Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Why We Love L.A. Summers: Free Yoga Sessions
Bryan Kest's Power Yoga/Facebook
()
By Lenika Cruz
Summer has arrived, and we're ready to celebrate all that screams 'tis the season in Los Angeles. From sand to summit, from sips to snacks -- we love L.A. summers.
The season that L.A. lives for is now well underway. While pleasure-seekers will be hitting the beach all summer, there's another free way to get your endorphins flowing and tone up your beach bod.
A bunch of L.A. yoga studios are offering free yoga sessions this summer, many of them outdoors, coaxing the restless from their desk jobs and the boozers from their margarita stupors (not that there's anything wrong with that) to slip on their yoga pants and get down on the mat. It's the perfect time to drag a friend along or try out new instructors or locations. Not to mention, yoga is a pretty L.A. thing to do.
Support for LAist comes from
Runyon Canyon Yoga
The beautiful Runyon Canyon Park in Hollywood is an ideal place to downward dog, half crow and reverse warrior outdoors. The free classes were founded by Yogi Steve (who also has a background in martial arts), who teaches several classes a week. In fact, Runyon Canyon yoga offers three to four free classes a day, so there’s no excuse not to go if you miss your first class of the day. While donations are certainly accepted, they are not mandatory. Visit their website for more information on instructors and location details.
Bryan Kest's Power Yoga
Bryan Kest's Power Yoga in Santa Monica was one of the first donation-based yoga classes, spurring a crop of similar classes throughout the area. A word about donation-based versus free: the studio’s Facebook page describes donation-based as "the act of giving," meaning students pay as much as they are able to any given week, with $14 being the suggested donation. It’s less a demand for your wallets than a call for visitors to remember that studios need donations to survive and continue to offer reasonably priced classes. With a glowing local reputation to precede it, Bryan Kest's Power Yoga might just be the best place to start your yoga training.
Yoga at Mary Hotchkiss Park
Yoga instructor Brian Hyman (who has taught at Equinox and LA Fitness) teaches donation-based community yoga classes at Mary Hotchkiss Park in Santa Monica every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 11am. The park is located at 4th Street and Strand Street. All you need to bring is a mat or towel. All students can receive free YogaRat women's flip flops. Hey, the only thing better than free is more free stuff, right? Visit Strand Street Yoga's website for more information.
Lululemon's "Gift of Yoga"
Often we think of free classes as the domain of smaller studios and stores, but the giant activewear company Lululemon offers complimentary yoga sessions at locations across the country through its "gift of yoga" program. Fortunately, there are about seven Los Angeles locations to chose from. Visit the website to find a store near you.
Corepower Yoga
Corepower Yoga -- with locations in Torrance, Sherman Oaks and on Wilshire Boulevard -- offers a free week of unlimited yoga to new students. The sessions teach beginner, foundational moves that will set newcomers up for long-term yoga practice. For more information, visit Corepower's website.
Yogala Echo Park
Yogala Echo Park offers by-donation yoga classes five days a week in areas including power yoga, devotional warrior yoga, sweet and deep yoga and seeking centered/guided meditation. The studio also offers fun classes for "Seedlings," or little ones aged 6 months to 5 years. Stop by their website for more information.
Another solid bet for our OC neighbors is Road Less Traveled, a "modern natural living and community health shop," which is partnering up with YogaWorks Costa Mesa to offer a series of free Sunday workshops with rotating instructors for students of all levels. Visit the store's website for more details.
Support for LAist comes from
Also, studios like Liberation Studio in Hollywood are offering free first classes.
Know of a free yoga event happening this summer that we missed? Tell us in the comments section!
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The bill would increase penalties for metal recyclers who possess or purchase metal used in public infrastructure. -
The new ordinance applies to certain grocers operating in the city and has led to some self-checkout lanes to shutter. -
Children asked to waive right to see a judge in exchange for $2,500 -
There’s still a lot to be determined as the refinery, which supplies about one-fifth of Southern California's vehicle fuels, works to restore production and as data is collected. -
The FCC voted to end E-Rate discounts for library hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi. -
About half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the federal government shutdown.
Best of LAist