Since COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines have uprooted the lives of many people, yoga is the perfect practice for anyone during this uncertain time. Not only is it a great workout, building strength and flexibility, but it also relieves stress and improves your mood. At the beginning of the pandemic, local yoga studios adjusted by offering their classes digitally via Zoom and Youtube. Now that the Hudson Valley has entered the summer season and social distancing guidelines have slowly loosened, yoga studios once again are changing it up again and bringing yoga out into nature
Here’s a look at some of the local outdoor yoga classes being offered in the Hudson Valley this summer. Know about others? Drop ‘em in the comments below.
Outdoor Yoga with Christina Gdisis
Christina Gdisis is a 300-hour-certified yoga and meditation teacher, Thai yoga bodyworker, and vegan lifestyle facilitator. She received her certifications in New York City from the Bhakti Center and Stanton Street Yoga. Gdisis will instruct donation-based hour-long outdoor yoga classes at Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon every Saturday morning from July 11 to September 26, 9:15-10:15am. Class capacity will be limited to 10 people to maintain social distancing, if you’re interested you must reserve a spot for each class.
Yoga at the Winery
Weeds Orchard and Winery in Marlboro will be hosting $12 outdoor yoga classes on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Each class will run for an hour and be open to all levels from beginner to advanced. Thursday classes run from 7-8pm and Saturday classes run from 9-10am. The classes also give participants an option to spend $24 to include a 16-ounce bottle of sangria with their class. Refunds are available up until a day before the class.
Stonegate Farm Sunday Rituals
On Sunday, July 5 Stonegate Farm in Newburgh will offer a $40 day-long mini yoga retreat from 9:30am-12:30pm with Hudson Valley nOMad instructors, a global collective of “yogis, wellness practitioners, healers, travelers, and wanderers of all kinds.” Starting on July 12, Stonegate will also host weekly $15 yoga classes. Classes are inclusive to all levels and will take place every Sunday until September 20, from 9:30-10:30am. Space for these classes are limited, so reservations are required.
Llamaste Yoga and Lavender Loofahs
Virginia Bocchicchio will instruct these introductory yoga classes with some help from the llamas and alpacas at Clover Brooke Farm. Bocchicchio has been a yoga instructor in the Hudson Valley and Brooklyn since 2007. After the yoga class owner of Clover Brooke Farm Andrea Parent-Tibbetts will be instructing a class to teach you how to create your own lavender loofah. The events are Thursday, July 23, 3 p.m.-5 and Saturday, July 25, 5 p.m.-7. The classes will be held at Clover Brooke Farm in Hyde Park and cost $40 to register.
Sol Full Yoga
The Sol Full Yoga in Monroe has many different options for anyone to access their yoga classes amid the ongoing pandemic. The studio currently offers their classes virtually and outside, and they even offer SUP (stand-up paddleboard) yoga for anyone looking for a real change in scenery. The outdoor classes are held at Plum Point in New Windsor, the Orange County Arboretum in Montgomery, Lake Sapphire in Monroe, and Walton Lake in Monroe. The SUP yoga classes are held at Walton Lake. Registration is required for all classes.
