Going to a yoga class with just a bunch of other people is no longer enough. Local businesses have been getting creative; now it’s hard to think of what you can’t do yoga with in and around Denver.
For the purists, things like goats and butterflies can be too much of a distraction during a yoga class. It is a very different experience to be using all five senses during yoga rather than just focusing on breathing in and out with some movement. Yet these classes can be fun for families or as a way to liven up your yoga routine.
Yoga classes with plants, animals and adult beverages have the same basic rules: Dress in comfortable and flexible clothing, and bring your own mat and a water bottle. Advanced registration is required for all of these specialty classes, which usually last one hour.
Here is some of what’s available for yoga fun around Denver.
Yoga with beer
It’s Colorado, so there are multiple choices for “yoga and brews” (and some even include goats or tacos or some other attraction). One big difference is that the yoga class is like the happy hour before the first drink, so these are more like two separate experiences. That said, the classes are usually held in the large tap rooms so there is a hoppy ambience.
Breckenridge Brewery hosts a Taste of Yoga in May for a whole morning of yoga followed by beer as well as food and shopping. Cost is $35. breckbrew.com
The Community Farm in Arvada hosts a regular Goat Yoga and Brews with Luki Brewery. Cost is $12 and includes the first beer. lukibrew.com
And New Terrain Brewing in Golden hosts a weekly Yoga on Tap class. Cost is $20 and includes one beer. newterrainbrewing.com
(Get tickets for all events at eventbrite.com.)
Yoga with wine
The Infinite Monkey Theorem has a weekly yoga class that is followed by a glass of wine on Sunday afternoons. Cost is $23 per person. theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com
Yoga with sushi and sake
Colorado Sake Co. in the RiNo neighborhood regularly hosts a Monday evening yoga class that is followed by socializing with sushi and sake. Cost is on a sliding scale, with a recommended donation of $15-$20. coloradosakeco.com
Yoga with rescue puppies
You can’t bring your own dog to a yoga class, but you can do yoga with a dog you might want to bring home with you. Rescue Puppy Yoga takes place in different venues around town. The pups are usually ready for adoption, so this is a chance to meet cute before making it official.
The puppies tend to just wander or play with one another or even lie down for a rest, but they do like the occasional belly rub and petting as the yoga class goes on around them.
Cost may vary, and is often $30-$35 per person. rescuepuppyyoga.com
Yoga with rescue cats
The Denver Animal Shelter hosts Cats on Mats every Tuesday evening from May through August. Although cats are known for their long naps, this is playtime and toys are provided to wiggle and jiggle in front of these furballs so they might bond with someone who wants to adopt them.
Each kitten will show his personality by either climbing into any lap, running wildly around to every toy and mat, or sitting very still trying to take it all in.
Cost is $20 per person (not including any adoption fees). denvergov.org
Yoga with goats
Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga brings friendly little goats to various locations around the metro area. I recently tried a class at Baby Goat Yoga at the Orchard Town Center in Westminster. There was a talk before the goats were released about how to behave around these farm animals, since they are not house-trained. Perhaps most important: Organizers let us know they would take our pictures with the goats at the end of class so we didn’t need to contort ourselves during the session for the sake of Instagram.
As the yoga instructor led us through various familiar poses — cat, cow, dog — one of the goat handlers walked about dropping bits of kibble for the goats so that everyone in class had the experience of either petting the goats or having them climb up on someone’s back. When necessary, handlers waited at the back of the classroom to quickly swoop in and clean up any messes.
Check the Facebook page or website of Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga for a schedule. Prices range from $10 to $30 per person, depending on the venue. rockymountaingoatyoga.com
Rainforest Yoga at the Butterfly Pavilion
Every Saturday morning before opening to the public, the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster hosts Rainforest Yoga among the butterflies. Although the class is very gentle in terms of the physical effort, it’s like hot yoga given the environment, so plan to sweat.
Yoginis place their mats where they can find space along the dewy winding paths. The instructor gives a brief introduction on how to behave around butterflies: blow on them or gently lift them off if you do not want them on you and move carefully so you do not step or sit on them. I discovered that if you want the butterflies to land on you, wear bright colors and sit directly in the sun.
This class included “Brain Yoga” and “Laughter Yoga,” too.
Cost is $10 per person and classes are open to those over age 13. butterflies.org/events/
Yoga among plants at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Sunrise Vinyasa yoga offers two mornings a week at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Freyer-Newman Center Atrium in the fall and winter and after mid-May moves outside under a tent. It’s certainly less distracting than goats or butterflies as you simply look at plants or observe the change in light as the sun comes up while you go through a series of yoga poses.
Cost is $12 per person. botanicgardens.org
Yoga with live music
During the Colorado Symphony’s season, yoga sessions are accompanied by musicians in a program called Music Moves. This is the opposite of yoga with fun-loving furry animals as soothing classical music inspires a state of zen. Classes take place at the McNichols Building in Civic Center park.
The spring series wrapped up in March and the next chance to take one of these classes will be in September. Individual ticket prices were not available in April. coloradosymphony.org
Yoga and running
While not a regularly offered class, there are some more workshop or retreat-style experiences that combine yoga with other activities. Better Buzz Yoga has a Yoga for Runners & Other Athletes that starts with running a 5K followed by a 45-minute yoga class. Cost is $35. betterbuzzyoga.com
Yoga and hiking
You may have heard of sunrise yoga classes at the Red Rock Amphitheatre, but there is also a Sunset Yoga Hike in Red Rocks Park and a Yoga Hike earlier in the day with Zen Out Yoga. Plan on two to three hours for these experiences and bring layers as the temperature shifts. Cost is $50 per person. zenoutyogaco.com
Denver Yoga Social online has a roundup of area yoga classes that offer more than yoga.
