Spring is here and now is the perfect time to take advantage of free fitness classes in Downtown’s Historic Squares. Yoga in the Park classes are free of charge and are led by certified yoga instructors in Republic Square and Wooldridge Square. Please bring your own yoga mat to class. Additionally, Tai Chi classes are held in Wooldridge Square once a month giving you even more options.

The class schedule for 2014 is listed below.  Please check Austin Parks Foundation’s Facebook and Twitter feed for notification of class cancellations.

Republic Square Park
Yoga Yoga
Classes are held every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in April, May, September, and October.

Yoga Yoga is proud to offer an all level Hatha Yoga class to participants at Yoga in the Park 2014! Yoga Yoga is Austin’s home for traditional and advanced yoga studies, offering over 300 weekly classes at 5 Austin locations in everything from classic Hatha and Kundalini to Yoga for Health and Wellness.

Wooldridge Square Park
CorePower Yoga
Classes are held every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in April, May, September, and October.

CorePower Yoga strengthens, balances, detoxifies, and exhilarates the body and mind. CorePower Yoga classes will have you moving, breathing, and sweating. No matter your age, strength, or flexibility level, CorePower Yoga meets you where you are.

The Little Yoga House
Classes are family friendly and held the third Sunday of every month at 11 a.m. starting March 16.

The Little Yoga House is a boutique children¹s and family yoga school with a specific focus on healthy child development through yoga, music, dance, and art.

Tai Chi
Central Texas Tai Chi and Qigong schools are offering free Tai Chi at Wooldridge Square the second Saturday of every month at 9:00 a.m.

All ages and levels (including beginners) are welcome to follow along and experience the smooth, graceful and relaxed movements of Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a traditional martial art practiced for centuries in Asia to improve balance, coordination, concentration, and self-defense. There are also many documented health benefits as a result of Tai Chi and Qigong training.

Please allow me to introduce myself. For those of you who I’ve not yet had the good fortune to meet, my name is Pamela Power. I recently assumed the role of President for the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA), and I am delighted and honored to be representing downtown residents. I have been a long-time, very active enthusiast and advocate for downtown, serving on numerous boards and committees for organizations that are also stakeholders in Austin’s urban core.

I think I’m most excited about the opportunity to work closely with members of DANA’s board and staff. It is a collection of extremely active, intelligent, and creative individuals.

And excited about the timing. Austin…specifically downtown…is in an interesting place right now. Energy is in the air. You can just sense it! And many of us, on a day in and out basis, hear it, smell it, and feel it…which some might argue is both good and bad. But overall, I think it’s good…very good. Big ideas are being discussed, projects are being started while others are being completed, and momentum is gaining towards solving issues that impact our quality of life.

Many of you may have likely become involved with the neighborhood association (DANA) through our monthly happy hours. We have, for some time now, successfully organized and hosted monthly happy hours for downtown residents and interested parties. These happy hours have served, and will continue to serve, a very important role in building a sense of community downtown.

DANA will also continue to actively engage with APD and others involved in public safety to help insure we are working towards the achievement and maintenance of a clean and safe downtown. And DANA will also still actively engage in discussion and review of commercial development plans and other policy issues centered in, and around, downtown.

In addition, in the coming months, the DANA board will work to further educate and engage you…the broader DANA membership…regarding the issues and opportunities that abound downtown. Based on timing and level of potential impact, the DANA board has strategically chosen to apply focus and resources against the following initiatives: expanded and improved transportation options to include urban rail, 6th Street design and reconstruction, IH 35 improvements through downtown, the land development code re-write, and the new 10-1 city council structure. We have committed to staying informed…and informing you…on these issues. We will be soliciting your feedback and expertise, and we hope many of you will become involved and work alongside us in shaping our neighborhood.

If I don’t see you at the next Urban Core Happy Hour, which is May 8th at Alta’s, please do reach out by e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.

Your President,

Pamela Powers-Hughes

When: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Whitley Apartments 301 Brazos, Austin, TX 78701 (map | transit)
Business Sponsor: Austin Food and Wine Festival

–> CLICK HERE TO RSVP <–

PRO-TIP:  DANA Members receive priority entry into this event.  If you are not a member, join today! [seriously, click here to join now. You’ll feel great supporting DANA!]  It’s only $25 per person, per YEAR, and Non-members will be charged $10 at the door!

The Austin FOOD & WINE Festival returns April 25-27 to Butler Park (1000 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX  78704) to spoil your palate with a handful of global and nationally renowned talent.

This 2-day weekend in the culinary capital is the epitome of high spirits, with a packed schedule of hands-on grilling demos, up-close tastings with top chefs and sommeliers, and more interactive demos and panels.

And the nightlife? Served. Events like the Rock Your Taco Showdown and The Taste Of Texas keep the music going and the libations flowing.

Urban Core Happy Hour Format – PLEASE READ!

DANA Urban Core Happy Hours are open to all! DANA Members get in free, and non-members pay $10. Entry into event includes food and drink tickets (until we run out!).

Want to join DANA?  You can sign up at the Urban Core Happy Hour, or you can click here to be directed to our Membership page to join now.

Membership includes free entry to Urban Core Happy Hours for one year after your sign up date!

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May Urban Core Happy Hour
When: Thursday, May 8, 2014 – 6:30pm-8:30pm
Sponsor: Alta’s Cafe
Where: Alta’s Cafe, 74 Trinity Street (right on Ladybird Lake!)