Yoga in New Orleans

If your mantra includes breathing into downward dog when you travel, New Orleans offers yoga classes in lovely spaces all over town.  There are free classes offered at the Jazz Park Visitor Center on the edge of the French Market, every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. The light-filled Cabildo on Jackson Square hosts yoga for a fee every Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:30. Both yoga and tai chi are offered at the New Orleans Museum of Art for $5, in art-filled galleries or outside in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Yoga studios everywhere from Uptown to Bywater, Mid-City and the CBD offer drop-in options to meet the needs of a wide range of posers.

Feeling ommmm?  Start here.

Nola Tribe. Yoga Besides specializing in corporate and event yoga, Nola Tribe Yoga offers donation-based community yoga at fun spots around town, including Free Spirited Yoga at the Tchoup Yard on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and sunrise yoga Mondays and Thursdays at the Lakefront, Tuesdays at Coliseum Square Park by the Dome, and Wednesdays at Morning Call in City Park.

Move Ya Brass. Free drop in work out sessions started by local songbird Robin Barnes are usually high energy – think hip hop and twerking for fitness’ sake.  But check the schedule for Stretch Ya Brass, a morning 45-minute stretch offered for locals and visitors and for groups.  

Yes Yoga. Uptown on Oak Street, Yes Yoga offers travelers a five-day unlimited yoga pass, along with a free mat and towel, for $50. Classes range from Vinyasa to classic and there is also an hour-long Community Quickie.

In the French Quarter, Yoga at the Cabildo on Jackson Square offers a light-filled gallery of one of the city’s most beautiful and historic buildings for your practice. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for $15.  

At Wild Lotus Yoga, with locations in the Healing Center on St. Claude Avenue in the Marigny and Uptown on Perrier Street just above Prytania Street, yoga is approachable and geared to the entire family. There’s a daily yoga for lunch class, a “morning” yoga at 2 p.m. for musicians and industry professionals and yoga for kids and expecting moms. Classes range from $7-$20 with sliding scale fees.

New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park offers free Jazz Yoga on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. at the newly renovated visitor center in Dutch Alley, 916 N. Peters St. Bring your own mat.

Yoga (and sometimes Pilates) happens surrounded by 60-plus pieces of art in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art most Saturday mornings at  8 a.m. Pay $5 and after your practice, wander the sculptures for more inspiration.