Take your Om onto park grass, beach sand, a wooden boardwalk, or an urban rooftop with these six alfresco yoga offerings, from north to south. The intensity of classes varies—from low sweat to multitowel (noted below from one to three asterisks). Bring your own mat.
Encompass Yoga
Montrose Beach, 4400 N. Lake Shore Dr.; meet in front of the Dock restaurant
Encompass offers invigorating morning and evening vinyasa classes and acrobatics-inspired yoga on the beach.** Daily at 9 a.m.; Mondays at 6:30 p.m. (Acro Yoga); Tuesdays to Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. $15 a class (discounted packages available). encompassyoga.net
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark St.; meet at the pavilion at Nature Boardwalk
This hatha-style 60-minute class on the wooden planks of the zoo’s boardwalk, led by trained instructors, is perfect for beginners: The poses are basic, the environment meditative.* Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 9 a.m.; Sundays at 10 a.m. $20 a class (discounted packages available). lpzoo.org/yoga
Sun and Moon Beach Yoga
North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.; meet at the yoga beach hut north of the boathouse
Lakeside vinyasa all summer! Led by instructors who also teach at Moksha, CorePower Yoga, and other respected studios, these hourlong sunrise, late-morning, and sunset classes are accessible and popular. Perhaps too popular: Weekend and weeknight crowds can top 100.** Weekdays at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. (no evening class on Fridays); weekends at 9 a.m. $15 a class (discounted packages available). sunandmoonbeachyoga.com
Lululemon and CorePower Yoga
Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave.; meet in the park at Damen Avenue and Schiller Street
The activewear retailer teams up with a different yoga studio each month to provide a free weekly after-work class. The store’s June partner is CorePower Yoga, known for its unorthodox power vinyasa.*** Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Free. lululemon.com/chicago/bucktown
Equinox
Hotel Lincoln, 1816 N. Clark St.; meet on the rooftop patio
This sunrise vinyasa class—taught by Wade Gotwals, a staff instructor from the high-end gym chain—incorporates gentle sequences, a variety of poses, meditation, and a bird’s-eye view of the city.** Wednesdays through June 25 at 7 a.m. $10 a class for Equinox members, $20 for nonmembers. E-mail leila.niazi@equinox.com or call 312-254-4000 to reserve your spot.
Department of cultural affairs and special events
Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.; meet on the Great Lawn
Taught by yoga pros such as Jim Bennitt and Allison English, these early-morning classes draw hundreds. Intensity varies by instructor, but most sessions are relatively easy.* Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.; Saturdays at 8 a.m. Free. millenniumpark.org