Winter 2016 – 2017: Free Yoga Classes in Boston

A color image showing the blus sky and top of tree starting to bud, like tree pose, representing free yoga classes in Boston.

This list has been updated a number of times and is current for Spring.

Remember there are Meetups in the area to try out. Hands To Heart Center Yoga – Yoga for the People provides free yoga classes for people living with poverty and trauma in Boston. Check out their website and Twitter for class schedules.

There are also free yoga classes being offered by a new group called Breathe Boston. They offer individual or group yoga and meditation classes.  You can sign up for classes at their location or have them come to you for a private class in your own home.

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The Free Yoga Boston Community on Facebook is updated several times a week and more than 1,300 have “Liked” the page. Thank you! Check for all sorts of yoga news!

Sign up for the Free Yoga Boston email list! When you are on the email list, you will be the first to know about changes and updates to this schedule.

Every once in a while, when I learn about one-off special yoga classes and/or related events that might interest you, I will send an email to keep you in the know!

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If you know of other free or donation based classes in the Boston area that are missing from this list or are on the list, but need correction, please let me know.

This “Big List” is always a work in progress. There will be updates, so if you have not signed up for the email list, keep checking back. Namaste!

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MONDAY

Gentle Yoga
ABCD (North End, Boston)
10am

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of free yoga classes on different days and locations year-round. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

TUESDAY

Laughter Yoga
West Bridgewater Library (80 Howard Street, West Bridgewater)
10:30am – 11am

This is a seated chair practice, free and open to all. Even if you don’t live in West Bridgewater. According to a Wicked Local article, the yoga part of the class is the breathing.  The class started on September 13th and was scheduled to last for eight weeks. However, according to the website, classes appear to continue indefinitely.

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
6pm – 7:15pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Free Beginner Yoga
Sonas Wellness (200 Weymouth Street, Rockland)
6:30pm – 7:30pm

Join Courtney Bell for a beginner Vinyasa class, where she uses her training to help students discover a piece of themselves previously thought unattainable. She works to strengthen the core and finding balance to help navigate life. It looks like this may be a new studio and classes are free for their first three months. Check with them to confirm.

Teen Yoga
Boys & Girls Club (Dorchester, Marr Clubhouse)
6:45pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of free yoga classes on different days and locations year-round. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

WEDNESDAY

Prenatal Yoga
Whittier Wellness & Fitness Club (1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury)
9:30am – 10:30am

Connect with your unborn baby at these prenatal classes, which are open to the public. You don’t have to be a club member to attend. Classes are indoors and year-round.

Gentle Yoga
ABCD (North End, Boston)
10am

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of free yoga classes on different days and locations year-round. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

Yoga For Men
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (10 Putnam Street, Roxbury)
6pm – 7:30pm

Instructor Lucilda Dassardo-Cooper is a certified Iyengar beginning/intermediate teacher and a professional artist who has studied and taught yoga for more than 30 years. There is free parking and all levels are welcome. The class is donation based and free if you cannot pay. Questions: Lucildadcooper@gmail.com. 617-825-9760.

THURSDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
4:30pm – 6pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. The Thursday class starts at 4:30pm. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Community Yoga
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (10 Putnam Street, Roxbury)
6pm – 7:30pm

Instructor Lucilda Dassardo-Cooper is a certified Iyengar beginning/intermediate teacher and a professional artist who has studied and taught yoga for more than 30 years. There is free parking and all levels are welcome. The class is donation based and free if you cannot pay. Questions: Lucildadcooper@gmail.com. 617-825-9760.

FRIDAY

Gentle Yoga
ABCD (North End, Boston)
10am

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of free yoga classes on different days and locations year-round. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

Relax and Renew Yoga
Harvard Ed Portal (224 Western Ave, Allston)
6pm – 7pm

Part of an ongoing series of classes presented by the Harvard Ed Portal and the Center for Wellness. Each class incorporates flowing, intentional vinyasa-style movements, stretches, and breathing practices. Modifications are offered to ensure the maximum benefit and healthy alignment. Classes are scheduled to start Friday, March 3rd and last through Friday, April 7th. Walk-ins are allowed, but advance registration is encouraged.

Mike Massey Yoga
Sustainability Guild (260 Washington Street, Dorchester)
7:30pm – 9pm

After being severely injured playing semi-pro football, Mike Massey required surgery. Trauma from the surgery resulted in depression. In order to beat his depression, he tried yoga. Now he teaches all over the Boston area. An enthusiastic student recommended his classes, so I have pieced together the information here. Check his Instagram for class updates. Double check the address of the class location.

SATURDAY

Complimentary Saturday Yoga
The Liberty Hotel (Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Back in 2009, The Liberty was one of the first hotels in Boston, or anyplace in the area for that matter, to start offering free yoga classes in the summer. They set the trend and still offer free classes in collaboration with Equinox. Guests of the hotel and members of the community are welcome to take the class for free. Classes are year round. In the summer, classes are outside in the courtyard. In the cooler months, they are indoors. Check with the concierge to find the exact class location, since it appears to change.

Hands to Heart Center Yoga
CityPOP Egleston (3195 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain)
11am – 12pm

Beginner level yoga classes for ages 16 and up take place through March. Classes are inclusive, accessible and inspiring. Yoga mats are provided.

Mike Massey Yoga
Sustainability Guild (260 Washington Street, Dorchester)
2:30pm – 4pm

After being severely injured playing semi-pro football, Mike Massey required surgery. Trauma from the surgery resulted in depression. In order to beat his depression, he tried yoga. Now he teaches all over the Boston area. An enthusiastic student recommended his classes, so I have pieced together the information here. Check his Instagram for class updates. Double check the address of the class location.

Yoga Meditation
Thomas Crane Public Library (40 Washington Street, Quincy)
3pm – 4pm

Sahaja Yoga is a meditative yoga technique to help reduce stress and bring balance and well being to your life. This type of yoga focuses on meditation and is not a physical class, so you will not need a yoga mat. The classes take place take place each week through May. Sahaja Yoga sponsors free stress reduction and meditation workshops around the country as well as in over 90 nations around the world.

SUNDAY

Brewery Yoga
Night Shift Brewing (87 Santilli Highway, Everett)
11am – 12pm

These yoga classes take place at the brewery every so often. Take a look at their event calendar for confirmation and sign up! Kat O’Leary from CorePower Yoga teaches the vinyasa classes.

Yoga For Athletes
Boston Marathon adidas Runbase (855 Boylston Street, Boston)
6:30pm

These free vinyasa yoga classes on select Sundays are customized to bring balance to overworked muscles used when running. All levels of yoga experience are welcome, but you may need to register each week.

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This Month So Far: October 2016

Photos taken during October.

Finding the time, energy and will to blog has not been easy lately. So I’ve been blogging much less. It’s now October.

Life has changed a lot since when I first started blogging ten years agoMoney and time available have decreased. Family responsibilities have increased. Free Yoga Boston and other social media platforms that I’m on now didn’t exist ten years ago.

Just like the seasons change, our lives change and we must adjust. Focusing on my well-being has made blogging fall away to a certain extent. But I miss it too.

Documenting my life and experiences is something that I had always loved about blogging. When others appreciated what I shared, it made it even sweeter.

To continue, blogging has to happen differently. For now, I hope you enjoy these images. These are bits and pieces of my October so far.

Have a great weekend!

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Autumn/Winter 2015: Free Yoga Classes in Boston

duo yoga poseSummer is indeed over. But not the free yoga classes! There are many free yoga classes to choose from now that we are into fall and headed toward winter. This is the first year that I have noticed so many. Enough for me to compile a new list. I’ll be trying some of these classes too! There are Meetups in the area to check out.

Hands To Heart Center Yoga – Yoga for the People provides free yoga classes for people living with poverty and trauma in Boston. Check out their website and Twitter for class schedule.

Plus, free pop-up classes seem to be the rage! As this trend continues, I’ll add those classes as I find them to the Facebook page. New posts and listings go up there several times a day, so make sure you keep up!

Like the summer list, and Facebook page, this list will be a work in progress and there will be updates, so keep checking back. Namaste!

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MONDAY

Troops for Fitness Yoga
Ronan Park (Dorchester)
6:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes with U.S. Army Veteran Roxanne Hope Randall. Classes started at the beginning of October and go through November 30th.

TUESDAY

BPL Yoga: Intelligence for Body, Mind, & Soul
Boston Public Library (Central Library, Copley Square)
12pm – 1pm

Acclaimed yoga teacher, author, and entrepreneur Rebecca Pacheco will lead these yoga classes for an all-levels class to unplug and recharge body, mind, and spirit. You will be surrounded by books, history, and the library’s peaceful hush in the historic Abbey Room of the McKim Building. Classes start on January 12 and are held weekly until February 16. What a great way to start the new year!

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
6pm – 7:15pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Complete Candlelight Flow
8pm – 9pm
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this class designed for yogis to advance their practice through building a comprehensive understanding of yoga techniques and philosophy. Upon arrival, each student receives a candle as a symbolic token of union with the Self and with others. No experience is necessary. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

WEDNESDAY

NTC Yoga
Nike Boston (200 Newbury Street, Boston)
7:04am – 8:04am

Nike+ Training Club offers this athletic vinyasa-style class taught by yoga and Pilates instructor Jacqui Mimno to target often overlooked elements of training. You’ll improve joint mobility, while simultaneously working on upper body and core strength. You need to register each week for the class on their online calendar, which updates on Sunday at 3pm. These classes are held indoors year round, so you can enjoy them even when summer ends!

Troops for Fitness Yoga
Ronan Park (Dorchester)
6:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering  free yoga classes with U.S. Army Veteran Roxanne Hope Randall. Classes started at the beginning of October and go through November 30th.

THURSDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
4:30pm – 6pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. The Thursday class starts at 4:30pm. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

FRIDAY

Troops for Fitness Yoga
Ronan Park (Dorchester)
6:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering  free yoga classes with U.S. Army Veteran Roxanne Hope Randall. Classes started at the beginning of October and go through November 30th.

SATURDAY

Winter Workout
The Liberty Hotel (Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Back in 2009, The Liberty was one of the first hotels in Boston, or anyplace in the area for that matter, to start offering free yoga classes in the summer. They set the trend and still offer free classes in collaboration with Equinox. Guests of the hotel and members of the community are welcome to take the class for free. Classes are year round. In the summer, classes are outside in the courtyard. In the cooler months, they are indoors. Check with the concierge to find the exact class location, since it appears to change.

  SUNDAY

Reggae Flow
9:30am – 10:30am
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this reggae-inspired yoga class. No experience is necessary for this class, where postures build through a progressive sequence, designed to cultivate total harmony in body and mind. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

Yoga & Beer; the Key to Happiness
Night Shift Brewing (87 Santilli Highway, Everett)
11am – 12pm

These yoga classes take place at the brewery every so often and there is one coming up on October 18th. Take a look at their event calendar for confirmation before you go.  Kat O’Leary from CorePower Yoga teaches the vinyasa classes.

Yoga For Runners
Boston Marathon adidas Runbase (855 Boylston Street, Boston)
6:30pm

These free vinyasa yoga classes are taught by Liz Vail. A customized yoga flow will bring balance to overworked muscles used when running and will also provide strength to the areas of the body that are needed in order to run more efficiently. All levels of yoga experience are welcome, but it looks like you need to register each week.

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Image Credit: “Yoga Pose” courtesy of lobster20 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Pumpkin Spice Season

iced pumpkin spice latteMy favorite Starbucks Reward is my free birthday drink.

Outside of that, I can’t be bothered with how many stars I’m going to earn for buying this or that.

I really like pumpkin spice. Since the weather was quite warm on the day I decided to get my drink, I enjoyed an iced pumpkin spice latte with soy milk. It was heavenly.

I’ve written about how it is so strange to me that the seasonal conversation about pumpkin spice centers around it being a thing for white people.

A recent blog post about pumpkin spice on Black Girl Dangerous gets to the heart of matter about how this conversation has seriously twisted the truth. It really makes me think about how for many years, as a person of color, I was made to feel strange for enjoying pumpkin spice.

The writer of the post, Sasanka Jinadasa, a Sri Lankan American, gives us a short history of the ingredients that make up pumpkin spice: cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice.

Below is a taste of her post, but I hope that you’ll click over and read the entire thing and learn why she wants to #decolonizepumpkinspice.

Sri Lankans are proud of their cinnamon, a natural crop with a violent history, in which Portuguese traders, Dutch “allies,” and British colonists used a combination of guns and debt to monopolize the cinnamon trade in my parents’ homeland. …

The same culprits (Portuguese, Dutch, British) monopolized South and Southeast Asian nutmeg through the spice trade. The same thing happened to ginger. …

As for pumpkin? A squash native to the Americas? Who do you think grew that first, the Pilgrims? Think just a little further back. …

It’s not pumpkin or pumpkin spice that’s the problem; it’s the commodification of our resources as somehow exotic when used in non-white foods and comfort when used in white foods. And when we mock certain foods as “white foods,” particularly in America, we’re capitulating to a lie—the lie that anything we eat in the diaspora isn’t touched and flavored by people of color.

Hanson Farm + Sugar Hill Dairy in Bridgewater, MA

Hanson Farm Sugar Hill DairyThe last few days have felt like fall and now it’s official. Autumn arrived today. While summer is probably my favorite season, there is a definite beauty to fall and a certain coziness that comes with a bit of chill in the air.

Last week, my mom and I enjoyed one of those precious last days of summer by visiting Hanson Farm, which is about 25 miles south of Boston in Bridgewater. The farm has a dairy, so we decided to treat ourselves to some ice cream.

My mom had the frozen pudding, which she said was the best that she has had in years. I couldn’t pick just one, so I combined some seasonal favorites, apple crisp and pumpkin patch. They were delicious! Besides the wonderful flavors and texture, the portions are big, so a small ice cream was still a lot.

If you’re in the area, stop by and enjoy some scoops at Hanson Farm!