Community Yoga in Sunnybrook Park Gains Popularity Among Residents
What began as a modest meetup has grown into a staple of wellness culture in the Bridle Path area, attracting hundreds each Sunday morning.
May 23, 2025 at 21:14 • By Alyssa Cheng, Bridle Watch
A grassroots yoga group in Sunnybrook Park has quietly become one of Bridle Path’s most beloved wellness rituals. What started as a small Sunday morning gathering with just five mats has grown into a robust weekly turnout of more than 150 participants. Residents of all ages — from teenagers to seniors — now bring mats, water bottles, and open minds to the scenic park’s east meadow for the free community classes.
Led by instructor Lena Avari, a local wellness advocate and certified yogi, the sessions offer gentle vinyasa flow suitable for all levels. Avari’s calm presence and gentle voice carry over a battery-powered speaker, guiding the group through stretches, breathing, and moments of meditation. “We focus on alignment, relaxation, and presence,” she says. “It’s about building community through shared breath and movement.”
Many participants say the outdoor setting enhances the experience. Surrounded by towering trees, singing birds, and the soft rustle of leaves, the practice becomes more than exercise — it’s an immersion in nature. “The breeze during savasana is my favourite part,” says Bridle Path resident Mitali Rao. “It makes the entire session feel sacred.”
Over the months, the yoga mornings have grown beyond just weekly movement. Participants now bring potluck snacks and coffee thermoses to share after class, and many linger for conversation, fostering a sense of neighbourly connection in an otherwise exclusive and often private community. “I’ve met people here I never would have otherwise,” said one participant. “It’s a soft entry into friendship.”
With the growing numbers, organizers recently began placing chalkboard signs at park entrances and offering mats on loan for newcomers. Several attendees have offered donations to help cover speaker batteries, signage, and a first aid kit. Though the event remains unofficial, it has been welcomed by the Parks Department, which notes the positive community impact and minimal disruption to park grounds.
Local businesses have started taking notice too. A health-focused café on Bayview Avenue now offers a 10% discount on smoothies and matcha lattes to yoga participants who show a stamped punch card, distributed on-site. A small wellness economy has begun to emerge around the event, with essential oil vendors and fitness apparel reps occasionally setting up small booths nearby.
Avari recently partnered with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to introduce optional mental wellness check-ins for participants. Social workers are available during select sessions to provide free, confidential support. The partnership reflects a growing understanding that physical and mental wellness are deeply linked — and that community rituals like this can be preventative health tools.
The inclusive nature of the sessions has drawn particular praise. Avari makes a point to adapt poses for older adults and individuals with mobility challenges. “We’ve had people show up with walkers, in wheelchairs, or recovering from surgery. We just adjust,” she says. “There’s no wrong way to breathe.”
Parents of young children have also expressed appreciation, noting the flexibility of the format. Some bring kids who play nearby on blankets or simply sit with their guardians through the flow. On several occasions, entire families have participated side by side, turning Sunday mornings into a new kind of ritual.
As summer progresses, the group plans to introduce occasional themed sessions — sunrise yoga, music-accompanied flows, and charity-led gatherings. One future event is expected to raise funds for a local women’s shelter, encouraging participants to donate in lieu of a fee.
Despite its popularity, the group faces challenges. With no official permit, there’s always a risk that new city policies could limit informal gatherings of this size. Organizers have begun preliminary discussions about applying for community grants or formal recognition to secure the tradition for future seasons.
Rainy days remain the greatest logistical challenge, but Avari simply posts weather updates on a community board and invites anyone willing to join her under tree cover with umbrellas and ponchos. “We’re not afraid of a little nature,” she laughs.
As more neighbourhoods seek low-cost, high-impact ways to foster wellness and togetherness, Bridle Path’s quiet yoga movement is offering a compelling model — one mat, one breath, and one Sunday morning at a time.