Taking Yoga to the Street: Mega-Event in White Plains

Journey to the groovy center of White Plains June 19 for an outdoor class taught by renowned yoga teacher Sadie Nardini.

It's the second annual Get on Your Mat for Mental Health hosted by The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA), and it's a celebration of the connection between physical health and mental health and wellness.

Last year's event drew more than 500 people on the summer solstice. The heat from the roadway, dissipating toward sunset, made it a hot yoga experience; and the music, food and displays crowned the successful evening. Hundreds of yoga mats were laid between Main Street and Martine Avenue for a musical performance by House of Waters from Brooklyn; guided meditation; and an hour-long yoga lesson by Gwen Lawrence of Mahopac—instructor for the New York Giants, Knicks and Rangers—in celebration of the summer solstice. 

Those who attended also got freebies from event sponsors like Patch; Athleta, who gave out gift bags; White Plains Hospital, who gave out free yoga mats; Whole Foods and others. 

This year, Tao Porchon-Lynch, the oldest living yoga teacher, according to the Guinness Book and this year’s Athleta Athlete of the Year, will lead the opening meditation. 

The event will be held under the open sky on Court Street (between Main Street and Martine Avenue). It promises to be enjoyable for beginning and veteran yoga students; children and adults.

House of Waters will return to entertain and enliven participants. 

Local practitioners, spas, yoga studios and other companies that promote healthy living will be on hand to support participants and talk about their work. 

The first 500 registrants receive a free yoga mat and bag and a goody bag. Registration is $20 in advance, $25 day of event and $10 for little yogis under age 10. Register at www.mhawestchester.org. 

Many Westchester yoga teachers and studios are involved with or promoting Get on Your Mat 2013. "It's a really nice event," said Kate Graham of Hudson Yoga in Croton-on-Hudson, describing it to students. Hudson Yoga is one of 37 studio partners with the Mental Health Association of Westchester for Get on Your Mat 2013.

Register online at www.mhawestchester.org. 

See more about last year's event on Patch by clicking here.

Local yoga studio partners with MHA include:

Bikram Yoga, Yorktown Heights, NY
Bikram Yoga, Scarsdale, NY
Breathe Pilates and Yoga, Chappaqua, NY
Bronxville Wellness Sanctuary, Bronxville, NY
Devoted Yoga Yorktown Heights, NY
Energy Movement Center, Peekskill, NY
Gentle Yoga with Sandra, White Plains, NY
Hastings Yoga Hastings, NY
Hudson Yoga, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Iyengar Yoga Scarsdale, Scarsdale, NY
Jenn Gomez Yoga, Mamaroneck, NY
Nyack Yoga @ 42 Main, Nyack, NY
Pilates on Hudson, Peekskill, NY
Premier Pilates & Yoga, New Rochelle, NY
Quest Yoga Arts, Mount Kisco, NY
Riverstone Yoga, Tarrytown, NY
Sage Yoga, Armonk, NY
Santhigram Wellness & Ayurveda Center, White Plains, NY
Scarsdale Yoga Studios, Scarsdale, NY
Skinny Buddha, Mount Kisco, NY
Sky Baby Yoga, Cold Spring, NY
Soulauras Wisdom & Wellness Center, Briarcliff Manor, NY
SPACE/Pilates Yoga & Beyond, Bedford Hills, NY
The Ajna Center for Wellness & Community, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
The Yoga Garden, White Plains, NY
The Yoga Loft at The Bedford Post, Bedford Hills, NY
The Yoga Room, Pelham, NY
The Yoga Sanctuary, Mamaroneck, NY
The Yoga Scape, Carmel, NY
Wellness Bridge, Ossining, NY
Yoga Haven, Tuckahoe & Scarsdale, NY
Yoga on Lake Rippowam, South Salem, NY
YogaSpa,  Elmsford, NY
Yoga Spark, Mamaroneck, NY
Yoga Works, Irvington, NY