Yoga in the Park
"Yoga means addition – addition of energy, strength, and beauty to body, mind, and soul,” - Dr. Amit Ray
Food For Thought
The Indian yoga and meditation teacher and author Dr. Amit Ray aptly noted the concept and philosophy of the popular health and wellness trend, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to unite’ in translation from Sanskrit. Yoga is becoming more and more popular every year, discovering and developing new directions and styles. The secret of such popularity is that, in addition to good strength training, yoga strengthens the spirit and endurance. It helps to slow down the speedy pace of life: look inside yourself and seek inner balance and harmony, for they offer a beneficial effect on your quality of life. Yoga is universal, serving a multitude of purposes, and is enjoyed by all genders and demographic groups: from children's classes to people of advanced age. Yoga is also convenient because it does not require large investments in equipment: at the initial stage, you only need comfortable clothing, a yoga mat, and a willingness to enjoy the practice in harmony with yourself and the universe.
Heidelberg is an active, sporty, and community-oriented city, offering a wide range of activities, including yoga classes. In summer, when beautiful weather allows you to spend more time outdoors and enjoy active recreation, yoga classes in parks have become a good tradition and ideal for health. On April 29, 2024, the Heidelberg Office for Sports and Health Promotion, in cooperation with Sportkreis Heidelberg, opened the “Sport in the Park” season to everyone, which will end on September 29, 2024. This is a series of free fitness training sessions, designed for people of all ages and levels of fitness, held in parks of the city of Heidelberg. Weather permitting, yoga sessions take place every Tuesday in the green area “Am Römerbad” (at the corner of Jahnstrasse and Berliner Strasse, near Ernst-Walz-Bruecke) from April 30 to August 27, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from September 3 to September 24, 2024, from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
These events are very popular with residents, creating a friendly atmosphere and a positive mindset for practice. An hour of yoga, self-immersion, and harmony with the surrounding nature under the gentle guidance of a professional trainer has a beneficial effect on overall well-being and socialization and contributes to the bonding of new acquaintances and the organization of joint leisure. More information about the sporting events can be found here.
Another option for free yoga classes in the park are the sessions from the Yoga Mundi yoga center in the Wieblingen district, on the banks of the Neckar River. Sessions are held on Saturdays (13.07, 03.08, 14.09, 12.10.2024 at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m., Neckarplatz) and last 30 minutes. Not far from the park where the classes are held, there is a new yoga center, founded by two certified yoga teachers, Liina Puustinen and Diana Weiss. The center offers a wide range of yoga courses and workshops for everyone: from beginner to advanced yogis, yoga for pregnant and postnatal women, and even yoga for those with health restrictions, with group or individual lessons in both English and German. More detailed information about the center and the classes in the park can be found here.
No matter what season, you can still enjoy health practices, sporting events, and new experiences. For those who are unsure or shy, find yourself inspired and moved by the motivational quote from Jessamine Stanley, an American yoga teacher and body positivity supporter: “Let go of fear. Get on the mat. Love your body.”
