On Saturday, May 9, thousands of yogis from near and far came together at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the 10th annual Yoga on the Mall, which concluded DC Metro Yoga Week.
Yoga Alliance® sponsored the event, organized by DC Community of Yoga (DCCY), and nearly half our staff members were in attendance to practice yoga and connect with members of our local yoga community.
Soon after the event began, the overcast sky cleared to let the sun shine, making for the perfect day to practice yoga in the great outdoors. Live musician John de Kadt filled the grounds with rhythmic drumming to accompany the yoga practice.
Emcee Hawah Kasat exuded charisma and energy throughout the event, opening with a brief guided practice to center the mind and cultivate a unified energy. “Allow the body to become still and as you close your eyes, you can begin to open to all the sounds,” he began. “Turning the gaze inwards, set an intention for community, an intention of supporting and lifting one another up, an intention of sharing metta, compassion and loving kindness with people all around the world.”
Following the introduction, DC Acro Yogis took to the stage for a lively and exciting demonstration filled with asana, acrobatics and teamwork. The audience cheered as they watched the impressive partner and group poses, lifting one another into the air with grace and control.
From the stage, Yoga Alliance’s Communications team shared gratitude with the audience and the event’s organizers, and reminded the community about the value of our Directory for both the public and our members. They also encouraged attendees to say hello or ask questions to any of our staff members in attendance.
By then, the crowd, made up of yogis of all ages, was eager to get moving. Yoga teacher Ginny Loving held a brief but energizing beginner’s practice while Geneva Moss led children through a fun practice for the whole family.
Instructors from DC Metro Yoga Week’s participating studios demonstrated various asanas on the stage as Hawah introduced each of them.
The event concluded with an hour-long flow practice for all experience levels, co-led by Brittanie DeChino, E-RYT 500, and Marcus Lee. The heat of the sun overhead and the buzzing shared energy helped to carry attendees through a graceful practice full of sun salutations. Reflecting the overarching theme of community, DeChino instructed attendees to group together with those around them, friends and strangers alike, to balance together in several poses including tree, warrior III and boat.
We were excited to see how many people united to share their love of such a powerful and transformative practice at Yoga on the Mall. If you haven’t already, make sure to share your pictures with us on social media and tag them with @YogaAlliance and/or #YogaOnTheMall.
Keep your eye out for next year’s Yoga on the Mall, and until then, make sure to check out our Calendar to see what events we will be hosting or attending near you.