Yoga in Strange Places
Maybe they aren't strange places but different non-traditional places. I hate yoga, I don't find it calming, I've never been good with balance, I fall up stairs, trip over oxygen and if there is the ability to slip on anything I will find it. I also don't do anything slow. I'm not fast in anyway but I am not good at turning off my mind, holding still and just slowly focusing on the move or pose. I'm in the pose lets move to the next. Add in being around a dozen or more people, in various stages of health, fitness and body odor all trying to remain quite, it just doesn't work for me. I may be the only person who gets stressed from yoga. So here is learning to find some for of peace in places as non-traditional as I am. Maybe I'll find a love for yoga, or just finding strange yoga locations.
Restorative Yoga: History Colorado
January 27, 2018
I find it fitting to start this goal in a place I already find some sort of calm and relaxation. In a gallery surrounded by history and artifacts, filled with culture that inspires learning and encourages exploration. I don't know if its peace, or zen or whatever it is yogis find doing yoga, but for me its perfect. History Colorado offered a restorative yoga event which was a new experience in I had no idea what restorative yoga was. If you don't know . . . its stretching and naptime. In the hour there were maybe five poses and I fought not falling asleep in the calming music and warm room. It was interesting to say the least. The hour ended and we had the opportunity to stay and enjoy the museum which I highly recommend. I'll repeat it if I get the chance but it was an opportunity I couldn't pass.
https://www.historycolorado.org/event/restorative-yoga/2018/01/27
Anahata Vinyasa Yoga: at the Denver Aquarium. Yoga With Sharks
January 17, 2018
One of my best friends joined me for this event even though she hates fish. Every other week this takes place at the Denver aquarium for a really good price, but you have to know who to contact to get the details. This was the event that made me begin my journey of yoga in weird places. I saw past events on facebook and was determined to make it happen. I loved the speed Elyse went. We didn't spend too much time in any one position and she encouraged us to our own abilities, and she actually corrected us without slowing the rest of the group. Being in front of the aquarium was really cool and made the wind down meditation at the end actually enjoyable. I'll 100% do this one again. The only issue was the hard floor with a thin mat made for some sore joints. I still don't like yoga but its becoming an addition.
Goat Yoga: Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga, Longmont CO.
March 18, 2018
The best of the best for strange yoga. There are all kinds of photos and videos online and let me say this is as amazing as the videos seem. We were in a heated barn with the kindest yoga teacher ever. After the goats were released she kept the class going even while we each became distracted by goats walking past or being placed on our backs, or in my case deciding to lay down across my chest. In the 45 minute course I stretched more then I had in any class thus far and held positions longer (yes 100% due to the goat on my back). I left in such an amazing mood. There is no way to leave goat yoga in a bad mood. After 45 minutes we had additional time to get more photos and everyone worked together go be sure everyone got photos with goats however they wanted.
Yoga at the Gardens,
Cheyenne botanical Gardens.
March 22, 2018
This was the most stressful yoga thus far. I got to attend this yoga free and that needs to be stated and known for two reasons. 1) They are going to start charging, this could be between $8-15 vs the $40 for a month cost for two times a week. 2) Though they say its yoga in the gardens its really in one of the classrooms to the side if there are "too many students" this number seems to be anything over 7. They have a regular group that does the class two times a week and they are very close with family of the teacher attending. Tracy decided to join me for this yoga since she goes weekly to another class. The teacher is a lovely woman who is in every sense a stereotypical yogi. The motions them self we're enjoyable and a great speed considering how much I hate slow. BUT I couldn't get past the tone of the class and the names she gave for various moves (It seemed like a kids version with various cute animals) she spent a lot of time using anatomical words and chakras because she didn't want to say a naughty word. I am still really disappointed the class wasn't in the gardens but in a classroom across the hall, It was dark and more depressing then relaxing.
Sun Sheerutations: Yoga + Ed Sheeran,
The Walnut Room with Kady of Big Booty Yoga.
April 29, 2018
After almost a month of school and illness keeping me from yoga this was a fun event to get going again. I know a few Ed Sheeran songs and it fit my schedule so why not! Since I began this venture I'd seen posts about Kady at Big Booty Yoga and her music themed yoga classes. I knew it would happen and when I missed Boy Bands I didn't want to wait any longer so I could attend more if I liked it. The music gets you dancing as you try to pose, and Kady helps you feel confident no matter your skill level. She suggests more advanced things but encourages just a light fun class. There isn't a lot of that quite time while she's making jokes and letting us laugh, there is a few minutes at the end. I reccommend everyone shake a little booty in downward dog and let the love songs of Mr. Sheeran fill your heart with sappiness or whatever musical week it is. I'll do this one again. An awesome Sunday Funday and it was capped off with a mimosa on the house.
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/big-booty-yoga-14445921521
Yoga tour at DMNS
Hosted by Im'Unique - Illustrating Union Yoga & Wellness Tour
March 22, 2018
I was impressed and unimpressed all at once. I hoped that yoga in a museum would be in galleries, around the artifacts, or at the very least would show items from the collection. Apparently sometimes this happens but not for events as large and popular as this. We did yoga in the space beside the children's area on the ground floor. They provided each person with headphones so we could hear the instructions and calming music even with the crowd of close to 60 people. They played dance music to start which allowed everyone to laugh and bond and at the end another dance party ended our session. The yoga itself was well paced and had options for more advanced practice and novice.
Illness took me out of the game for the month of April and May. I missed four events and lost motivation to continue. Thankfully I'm stubborn and signed up really early for some summer events. I traveled in June so here we are back on track July 2018
Wanderlust108 - Denver
the 2018 Mindful Triathlon
July 14, 2018
The mindful triathlon was probably as trying as a traditional triathlon. Ok, probably not, but running, yoga, and meditation vs swimming, biking, and running. I hate more things in the first set than the second. I'm also not fit enough to do the second. This was a fun filled day with many activities, vendors and so much to see and do. I could have not gotten up this morning, but I did, and I'm really glad I went to this awesome event. A 5K before it got too hot, it was 89° when we started. Then a round of yoga in the 94° heat. I made it around half way through the yoga before the heat was too much and I went home. We all know I wouldn't have stayed for the meditation anyway.
Run
Yoga
Meditate?
Official World Record Attempt Goat Yoga
by Mountain Country Nigerian
July 15, 2018
On Sunday's we break world records by doing yoga with goats. The Denver county fair hosted the second annual goat yoga event with a twist of being an official Guinness World Record setting event. So an hour of yoga, approximately 300 people and 60 goats lead to a great session of stretching, laughs, smiles and far too many photos. New friends and finished it off with a drink of choice plus entry into the fair and the luck to see a cat show.
Yoga on the Rocks
by Corepower yoga
August 4, 2018
I booked this event back in Apil and am so happy it finally arrived. I'd never been to Red Rocks before so didn't know what to expect. Minus the hike to get up to the top this was a wonderful sunrise yoga session with 2,000 friends including some I met at Wanderlust.. The weather was perfect and skies clear which just made the experience even better. This was my first experience with Corepower Yoga and it may possibly be my favorite. The pace was not to fast or slow and there was little cool down at the end. It wasn't elementary but was easy to follow for beginners and I appreciated the fitness additions to help with core strength.
bILINGUAL yOGA AT THE vICKI mYHREN gALLERY WITH Noemi Nuñez
oCTOBER 22, 2018
Not only was this yoga in a gallery but it was also bilingual yoga. Which was really cool. Noemi was an awesome instructor asking what it was we wanted. She worked from the right side of our body in English to the left side in Spanish. The exhibition up right now is Axis Mundo which is a body of work collaborated by queer Chicano artists in Los Angeles between 1960’s and the early 1990’s. This was just one of many events the gallery has held with this exhibition and being surrounded by paintings, installations and photography tied to queer and Chicano cultures was amazing. You could feel the respect from the number of participates and the bond in everyone doing the dreaded yoga. Yep still hate it. But the Spanish was beautiful.
http://du.edu/vmgallery?fbclid=IwAR0AGuloQS35Mo71rkBxz9nlNdL-bkGfYebzY2eOvbyXsKJ_ce9_-8XMImY
butterfly Pavilion
December 8, 2018
With the year coming to an end I wanted to get one last session in. Don’t worry its continuing. This is part of what started it all. I originally found yoga with sharks but this is taught by the same instructor. Elysa is great, she keeps things at a good pace, doesn’t push and makes it so its easy for advanced and beginners. Early morning, so no one is around, it was a small group and I have never felt more comfortable. No I’m not starting to like yoga. Though even the butterflies joined in. This was just so real. We had water drip on us, the ground was wet, it wasn’t silent.
https://butterflies.org/event/rainforest-yoga/
2019
And we are back for a new year with an official shirt!
Yoga with Kangaroos
January 15, 2019
A new year but we are continuing the adventure. I yoga with kangaroos was probably the best one yet. I appreciated the way it was done and the reason. The Zoo Chateau in Golden, CO has these too roos Bindi and Rooney as animal ambassadors there to help educate, raise money and help the farm in its efforts to help livestock, rescue animals, and children with disabilities ride horses. You first meet them in a pair then start a 30 minute yoga session. Someone walks around for safety and takes photos for you so you aren’t trying to capture selfies scaring them. I can’t tell you how nice it was. Kangaroos are so soft and this was an excellent cause.
https://www.facebook.com/yogawithkangaroos/
Dolphin Yoga, Mirage Las Vegas
February 15, 2019
I couldn’t turn thirty in Vegas without doing Dolphin Yoga. This was a surprise find thanks to Wynn and I’m glad I got in to the full weekend. They take you into the underwater viewing area that is between the male and female tanks. The Mirage has been breeding so there is a baby only a few months old and another just a few years. The yoga she adjusts to the groups desire and there is a lot of time to take photos and she encourages poses. I didn’t know anyone and left with friends and memories. This wasn’t the best yoga but it was the greatest experience and the teacher was really awesome.
