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On any of the more than 300 days of sunshine in Austin each year, there’s no better place to go than Lady Bird Lake. Whether hiking or biking the trails, doing stand-up paddle board yoga, or taking a river cruise, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor fun to be had in the heart of beautiful downtown Austin.
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Students in tree pose during Charles MacInerney’s free yoga class (Credit: Charles MacInerney)
Austin is among the top cities in the country for yoga. The offerings continue to grow alongside other booming industries here, and rightfully so. The harder we work, the more we deserve opportunities to relax, breathe, and let go. Thankfully, many establishments are offering wallet-friendly yoga class options.
It’s not that I don’t think a good class or workshop isn’t worth upwards of $20. But it can be good to mix it up with free events here and there. I’ve compiled a list of several unique yoga offerings in Austin: from big studios, to coffeeshop yoga, to pop-up outdoor classes. Here’s where to find free yoga in Austin–or at least donation-based–on every day of the week. [Read more…]
Stretch soundscape yoga in downtown Austin
For years, I knew yoga could improve the quality of my life. Yet, for an activity built on love and inclusivity, jumping into this unfamiliar practice felt challenging. I didn’t relate to the bohemian feel of some local studios, and the terminology used in class was intimidating and hard to follow. I felt like an outsider. Because of this, I avoided all things yoga.
And then I found Stretch. This Austin yoga studio was different. It was accessible and approachable by design, owner and instructor Kaysha Patel told me.
This is how a guy who’d never “namaste-d” or “downward dogged” before began his modest yoga practice…and can now (almost) touch his toes.
With Poe at Turkey Creek, one of many off-leash trails Austin has to offer
It’s no secret that Austin is a thriving city with plenty of activities to enjoy. While it’s common knowledge that Austin is also super dog-friendly, do you know about the other fur-friend attractions? Don’t worry; we did the research for you. Here are five fun things to do with animals in Austin!
Austin Doga founder, Nicole Vykoukal (center), poses with her dog, Bonnie, and members of her class
Guest article by Sarah Snyder
For lovers of yoga who are invested in the tradition of keeping Austin weird, Austin Doga invites you and your dog to experience yoga together.
Appropriate for small, medium, and large dogs of all breeds, walking into an Austin Doga session is like walking into a room full of puppy love. Dogs are excited and people chat until founder Nicole Vykoukal begins [Read more…]
Crux Climbing Center brings a unique facility to Austin’s climbing scene (Credit: Derrington Building Studio)
Off of South Congress stands the massive, angular structure of Crux Climbing Center, the newest bouldering and rope gym to inspire Austin residents to place hand on rock. The 22,000 square foot facility opened on May 7, 2016 with a huge competition, Setter Showdown, that drew hundreds of climbers from around the United States.
Local climbers Matt Twyman and Kevin Goradia partnered with East Austin architecture firm Derrington Building Studio to create a space that is incredibly unique to athletes, yogis and those searching for a gym with a comfortable but modern aesthetic.
“Ultimately, our vision is to make it a home. Climbing is very community-centric, and people just want to have a place to go gather and hang out. Climbing is almost like a second part of it. You spend more time hanging out with friends. We wanted a place where people enjoy being that is comfy and clean as they climb, read, do yoga and whatever else,” shared Twyman.
Austin Bouldering Project’s main room hosts dozens of problems that change weekly
Community is a gathering of people uniting around a shared passion, within their own space. Zach Olschwanger, founder and head manager of Austin Bouldering Project, operates with the idea of community at the forefront of his gym’s growth strategy. “People have been so willing and anxious to help out in any way. Our approach is to do the best that we can to make it the best it can be, so that other people can enjoy it and tell other people about it. This is kind of the dream; it’s the culture of [bouldering],” he said.
Austin Bouldering Project, a 50,000 square-foot bouldering facility, opened its doors on Nov. 28, 2015, as hordes of Austin rock climbers rushed to finish their Thanksgiving feast to head to the new prime spot for indoor bouldering in the United States. After years of planning, city ordinance mishaps, and miserable rain due to El Niño that continually halted production, the gym was finally able to welcome the anxious public who had been continually checking updates for over a year, so they could get their hands chalked up. [Read more…]
Escape within Austin City Limits to Mayfield Park (Credit: Kelli McDonald)
I love that our city makes filling time on the weekends effortless, but sometimes we all need to hit the pause button. An escape from the hustle and bustle is a must if we want to keep up with all Austin has to offer.
But since leaving the city on I-35 can take a whole day, we need to look for ways to change our perspective within Austin city limits. Fortunately, escape is closer than you might think. [Read more…]
Playdate with Austin comic Ralph Hardesty
Guest article by Colin Gray
Ralph Hardesty is an up-and-coming standup comic you may have seen at Cap City Comedy Club, ColdTowne Theater and other venues, or co-hosting Greetings From Queer Mountain with comedian Michael Foulk. You may also have seen him in a caftan or witch’s cloak if you’ve attended Gurl’s Night, a gay- and women-focused standup show he co-hosts with Daniel Webb of Obama fist bump fame.
Ralph is very, very funny off stage, but it comes across naturally. You don’t get the sense that’s he’s switching on a persona. He’s comfortable with himself (remember the caftan?) and well adjusted, which is not always the case with comedians (something of an understatement).
We built our playdate around some of his favorite things to do in Austin, and I’ve been promised that with two cups of coffee in his system, I’ll be getting “the full Ralph.” [Read more…]
Maybe you’ve noticed: Austin is a good looking town. The locals take care of themselves, which might have something to do with combatting the BBQ and Tex-Mex that’s always on the menu. Also, our weather doesn’t require us to put on that “extra layer of fat” in the winter months. It’s fantastic.
Austinites are obsessed with supporting local businesses. We keep it close to home. Personally, I keep it literally as close to home as possible because I don’t own a car. So when I started looking for a downtown gym, I thought I’d be out of luck [Read more…]