Fitness Friday: Outdoor Yoga

by | Jun 23, 2017 | Events, Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday is here and this week we are featuring the best outdoor yoga spots downtown. Summer is FINALLY officially here and it is the time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, so why not find a local yoga class and enjoy the weather while relaxing and staying active?

Downtown has searched different outdoor yoga practices offered around Manhattan, focusing mainly on the Downtown area, but added a few close by just in case you find yourself in other areas of the city.

Downtown

Washington Square Park

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Each week all summer long, on Wednesdays at 8:30-9:30 a.m., Garibaldi Plaza in Washington Square Park puts on a yoga event with Sacred Sounds Yoga for FREE, courtesy of NYC Parks. Afterwards, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., your kids can also go to a free yoga class at the kids playground. Spend your Wednesdays in Washington Square Park to ensure a relaxing workout.

Battery Park 

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Battery Park offers two yoga sessions each week from now until August 27th by Tejal Patel of Tejal Yoga, who is dedicated and passionate. One session is on Sundays from 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m. and another is every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.. The suggested donation is $10, which goes to The Battery Conservancy.  You must RSVP to attend these sessions. Sunday mornings are for all ages while the Wednesday evening sessions are for the after-work crowd. I can vouch that this was a great class; peaceful, relaxing, and grounding. Take advantage of this opportunity to practice yoga in the beautiful Battery Park!

Citi Summer in the Square

Photo Courtesy of Summer in the Square

Every Thursday, in the morning and afternoon, in Union Square Park, Citi Summer in the Square has two yoga sessions you can attend up until August 10th. To start off your day, you can attend a 7 to 8 a.m. yoga session in the South Plaza, put on by Paragon sports. Or, to end your day, you can attend sunset yoga at 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the North Plaza, with New York Health & Racquet Club. All events in Citi Summer in the Square are free. Make your Thursdays extra special by participating in these awesome events while you can!

Complete Body – Financial District

Photo courtesy of Yelp

Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., there is a 45 minute Vinyasa yoga outside class in the Financial District location of Complete Body — located at 10 Hanover Square. It is an open level class driven to strengthen and open the body. Through different postures and certain breathing techniques, Complete Body encourages a “calm, self-awareness and vibrant energy.” Complete body requires a membership.

…. Along with these 4 spots, as promised we’ve included a few places abovee Downtown:

Downtown Goes Up

Summer on the Hudson

Photo courtesy of City Atlas

The Parks Department’s annual outdoor arts & culture festival has begun and takes place in Riverside Park, which is from 59th Street all the way to 153rd Street. Within Riverside Park South, every Wednesday from now until September 27 at 6:30 p.m. there is a yoga class – an evening salute to the sun, located at The Plaza at 66th Street. In Mid Riverside Park, Yoga Flow is every Thursday, present until September 28, at 6:30 p.m., located at the Lawn at 78th Street.

Bryant Park

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Open to all ages and fitness levels as well as free to the public, Bryant Park puts on a hit yoga class every Thursday — from now until September 7 — at 6 p.m. held on the lawn. This is their 14th season of outdoor yoga classes and allows anyone and everyone to have an opportunity to end up perfecting their downward dog at their own pace.

Hudson Park

Photo courtesy of HY/HK Alliance

Every Sunday, from now until August 6, the HY/HK Alliance puts on a free morning yoga session with Malorie Bryant 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.. Held at the Hudson Park Fountains, in Hudson Park (between W 34th and W 35th, 10th Avenue and 11th Ave), they are reaching out to all different levels and only require you to bring a mat. The Hudson Yards is a perfect place to practice yoga on the beautiful Manhattan Sunday mornings.

Along with these, Central Park is full of many yoga opportunities for beginners, all levels, and more. Although some may require a fee to join the class, there are classes offered at a variety of times and with different groups or even just meet-ups.

Namaste to summer days and outdoor yoga!

Downtown Magazine