Conscious Choice: Unique and Unusual Places for Yoga

July 2007 | Yoga Chat

Unique and Unusual Places for Yoga

by Cara Jepsen

Yoga can be practiced anywhere — an airport, a night club, a grocery store or even in a prison cell.

Years ago I taught a yoga class on a Lake Michigan cruise ship for a company’s wellness outing. We were set up on a dance floor across from the bar, and the waters were rough. The students had to endure their coworkers’ taunts as they toppled over in triangle pose, and some gave up altogether. Fortunately, there are better ways to practice yoga near the water and in other unusual places.

Eighty-four-year-old instructor Rosalia Holt been teaching a free Sunday class in Washington Square Park for the past 20 summers (6:30-7:30am at 64th Street and Lake Michigan; bring a mat). “It’s wonderful to do yoga outside, because you get the chance to do really complete breathing and feel the vibrancy and benefits of being outdoors with the clean air and grass and trees and flowers,” she says. “It really invigorates you.”

YogaNow offers a multilevel beach yoga class Monday nights from 6-7:30 through August 14 at Oak Street Beach. Students literally practice on the sand (regular class fees apply; register at yoganowchicago.com). “It’s nice to be so close to the power of the lake and to nature,” says instructor Niema Wilson. “The texture of the sand helps students stay in the moment because it isn’t the usual flat surface — so they have to be more explorative of it.”

Students can choose from eight classes a week at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, where the classrooms boast panoramic views of the gardens. In good weather, instructor Steve Nakon moves class outdoors.

“The mission of the Botanic Garden is to provide a space for transformation and tranquility, and yoga fits in perfectly,” he says. Classes are taught in nine-week sessions, and registration is required (chicagobotanic.org).

Those who prefer architecture with their asana can take advantage of the city’s free 45-minute classes at 8am each Saturday in Millennium Park at the Frank Geary-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion (millenniumpark.org).

Most Chicago city parks offer yoga classes (chicagoparkdistrict.com). But why settle for a field house when you can practice amongst the flora and fauna each Thursday night from 6-7:30pm at the Garfield Park Conservatory? Drop-in classes are $12, and registration is not required (garfield-conservatory.org).

Those on a tight schedule can take lunchtime “Yogabreak” class from 12:15-1pm every Tuesday and Thursday at Gallery 37. The large room features wood floors and colorful mosaics made by students (67 E. Randolph, artscapechicago.org or 312-744-9976). Former independent floor trader Vinnie Hunihan converted a former bank fitness center inside the Chicago Board of Trade into the Akal Yoga Studio (akalyoga.com), which has lunchtime, afternoon and evening classes. The city’s two Lululemon clothing stores hold free community yoga classes, and Whole Foods also offers occasional yoga classes.

Anyone who’s been affected by cancer can choose from four weekly classes at Gilda’s Club, 537 N. Wells (gildasclubchicago.org), as well as a Tuesday night class at Illinois Masonic Hospital’s cancer center. “Class is adapted according to who shows up,” explains instructor Mary Klonowski. “We get people in wheelchairs and with walkers and marathon runners who also come in and get something out of it. There’s also a social aspect to it; we usually have tea afterwards and talk.”

Yoga instructor Patricia Hyland, who has taught at a Chicago Police station, says that the community aspect of yoga can be just as important as the class itself — particularly when it’s done in a non-traditional setting. “We’re coming together and practicing communal healing,” says Hyland. “That’s what does it for me — coming together with other people and knowing that we’re not doing this alone. Even when I’m alone on my mat, I know there’s someone somewhere else in the world who’s also practicing.”

Cara Jepsen is a yoga instructor and writer who blogs about yoga for the Huffington Post. Visit carajepsen.com.

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