BY MARIS CALLAHAN
There are some people who will jump at any excuse to be outdoors, like my friend Rachel, who considers fishing, camping and hiking to be enjoyable summer activities. Though I admire her outdoor prowess and have nothing but respect for fishers, campers and hikers, my own personal outdoor preferences are limited to restaurants with outdoor dining, bars with shaded patios and the rooftop pool at my gym.
If you have my outdoor tendencies but are looking for a happy medium between becoming one with nature and drinking pitchers of margaritas on a Lincoln Park patio, Sun & Moon Beach Yoga is a perfect way for you to enjoy the outdoors without trekking so far out into the wilderness that you lose your cell phone service.
Sun and Moon Beach Yoga offers classes seven days per week between Memorial Day and Labor Day (weather permitting), from 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Monday – Friday and 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is also a “sunset” class on Monday – Thursday frrom 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Though classes are early, they are meant to accommodate people with a typical work schedule who want to start their day with asanas by the lake. Cost is reasonable: $16 for a single class or you can purchase packages through the website or sites like Gilt City and Living Social.
The classes are primarily focused on a Vinyasa Flow, in which in movement is synchronized to the breath and though it can be difficult to hear the instructors over the crashing waves, you’ll catch on quick if you’ve ever taken a beginner’s yoga class. When you arrive, the instructors split you up into two groups: one for beginners and one for intermediate/advanced. In the intermediate class, the instructors typically offer up some modifications to certain poses, as they can be trickier to do in the sand than they are on the flat surface in your yoga studio. Sun and Moon offers organic yoga mat rentals for $2, which is highly recommended if you don’t want to take your sand-coated mat home with you.
Unless you’re a hardcore yogi, you might find the sights and sounds of a morning on North Avenue beach distracting from your yoga practice, but the if you can actually manage to shut your mind off for an hour to get your om on, there is no more relaxing way to start your day.
For more information visit www.sunandmoonbeachyoga.com.
