As more and more Kyivans take up yoga, space is at a premium in yoga clubs. What better answer to the problem during summer than taking classes outside, to parks, beaches and even the roofs of buildings, instead of a stuffy gym.
Kyiv Sunrise Yogaz
Kyiv Sunrise Yogaz holds yoga training sessions at Kyiv’s Botanical Gardens, the Pedestrian Bridge from Podil to Trukhaviv Island, on a rooftop near Druzhby Narodiv metro station, at Obolon Embankment and to the VDNH park. The classes are open to all people who want to try out yoga at the fresh air, regardless of their level of fitness. The trainers practice various types of yoga, so people can choose the option that suits them.
Most of the classes don’t have a fixed price (training on the rooftop costs Hr 100) and people are encouraged to pay as much money as they want. Trainings sessions are mostly held in the early morning or at sunset. A detailed schedule is available at www.sunriseyogaz.com.ua.
The Sunrise Yogaz’s founder will also hold the Avatar Yoga Festival on the coast of the Black Sea in the town of Koblevo in Mykolayivska Oblast, some 60 kilometers from the city of Odesa on Aug. 26-29. Tickets for the three days cost $170-190.
Yoga Fit 30
Yoga Fit 30 holds classes in the UBK beach club on Trukhaniv Island, as well as on Obolon Embankment. One of the main yoga instructors is Yevgen Filatov, who describes his style as a dynamic compilation of hatha yoga and fitness with musical accompaniment. Attendees should wear comfortable clothes and bring their own yoga mat. Most classes are held at 10 a.m.
Those who would like to swim after a training session should have no worries about safety, as the beach near UBK has a life guard. Also nearby is a treehouse café called Skvorechnik where one can order healthy vegan food after the class.
Filatov also trains with a group at the Valencia Beach near Hydropark metro station. Classes are free but the sessions are not held on a regular basis. To attend classes and find out the date of the next one, write to the Yoga Fit 30 account on Facebook (www.facebook.com/YogaFit30), or to Filatov directly (www.facebook.com/yevhenfilatov).
Domenica Yoga
Domenica Yoga holds outdoor morning yoga classes in Taras Shevchenko Park near Lva Tolstoho metro station. The hour-and-a-half classes are usually held every Saturday at 7 a.m. on the lawn next to the Taras Shevchenko monument, but check the schedule at www.domenicayoga.com to make sure.
Domenica Yoga’s group classes are held by the trainer Domenica Kogan. Besides training in the park, classes are held in studios at 44 Saksaganskoho St. and 20 Yaroslaviv Val St. A subscription for group classes costs Hr 280-840 per month, depending on how many classes a week a person wants to attend. A private yoga class with a trainer costs Hr 500. To book a place in a class, call +38-098-533-3212.
AcroYoga
For couples who want to exercise together, AcroKiev club offers outdoor options for acroyoga classes on Trukhaniv Island and in Taras Shevchenko Park. Acroyoga exercises combine elements of yoga with acrobatics and dance. One person acts as a base, lifting the second person above the ground and providing stability and support, while the other person takes various poses in the air. The partners exercise by balancing on each other and changing positions.
Classes in Shevchenko Park are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6.30 p.m., on the lane behind the stage in the center of the park. The classes on Trukhaniv Island are held near the Skvorechnick café at 7 p.m. each Sunday. Both exercising in the park and on the banks of the Dnipro cost Hr 60 for each class. A detailed schedule is available at the www.acroyoga.kiev.ua website.
Yoga at KyivFarm
A small garden on the rooftop of the KyivFarm center offers yoga classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8 a.m. The instructor, Halia Babych, has taught Hatha yoga in the Shivananda style since 2012. She describes her classes as being at a basic level, meaning that beginners are also welcome. The garden on the rooftop doesn’t have a changing room, so people are encouraged to come to the classes in their training clothes.
The price of a class is Hr 80, with registration required (to book a place in the group, call +38-093-293-4692, or send a direct message to Babych on Facebook. (www.facebook.com/lialia.karpa)
