7 Great Places To Do Outdoor Yoga In Chicago This Summer
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 22, 2016 4:32PM
Photo courtesy of Millennium Park.
Summer doesn't last that long in Chicago, so we try to take everything we do outdoors. And that includes our yoga practice. We've scoured the city to find out where you can get your om on outside, from the park to the beach to a paddleboard in the middle of Lake Michigan. The best part is that many of the classes below are free.
That beautiful honeycomb Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo? Imagine doing sun salutations in that peaceful spot with a great view of downtown. Yoga at the Zoo offers classes for adults on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as parent-and-toddler yoga classes. The schedule runs all summer, through Sept. 18. Drop-in rate is $20, and they also have unlimited and multi-class passes. Register here.
Millennium Park Summer Workouts:
Millennium Park and McDonalds offer free workout classes throughout the season on the Great Lawn, including yoga. Every Saturday, from 7 to 11 a.m. all you need to bring is yourself and your mat for 45-minute classes in Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates and Zumba. There's also another yoga class on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Classes run through Sept. 3.
Sandy mat? Who cares? You're totally centered with Sun & Moon Beach Yoga on North Avenue Beach. They have a hefty schedule that runs every day of the week. There's a wide range of classes, mostly Vinyasa flow-style, for beginners and up. A single class is $20, and they also offer packages and season passes. Sign up before July and you can get a season pass for just $95. Season runs through Sept. 5.
If you're near Logan Square, take advantage of free Fitness in the Park classes at Unity Park every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. The series offers yoga and pilates classes with instructors from Tula Yoga and Frog Temple Pilates. BYO mat. Season runs through Sept. 10.
Lululemon Athletica has joined forces with the Wicker Park Advisory Council and Park District for free Tuesday classes in Wicker Park. All levels are welcome at the one hour class, which begin at 6:30 p.m. in the softball field near Schiller. Classes are led by instructors from Eb & Flow Yoga Studio, Moksha Yoga Center and Zen Yoga Garage. BYO mat. Season runs through Aug. 30.
Master dolphin pose with a view of the lake. FFC presents free classes at Belmont Harbor for both members and non-members. Classes are every Tuesday from 7 to 8 pm. and Sunday 11 to 12 p.m. Call FFC Halsted Street for more info.
SUP yoga:
Challenge your balance with SUP yoga. That's Stand Up Paddleboard for newbies. And, yes, that means there's nothing between you and the water but a paddleboard and your asanas. Here's a list of the many groups and beaches that offer classes in the city:
Chicago SUP Yoga at Montrose Beach
Chicago SUP at North Avenue Beach and Diversey Harbor
Chicago Paddle Company at Kathy Osterman 'Hollywood' Beach
Loyola Beach SUP at Leone Beach
Chicago Paddle Rentals at 31st Street Harbor