by Valerie Reiss

It's as if the great yoga gods were setting up a cosmic joke and test. "Oh, they say they're yogis, huh? Trying to set a record? 10,000 people doing yoga in Central Park, with fancy sponsors and their "be in the moment" talk! Ha! Don't they know they're New Yorkers? Let's give them a little sky juice and see what happens!"

Well, I'm proud to say we passed. Under an overcast summer sky last night, about 10,000 people filtered onto Central Park's Great Lawn for a class with Anusara instructor and Virayoga founder Elena Brower. "First there was Simon & Garfunkle, then Bon Jovi, and now yoga," said organizer Sascha Lewis from a stage lit and powered entirely by bio-diesel, courtesy of Brooklyn-based org Green Now. The crowd went yoga-wild.

Then the rain started. "That was eight drops!" said my friend Sarah on the navy Jet Blue-donated yoga mat next to me. Elena walked onstage, natural as air, and announced that she was waiting to hear from the Parks Department whether she was allowed to teach at all. Meantime, though, she introduced Sri Dharma Mittra, who's been teaching here since 1967. "He's going to lead us in some om's and we'll see what happens," she said.

Then, a little more soft rain. "Guys, I know it's raining, we're gonna do one om, put your umbrellas on, let's roll with this," Elena said. Cheers. Dharma began om-ing. "Keep it rolling, keep it going, keep it going," she said, maxing every precious second of this opportunity. "Put your left hand on your heart!" Some guy started yelling "Yoga, yoga"! The oms rose up across the lawn. A helicopter propelled overhead. Rain fell.

Another offstage whisper, then Elena: "We can?" Cheers. "Come to stand at the front of your mat. Let's see if we can actually stave off the rain."

She began to lead us in a simple, sweet flow. "It's my responsibility to give you a great experience." And she did. Instead of making even a single negative comment on the weather, she kept talking about gratitude and we breathed, arms raised, heart open. "Bow in gratitude to this choice you have made to practice. Gratitude to the sky, all of it. Fill this heart with your gratitude."  

Soon it was really raining. Sascha, co-founder of Flavorpill, a hip arts and culture site, came to the stage and announced that a rain date would be set for late August, early September. People hugged and rolled up mats, many donating them to Bent on Learning, a yoga org for kids in NYC.

After, yogis were beaming, despite the fact that 10,000 people had gathered (13,000 registered) to only do 10 minutes of yoga. "The om says it all," said the mom of teacher and YJ blogger Sadie Nardini. "It was [all] beautiful. The next one will be easier and bigger and drier."

Sascha Lewis, who had presumably been planning this for at least a year, spoke after with a huge smile, croaking voice, and waving hands, "It's a true test right? In letting go. The Universe providing the tests and experiences that we need.... We all felt it and we'll go deeper and longer and have a deeper experience the next time. This is mother nature!... This is her domain. If she wants it to rain it rains. We are just here as blessed beings. We will be back. We all understand the magic that was here and it's gonna continue. It was never considered to be a one-off event. Its a yoga revolution! Evolution!"

The yoga gods were pleased.

Check out video of the event to get a taste:




- Valerie Reiss

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