A very bendy 2018

Twist into 2018 with these Austin yoga and meditation classes on New Year's Day

Wanderlust Yoga is ringing in 2018 with two special classes.

For my first New Year's Day in Austin, I signed up for a 5 am yoga and meditation workshop to kick start my year. (I was in crisis. Don’t ask.) When then I got to the studio the next morning, I realized that what I’d mistakenly thought was a Vinyasa 101 class was actually a candlelit Kundalini workshop with a heavy — and I mean heavy — focus on chanting.

Since then, I've learned the difference between yoga styles. All of which is to say, whether you’re hoping to start the new year deep in thought at a meditation retreat or deep in a pose on your mat, I’m here to help you avoid my mistake. No need to be intimidated or scared, budding yogis. There’s a New Year’s class for everyone, regardless of where you are in your practice. Here are the best ones to start off your 2018 with a bang (or at least a peaceful namaste).

New Year’s Eve Practice and New Year’s Day Yoga Celebration at Wanderlust Yoga
Downtown studio Wanderlust Yoga is offering two different New Year's classes this year. First up is the New Year’s Eve Practice: Grace and Ganesha Vinyasa with Shanti. This 90-minute, all-levels Vinyasa class is focused on releasing tension, movement, and letting go. Then there’s the New Year’s Day Yoga Celebration with Gustavo + DJ Girlfriend, a dynamic and dance-y flow.

When: The New Year’s Eve practice is on December 31 from noon to 1:30 pm. The New Year’s Day class is on January 1 from 4-5:15 pm.

Cost: Both classes are $30 for non-members, $24 for True North Members.

What to expect: While both classes are suited for yogis of all levels, come prepared for a pretty serious workout.

2nd Annual NYE Bash at Black Swan Yoga
Black Swan Yoga Anderson is hosting their second annual NYE Bash with Patsy Springer & Brett Haginas, a two-hour practice accompanied by live music provided by DJ Cut-a-Rug.

When: December 31 from 10 am-noon.

Cost: $30 and you can RSVP on Facebook here.

What to expect: This class is geared towards students of all levels (with the exception of total beginners). You can expect two hours of sweaty poses and plenty of positive affirmations to get you through the dregs of 2017.

Alternative New Year’s Eve Celebration at Kadampa Meditation Center
Kadampa Meditation Center, located just three blocks from the Capitol, teaches Kadampa Buddhist philosophies and meditation techniques to students. Their Alternative New Year’s Eve Celebration is set to be equal parts celebratory (with hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages) and contemplative (an hour-long meditation practice focused on compassion).

When:December 31, from 7:30-9:30 pm.

Cost: $15 or register online here.

What to expect: Everybody’s welcome, regardless of whether you’re just starting out in your practice or you’re a seasoned, levitating pro. Think minimal stretching and maximum communal meditation time.

108 Sun Salutations at Eastside Yoga
Eastside Yoga is hosting a special New Year’s Day 108 Sun Salutations practice this year, co-led by four awesome ESY instructors. This is exactly what it sounds like: a Vinyasa practice comprised of 108 salutations, designed to help students shed the old and bring in the new (and gain some serious bicep muscles in the process).

When: January 1, 10 am

Cost: By donation

What to expect: Though modifications will be given, this will be a fairly intensive class. (Plus, keep in mind that Eastside’s classes are popular and space is limited; plan to arrive a few minutes early.)

Quiet Mind, Open Heart: New Year’s Day Retreat for Women at Still Waters Retreat Center
This year, the Still Waters Retreat Center (a lovely space situated on 67 acres in the Hill Country) is hosting the Quiet Mind, Open Heart retreat for women, an all-day program consisting off meditation, gentle yoga, self-reflection, and community.

When: January 1, 10 am to 4 pm

Cost: $125

What to expect: A lot of quiet time, nourishing exercise, and the kind of self-care we all need after 2017.

New Year’s Day Chakra Dance at Sukha Yoga
The South Lamar yoga and meditation center Sukha Yoga offers unique, playful flow classes that are focused on heart centering, body empowerment, and the mind-body connection. Their 90-minute New Year’s Day Chakra Dance promises to “awaken the body’s energy centers through guided and intuitive movement accompanied by fun and funky grooves”.

When: January 1 from 4-5 pm.

Cost: $25 for non-members and $20 for members.

What to expect: This one’s for the movers and shakers out there! If you like your yoga with a side of intuitive dance and dynamic movement, this class is for you.

city-news-roundup

Red Light

San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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