Namaste Then Beer All Day at Brew You Yoga

Yoga and beer. It’s a dream combination come to life at Bronx Brewery. For the past year, at least once a month, yogis have spread out their mats on the floor of the brewery’s main room for a one-hour vinyasa flow class, followed by a beer tasting.

Called Brew You Yoga the Saturday afternoon classes are led by health and yoga instructor Leanne Maciel, who takes participants through a variety of poses meant to analogize the brewing process, such as a Warrior One post to mimic finding the right balance of ingredients for beer or back bends to show the energy needed in the brewing process, before a four flight tasting of Bronx beer.

If the Brew You Yoga classes sound appealing but unusual you’re not alone. I was skeptical of the pairing at first, but Bronx Brewery Marketing Coordinator Nick Mezansky was quick to point out the two are a natural combination.

“Outside of the fact that there's nothing better than earning your first pint or two on a Saturday afternoon by getting a good sweat in via strengthening and balance exercise, yoga and beer are also both ancient traditions with history's longer than many people realize,” Mezansky said. “They both involve finding balance, a beer's balance of malt and hop flavor, is just as important as finding the balance of a pose.”

Yoga in a brewery is also less intimidating than in a studio.

“It has a bit more a laid back feel and it’s a unique environment to do yoga among the tanks with the smells and sounds the brewery happening all around you,” Maciel said.  “We get a lot of people who haven’t practiced before, might be curious about yoga and the idea of beer after helps get them in the door.”

Plus, for those of you as balanced challenged as I am, since you’re not actually having the beer until after the class it shouldn’t impair that warrior’s pose.The classes cost $25 and can be registered for in advance through Eventbrite. The classes fill out almost every time with some attendees become regulars, so you better act fast if you want a spot in the September 23 class.