Free outdoor yoga classes in West Hartford return for summer

WEST HARTFORD — Free yoga classes in West Hartford parks will return this summer as part of a collaboration between the town and a local yoga studio.

West Hartford Yoga, a town presence for more than 20 years, offers free yoga classes of all levels to area residents as part of “WHY in the Parks,” an ongoing program run by the town’s Leisure Services department.

The 2024 summer program has just begun, allowing the West Hartford community to participate in hour-long outdoor classes every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening through mid-August.

This summer marks the eighth year for WHY in the Parks, according to a release from West Hartford Yoga.

Through this partnership, the town allows West Hartford Yoga to use park space for this purpose, according to Leisure Services Manager Mark Blanchard. When West Hartford Yoga first expressed interest in using a nearby park to host free classes, the town looked at it and said, “Sure, great. Let’s do it.”

“Whether they’re interested in yoga or not, giving them the opportunity to try something new and having access to recreational opportunities is what our department aims to do with all of our program offerings,” Blanchard said.

And now, several years later, the program seems to be very popular, he said.

Blanchard said WHY in the Parks is especially effective in the summer when there is less youth sports activity in the parks, providing residents and their children with new activities, and the fact that it’s a free option is another draw for area residents looking for outdoor activities.

The ultimate goal of the program is to make a new type of recreational activity more accessible and visible to the public, and to encourage people to seek out other yoga opportunities in West Hartford, either within the town or through private facilities, if they so choose, Blanchard said.

Classes will be held at Beachland Park, 847 South Quaker Lane, from 9 to 10 a.m. every Sunday through Aug. 18. Classes will be held behind the pool in a large plaza at the top of the hill. There is limited parking in the circular driveway area and overflow parking at the base of the hill, according to a press release.

Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 14 at Eisenhower Park, 33 Sheep Hill Drive, in the north part of town, in the green space near the soccer fields along Maiden Lane, closest to the Hyde Road parking lot.

According to the WHY website, it’s open to people of all ages and abilities, and participants just need to bring a yoga mat, towel and water.

Blanchard said classes typically feature a “smaller, more intimate atmosphere” rather than larger groups, in part because parking is limited. The space can easily accommodate 30 to 40 participants, but because classes are held in neighborhood parks, parking will eventually become an issue, he said.

Advance registration is encouraged. Any cancellations due to weather will be announced on the West Hartford Yoga website. Classes are completely free, but donations are appreciated.