Mark your calendar for outdoor (and some indoor) pop-up yoga all summer
Drinking and yoga do not mix. This I know from experience.
Several years ago, after a particularly boozy night in Westport, I attempted to show off my vinyasa flow for my date and ended up facedown on the living room floor, a black-and-blue marshmallow blooming on my forehead.
Still, the promise of a bracing post-practice treat — a few sips, not a bar cart — can be a good motivator to hold that Warrior II for a couple of extra breaths.
On a Sunday afternoon at J. Rieger & Co., in the East Bottoms, people in colorful tights hauling yoga mats looked out of place wandering into the large, industrial warehouse. Near the door, a bar held several elegant glass bottles of the family-owned distillery’s locally made spirits. The amber-colored whiskey, in particular, caught my attention, inviting me to settle down with a glass and a saucy sandwich from the Local Pig next door.
Even without this impending indulgence, the class was an enticing experience. Led by instructor Heather Rama of Hagoyah, we moved through the beginner-friendly poses while surrounded by racks of wooden barrels and shiny metal fermentation tanks, breathing in the delicious scents of earth and machinery.
That is the coolest part about yoga: You can do it anytime, anywhere. And summer offers plenty of chances to practice your tree pose next to an actual tree (or near a distillery tank). Here are a few of my favorite donations-only yoga events popping up around town this summer, which promise a good time on and off the mat.
Hagoyah (515 West 75th Street)
This cozy, inviting studio in the back of Waldo salon Hagoyah hosts yoga classes at the J. Rieger & Co. distillery (2700 Guinotte) on July 10, August 7 and September 4. No, drinks are not included — but after class, you can do whatever you want.
Hagoyah will also have classes at KC Bier Co. (310 West 79th Street) on the third Saturday of each month, on the Trolley Trail out back. For more information, including specific times, look up the “Hagoyah FUN in Waldo” Facebook group.
Karma Tribe (3545 Broadway)
Led by pop-up-yoga pioneer Lauren Leduc, Karma Tribe, Kansas City’s only donation-based studio, hosts an outdoor yoga class at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in Gillham Park. If it’s rainy, the class moves to Karma’s new studio space on Broadway. Follow Karma Tribe on Facebook for additional opportunities to practice outdoors.
Nella Yoga (5504 Troost)
Since moving to her new location on Troost, Shanell Petersen has created a welcoming yoga community on Kansas City’s East Side. She’s hosting all-levels yoga classes once a month this summer: 8 a.m. July 23 at Troost Park (the Paseo and East 31st Street); and 4 p.m. August 27 at Seven Oaks Park (3700 Kensington).
Power Life Yoga (4800 Main)
This popular new studio recently opened a second location in Prairie Village, providing even more opportunities to sweat to Beyonce in one of Power Life’s challenging, heated classes. Join this perpetually positive crew for all-levels classes at 11 a.m. July 10 and August 14 at KC Bier Co.
Yoga in the Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak)
Held on the lawn outside one of the country’s finest art museums, this popular event can attract more than 100 people. Taught by a rotating array of instructors, classes are typically held on Sunday afternoons, but times can vary due to the weather. Follow on Facebook (Yoga in the Park) for updates. And when class is over, don’t forget to treat yourself.
