Namaste in the Park

Every Sunday morning, running through Labor Day, free yoga lessons are held at The Common Ground and sponsored by Sayville Fitness. The classes start at 9 a.m. and usually last about an hour.

There are usually around 40 women and men of all ages that gather under the shade of the huge pine trees to do yoga poses.  It is a peaceful setting, which early in the morning with the sounds of nature make it the perfect place to do a cat-cow stretch. 

Almost anyone can practice this ancient form of exercise from India. Yoga stretches the body into different poses, which have names like warrior II, happy baby and tree pose.

This is instructor Tania Wilk's first time holding classes at The Common Ground.  She  started teaching yoga in January, but conducts the class like a yoga master. The class is for beginners as well as those more advanced.

Wilk explains each pose and demonstrates the moves. She walks around the class to make sure everyone can hear her explanation of the moves. For every class she goes through all the usual poses and works a different part of the body – so each class is new. In the cool down part of the class, Wilk reads passages from a yoga book that helps relax the mind as well as the body.

Classes are free and there is no registration – just show up.  All you need is conformable clothes, a water bottle, bug spray and a yoga mat or beach towel.