Yoga at Fairchild
Taking a Yoga Class at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
The wind rustles through the leaves of the garden, the sun shines through the palm trees and the music of the sound bowls washes over you as you lay in a quiet meditation. This moment of serenity can be found on Saturday mornings at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden during their Morning Yoga: Vinyasa with Crystal Sound Bowls series.
The one-hour yoga class is held at the amphitheater. To get there, go through the main entrance and past the Visitor Center parking lot, and park in the lowlands parking field. Then walk to the amphitheater, a grassy area surrounded by palm trees and lakes – the ideal setting to practice yoga.
The class begins with gentle movements and stretches, waking and warming up the body. We then did a number of sun salutations and went from downward dog into other asanas (poses). Vinyasa means “movement between poses.” In this form of yoga, you flow from one asana to another: Downward dog to warrior two to triangle pose, for example. Breath is an integral part of the practice and each movement is accompanied with an inhale or exhale.
It was a pretty standard vinyasa class for anyone who is familiar with this style of yoga. Even those who don’t have a yoga practice yet are welcome to join. The instructor asks at the beginning if anyone is new to yoga and demonstrates poses for anyone who needs it. Though the class was only an hour (in-studio classes are usually an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half), it was definitely a good workout and we somehow squeezed in all the sun salutations, poses, and pranayama (breath work).
The best part is savasana – where you just lie on your back and quiet your mind (or try to) as you meditate to the soothing sounds of the crystal bowls echoing through the garden. The only distraction is the occasional chirping of one of Fairchild’s winged residents. It’s a restorative and relaxing way to spend a Saturday morning.
Classes are on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. through May 15. Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for non-members. To sign up, visit fairchildgarden.org/events.
