Written by Ellie Davis
When I moved to the Upper West Side last summer, I was initially surprised by how few yoga studios were searched on Google. As I integrated into the community, I discovered that yoga was all around me. In addition to boutique studios, free, donation-based classes are held in unexpected locations such as churches, parks, libraries, and taekwondo studios. Teachers are typically Upper West Siders who want to give back to the community. Discovering these gems has made me love this area even more and connected to it even more.
in West End Collegiate Church Located on 77th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue, instructor Margaret Tobin leads free one-hour sessions every Wednesday night. Tobin said it’s mostly “church women” who attend, but sometimes strangers or people from the church’s pantry wander in and enjoy her classes. She sees this class as a way for her to be able to offer her skills without financial barriers. She didn’t get into yoga for the money, so she prefers teaching for free in a church basement rather than a commercial studio. I thought this class was suitable for all levels. It’s a slower flow.
Tobin considers yoga to be prayer, so teaching it in church is a natural fit. She also humorously says, “The elderly in the church need yoga!” I tell them to do yoga and they won’t need a hip replacement! ”
On a freezing rainy November night, one of my students, Christine, a church member and schoolteacher, braved the cold to attend class.
“I came here because I like the camaraderie of the people who come there,” Kristin said. “Now is the time to focus on yourself and de-stress. It’s fun!”
where: 245 West 77th Street, for sure.Broadway and West End Avenue
when: Wednesday night, 6:30 p.m.
Fee: Free; mats also available
position: room 1
Instructor Max Kennedy offers donation-based yoga classes at: broadway taekwondo martial arts Broadway between 105th and 106th Streets. After the Upper West Side studio where he taught closed during the pandemic, he realized he needed to fill a void for accessible yoga. Get ready to sweat in Max’s class! It’s difficult, but it’s open to people of all levels.
“I always wanted to start something donation-based,” Kennedy said. “My mission is to make this practice available at some level because in some places it is cost-prohibitive.”
Kennedy operates on a pay-what-you-can model, with an offer of $10. The amount students pay varies. One night, Kennedy found a $100 bill in a box. Kennedy offered an “energy exchange” for those who couldn’t pay and asked students to spread the word about his classes.
where: 744 Broadway, for sure. 105-106th Street, 2nd floor
when: Wednesday 7:30pm, Sunday 11:30am
Fee: Please give what you can. Suggest a donation of $10.Mats also available
position: Enter the second floor of Broadway
NYC Parks Program shape up new york We offer free classes throughout the city. Upper West Side offers the following classes: Riverside Park and in that New York Public Library Morningside Heights Branch. Outdoor classes at the newly renovated 102nd Street Fieldhouse in Riverside Park have been suspended for the winter and will resume on Tuesday, March 5th at 9:30 a.m. In the meantime, yogis have two options each week at the library. Yoga in Spanish will be offered on Mondays at 10 a.m. and Slow Flow Yoga will be offered on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
where: 2900 Broadway Bets. 113-114th Street
when: Yoga en Español, 10 a.m. Monday.Slow Flow, Wednesday 1 p.m.
Fee: Free; registration required.bring your own mat
position: community room
When it’s time to splurge on a studio, use ClassPass (an app available on the App Store that lets you try out different studios with different “credits”) to check out NY Loves Yoga on West 83rd Street (between Columbus) Get discounted classes with. and Amsterdam). From what I’ve seen, their classes are more intermediate, but Upper West Side Yoga and Wellness, located at West 85th Street (Columbus and Central Park West), is suitable for all levels, with prices for students, military, and seniors $20 each. I took advantage of his 30-day intro special for $108 and found it to be worth every penny.
I often push my coffee table against the wall and replace that space with a yoga mat. There are unlimited free resources online. My favorite is Yoga with Cassandra on YouTube. Her 10 Minute and Her 15 Minute flows are perfect for starting and ending your day. If you want to expand your activities further, St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church is offering free Pilates classes via Zoom on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Email Brent for the link: Brent@stpaulandstandrew.org.
Filling your week with nourishing yoga classes is easier than you think.
We’d love to hear where you’ve found great yoga near you.
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