by Ashleigh Sanchez
Daily Lobo
More than 50 people spread out on mats among the trees at Roosevelt Park Saturday.
They stretched, and held position as part of Yoga in
the Park.
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The free event, sponsored by the mayor's office, was held to promote healthy living in the city, the event's organizer said.
"The mayor is a huge fan of physical activity," Terah Maestas-Javaheripour said. "People are looking for ways they can join together with their community and do physical fitness."
Yoga requires stretching, balance, flexibility and strength, making it beneficial as a workout and part of a healthy lifestyle, Maestas-Javaheripour said.
The event consisted of two, hour-long sessions. The first session was Ashtanga yoga, a more strenuous form.
"That style is for people really looking for a workout," said Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim, legislative coordinator for the city. "It tends to draw younger people with more athleticism."
Heather Liebe led the Ashtanga session along with six members of her studio, Ashtanga Yoga of
Albuquerque.
"It's physical challenging," Liebe said. "The closest thing to
Ashtanga is a dance. It's hard."
For the second session, the group was taught gentle yoga, a meditative form.
"Gentle yoga is good for relaxation," said Gloria Drayer, who led the gentle yoga session.
Participants in both sessions ranged from college age to retirement age.
"It's so good to see such a broad representation of ages and skill levels," Maestas-Javaheripour said.
While some participants were experienced in yoga traditions, others, such as student Louise Sargent, were trying it for the
first time.
"It was a lot harder than I thought it would be," she said. "It hurt, but it felt good, too."
