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Last summer, an average of around 120 people took part in free yoga on Stanmore Bay Reserve, with instructor Daphne Luke. Shelley Charton has been offering free yoga on the beach every summer since 2001. Good numbers turn up for the early morning sessions even when the tide is in and the weather windy.
The sight of quite large groups of people doing yoga at the beach has become a distinctive feature of summer on the Hibiscus Coast.
The practice began in 2001 when yoga instructor Shelley Charlton offered free classes on Stanmore Bay beach. Shelley says at first only half a dozen participants were game to strike their poses outdoors, but this grew to 30 or more after a story in Hibiscus Matters, and that popularity continues.
This summer she is running the 20-minute classes on the sand at Manly Beach (by the boat club) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30am, until February 23. No mat or experience required.
Shelley says that any exercise early in the day, outdoors is great for both body and soul. The classes don’t run in the rain, but have taken place on blustery days, making balancing poses even more of a challenge – and more fun.
This is the third summer that yoga instructor Daphne Luke has been taking free outdoor classes for the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre.
She has been teaching yoga at the Leisure Centre for 10 years and enjoys the unique atmosphere of the outdoor classes.
Last year the Saturday morning classes, on Stanmore Bay Reserve, by the playground, were very well attended with an average of about 120 people each week. The classes are suitable for all levels, including beginners and run until March 31. Kids, dogs and babies in prams are all welcome. The classes run from 9am–10am – bring a mat or towel.
If it’s raining, the class takes place in the Leisure Centre and is still free of charge.
