Yoga in the park great way to start a sunny Sunday
Kelowna’s Stuart Park was filled with 400 people stretching and breathing as part of the Okanagan’s Largest Outdoor Yoga Class, Sunday morning.
This is the ninth year for the 75-minute class with five instructors hosted by Oranj Fitness that includes a live D.J. playing tunes as well as young people spritzing the participants to keep them cool.
The event began as a fundraiser for the food bank in the parking lot across from the Oranj studio, but became a fundraiser for Oranj’s charity, Mats for Metta.
The suggested donation for the class was $10.
Launched four years ago, Mats for Metta brings yoga back into the community, by donating mats, props and instructors to places, organizations or schools that couldn’t otherwise access it, said Tina Mandl, co-owner of Oranj Fitness.
Oranj , with locations in Kelowna, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Airdrie and Castlegar, has donated $65,000 company-wide over the past four years in the form of mats, props or yoga instructor.
A new Oranj location will be opening in September.
In the past, the Mats for Metta has supported the Canadian Mental Health Association and local schools.
Sunday’s beneficiaries were Bridges Support and Recovery, the Foundry, which is opening in September, and Shine Kids Fitness.
For Mandl, the outdoor yoga class is a big fun community event.
“It’s about giving back to the community and creating that sense of love and friendship amongst all the yoga studios and all the yogis,” she said.
“People who don’t ever do yoga can come and practise this one day of the year if not ever again. “
This is the third time Barb Huva has come to the outdoor yoga class, and this year she brought first timer Kim Martin.
It’s all about friendship and yoga for the two women, a chance to meet other people, support yoga and enjoy the fresh air.
Brett Sutherland brought her 18-month old daughter Alice to the class.
“We just wanted to do some yoga,” said Sutherland, who is a yoga teacher, but has been off since her daughter was born.
Sutherland came to the giant class for the community.
“When there are big community events, it makes me feel included in a bigger whole,” she said.