Houston has it. Dallas has it. Austin’s is the original. This Labor Day, San Antonio is having its first ever Free Day of Yoga.
Free Day of Yoga is an opportunity for experienced yogis to explore new styles of yoga and to try out a class or two with new instructors. It’s also a chance for yogis to rope their non-yogi friends into finally joining them for a class because, hey, it’s free, and shame on them for waiting this long to try yoga anyway. Practicing yoga increases strength (no more noodly arms and legs for you) and flexibility (could a career with Cirque du Soleil be in your future?). Yoga can also reduce risks of heart attack and arthritis, and lower rising blood pressure.
Yoga is a great way to relax – shifting from pose to pose, isolating and stretching muscles you may not even know you have, all while listening to the soothing tones of your instructor’s voice. Participating in Free Day of Yoga can be either a nice way to wind down Labor Day afternoon, or it can be a pre-Labor Day exercise to mentally and physically prepare yourself for the heinous amounts of barbeque and booze your body is about to endure.
As part of San Antonio’s first Free Day of Yoga, The Union Bikram Yoga studio is offering free hot yoga classes. Bikram yoga might sound scary at first because it typically takes place in a 100+ degree room. You might imagine a room full of stony-faced yogis, sweating profusely, but the temperature of the room actually heats your muscles and allows for optimal stretching, and the sweating that occurs is actually a detox for your body. So, serious-faced intimidating yogis aside, newcomers should just jump in and let their sweaty pheromones mingle with those of their peers and enjoy the new-found feeling of elongated muscles and catlike flexibility.
The Union will be offering free classes at three different locations. Classes at Alamo Heights will take place at 6:00 am and 8:00 am, classes at Hollywood Park will be held at 5:45 am, 9:00 am, 12:00 pm and 4:30 pm, while classes at Huebner Oaks will take place at 5:45 am, 9:00 am and 3:30 pm.
In addition to The Union, Nydia's Yoga Therapy will also be offering free classes on Labor Day. These will be more mellow than the hot yoga at The Union and will cater specifically to beginners who need help with the basics of breathing and posture. The classes at Nydia's Yoga Therapy will take place at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 5:30 pm.
Yoga is an activity for all ages, not just twiggy twenty-somethings or granola hippies, so invite your friends and family and take part in our city’s first Free Day of Yoga at a participating studio. If afterwards you suddenly feel inspired to grow out all your hair or pursue a career with Cirque du Soleil, you’re welcome.
