The winter series of free yoga classes are in full swing at Millcreek Common. On March 8, yoga instructor Leni led a full class through an hour-long flow. 

Leni has been teaching yoga for 10 years and has taught free classes at Millcreek Common in their outdoor summer yoga series. This was her first time teaching the indoor winter class. 

The free classes are brought to the space through Yoga Forward, a Salt Lake City based nonprofit that focuses on bringing opportunities to engage in yoga practices to vulnerable populations. 

According to their website, Yoga Forward works with the training program Yoga Assets to engage instructors-in-training with what they call “yoga service.” They define this as “the intentional sharing of yoga practices with people who experience vulnerability or trauma at different points of their lives.”

So far, the populations they choose to serve have included veterans, incarcerated individuals, people dealing with terminal illnesses and at-risk youth. 

Though Leni didn’t complete her yoga training through Yoga Forward, she was still asked to come to support the work they do. Her aim was to create a “very heart based, intention based flow.” 

Leni gently guided participants through the yoga flow, encouraging them to play with the movements. Her instruction was a mix of meditative breath and encouragement to feel strong in the body. 

“I like for us to be able to move the body with the breath, so we don't have to think so much about what we're doing,” she said. “But, I want us to have intentional movement so there's meaning behind the shapes.”

Leni said her favorite part of the event is being in the community yoga can create. 

“I love being able to kind of help to create a space where people can just kind of move their bodies in unique ways they hadn't before. So you get to know yourself in a different setting,” she said. 

The class takes place at 10 a.m., on the top floor of the Millcreek Commons building. The large room is encased in windows, giving attendees a view of the snowy mountains to the east. There is even a balcony space on which some students took advantage, breathing in crisp morning air after the yoga instruction.

These classes will continue every Sunday until the end of May. All skill levels are welcome.