DALLAS (AP) - A study by the Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal found that 36.7 million people in the United States were practicing yoga in 2016. That’s a nearly 80 percent increase in the number of people doing so in 2012, the study found.
The Dallas Morning News reports you’ve likely noticed yoga’s popularity, with or without data.
Dallas-Fort Worth is rife with options for local yogis. From the region’s seemingly infinite number of yoga studios to the free classes and festivals, it’s obvious North Texas has yoga fever. A good day to celebrate was June 21 - International Day of Yoga.
A byproduct of local yogis’ passion for the practice is the inventive ways it is integrated with other hobbies.
Shanna Lee, founder of CubeFit Yoga in Dallas, teaches a monthly class at Community Beer Co. that often appeals to people who may not have experience with yoga. The casual environment provides an accessible entry point for many, which she hopes will inspire them to continue taking classes.
“They can come here and be hung over - and many times they are - but they know it’s not high pressure. It’s fun,” Lee says. “And if it encourages them to go to studio and try real yoga, that’s all I can ask for.”
If you fall into that category or are simply looking for fun ways to get your stretch on, here are five unusual forms of yoga in D-FW:
- Goat yoga:
This is the nation’s most adorable yoga craze. From Arizona to Massachusetts, yogis are flocking to the experience and, of course, posting pictures in classic postures, goats nearby. One program in Oregon is so popular there’s a 1,200-person waiting list. Recently, two goat yoga programs have sprung up in North Texas, in Grapevine and Dallas.
- Groovy yoga:
“Zen” is usually the first adjective people associate with yoga. But at Jade and Clover boutique in Deep Ellum, the vibe is more upbeat. That’s because each class features a different type of music. Tunes are more akin to what you’d hear in a club than a yoga studio, so the outdoor classes end up feeling like a parking lot party.
- Brewery yoga:
Fact: Beer is excellent motivation. So if you need an excuse to be productive on a weekend morning, knock out an hourlong yoga class at a local brewery and promptly reward yourself with a cold one … or two. After all, the price of these classes usually includes a workout and hoppy hydration afterward.
Several local breweries host monthly yoga events, including Collective Brewing Project and Martin House Brewing Co. in Fort Worth, Legal Draft Beer Co. in Arlington, Rabbit Hole Brewing in Justin, and Community Beer Co. in Dallas.
- Yoga N Da Hood:
So you want to try yoga, but don’t know where to begin. You’re not alone. Dallasite Ebony Smith founded Yoga N Da Hood in 2014 in hope of providing a safe space where beginners and those who don’t feel comfortable in a traditional studio could explore the practice. While these classes hit on the physical parts of yoga, they also aim to teach yogis what it means to love and care for themselves, reports The Dallas Morning News’ Esteban Bustillos.
Smith teaches about four free classes per week at Kidd Springs Park in Oak Cliff and Fair Park.
- Silent disco yoga:
On July 13, West Village in Dallas is hosting a silent disco yoga class on the top floor of the Max’s Wine Dive parking garage. What’s a silent disco, you ask? It’s a gathering, normally a dance party, where attendees wear headphones that stream live music, from a DJ or otherwise. It’s deemed “silent” because onlookers can’t hear the music; they only see people dancing to an invisible beat.
How might that translate to yoga? Yogis will wear headphones and become fully immersed in the instructor’s directions and music delivered directly into their ears.
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Information from: The Dallas Morning News, https://www.dallasnews.com
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