Fresh Air: Midtown Parks to return with free summer wellness activities

A summer of mental health and wellness activities for free is almost upon us in the City of Trees. 

The Midtown Association has announced a new season of Fresh Air: Midtown Parks, a series offering free health and wellness activations. The activities will be held across five Midtown parks every weekday from May through September.

Fresh Air: Midtown Parks offers a wide range of fitness classes that include sound meditation, running classes, yoga and for the first time this year, dance. The free activities are open to all ages and fitness levels. 

Locations include Fremont Park, Marshall Park, Sutter Fort State Historic Park, Muir Park and Winn Park.

According to Emily Baime Michaels, the executive director of the Midtown Association, the goal of the Fresh Air classes is to promote health, wellness, fitness, and foster community connection. 

The classes started during the pandemic and they’re continuing because they’re a “really important” part of Midtown life , Michaels said. 

“Those classes sometimes attract upwards of 150 yogis in the park” Michaels said. “They all come together to make sure that our parks are accessible and inclusive spaces for people in our community to socialize, to know one another.”

Michaels mentioned some days will feature special pop-up events, such as the annual Big Day of Giving Fundraising Drive on May 1.

“We also look at area businesses that are interested in supporting the folks that are coming to these activities,” she said. “For example, some days, the running club may choose to have a happy hour or a snack activity after the run that would be in a local business as well.” 

Michaels said the Midtown Association has ensured that the areas where the activities are occurring are accessible by public transit and are adjacent to buildings and businesses that are open and welcoming to everyone. 

“It's very important to us that we make the point that Midtown is an area for anybody who would like to be here, and that they are welcome and included and that they are safe,” she said. “[Parks] end up being the areas for [people] to have as their backyard, to meet up with friends, to walk their dog, so providing this type of programming gives another way to have that benefit.”

Jasmine Orellana is a mindfulness facilitator who owns a small meditation business called Jasmine on Earth, located at 924 24th Street in Midtown.

Orellana will be hosting a sound meditation class at Muir Park, focusing on mindfulness and relaxation, every Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. She recommends that participants either bring a blanket or their yoga mats, as well as a water bottle. 

“We're going to be bringing in an array of instruments, from a gong to singing bowls to chimes,” Orellana said. “It's like a mindful concert where you're going to relax and be taken on a journey and an experience and explore your inner world and connect with yourself.”

According to Orellena, the free sessions are open to all ages, and everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy them to become more aware of the things that help them feel better. 

She said that being able to offer the sessions to the community allows for each person who comes to harmonize themselves, and by default, have a better day.

“We are our own advocates, and we are with ourselves every day, so we need to take back our power and do the due diligence to help ourselves feel better,” Orellena said. “Nobody's going to come in and rescue us from the stressors of life. So we just have to be proactive and intentional with how we nurture ourselves and soothe ourselves in the middle of doing life.”

The rest of Fresh Air: Midtown Parks' schedule that starts on May 1 is: 

• Tuesdays and Thursdays at Fremont Park, located at 1515 Q Street, Yoga class from 6-7 p.m. with Yoga Moves Us.

• Tuesdays at Marshall Park, located at 915 27th Street, Dance class from 6-7 p.m. with Royal Vapa Wellness.

• Wednesdays at Winn Park, located at 1616 28th Street, Yoga class from 6-7 p.m. with Yoga Moves Us.

• Friday evenings from 6-7 p.m. at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, located at 2701 L Street, Running group with Midtown Parks Run Club led by Miriam Shepard.