Boston

Free Yoga Boston (Summer 2022)

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Free Yoga Boston

It’s the 10th Annual listing of free yoga classes for Greater Boston and beyond! There are dozens of classes, so hopefully you can find at least a few that work with your schedule.

Most classes listed are free or donation based. Please tip for donation and pay generously what you can afford for sliding scale. Classes are weekly unless otherwise stated.

Click on links for more details and to be sure there is a class at the time listed. Sometimes registration is required. Also double check in case of bad weather, because classes might be cancelled. Bring your own mat, props, water and anything else you might need.

Make sure to check the Free Yoga Boston Facebook Group in addition to the Free Yoga Boston Facebook page. The group is private, but you can request to join. Members share information and there are additional classes and events listed on both pages.

As always, this list is a work in progress that will have changes and updates. Please let me know if you have any questions, corrections and/or tips! Enjoy!

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MONDAY

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 26
(Yoga, Adams Park, 4225 Washington St., Roslindale)
6pm -7pm

Fitness On The Greenway: Through September 26
(Gentle Yoga, Rowes Wharf Lawn, Boston)
6:15pm  – 7pm

Seaport Sweat: Through September 26
(Yoga Sculpt, Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston)
6:30pm – 7:15pm

TUESDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series: Through September 27
(Yoga Flow), Doherty Playground, 349 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown)
6:30am – 7:30am

P.O. Fitness Classes – Sunrise Yoga: Through September 1
Norman B. Leventhal Park (Financial District, Boston)
7:30am – 8:15am

Fitness On The Greenway: 7/12, 7/26, 8/9, 8/23, 9/6, 9/20
(Yoga with Malaika, Dewey Square Lawn, Boston)
5:30pm  – 6:30pm

P.O. Fitness Classes – Slow Flow Yoga: Through September 1
Norman B. Leventhal Park (Financial District, Boston)
5:30pm – 6:30pm

Yoga In The Parks – City of Quincy: 9/20
(Click link for different park locations in Quincy)
6pm – 7pm

Boston Public Library Summer Yoga: Through August 30
(Central Library Branch, McKim Exhibition Hall, Copley Square, Boston)
6pm – 7pm

Boston Public Library Hatha Yoga: Through August 30
(Fields Corner Branch, 1520 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester)
6:30pm – 7:45pm

HarborFit – Sunset Yoga at the Charlestown Navy Yard: Through August 30
(20 1st Ave., Charlestown)
7pm – 8pm (Starting in August the time changes to 6:30pm – 7:30pm)

WEDNESDAY

YOGA with B/SPOKE: Through August 31
(Fiedler Field, Charles River Esplanade, Boston)
7:30am – 8:30am

Community Yoga Class: Ongoing
(Thomas Crane Public Library, 40 Washington Street, Quincy)
9:30am – 10:30am

P.O. Fitness Classes – Power Vinyasa Yoga: Through September 1
Norman B. Leventhal Park (Financial District, Boston)
5:30pm – 6:30pm

 Yoga at the Lake: July 13 through August
(Sunset Lake, Safford St. (off Franklin St./Route 37) Braintree)
6pm – 7pm

HarborFit – Sunset Yoga at Piers Park: Through August 31
(East Boston Piers Park, 95 Marginal St., East Boston)
7:30pm – 8:30pm

THURSDAY

P.O. Fitness Classes – Sunrise Yoga: Through September 1
Norman B. Leventhal Park (Financial District, Boston)
7:30am – 8:15am

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series: Through September 29
(Chair Yoga, Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Rd., Boston)
10am – 11am

Fitness On The Greenway: Through September 29
(Gentle Yoga, North Street, Boston)
10:30am  – 11:30am

Fitness On The Greenway: 7/28, 8/25
(Vinyasa Flow with Hannah, Dewey Square Lawn, Boston)
5:30pm  – 6:30pm

Boston Public Library Mindful Movement: Through August 25
(Parker Hill Branch, 1497 Tremont St., Roxbury)
4:30pm – 5:30pm

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series: Through September 29
(Yoga @ The Frog Pond, Boston Common, 38 Beacon St., Boston )
6pm – 7pm

The Street Sweat: Through August 25
(The Green,The Street, Chestnut Hill)
6pm – 7pm

Seaport Sweat: Through September 29
(Mindful Warrior Yoga, Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston)
6:30pm – 7:15pm

FRIDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series: Through September 30
(Gentle Yoga, McLaughlin Playground, Parker Hill Ave, Boston)
10am – 11am

Yoga with Lori Scott: Through October 28
(Kilroy Square Farmers Market, 25 Cottage Ave., Quincy)
12pm – 1pm

SATURDAY

Blue Sky Kripalu Yoga: Through August 27
(The Green at Partners Village Store, 865 Main Rd., Westport, MA)
8:30am – 9:30am

Yoga in The Park: Through September 24
(Assembly Row, Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park, Somerville)
9am – 10am

Yoga in Franklin Park: Through October 1
(School Master Hill, 1 Circuit Drive, Dorchester)
9:15am – 10:30am

NamaStay Flowing: Through the summer
(Revere Beach, Revere)
9:30am – 11am

Seaport Sweat: 7/9, 8/13
(Lululemon Yoga & Movement, Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston)
10am

Fitness On The Greenway: 8/13, 8/27, 9/10
(Gentle Morning Hatha Yoga with Eleonora, North Street, Boston)
10:30am  – 11:30am

HarborFit – Island Yoga: Through September 3
(Spectacle Island, East Boston)
11:30am – 12:30pm

SUNDAY

Vinyasa Yoga (Biweekly – Registration Required)
(Allbirds, 29 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge)
9:30am – 10:15am

Yoga @ Jamaica Pond: Through September 4
(Pinebank Promontory, Perkins Street and Jamaicaway, Boston)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Lotus Community Class: Through September 4
(Magnolia Park, 111 Magnolia St., Arlington)
12pm – 1pm

Fitness On The Greenway: Through October 2
(Yoga 4 All with Soma Yoga, North Street, Boston)
5pm – 6pm

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Free Yoga Boston (Winter/Spring 2022)

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Whew! Between moving in October, working, the holidays, then getting COVID, things got away from me. This list is up far later than I’d hoped, but it’s also very special. I recently realized that this is a milestone list. Back in 2012 was the first time that I posted a full listing of free yoga classes by day of the week. That’s 10 years ago!

While I may abandon word games at the drop of a hat, I’ve hung in there with Free Yoga Boston. Much of the reason is because I’ve gotten such great feedback over the years from many of you about how useful you find this information. Back then, I could have never imagined all the virtual classes. Life comes at you fast! So we adapt.

Make sure to check the Free Yoga Boston Facebook Group in addition to the Free Yoga Boston Facebook page. The group is private, but you can request to join. Members share information and sometimes there are additional classes and events listed.

You can also find classes on Eventbrite and Meetup. Classes listed here are free or donation based and the time is Eastern. Click on the links for more details on dates and to register. Because of the way some of the classes are listed, it was easier to include a few that will take us into summer. You can plan early!

As always, this list is a work in progress that will have changes and updates. Please let me know if you have any questions, corrections and/or tips! Enjoy!

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MONDAY

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care: Ongoing (Online)
5:15pm – 6:15pm

TUESDAY

Yoga Hub & Boston Public Library Yoga: May 3 – June 7
(Senior Chair Yoga @ Codman Square Branch, 690 Washington St., Boston)
11am – 12pm

WEDNESDAY

Humble Roots Yoga: Ongoing
(Thomas Crane Public Library, 40 Washington St., Quincy)
9:30am – 10:30am

Pranayama ~ Joy of Breathing: Ongoing (Online)
1pm – 1:30pm

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care: Ongoing (Online)
5:15pm – 6:15pm

THURSDAY

Humble Roots Yoga: Ongoing
(Tufts Library, 46 Broad St., Weymouth)
9:30am – 10:30am

SATURDAY

Yoga Hub & Boston Public Library Yoga: April 30 – June 4
(Family Flow @ Lower Mills Branch, 27 Richmond St., Dorchester Center)
10:30am – 11:30am

Yoga Hub & Boston Public Library Yoga: March 19 – April 23
(Family Flow @ Adams Street Branch, 690 Adams St., Dorchester)
11am – 12pm

Yoga Hub & Boston Public Library Yoga: May 28 – July 2
(Hatha Yoga For Active Adults @ South Boston Branch, 646 E Broadway, South Boston)
11am – 12pm

SUNDAY

Vinyasa Yoga (Biweekly starting 2/20/22 – Registration Required)
(Allbirds, 29 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge)
9:30am – 10:15am

Boston Parks Winter Fitness Virtual Yoga: Through April 24 (Online)
6pm – 7pm

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The Alexandra Hotel Reimagined Again

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Alexandra Hotel

Here we go again. I wrote about Boston’s Alexandra Hotel back in January 2019. Then many updates to the post followed, because the situation with this property kept changing. As it has for the decades that I’ve been following it.

As expected, the pandemic didn’t make the proposed development of the property any easier. To me, it feels like this property has a purpose that hasn’t been found yet. With an owner that hasn’t been found yet. Because everything with it has been difficult for such a long time. When the purpose and owner are aligned, I would think things would flow easily.

But who knows? Maybe this next proposal will be it. A virtual public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 7, 2021, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Also, the public may submit comments through Friday, September 17, 2021.

The last proposal for Alexandra Hotel was for a 150-room boutique hotel. Because the pandemic completely changed the hotel industry, that plan was scrapped. Now the intent envisions 106 residential condos. 71 of those units will be “Compact Units” that are a mix of studios and one bedrooms.

The last meeting I attended in person, so seeing this all play out on Zoom will probably be pretty wild. I’m planning to watch.

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Photo Credit: Nina LaNegra

Free Yoga Boston: Summer 2021

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The 9th Annual listing of free yoga classes for Greater Boston and beyond is here!

Getting from the summer of 2019 to now encompasses so much. There’s grief for people lost during the pandemic. But there’s also triumph. We survived.

Virtual classes were the norm for the past year and a half, so this summer list focuses on live in-person outdoor yoga classes. Finally! Classes listed are free or donation based.

Click on the links for more details and to be sure there is class. Sometimes registration is required and also double check in case of bad weather, because classes may be cancelled. Bring your own mat, props, water and anything else you might need.

Make sure to check the Free Yoga Boston Facebook Group in addition to the Free Yoga Boston Facebook page. The group is private, but you can request to join. Members share information and there are additional classes and events listed.

As always, this list is a work in progress that will have changes and updates. Please let me know if you have any questions, corrections and/or tips! Enjoy!

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MONDAY

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 27 (No class September 6)
(Vinyasa Yoga, Lopresti Park, 33 Sumner St., East Boston)
6pm – 7pm

Seaport Sweat: Through October
(Mindful Warrior Yoga, Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston)
6:30pm – 7:15pm

Flow Yoga On The Greenway: Through September 27
(Rose Kennedy Greenway Parcel 16-Rowes Wharf Lawn, Atlantic Ave. & India St.,Boston)
6:30pm – 7:15pm

TUESDAY

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 28
(Ashtanga Yoga, Adams Park, 4225 Washington St., Roslindale)
6pm -7pm

WEDNESDAY

Blue Sky Kripalu Yoga: Through the summer
(The Green at Partners Village Store, 865 Main Rd., Westport, MA)
8:30am – 9:30am

Community Yoga Class: Through October
(Thomas Crane Public Library, 40 Washington Street, Quincy)
9:30am – 10:30am

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 29
(Chair Yoga, Symphony Park, 39 Edgerly Rd., Boston)
10am – 11am

NamaStay Flowing: Through the summer
(Revere Beach, Revere)
6pm – 7:30pm

HarborFit: Sunset Yoga at Piers Park: Through September 15
(East Boston Piers Park, 95 Marginal St., Boston)
7:30pm – 8:30pm

THURSDAY

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 30
(Virtual Chair Yoga)
11am -12pm

Seaport Sweat: Through October
(Yoga Sculpt, Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston)
5:30pm – 6:15pm

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 30
(Yoga, Brighton Common, 30 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brighton )
6pm – 7pm

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 30
(Yoga @ The Frog Pond, Boston Common, 38 Beacon St., Boston )
6pm – 7pm

Yoga & Movement: Classes may be every other week
(Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston )
6pm – 7pm

Outdoor Yoga: Every other week
(Magoun Park, Medford)
6pm – 7pm

FRIDAY

Seaport Sweat: Through October
(Vinyasa Flow, Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston)
12pm – 12:45pm

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through October 1
(Fusion Fit (HIIT & Yoga), Doherty Playground, 349 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown)
6pm – 7pm

SATURDAY

Blue Sky Kripalu Yoga: Through the summer
(The Green at Partners Village Store, 865 Main Rd., Westport, MA)
8:30am – 9:30am

Yoga @ 3rd Ave Burlington: Through September 25
(3rd Ave Burlington, Third Ave., Burlington, MA)
8:30am – 9:30am

Franklin Park Yoga: Through October 2
(School Master Hill, Franklin Park, Dorchester)
9:15am – 10:30am

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through October 2
(Restorative Yoga, Marcella Playground, 260 Highland St., Roxbury)
10am -11am

SUNDAY

NamaStay Flowing: Through the summer
(Revere Beach, Revere)
9:30am – 10:30am

Outdoor Yoga:
(Magoun Park, Medford)
10am – 11am

Yoga  @ Jamaica Pond: Through September 26
(Pinebank Promontory, Perkins Street and Jamaicaway, Boston)
11am – 12pm

Lotus Community Outdoor Yoga:
(Magnolia Park, Arlington)
12pm – 1pm

NEY Outside Community Yoga:
(Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Atlantic Ave., North End)
5pm – 6pm

Boston Parks Fitness Series: Through September 26
(Virtual Yoga)
7pm – 8pm

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Thank you for supporting this work!
Buy Me A Coffee

BPL Offering Free Gardening Kits

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*UPDATED 5/2/22*

I just got the May BPL Newsletter and they are giving away these gardening kits again this year, but only at the branch locations: Brighton, Codman, Connolly, East Boston, Egleston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Parker Hill and South Boston. This is only while supplies last.

There is no longer a link on the BPL website about this, so I called and was told that none of these gardening kits will be available at the BPL’s Central Location. Also the website says that the South End Branch is closed until further notice, so I did not list it above.

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Boston Public Library Gardening Kit

A few years ago, I remember reading about seed libraries and thinking that it was a wonderful idea for those interested in gardening. The idea has taken off and you can probably find one near you or even start your own.

What is a seed library? Pretty much what it sounds like. It’s a place, like a library, that shares seeds with people in the local community. The specific rules may vary from place to place, but you can generally get seeds for free or at a low price.

While you can have seeds for houseplants, flowers and herbs, having seeds for growing fruits and vegetables provides a way to strengthen food security. In other words, being intentional about keeping seeds for growing food allows some independence from the mainstream food system.

Food is delicious and fun. But it’s also a necessity for life and therefore political. There is enough food for everyone, but everyone doesn’t have enough. Systems in place need changing.

As we leave the pandemic, more of us are thinking differently about life and welcoming systemic change. This week I had my second COVID-19 vaccine, so I’m looking forward to normal life again. However, I’m hoping the new normal is better than the old one.

Seed libraries provide the literal seeds to grow our own gardens. Starting on May 5th, gardening kits were available from the Boston Public Library – 850 kits spread out among the branches.

You can choose from two types of gardening kits. Resilient Gardening Kits include everything you need for a veggie garden. For those with a focus on herbal remedies, Herbal Wildflower Kits contain what you’ll need. I’m not sure how long these will last, therefore, it’s probably best to go sooner than later. Happy planting!

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Screenshot: Boston Public Library