A group of people do yoga on a pavillion

Find a Funky Place for Fitness

Get out and get moving in a place that may surprise you. Denver, and surrounding areas, offer a host of fun and funky classes in unique settings all around town, including some of our favorite cultural attractions. We’re talking yoga with butterflies in Westminster, sunrise vinyasa outside in a beautiful Denver garden, stretching inside a brewery and more.

With the upcoming Healthy Denver Festival on August 20 from 11am to 4pm in Denver’s Sculpture Park at the Denver Performance Arts Complex (1400 Curtis St.), we wanted to highlight other amazing spots to get fit and have fun.

A group of people do yoga on a pavillion

Photo by Scott Dressel-Martin for Denver Botanic Gardens

Gentle Movement at the Denver Botanic Garden

1007 York St., Denver • botanicgardens.org

Really tap into nature and enjoy the beautiful, curated landscape all while doing yoga. The Denver Botanic Garden hosts sunrise vinyasa on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30am and a basic yoga class each Wednesday at 8am. There are also some evening yoga specials including Vinyasa, Violins and Vino on select Thursdays at 6:30pm, and Sunset Yoga and Silent Disco on August 19 at 6pm. Just make sure to bring a towel, water and a yoga mat.

The Gardens also hosts a weekly Chi Kung class on Tuesdays at 8:30am. This 4,000-year-old Chinese art form features a system of movements, postures, stretches, breathing exercises and meditation. Classes run until September 27 and take place in Oak Grove.

Each $12 general admission ticket ($10 for members) also includes entry to the gardens. So before or after your class, depending on the time, wander the rows of native flora and fauna, traipse through the Japanese garden and admire the water lilies.

A group of people do yoga in a pavillion

Photo by Scott Dressel-Martin for Denver Botanic Gardens

Scenic Sunset Paddle Boarding at Sloan’s Lake

2496 W. 2nd Ave., Denver • denveroutdooradventure.com

Get out on the water and work on your core by paddle boarding. Launch times vary depending on when the sun is setting, but usually it’s between 5:15 and 6:30pm. Make a reservation by calling the Denver Outdoor Adventure Company at 303.472.3355 and check for dates on the website.

Members of the Denver Paddle Club with their own equipment can join for free, but it’s $25 for non-members and those needing a board.

A woman performs a yoga pose in front of lush greenery

Photo by Paul Aiken

 

Rainforest Yoga at the Butterfly Pavilion

 

6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, butterflies.org

Mediate not only on your own body and mind, but on the beautiful butterflies flitting about the space as you do classic yoga movements. The hour-long class is for all levels; all you need to do is bring a mat, towel and water.

Because the class is hosted in an indoor tropical rainforest, it runs at 8am on most Saturday mornings, even in the winter. Rates are $8 for Butterfly Pavilion members, and $10 for everyone else. Just make sure to pre-register by 5pm on Friday; there are no walk ins.Hundreds of people do yoga at Red Rocks

Yoga on the Rocks at Red Rocks Amphitheater

18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison, redrocksonline.com

The first concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater took place in 1911, and today the unique venue offers guests even more entertainment, including summer yoga. Each ticket gets you enough space to lay your mat down and start doing downward facing dogs and warrior poses with hundreds of other like-minded fitness fans.

Tickets start at $17, but you can also buy a five-pack for $80, or a season pass for $150. Different yoga studios host the massive session, all starting at 8am on Saturdays. The last session is on August 13, and on August 6 the class will be done in both English and Spanish. Aside from a ticket, all you need is a mat, water, and probably a camera to capture the natural beauty that makes up the amphitheater.

A woman sits in a pose in front of lush greenery

Photo by Paul Aiken

Denver Yoga Social

Location varies • denveryogasocial.com

If you have ever dreamed of taking a yoga class in a brewery, urban winery, or even with goats, this company has what you need. All year they host all-level yoga classes in various spots around Denver and the suburbs, often with wine, beer, brunch, puppies and other cute animals and beverages involved.

Classes start at $10 but can go up to $50 depending on the event. Check the website for a complete line up and to book your next session.