{"id":1214,"date":"2012-11-06T07:42:22","date_gmt":"2012-11-06T11:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=1214"},"modified":"2012-11-06T07:52:14","modified_gmt":"2012-11-06T11:52:14","slug":"yoga-in-the-park-at-bayfront-downtown-helps-visitors-relax-remove-stress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=1214","title":{"rendered":"Yoga in the Park at Bayfront downtown accessible for visitors at nearby hotels"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted Nov. 6, 2012<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

By LAURIE CHARLES<\/p>\n

MIAMI, Fla.\u2014I was on my way to Bayfront Park in downtown Miami one mid-October evening. I was trying to beat the clock to make it to Yoga in the Park, a free yoga class held in one of the park\u2019s pavilions that was scheduled to start at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Locals,<\/a>

Locals, tourists and first-time yogis head on over to Tina Hills Pavilion in Bayfront Park for free yoga (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

It was one of those typical Miami days where flashes of rain and torrential winds were followed by beaming rays of sunlight.<\/p>\n

Yet tourists managed to make their way out of the many hotels dotted along Biscayne Boulevard to roam the streets of downtown and capture the sun\u2019s reflection on the high rises as the sun was getting ready to set.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t sure of the exact location of the yoga meeting point, but as I pulled my car onto the parking lot located on Biscayne Boulevard and SE 3rd<\/sup> Street, I noticed several people wearing leggings and tank tops and carrying brightly-colored yoga mats. I then knew I was on the right track.<\/p>\n

Unsure of where to go, I followed the mats. As I approached the crosswalk, somewhat nervous and excited for my first yoga class, I met two young women, Sasha and Sandra. They, too, were first-time yogis.<\/p>\n

Tim Schmand, executive director of Bayfront Park, said that although regulars attend the yoga classes, there are many first-timers and tourists as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had people who show up from Denmark, South America, all over the world; people who are walking through the park and see us doing yoga and want to join us,\u201d said Schmand. \u201cI always take two or three extra mats that I give out on a first-come, first-serve basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Yoga<\/a>

Yoga in the Park is held at the Tina Hills Pavilion in Bayfront Park right across from the InterContinental Hotel (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

As we were waiting to cross the street, a downpour of rain fell upon us.<\/p>\n

We ran for shelter under the Metromover, which was conveniently right above us, and waited for the rain to subside. Sasha asked me if I thought the class was going to be cancelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope not,\u201d I answered. \u201cLet\u2019s just get there and if anything there should be signs or something directing us where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few minutes later, the rain stopped and my new yoga friends and I crossed the busy intersection at Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

We were not too sure where to go, but we continued walking.<\/p>\n

In front of us was the Atlantic Ocean, on our left was Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park and on our right was the InterContinental Hotel. As we looked for the Tina Hills Pavilion where the classes were held, I noticed several tourists posing for the camera in front of the bay as well as locals going for an evening run or walking their dogs.<\/p>\n

\"Yoga<\/a>

Yoga class participants take time to unwind midweek for Yoga in the Park (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

As we got closer, I saw a rainbow of orange, yellow, blue and black yoga mats lined across the pavilion and about 50 people waiting for the class to start.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, it\u2019s packed!\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I heard it usually gets super packed,\u201d answered one of women with me.<\/p>\n

Since we were all beginners, we decided to stay together and find a spot for the three of us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome,\u201d said Paul Richardson, the yoga instructor, as he greeted the class. \u201cPull your mats out and get ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

I pulled out my orange yoga mat, took off my sneakers and placed my bag at the end of the mat.<\/p>\n

I looked around and, as I saw the class warm up, I discovered that there were all levels of yogis here.<\/p>\n

To my right was a young man in his 20s who seemed to be very advanced in yoga; to my left was a woman who in her 30s who appeared to be at the intermediate level; and behind me was Sandra and Sasha who were novices.<\/p>\n

As I examined the area, I immediately decided that if I were to get lost during the class, I would follow the guy on my right.<\/p>\n

The class began with a salutation seal \u2014 eyes closed, legs crossed, hands placed in front of the chest as if saying a prayer, and deep breaths.<\/p>\n

As I sat there and meditated, I couldn\u2019t help but think that the same venue where crowds gather during New Year\u2019s Eve as they watch the orange rise on the fa\u00e7ade of the InterContinental Hotel, where musicians like Katy Perry and others have held concerts, and where the starting point for many marathons, like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure take place, is the same spot where yoga classes are held three times a week.<\/p>\n

\"Anyone<\/a>

Anyone can join in on the free yoga as long as they bring a mat (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

My thoughts were interrupted by Richardson.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow let\u2019s take three breaths and ohm.\u201d<\/p>\n

The command totally caught me off guard. I was reluctant at first and peeked only to discover that everyone was naturally ohming, so I decided to join in.<\/p>\n

Soon after, Richardson ordered us to get into downward dog position\u2014both hands and feet on the ground and the body placed upright in a V shape.<\/p>\n

After holding downward dog for about half a minute, Richardson talked us into warrior pose.<\/p>\n

As my vantage point shifted from the floor to the horizon, I looked onto the orange, yellow, and red sky in front of me reflecting on one of the buildings that make up the Miami skyline along Biscayne Boulevard. I was distracted by the scenery for a second, but quickly caught up with the class.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The view of downtown from the Tina Hills Pavilion during Yoga in the Park (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

Although there were different levels of yoga, I was able to go at my own pace. Richardson offered modifications to the moves so it was up to me to choose the level of challenge. Being a self-competitive person, I sought to push myself.<\/p>\n

After several repetitions, Richardson said it was time to get on the floor. A couple of stretches later, Richardson talked the class into a backbend.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow look in back of you and stare at the rainbow,\u201d said Richardson.<\/p>\n

Just as the sun was about to set, a rainbow beamed from the bay in the partly cloudy sky. It seemed as if everywhere I looked, the sky was putting on a show.<\/p>\n

It was finally time to cool down. Richardson instructed class members to lie on our mats with our eyes closed.<\/p>\n

The breeze was calming and although there was the noise of the Metromover passing by and car horns in the background, there were no distractions, only serenity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a shower and then it stopped. There was a rainbow and now it\u2019s gone,\u201d said Richardson. \u201cLife is always changing and yoga helps your mind flow with those changes. Namaste.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, the class ended. As I slowly got up from my mat, I felt a sense of peace and euphoria.<\/p>\n

I said my goodbyes to Sandra and Sasha and as I walked back to my car and stared at the ocean in back of me and the skyscrapers in front of me, I couldn\u2019t help but smile and tell myself, \u201cI love Miami.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although this was my first time participating with Yoga in the Park, the classes have been around since September 2005.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people were offering yoga in an office building across the street,\u201d said Schmand. \u201cThe building\u2019s management didn\u2019t want it to continue. So a yoga instructor came to me and asked to do it at the park.\u201d<\/p>\n

At first, classes were held once a week and only a handful of people attended. The word got across and attendance began to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Board of Directors were really pleased so they expanded it to three days a week,\u201d said Schmand. \u201cWe have had over 82,000 \u2013 83,000 people since it began.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Signs<\/a>

Signs guide class members and welcome tourists to a free yoga class at the Tina Hills Pavilion (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t receive government money to run the park, so we operate on our income. We would want to expand it though, but it\u2019s very difficult to raise funds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bayfront Park offers other events including concerts and trapeze lessons, but Schmand said that yoga is the most successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the things we do well,\u201d said Schmand.<\/p>\n

Although the classes are completely free, the only rule is that you have to be over the age of 18 and must sign a liability waiver in order to participate.<\/p>\n

Schmand said that the class is suitable for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can only do what you can do,\u201d said Schmand. \u201cOur practice is the ideal practice for the first time yogi. There are people who can do everything and a lot of first-timers. Everyone is so focused on doing their own yoga that no one notices what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

IF YOU GO<\/strong><\/p>\n