A Hampshire council is encouraging people outside to exercise by kick-starting free outdoor yoga in Gosport Park, with tea sponsors providing a nice cuppa.

Park Yoga is for any resident in Gosport who wants to attend a yoga session, starting this Sunday, May 4, at Walpole Park South in Gosport.

Free Park Yoga will run every Sunday morning, from 9.30am in Walpole Park, South from May to September. 

The brand director of Yogi Tea at Euro Food Brands, Irene Ippolito, said the company has partnered with Park Yoga because of their shared values of mindfulness, wellbeing, and community.

Gosport Borough Council’s grants sub-board awarded £1,500 to jump-start the event in Gosport in its first year to Emma Kemp of Love Outdoors, a community interest company.

Park Yoga set a fee of £1,000 for setting up the sessions in the first year and with £500 to pay for equipment, including a wireless PA system, branded flags and a headset.

Chair of the grants sub-board, Councillor Peter Chegwyn (Lib Dem, Forton) said: “This is a fantastic project to keep fit and have fun at the same time.”

There is no need to book, people are encouraged to just come along. Advice from the organisers is to bring a mat or towel and to stay hydrated and sun safe, by bringing water and applying sun cream.

Cathi Farrer-Mitchell, director of Park Yoga, said: “Park Yoga is all about bringing people together in nature, and there’s no better way to do this than with a therapeutic yoga session in the sunshine followed by a cuppa with friends.”

Started in Dorset in 2017 Park Yoga now delivers free Park Yoga at 55 venues across England. In 2024, 60,043 people attended over the 20 week period, averaging 3,215 people a week and 67 people per venue, per week, said the charity.

Ms Ippolito said Park Yoga, is a remarkable charity making yoga freely accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Together, we’re creating space for individuals connect to themselves and their communities.