CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Yoga in the Park, now in its 11th season, is held in the 13th Street District (West End Park) Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. now through Aug. 30.

Yoga in the Park has become something of a spring and summertime tradition. Now in its 11th season, it’s held in the 13th Street District (West End Park) Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. now through Aug. 30.

Yoga instruction is led by Heidi Draisey from Spirited Yoga & Wellness, Hilary Powell from River Blvd Yoga and Taylor Bear from Soul Magick, in partnership with Marshalltown Parks & Rec.

Yoga in the Park started in 2015 through joint efforts between the board of the 13th Street District and the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA. Draisey, who is the current president of the district, was then employed at the Y.

“YogaFit level one has you do eight hours community service, so that was something that I chose to do, and luckily, the revitalization in 13th Street District was just wrapping up,” she noted of establishing the yoga classes. “Hillary Powell went to all the classes in the beginning and got her 500 teacher hours…Taylor was the other teacher with me at the YMCA. In 2020 I left on good terms at the Y and they knew Yoga in the Park was my baby, so we formed the group.”

Yoga in the Park was initially offered every other week, but has been weekly since 2021. This season is a little longer than it was in 2024.

Participants register from 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. and all skill levels are welcome. An adult must accompany ages 10-13. Classes are freewill offering. Bring a yoga mat or beach towel and water.

“I’m just so grateful to be included in something that offers free movement for our community in any capacity. I just can’t express how lucky Marshalltown is to have an established Yoga in the Park,” Bear said. “You can bring middle school-, high school-age students, get them involved, have them come and join us. It can be such a benefit to your mental and emotional and physical health that why not give it a shot? It’s for everyone. There are no limits. It’s beginner friendly, and we’ll keep offering yoga as long as people want to take it.”

Draisey noted 150 to 200 different people join the yoga classes each season, a mixture of regulars and people traveling through Marshalltown.

“We definitely believe in that ripple effect. If we take care of ourselves, we’re able to take care of the people around us and share that positive energy with each other,” she added. “If a person is healthy themselves, they’re oftentimes a source of positive energy that affects others in such a great way. I love to see that.”

Bear said every yoga instructor has a unique take on the practice.

“Every yoga instructor is going to be just a little different, like any musician or artist, but you can learn from each instructor in your own way, and maybe take a little bit of something from them that you didn’t know before, you hadn’t practiced before,” she said. “Everybody’s evolved in their practice over the years in their own way. Anything that you can adopt into your own Yogi practice is appreciated. There’s no right or wrong. Take what resonates with you and leave what doesn’t.”

Hatha and Vinyasa yoga techniques are used. Hatha is usually slower, with longer holds of poses. Vinyasa, also known as flow yoga, is faster paced and requires greater breathing control.

Powell said her yoga is therapeutic and she uses Mudras (symbolic hand gestures believed to influence the flow of energy in the body and mind).

“We all have crazy lives and box breath can help you get rid of stress. All of us with our karmic yoga want somebody to take something with them and pass that on, help somebody out,” she said.

All instructors are YogaFit certified, carry insurance and are CPR/AED certified. To learn more about the classes and schedule, visit the Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/3097649123742028/3097649177075356/, Marshalltown community calendar and Eventbrite.

To learn more, contact Draisey at heididraisey@gmail.com.