Yoga in Our City returns to Connecticut parks for summer

Samira Jallow, Hartford Courant
·2 min read

As the sun hung low Thursday evening, people gathered by the Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park, mat in hand, to unwind with some yoga. The crowd convened to welcome back Yoga In Our City, presented by ConnectiCare for the 2021 season.

Children laughed and people young to old gathered, waiting for the program to begin. But as time passed and no instructor appeared, West Hartford resident, minister, and Yoga in Our City lover Julie Reuning-Scherer stepped up to the mat. Reuning-Scherer led the class in several different flows. The laughter was replaced with deep breathing.

“Bringing people together for a common goal, in this case health and wellness, builds community,” Kim Kann, senior director, Public Relations and Corporate Communications at ConnectiCare, said. Though a miscommunication led to the instructor’s absence, a sense of community ensured the class took place that evening.

Amanda Naimie, an eighth-grade science teacher, has been coming to the program on and off for years and said the atmosphere is what keeps her coming back.

“I love the weather, hearing the birds chirping and smelling the flowers,” she said. “It’s an amazing program that brings people together.”

The program offers free yoga classes, taught by local instructors, in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury and has this year expanded to New London and Willimantic. Connecticut residents will have nearly 600 free yoga classes available to them over the summer months. Classes run until Oct. 10.

“We hope people can get the benefits of yoga both physically and mentally,” Kann said. “We hope people are able to relieve stress, improve strength, enjoy the sense of community and being out in the parks.”

ConnectiCare has been a sponsor since the program launched in 2013.

“ConnectiCare wanted to be involved because our mission is to create healthier futures and giving back has been part of our corporate culture since our founding 40 years ago,” Kann said.

Bilingual classes in Spanish are offered at Hartford, New Haven, and Willimantic on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

“We wanted to make the classes available to as many people as possible,” Kann said, “We wanted those who don’t have English as their first language to be able to still participate in the program.”

Participants are encouraged to bring a bottle of water, a towel and a yoga mat to each class, and are asked to continue following state and local COVID-19 regulations.

Parks in the Hartford area where classes will be offered:

  • Bushnell Park: 5:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday

  • Elizabeth Park: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday

  • Keney Park: 5:30 p.m. Friday

  • Pope Park: 10 a.m. Saturday

  • Colt Park: 10 a.m. Sunday

More information is at yogainourcity.com.