By Alie McManus
There is a certain magic to Chicago on Saturday mornings in the summer: the sun rising magnificently over Lake Michigan, the city sleepy and still before the tourists begin to bustle around downtown. For the past few years, I’ve had the honor of teaching yoga in the heart of this world-class city, in the famous Millennium Park. This free event allows everyone to enjoy the benefits of yoga.
This practice is sacred: Rising early. Rolling out your yoga mat in the dewy grass. Inhaling the fresh, early morning air and feeling the crispness of the new day. Drinking in the wide open expanse of the park and the bright blue sky above. Joining together with fellow Chicagoans in contemplative movement. Breathing together. Stretching, strengthening, discovering balance and maybe even a new friend. Experiencing exhilaration and excitement that gives way to centered calm.
It was because of my parents’ encouragement and support that I was able to create Freedom Yoga in Millennium Park. The DVD includes three 50-minute guided classes showing real people doing yoga for all levels, and it allows yogis to enjoy this special practice year-round. In these sessions, I reference the earth, the sky and the trees, encouraging practitioners to use their imagination and sense the way the earth is supporting them, the way the tree roots grow into the earth providing stability and the vastness of the wide, open sky.
Whether you can join Freedom Yoga in the park this summer or via the DVD, the practice will help you tune into the magic of your own body and leave more connected to who you truly are.
For more information, go to www.aliemcmanus.com. Find her DVD, Freedom Yoga in Millennium Park with Alie McManus, on Amazon. Join her in Millennium Park this year on July 5, 12, 19, 26 and August 2 from 8 to 9 a.m.
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