Photo courtesy HOSH Yoga.

Last summer, when walking through McCarren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I stumbled upon an outdoor yoga class. Immediately intrigued, I came back the following Saturday, and started a semi-regular practice that beat any other yoga experience I had ever had.

Conducted by HOSH yoga, a pay-what-you-wish group stationed in North Brooklyn, the classes are perfect for everyone. Often, classes will be peppered with participants of every level, from grandmothers giving it a shot, to daily practitioners.  Instructors provide individual attention, ensuring each person has the best experience for their level. You can bring your own mat or borrow one of theirs.

HOSH Yoga is a non-profit organization focused on “experiencing and exploring healthier living through yoga, meditation, workshops and strong community development.”  They launched last summer with this weekly outdoor 3:00 PM class. Last fall, they began offering indoor classes as well, at Otom Gym in Greenpoint, which are also pay-what-you-wish.

Any elementary school science teacher will tell you about the importance of time outside. Connecting with nature, at any point in life, helps to set one on a path of environmental stewardship, and HOSH’s class is the perfect example of this. Sitting under the shade of a tree, enjoying the cool breeze, you can’t help but revel in the beauty of nature, even when plopped in the middle of an urban area. Also, conducting the class outside cuts down on electricity and cooling costs.

For more info, visit their website at www.HoshYoga.org or stop by the north end of McCarren Park any fair weather Saturday at 3:00 PM.