Hundreds celebrate Yogapalooza

Sarah Gordon, The Day, New London, Conn.
·1 min read

Jun. 20—GROTON — With a view of the Long Island Sound, the gentle sounds of a Kirtan Harmonium and a breeze in the air, hundreds of attendees gathered for Yogapalooza at UConn Avery Point on Thursday.

The third annual event, organized by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, was in celebration of International Day of Yoga. The worldwide event, which is celebrated annually on the summer solstice, serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the many benefits of practicing yoga.

"We're trying to think a little outside the box," said Bruce Flax, president of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. "I don't think you see a Chamber of Commerce have something like this often but it really does bring the community together and that's really important for us."

There were four outdoor studios that ran classes through the event that started at 12 p.m. and ended at 7 pm. More than 16 local teachers and members of the community offered classes and workshops. Devarshi Steven Hartman, co-founder of The Pranotthan Yoga School, who works around the country, led the opening ceremony and a class. The event also featured 20 local vendors and food trucks.