Free community yoga class coming to Highland Park’s Preserve April 17

Highland Park’s Park Fitness hosted a free community yoga class Friday afternoon, a simple low-barrier entry point for anyone curious about yoga but not ready to commit to a studio package or a full schedule. The class ran from 4 to 5 p.m. at 1207 Park Ave. W. and was open to all levels, with no registration required. Participants under 18 needed a parent to sign a waiver.

The setup made the class easy to understand and even easier to try. The Park District of Highland Park listed rotating instructors and said schedules were updated weekly, which kept the program flexible while signaling that this was not a one-off novelty. Community Yoga also sat inside a longer series, with dates listed across April and May 2026, including April 10, April 17, April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15 and May 22.

The location was part of the appeal. Park Fitness sits at The Preserve of Highland Park, a 100-plus-acre property with green lawns, nature-based play areas, specialized native gardens, restored woodlands, and walking and biking trails. The Preserve opened to the public in June 2022, and the district has framed it as part of a larger recreation landscape that connects neighborhoods, downtown Highland Park and regional biking trails. For a yoga class, that meant more than a room with mats. It meant a public setting where the practice could be paired with an actual park.

The program was made possible through the support of Highland Park Hospital - Endeavor Health, helping keep the class free for the community. Fitness manager Jodi DiTommasso said her focus was creating a space where everyone feels welcome, supported, and inspired to take care of their health. That approach fits the district’s broader mission to enrich community life through healthy leisure pursuits and an appreciation of the natural world.

Park Fitness has been described by the district as a community gathering place for nearly 20 years, and the district says regular fitness classes are held there when weather permits. GreenPrint 2024 was shaped by a 2019 community-wide attitude and interest survey, another sign that the area’s wellness programming has been built around resident demand, not just a calendar slot. Friday’s free yoga class at The Preserve fit that model cleanly: public space, no fee, no registration and a clear invitation to show up.