Downtown Yoga Celebrates Sixth Birthday with 65,000-plus Downward Dogs

​Six years ago yesterday, Yoga in the Park downtown held its first free class. Woo hoo!! There were only nine attendees. That first class practiced near the water because Hurricane Wilma had ripped apart the Tina Hills Pavilion.

Boy has yoga evolved. Today the free class has grown into one of the largest and most consistent yoga practices in the country.

These days, 150 to 180 yogis regularly attend this staple of our burgeoning downtown landscape. In fact, on Saturday, the practice surpassed the 65,000 plateau of yogis who have participated since its inception.

The free event has proved to be remarkably resilient. In six years, class has only been canceled one time. Considering the session meets three times a week, that's 935 out of a possible 936 classes held. Yoga's invincible.

It it rains, the practice moves inside the administrative offices of Bayfront Park. If there's construction, a film or television show in production, or a holiday or corporate event, the class migrates to the Bayfront Amphitheater, and practices on stage.

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Jannee Alt has been the main instructor on Monday and Wednesday since 2007. She is a rockstar goddess yogi with a wonderful approach, sense of humor, and a voice like honey.

"Yoga brings the community together, and more than ever, that is what the world needs right now -- to learn to work together. One might think that the students are the ones who reap all the benefits of the practice, but I have personally grown from the experience of guiding classes there and feel fortunate to be a part of it!  The students are so inspiring."

Being outside, feeling the cool bay breeze on your skin, sharing the experience with a non-judgmental and conscious community, adoring the sunset and Miami skyline---these precious commodities are priceless--not to mention the actual benefits of yoga, both mental and physical. The invigorating class is designed for yogis of all levels, the instructors are wonderful, and the overall effect on your psyche is immeasurable.

Attending yoga is never a bad decision. Thank you, community yoga. And Happy Birthday.

Community yoga takes place Monday and Wednesday at 6pm, and Saturday at 9:00am. The class is free and meets at the Tina Hills Pavilion in Bayfront Park, across from the Hotel Intercontinental. For more info call 305.358.7550

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