The Largest Yoga Event was also the Shortest Yoga Event
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 10:32PM 
The threat of rain did not stop 10,000 yogis from showing up to New York's Yoga on the Great Lawn, but it did send everyone home early. Crowds streamed into Central Park starting at 4pm on Tuesday and waited in line for hours to get their Jet Blue Yoga Mats and free snacks. As the Karma Crew made sure to everyone got in and secured spots, the bands entertained the crowd and yogis warmed up with stretches and partner assists. Yoga assistants such as YogaWorks' Heather Seagraves and Equinox's Ruah Bhay circulated and were ready to get hands-on.
Elena Brower finally took the stage as the drops started falling. Up front master teachers Alison West and Sadie Nardini, among others, were ready to help spread Elena's words and demo the postures. One of the most fantastic scenes of the night was Siri Dharma Mittra, who is in his 70's and could out backbend most of the crowd. Unfortunately just as quickly as the yoga portion of the evening started, it ended. Noise from the helicopters hovering above made it hard to hear Ms. Brower's directions and rain pelting the yoga mats turned them into slip 'n slides.
Alas, 10,000 people made their way quickly out of the park in a nice yogic fashion. A rain date has been promised so that we can all try again! Hopefully this time the weather will pay attention. Visit our YouTube channel for some videos from Yoga on the Great Lawn.
photos - top right: line through the park; center: Alison West & Sadie Nardini, bottom right: Elena Brower and Siri Dharma Mittra
photos clockwise: Bent on Learning girls, Masters at the front of the stage, group down dog before the rain, waiting to begin, Mittra backbends.
