BLOOMINGTON — As temperatures rise, the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents to take their workout routines outdoors. This summer, the Switchyard Park Main Stage will transform into an open-air gym, hosting a series of fitness classes designed for all skill levels.
The “Fitness in the Park” series focuses on mind-body wellness, utilizing the expansive lawn and stage area at 1601 South Rogers Street to provide a scenic and socially connected environment for exercise.
The series offers two distinct disciplines to help residents start and end their work weeks with focus and flexibility:
- Mondays: Tai Chi (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) Start your week with this “meditation in motion.” Tai Chi focuses on gentle, flowing movements and deep breathing to reduce stress and improve balance.
- Fridays: Beginning Yoga (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.) Perfect for a midday reset, this beginner-friendly yoga session focuses on foundational poses, stretching, and mindfulness to help you transition into the weekend.
Studies show that “green exercise”—physical activity performed in natural environments—can lead to greater improvements in mental well-being compared to indoor workouts. Switchyard Park’s modern facilities and open green spaces provide the ideal backdrop for these restorative practices.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats, water bottles, and sun protection. In the event of severe weather, classes may be moved or rescheduled.
Pre-registration is recommended to ensure a spot on the stage area. For detailed information on session dates, registration fees, and to sign up, visit the Bloomington Parks and Recreation portal.
Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a complete beginner, the summer series offers a welcoming environment to improve your physical health while enjoying one of Bloomington’s premier park destinations.
Tai Chi in the Park
- Admission: $10 per person per class; no pre-registration required. Pay with a card or cash on site.
- Day: Mondays, May 4 through June 29. No class May 25.
- Day: Mondays, July 6 through Aug. 24.
- Time: 7-8 p.m.
- Accessibility: Classes take place on the Switchyard Park Main Stage. The stage is a smooth, concrete surface accessible via ramp or stairs.
- Switchyard Park, Main Stage, 1601 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN 47403
Tai Chi is a moving meditation in the form of a series of gentle exercises to create harmony and cultivate our inner life energy (qi) to flow smoothly and powerfully through the body. This is a spiritual experience, as much as a physical one.
Beginning Yoga in the Park
- Register for Beginning Yoga in the Park
- Registration: $60 per person per 7-week session. Free for Twin Lakes Recreation Center members.
- Day: Fridays, May 8 through June 19. Register by May 3.
- Day: Fridays, July 3 through Aug. 14. Register by June 28.
- Time: 12-1 p.m.
- Accessibility: Classes take place on the Switchyard Park Main Stage. The stage is a smooth, concrete surface accessible via ramp or stairs.
- Switchyard Park, Main Stage
1601 S. Rogers St.
Bloomington, IN 47403
This class focuses on posture alignment, freeing the shoulder girdle and pelvis, and synchronizing movement and breathing through basic yoga poses. Gain a simple foundation practice that can be useful every day and serve as a springboard to explore any style of yoga. Feel at home in your body, enjoy good health, move freely, and reduce stress.
Wellness on Water
Adult Small Boat Sailing
- Get started in sailing! Prepare to be wet and in the water.
- Choose from two- or three-day class sessions, May 2 through Sept. 20
- Registration: $650 per person; includes American Sailing Assoc. certification and access to the Lake Monroe Sailing Association’s fleet of small boats.
- Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Register for a Small Boat Sailing class before Sept. 16.
- Lake Monroe Sailing Association
7600S. Shields Ridge Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47401
Adult Keel Boat Sailing
- The class covers rigging, sailing, and docking 25′ keel boats.
- Choose from two- or three-day class sessions, May 2 through Sept. 20
- Registration: $550 per person; includes American Sailing Assoc. certification and access to the Lake Monroe Sailing Association’s fleet of small boats.
- Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Register for a Keel Boat Sailing class before Sept. 16.
- Lake Monroe Sailing Association
7600S. Shields Ridge Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47401
Friends & Family Sails
- Glide across Lake Monroe in a sailboat skippered by a skilled sailor.
- Outings for groups of 2 to 4 people per boat, May 8 through Sept. 6.
- Registration: $200
- Time: 6-9 p.m.
- Register for an evening sail before Sept. 2.
- Lake Monroe Sailing Association
7600S. Shields Ridge Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47401
SUP (Standup Paddleboard) Classes at Griffy Lake
- SUP Four Week Progressive Series M, June 1-22-Register now
- SUP Learn to Paddle Su, May 31 and Sa, June 27-Register now
- SUP Exclusively Over 50 Su, May 31 and Sa, June 27-Register now
- SUP for Parents and Kids, Su, May 31, and Sa, June 27-Register now
- SUP Yoga Flow Every Thursday in July-Register now
