2 off any other pints you might order for the rest of the night. Seems like a perfect excuse to head to the beach after work on a Wednesday.
Thursdays: Prospect Park Yoga, Thursdays, 7pm, through August 31 Establish a Thursday evening routine with yoga in the Long Meadow in Prospect Park now through the end of August. It’s free, but you do need to RSVP before your first class so you can acknowledge a waiver, which you can do here, as well as check out the list of instructors for the summer.
Fridays: BRIC’s House Gallery, Fort Greene 1-2pm June 30-August 4 If you work in Fort Greene or Downtown Brooklyn make this yoga class from Bend and Bloom instructors, accompanied by live music, your Friday afternoon namaste before the weekend.
Saturdays and Sundays: Socrates Scuplture Park, Long Island City, Saturdays 9:30am and 11 am; Sundays 10am through September 3 Ride your bike to Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City on a weekend morning and reward yourself with an hour of yoga and then head to Takumen for lunch.
Saturdays and Sundays: Good Yoga, Saturdays 9am in McCarren Park Greenpoint/Williamsburg, and Maria Hernandez Park, Bushwick; Sundays 7pm Transmitter Park, Greenpoint, through September 3 Brooklyn-based yoga studio Good Yoga hosts three free weekly classes all summer long. Just look for the Good Yoga instructor wearing a red t-shirt.
Sundays: The Evergreens Cemetery, June 25, 10am Akiko Nishijima from All Yoga studio will teach a Hatha alignment class on Sunday, June 25 in the very unique setting of The Evergreens Cemetery in Bushwick. A peaceful Sunday morning option for anyone who needs some time to reflect.
I don’t even do yoga, but since it’s free, I’m thinking on it.
http://www.nynomads.com
Living sustainably off $100/week in NYC
This is so epic! Cant wait to attend
Who doesn’t enjoy free group yoga?