Presented by our friends at ConnectiCare, Yoga In Our City (YIOC), is an initiative that offers FREE yoga in city parks across the state. This year, classes are offered all summer long in these cities: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury.
Classes are also offered virtually and on-demand on the Yoga In Our City website from Connecticut-based teachers.
Mental Health Connecticut partners with Yoga In Our City because of their mission to build stronger, more compassionate communities with a deep understanding of the natural connections between yoga philosophy and social justice.
Yoga In Our City is working hard to ensure that yoga delivered in culturally appropriate ways and with a diverse mix of teachers. Their teachers lead practices that are trauma-informed and designed to be inclusive and supportive of all abilities and backgrounds.
On this day as we focus on “purpose” as a self-care tool, it’s important to remember that yoga in the U.S. is most often only offered as a physical practice. Did you know that there are 8 limbs of yoga, and that the physical practice, called “Asana,” is only one of them? Yoga is as old as civilization and, at its roots, is a spiritual practice in most of the world. The search for connection to the universe and our place in it is at the core of yoga, and many people bring yoga into their lives as a way to support their ability to find and connect to their purpose.
Suzi Craig, MHC’s Chief Strategy Officer (who is also a nationally certified yoga teacher), shares her thoughts here on why we believe in and support this effort:
Check out the regular class schedule and we hope to see you in Connecticut’s beautiful city parks this summer!
